My granddaughter lives in Newtown. She is in the first grade. She was in school today. She does not yet know of the horror that was visited upon her town. She and her brother play with toys in my living room.
My daughter-in-law lives in Newtown. Today she experienced a terror few ever know. Hearing news so shocking, bordering on unbelief. Not in Newtown! They escape to our home in New Hampshire--a trip already planned. We relish in the company of our grandchildren as she sits silently, suffering, wondering--who? Her eyes are full, holding back a stream...wondering who?
Speaking not of the tragedy, we watch the kids play. Seeing our treasures, smiling, laughing, we know that by grace or chance our granddaughter was in her school today and not in Sandy Hook Elementary across town. I am unable to comprehend what another granddad or granny in another house might be going through. Struggling to envision another granddaughter or grandson now gone. A mom, a dad stunned in disbelief that this could be happening.
My son lives in Newtown. He is as strong a man as I have ever known. He sits in silence--shaken. Wondering why? Snuggling his daughter as they watch a cartoon. Words are not sufficient.
The kids sleep. The parents can finally talk and hug and weep for their friends and neighbors and their indescribable loss--but they do not sleep much.
Pundits blame the guns...again, but no one speaks of evil or sickness. People did not use guns in Oklahoma City or Auschwitz or Dachau. We live in a broken world with broken people. One lived in Newtown.
My kids live in Newtown. Their hearts are broken tonight.
Mine is too.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)