Today I honor the beautiful children and teachers who died on December 14th in a first grade class in America. To lose a child is a terrible thing. Our hearts are with the families, as many hearts were with ours when we lost our son, Solomon, in sudden car accident, less than a year ago. The way back from sudden tragedy of this proportion is full of sorrow. The loss of a child, a sister, a parent, a friend – opens the heart. What we make of that is up to us.

Lets focus on sending love and support to the families.

Gun control, yes, but what about mental health? Here are words from Morgan Freeman, who asks us to not focus on the shooter but instead:

“You can help by forgetting you ever read this man’s name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of  just pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news.”

Imagine the media frenzy around the families by today’s voracious, people-hounding press. I send them prayers of protection, and a shield against unwanted, invasive attention. That’s what they need, protection.

And this very powerful article in the Huffington Post from a mother with a violent, mentally ill thirteen year old son she is “terrified of.” This is something we can work to fix, in memory of all these children and teachers who died.

< http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/16/i-am-adam-lanzas-mother-mental-illness-conversation_n_2311009.html>

~~ First Graders: Charlotte, Daniel, Olivia, Josephine, Ana, Dylan, Madeline, Catherine, Chase, Jesse, James, Grace, Emilie, Jack, Noah, Caroline, Jessica, Avielle, Benjamin, Allison ~ ~

~~ Adults: Rachel, Dawn, Anne Marie, Lauren, Mary, Victoria.

      Victoria Soto, First Grade teacher

Victoria died a hero. She hid her first graders in the cabinets and closets after hearing the gunfire. When the shooter came to her classroom, she told him that her students were in the gym. He shot her. She saved the lives of all of her students. Please pass this on if you see it. She deserves to be remembered for her bravery.

May you go peacefully into heavenly fields!  May you be with  angels of light!

Noah Pozner age 6

Emily Alice Parker age 6