I just thought I’d offer a prayer to the victims of the horrible tragedy today and their families. I wish I could say more but I don’t think there is a word out there strong enough to describe the horror of this event. Children are the light of the world. I can’t even imagine what it is like for the people of Newtown right now. Today was an awful event, terrible beyond belief.
[name]Amen[/name]. A complete senseless tragedy, I can’t imagine what the people in Newtown must be going through. Thoughts and prayers.
It tore my heart up. My thoughts and prayers just go up to the family members of those who were killed and the survivors of this tradgedy.
Tragic, and unimaginable. All my love to Newtown, from here in the UK.
Some of my thoughts: Those parents sent their little ones to school in the morning never imagining they would never be returning home… never see them smile or hear their voices again. The children’s breakfast dishes or crumbs will have been left on the table or in the sink, toys around the house, their toothbrushes in their holders in the bathroom, [name]Christmas[/name] presents carefully hidden… I can’t even imagine the nightmarish pain and agony of those families. I pray that they find comfort and strength.
Heartbreaking 
I just keep thinking how those parents, such a short time ago, were going through their pregnancies with excitement and choosing names for their much-loved babies just like many of us are now…with no idea of this senseless tragedy that would befall them such a short time later. It is horrifying.
And at school … a place that you naturally assume your child will be safe.
My prayers are with them all.
Ugh…I’ve had the same exact thoughts and feelings as those you’ve all described. Thinking of their unopened [name]Christmas[/name] presents, too.
Someone posted this on Facebook. I don’t mean to offend anyone’s religious views, but I think this is well-said:
A [name]Christmas[/name] Prayer
[name]Max[/name] Lucado
[i]Dear [name]Jesus[/name],
It’s a good thing you were born at night. This world sure seems dark. I have a good eye for silver linings. But they seem dimmer lately.
These killings, [name]Lord[/name]. These children, [name]Lord[/name]. Innocence violated. Raw evil demonstrated.
The whole world seems on edge. Trigger-happy. Ticked off. We hear threats of chemical weapons and nuclear bombs. Are we one button-push away from annihilation?
Your world seems a bit darker this [name]Christmas[/name]. But you were born in the dark, right? You came at night. The shepherds were nightshift workers. The Wise Men followed a star. Your first cries were heard in the shadows. To see your face, [name]Mary[/name] and [name]Joseph[/name] needed a candle flame. It was dark. Dark with Herod’s jealousy. Dark with [name]Roman[/name] oppression. Dark with poverty. Dark with violence.
Herod went on a rampage, killing babies. [name]Joseph[/name] took you and your mom into [name]Egypt[/name]. You were an immigrant before you were a Nazarene.
Oh, [name]Lord[/name] [name]Jesus[/name], you entered the dark world of your day. Won’t you enter ours? We are weary of bloodshed. We, like the wise men, are looking for a star. We, like the shepherds, are kneeling at a manger.
This [name]Christmas[/name], we ask you, heal us, help us, be born anew in us.
Hopefully,
Your Children[/i]
Words cannot describe how I feel about this awful, awful tragedy. I cried so much when I heard about it just thinking that it could have been my daughter or my son there in this dreadful situation. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and children involved.
[name]Bree[/name]
My friend has family in Newtown, and her cousin’s daughter attends [name]Sandy[/name] Hook, but was unwell yesterday so was not in attendance.
No-one from her class was hurt, but of course her daughter knew the students killed, and adored the principal and other staff who were killed. Somehow the cousin has to explain to her daughter about this.
[name]How[/name] do you even begin to do that?
It’s beyond comprehension.
maggiemary, so glad to hear your friends family is ok-- what a long path to healing everyone has though.
I had one of the 6 y.o. girls in a pre-ballet class I used to teach. I just can’t stop thinking about how small she was, there are a million other things that would seem to mean more, but for some reason that’s all I can think-- soo small. I can’t even imagine what so many parents are going through right now. Horrible.
Thank you for sharing this.
That’s horrible, I am so sorry! I too teach ballet, and last night when I went in for the class, I gave each of my precious little dancers a hug. I’m so sorry this happened to someone you knew.
Thank you, encore, I think I’m still pretty numb over this. I haven’t seen her since recital day when we took pictures after, I know I’ve suggested her name on nameberry before because its rather unique. [name]Just[/name] makes you sick to think about it all, there’s a news ban in my house for a few days–too much.
Give your little dancers an extra hug from connecticut!
I too really appreciated this. I won’t post much about what happened. The killings feel much the same for me as when a child is struck down by a drunk driver or pertussis or my own son’s loss to SIDS. Physically I am fine, but somehow it feels harder to breathe, if that makes sense. This weight is placed upon your chest and you only want to lay flat upon the ground and cry for hours and days on end. I mourn the loss of every child, no matter how they left this earth. But this was horrific, something I cannot believe I lived to witness in my time.
It’s always tragic to lose a child or a loved one too soon in life. It’s even more devastating to suffer this loss in a violent and senseless act of cowardice and at such a time of goodwill. I can’t even imagine what the holidays are going to be like for those left behind. My thoughts and prayers are with the families, friends and community of Newtown. A lot of healing ahead for so many people.
I write for a weekly, smalltown newspaper in my area, and my editor asked me last night to try and put together a last-minute piece on how we can all cope with the trauma and emotions that come from watching this shooting news. I sent out emails to several counselors and psychologists, not expecting to hear back from anyone over the weekend, but this morning an EXCELLENT local psychologist (who is also a psychology professor) returned THOROUGH feedback. He said that we all ARE at risk of PTSD simply from following the news coverage (this is called “secondary trauma”). Tonight I will be putting together the article, and when I do, I will try and remember to post some of his coping tips on this thread. He also discussed how to help children cope with the news. His feedback is very helpful. I won’t quote him on here, but I will paraphrase some of his most helpful tips later today or tomorrow.
Days like Friday I remember why I homeschool…I’m not saying it’s the best thing, or that everyone should, but…
I don’t have children of my own, but all I could think about was the fact that I coach girls that age. I ran through each of them in my head and thought about what the world would be like if we lost any of them, and it truly saddened me.
People are already back on Facebook complaining about being home with their sick children today. On Friday, there were parents wishing their children had been sick so they could have another day to hug their children and tell them how much they love them.
Today I’m praying for the seven families known to be hosting funerals for their children, sisters and friends this morning.
It certainly was one of the worst shootings i’ve ever heard of. I was so torn up… God bless Newtown.
Lineska - I really don’t know what to say - I’m so sorry to hear that you knew one of the beautiful angels who lost their life.
On Friday, [name]Elizabeth[/name] (my twin) and I were meant to go out with family and celebrate, because both of us had been accepted (early decision) by our first choice colleges. We didn’t go. None of us felt in the mood. The joy I had felt the previous day had gone, because all I kept thinking to myself was, ‘those 20 children will never get this feeling’.
I’m one of these people who always gets affected by tragedies, wherever they are in the world, but apart from the 9/11 attacks, I have never been as affected by something as I have this.
My thoughts are with the whole community and will be so for a long time.
Edited to add: Newtown is only about an hour and an half from where I live, and that part of Connecticut feels quite “local” (my parents both work with people in NYC who travel that that kind of area), so I think that’s one of the reasons I have been so affected. It almost feels like it’s on the doorstep, even though it isn’t.