If you're like me, thinking about cookies in light of what happened in Newtown yesterday seems frivolous.
I can't help but think of the times over the years when I've sent kiddo to school when he said he didn't feel well. As a mom, I was always so torn on those mornings...no fever, no cough...I know there were times when I sent him. I pray that didn't happen to any of those moms yesterday.
I can't help but think of "those mornings." You know, those mornings were everyone is rushed, your kiddo forgot to tell you about show-and-tell item he needed to bring to school, he decided he doesn't like pancakes (although he loved them yesterday), and oh yeah, he's out of clean socks. Those not-so-good mornings with raised voices, nagging, and lectures. I pray that didn't happen to any of those families yesterday.
When my mom died, I had this feeling of living in a parallel universe. Why were people out shopping? Why were these silly shows on TV? MY MOM JUST DIED, I was screaming inside. I wanted everything to stop...just for a minute.
So, today I say we do that. Stop. Pray. Pray for those innocent children. Pray for the families. Pray for the brothers and sisters, the survivors, the town of Newton, and especially those moms and dads.
Newtown, our hearts break for you. We hold you close in our thoughts and prayers. ♥
My feelings exactly.
ReplyDeleteA hug,
perfectly said.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this with us today Bridget. Couldn't have said it better...XO
ReplyDeleteCouldn't have said it better.
ReplyDeleteKnow that so many thoughts and prayers from around the world are with the families.
xo
My heart too is aching over this tragedy. Hugs to you and yours.
ReplyDeleteI love you Bridget. xo
ReplyDeleteperfect post today. {{{{{hugs}}}}
ReplyDeletePerfectly said
ReplyDeleteExactly Bridget. Everything seems frivolous. Hugs to you today.
ReplyDeletepraying along with you. thank you for this post.
ReplyDeleteIn the distance I feel your nation pain, and mourn your loss, which is ours, too. Praying for peace to all...
ReplyDeleteNicely said. I felt the same way when my father died. My world was crumbling and everything kept going on. Newtown is just 15 minutes away from my home and my heart is broken for the community and my state of CT. Schools are supposed to be a safe place for our children and family/friends who call it their work place. Today and each day coming, I will continue to stop and take a moment to think of all the families hurt by this horrendous tragedy and pray they kind find peace in some way.
ReplyDeleteYesterday we decided to keep the TV off AND baked cookies. We baked 6 dozen. I think it was the perfect day to do it. I didn't want to be bombarded with the news and my little one loved it.
ReplyDeleteAmen. I heard about it while I was out Christmas shopping and I suddenly felt so frivolous, even though I'm not. I think all our hearts are hurting over this.
ReplyDeleteVery nicely said, Bridget. Yesterday I had to stop at the mall for work and I felt the same feeling: why are people shopping? How can they not ache the same way I do for those people in Newton? Although the world can't physically stop even for a tragedy as large and sad as this one, we CAN all stop for just a moment to reflect, give our loved ones big hugs, and pray for everyone in CT. ((hugs))
ReplyDeleteI too felt frivolous when I logged in to post a recipe I finished on Thursday night. I'm taking today as a moment of silence. My heart breaks for those families.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing about "those mornings". I was so thankful that I gave my precious girl a really big hug and kiss before I left her class yesterday.
ReplyDeleteI don't have kids and can't help but tear up for those parents who are without their precious little ones today. You are spot on with this post. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your thoughts, I think we all feel the same way...My husband and I have no intention of having kids, but it doesn't mean we don't have hearts. We cried off and on yesterday because of this senseless tragedy. It's so, so depressing, gut-wrenching, deplorable...so many words to describe the same thing you said perfectly in one word: STOP. Stop the hatred, stop the violence, stop the aggression. Hug the ones you love tightly because, luckily, we get another day with them. Please keep Newtown in your hearts and thoughts, everyone...and thanks again for sharing, Bridget.
ReplyDeleteSo well said..
ReplyDeleteI remember also that feeling when my mom died..
Just quiet in my heart.
Perfectly put. It is truly an unspeakable act of evil. So sad for everyone involved.
ReplyDeleteAmen.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post Bridget. My heart is so heavy today. I will continue to give the glory to God and thank Him for my babies and that they are well and safe. XO
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting about this. We're 30 minutes from Newtown...local schools were on "precautionary lock down" yesterday...we know a CT State Trooper who was a first responder...Prayers to all, to the families, teachers, administrative staff, custodians and, of course, the first responders...God Bless... Patti
ReplyDeleteThank you. Perfectly says what a lot of us are feeling the day after this tragedy.
ReplyDeleteIt's just heartbreaking -- I have a kindergartener myself, and I just can't imagine.
ReplyDeleteBest response I've read so far about this tragedy. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteSo very well stated...prayer is powerful.
ReplyDeletethank you for your thoughts...they are so right on. I'd give anything to be Samantha Stevens and rewind that horrible day. I pray for God's healing touch.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully put. So sad and have been avoiding tv and news since yesterday. I am sick over this and have been praying so much for all involved and peace for all. My sisters are both Kindergarten teachers and sickened to no end. I lost my hubby the week before Christmas and I know what you mean about feeling like you are in a parallel universe. I remember the Christmas cards coming as well as sympathy ones.. All the best to you and those in CT and nation suffering from all this violence.
ReplyDeleteBridget-I remember seeing people in a grocery store right after my mom died. My thought was: "Don't they know?--how can they go about business as usual?". I pray we can all find God's healing peace and remember even in the midst of chaos, God is still on His throne.
ReplyDeleteAfter being a loyal subscriber to you for so long, it means even more to see this post from you. Thank you...our town is going to need all the prayers we can get over the next few days, weeks, months....years
ReplyDeleteYou said EXACTLY what im am feeling!!! I have three girls who are AWESOME and yes there have been am's when i just want to bang my head against a wall...but NOW its all seems pointless...I am trying for more patience...more understanding(within reason..these are 3 girls) and thank GOD that we are together.
ReplyDeleteWOW Bridget that really hit home...when said like that, it really does make you wonder, I know we ALL had mornings like that, I really hope too that none of them had a mroning like that...so sad on many levels...m
ReplyDeleteI feel the same as all of you, my husband called me from work when he heard, I was out shopping. I just almost collapsed right in Target, we were on the phone crying, then I just walked around in a daze. I have felt that, "how can the world just go on with daily life?" feeling, when a loved one died. We must do what we can-what all have said, quiet, pray, and try to change things to prevent more of this.
ReplyDeleteWe have four kids and my husband called me about it--choked up. Our kids have been causing much stress over the past week with cheating at school and breaking the rules of their grounding but this horrible event put all of that in perspective.
ReplyDeleteI am not as placid and loving as most who posted here. I am actually feeling aggravated and upset that this can happen. I'm not necessarily for gun control since those who use them for sinister purposes can always get them somehow. I have someone in our extended family who is considered mentally ill. Try and get him "fixed" !!! It's not possible. Between money issues, insurance issues, legal issues, and governmental restrictions on lengthy hospital or treatment centers, it's a losing proposition. No one can monitor these people constantly. Families tend hide their family's problem person because of embarassment. On and on, a thousand reason's why this can happen in our country. Forgiveness is not an option for me. I guess we just consider it a possibilty every time we go somewhere that we may not come home because of a lunatic. One generally is aware of danger when we go somewhere where we KNOW there is a risk but to innocently go to a mall or to SCHOOL and get killed is beyond reason.
ReplyDeletewonderful post. thank you for haring your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteWe were having an event at school Friday afternoon, so I was lucky (?) enough to be at school shortly after this story broke. It made me feel better that although I was not with my children I was at least at school. I texted my kindergardeners teacher and told her to wake up my daughter from nap and hug her. She just wanted information. Another teacher/friend went around school locking all the classroom doors- silly but it made her feel better. Another teacher/friend said the school secretary was swamped with calls from parents simply asking her to go hug their child. I don't think she knew what to say. I have not told my children, but I know they will hear so I am bracing myself for the questions that are sure to come.
ReplyDeleteI work as a secretary at a school and when this broke I immediately felt my guard go up and want to go on lock down and shut the world out. Obviously, I couldn't do that but I felt myself become very protective and want keep all the students safe. I was also lucky enough to have my little guy there to hug and kiss and whisper I love you too. So many parents are suffering a loss that I can't imagine and what you said about hoping they didn't have one of those mornings were my thoughts exactly. I hope they have a sweet morning memory to hang onto. I am thankful, reflective and mourning all at the same time. Thanks for articulating your thoughts so well.
ReplyDeleteI love you, B. Thanks for sharing. Much love to you.
ReplyDeleteMy little girl is in grade one, and there are some days i think if I hear the word mommy one more time I'll pull my hair out. And then such a tragedy occurs I can't imagine never hearing her voice again. God bless to all those affected, to you Bridget and your country. I
ReplyDeleteBridget, You have a way with words...
ReplyDeleteThank you Bridget for sharing the thoughts of so many of us. Our prayers do go out to those sweet families and friends that are hurting and in pain. Maybe we not soon forget to appreciate our husbands, wives, children and grandchildren as they leave our presence on a daily basis. May we be careful what we say as we send off our loved ones, for we may not have another opportunity to change our words.
ReplyDeleteGood call on the quiet and your post was so true and heartfelt.
ReplyDeleteMy heart physical aches for the pain these families have been touched by. I have cried with these people I don't know but still grieve for. Not just those who were taken so horribly, but also for the survivors who must sort through everything & find a way to keep moving forward. We are with everyone in Newport. Always.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first blog I have ever commented on, on any of the many food blogs that I read faithfully. I'm commenting because you wrote what I have been thinking about, agonizing over for days. I sent my daughter off to school today with a smile covering the grief that I am feeling for those families. She got home safely and I cried again- and I wondered if anyone else feels as much as I do, and then I read your blog and felt like someone understood. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
ReplyDeleteMarla
Perfect post! All we can do is pray for healing and change... Destiny
ReplyDeleteI work in a nursing home and every day I see people in various stages of death. I even see those who die while I'm at work and while I try to shrug it off I often find myself asking how can the whole world go on when there are people dying and suffering every day where I work (and of course all over the world) and I'm just forced to cry really hard and go on, and sometimes that is what hurts the most. Having to move on.
ReplyDeleteI didn't mean to just unload all of this, but I've never heard anyone put it that way. Why is everyone going on as normal when I'm in pain.
I am praying with you. Thank you for the quiet.
ReplyDelete