Thursday, December 06, 2007

Not sure what to say. . .

I'm sure if any of you were near a tv yesterday or this morning you heard this news. Omaha is a short 45 minute drive for us, and I've been to THAT mall a gazillion times and THAT store, several.

I know for some of you Utahns, it was a painful reminder of what happened at Trolley Square last February.

As my kids get older, I hate having to try to explain this kind of event. Completely disturbing and senseless. I find myself stumbling over words to tell them what happened. I guess that's a good thing. I did have one emotion that surprised me.

After the initial shock of it all, and thinking of my close friends that live in Omaha that I know shop at that store, I was filled with a true sorrow for that young man. I felt so bad for him and for his family. What a life he must have led, a life he had to struggle through. It made me so thankful for my family and the good life that I had growing up (it was by no means easy, and I certainly made some mistakes, but I was loved and healthy--physically and mentally).

I know people always get so upset about "giving criminals what they want", the shooter himself, said he was going to be "famous" now. But in addition to feeling sorrow for families whose lives changed yesterday, I can find nothing wrong with having empathy for another child of God that was truly lost.

4 comments:

b. said...

I actually DID think about you when I saw the news....sad.

Geo said...

I'm with you.

katielovie said...

I agree with you.

Lyle said...

Having to explain such an event to kids can never be an easy thing. Hopefully they can pcik up on your empathy.