Sandy Hook

It's hard to know what to say about Sandy Hook.

I can't stop thinking about the children, and I'm sure you feel the same. Somehow, more than any other recent tragedy, it feels like we're all in this together. We're all grieving, and we're all brought to tears by each child's photo. We are all heartbroken to imagine the terror those sweet faces experienced in their last moments, and the unimaginable, gaping loss surely felt by their families.

My heart is broken for parents who lost their little beacons of light, dogs who lost their favorite playmates, brothers and sisters who lost their heroes. My heart is broken for the family of the shooter, the school that wonders what it could have done differently, the community that feels it will never heal, and those who feel guilt based in their survival.

I've seen many ways to help listed online. The local United Way is collecting money. This effort to send therapy dogs into the community is particularly sweet.

The children, though - their faces, so full of love and innocence, won't leave my mind. It seems like all we can do, in response - besides give a little money and discuss policy change - is try a little bit harder to spread the light, warmth, and care that they would have given to the world if their lives hadn't been so carelessly stolen.


Photo from the AP.