One Nation, Under God

Eleven years ago when 9-11 happened, I remember hearing about the attacks before school and feeling shock.  But I was 14.  At 14 years old, I was old enough to understand the events and to feel a great sense of sadness for our nation, but I don't think I was old enough to fully grasp the magnitude of grief that that terrible day would bring to America the Great.  America's heart broke that day. I didn't "get" what had REALLY transpired in the hearts and souls of Americans and all the people it so horribly affected.  Now, eleven years later another tragedy has struck America.  Not just America, but my good state of Colorado.  A city just 20 minutes from where I live.  For me, this hits really close to home.  

Shawn woke me up at 5:30 this morning to whisper to me what had happened and immediately I was up and reading and watching the reports.  I know our country has suffered tragic events since September 11th, 2001 (Virginia Tech comes to mind) but this one has really shaken me.  Maybe it's because it's so close to where I live.  Maybe it's because I'm pregnant and a little extra sensitive these days.  Maybe it's just because I'm older and I feel more.  Or maybe it's because I now have a daughter.  I am a Mom.  And it breaks my heart to think of the Mother's of the victims who were at that theater in Aurora.   It's those Mom's I'm thinking of who sent their children/teens off to what should have been an innocent trip to the movies with excitement buzzing. They never could have guessed that it would be the last time they saw their babies.  I think of Lucy 15 years from now, begging me to let her see the midnight showing of a movie premiere.  Me saying yes, and then hours later learning that I should have never let her walk out that door.  I think of myself waiting in line to go to a few midnight premieres in the past!  How lucky I have been to always have been kept safe- to never have a personal tragedy such as this strike my family.  

I just can't wrap my head around the fact that a seemingly innocent 24 year old med-school graduate could do this.  And what's worse is (for now) there is no known motive.  For him to throw gas bombs into a crowd of fans at a movie theater, and then shoot hundreds of bullets and kill over a dozen people-how could he?  71 injured, 12 dead.  The youngest death reported was a 6 year old, the youngest wounded was just a 4 month old baby.  How could someone DO this to anyone?  To strangers?  To people who just wanted to see a good movie.  My brother would have been at the midnight premiere somewhere if he wasn't serving his Mission.  It could have been him who was hurt.  I just feel a deep sadness in my heart.  This event has caused many tears to roll down my face today, many extra kisses and hugs given to Lucy, many prayers of thanks that she is here safe with me, and many prayers asking Heavenly Father to please comfort the hearts of the victims and their families.  Please pray for these people.  Please pray for the people in this world who just have evil in their hearts.  Pray that this world can somehow become a better place.  It isn't fair.  This world can be so scary, and I really pray that as Lucy (and my future babies) grow up, that it doesn't get worse.  I'm sure it will, and my heart aches for the dangers that Lucy will have to face as she gets older.  

Anyway, I just felt the need to ask anyone reading this to pray, as I'm sure you all are already.  This is truly a horrific tragedy and I just hope we can get through it together- One Nation, Under God.