When I spoke to my 6yo daughter on Sunday about the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, I focused on the brave teachers and good people who rushed to protect the children. And I talked to her about being a leader in a situation when her teacher is trying to keep her safe, like reminding her friends to be quiet for teacher, or holding the hand of a friend who is scared. I told her that even when something awful is happening, we have to try to be the very best we can be.
Benny rested his head on his big sister’s shoulder, safe in the knowledge of his four year old world that his big sister is his hero. I hated to have to tell her today about this event, it is something that should have never happened and something no family should have to live through or have explain to a child. The details were left out — like the fact it was first graders just like her who were the children killed or that a principal just like her own went running towards the gunman.
But I do not regret telling her the little bit that I did. Because what my husband and I could not make sense of this weekend and are really in too much pain to cry or talk about, our six year worked out what our brains needed to understand.
Love wins. Even in the very, very darkest of times, love wins. It may not change things or make everything right, but it is what will get us through.
5 Responses to “Love Wins”
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I don’t necessarily think that love won in this situation, but I appreciate the way that you told your daughter and the way that she lived out the message.
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melissa Reply:
December 18th, 2012 at 12:15 pm
Mary -
Love was present, even during the massacre. The amazingly brave teachers, the first responders who rushed to the scene, the students who comforted each other, the parents who held each other in their greatest moment of grief. Clearly Adam Lanza’s heart was void of love or compassion, and a preventable situation will now sit at the bottom of this nation’s heart. But love was demonstrated in the building that day. And it is what will carry us through, and help us to heal.
Love cannot change what happened. Nothing can. But love can carry us through.
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[...] we’ll have given up our precious freedoms and terrorists will have ‘won’… Let’s hope “love wins” [...]
Hi Melissa,sorry if this is a rude question,but are you a Christian?Beautiful article by the way.Love will always be present.
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melissa Reply:
December 26th, 2012 at 6:44 pm
Hi Annie -
I don’t think that is a rude question. I don’t consider myself to be religious, so I wouldn’t say I’m a Christian though I was raised Presbyterian. But I do see beautiful lessons and stories in many of the religions I have studied, and I love learning about how different people worship and practice faith.
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