There is no evil in this world quite like the kind that hurts children. It’s unspeakable what happened today in Texas and what has happened all too often in a society that clearly has something that ails it. There isn’t much to say that makes sense of this evil. It’s tough not to question why. It’s hard not to put God on the spot and ask why this evil is allowed to live among us. But it does, and we are left to confront it with our hope and faith that there is something redeemable about humanity. God willing, that hope is not in vain and that faith is one day rewarded. Unfortunately, the usual suspects will shortly begin exploiting this tragedy for their own gain before these victims are even buried. Then the blaming will start and, before long, these dead children will be pawns in a political game with no winners, but an entire society of losers who got stuck playing a game they never wanted. But before that happens, I am hoping people can come together in shared mourning of this senseless evil. Whether or not we have children, we are all parents today.
There are no words of comfort to bring to those parents who have lost their children in such a tragic and senseless way. Their pain is unimaginable. Their suffering is immeasurable. But if there is one thing we can do to honor those who died, it isn’t to lay blame anywhere else than where it belongs or live in fear or anger. Instead, let’s remember that despite our differences, our precious children are always the best of us. We need to let their innocence, blind trust, and unconditional love be the things that drive us every day to be the best version of ourselves. It may mean instead of anger and division, we lead with kindness and shared understanding that but for the grace of God, it could be any one of us living that hell today. It won’t bring that those that were taken, but it may just show us all that perhaps our society isn’t as broken as it seems. Maybe it will be a remarkable first step in helping heal those hearts that are broken tonight. Perhaps we can humble ourselves so that instead of thinking we have all the answers, we work through our children to help make our little corner of the world a little brighter, a little more hopeful, a little more understanding, and, if we are a lucky, a lot less like we feel today.
May we all send prayers for healing and hope to all those who suffered such a terrible loss today. May God bring eternal peace to those departed souls and grant the rest of us the strength and wisdom to make the world they left behind a better place in any way we can. And may we find the courage to be grateful for our blessings and the hope to carry on to a better tomorrow.
Elizabeth Banak Books 