The Hopewell House

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On Friday, I was flying to Arkansas all day and had  3 different layovers with limited time in between so I didn't get the news about the Connecticut shootings until about 8PM that night [7PM if I am counting my time change]. 

I remember getting off that flight and heading towards the bathroom only to be stopped by our President's grieving message coming across the news station. I was confused at his obviously shaken stance until the news flashed the message "20 kids shot at Sandy Hook."

Children, little children....elementary aged kids....tiny children...

In that next moment, I felt sickened...absolutely sickened. I don't know if a tragedy has ever struck me so hard in the stomach...I felt literally like I wanted to throw up and bawl right in the middle of that airport...I was absolutely shaken, shocked, and in utter disbelief.

My little niece Addie flashed into my head, and my precious other little "nieces and nephews"  came to mind...little Ella & Levi, William & Victoria, Gideon...their little sweet, innocent faces... and I thought how could someone so heinous take away such innocence...how could they justify looking right into those fragile little faces and killing them in cold blooded murder...I just can't fathom it.

And then I started thinking about the poor families, the families that will now have to move on past this horrific tragedy... these families that will not have these darling little faces to wake up to...Christmas...I just can't fathom it.

It just breaks me and even now I sit here absolutely sickened.

I just don't understand it...I just can't comprehend it...

 My only hope comes from knowing we are in a momentary life to something that lies far better than we can even imagine.

My only peace comes knowing these little children are in a place where they will never hurt again and where I know they are being loved.

And so today, my heart goes out to these families and to all those affected by this tragedy,

I wish I could just hug them and love on them...I wish I could fix this for them...I wish they could know that I am thinking and praying for them...

And my heart goes out to the shooter's family because I know they too are now facing the horrible effects of what their brother and son has done.

I want so bad to bring them comfort...to let them know they too are loved...

Remember today to love on your friends and family,

Life is so short and our breaths are so limited....

We never know what the future holds, don't take those precious moments for granted...

And love far more than you think possible, because you never know how your love might affect those that you surround...
One small act of kindness could make a huge difference, don't forget that.

On this holiday season, we all have so much to be thankful for, let us not forget how blessed we are and how much we have been given.

May we also be humbled by the fact that we were each given another day today.

Abba, thank you so much for another day.