This morning I had the same feeling I had thirteen years ago. Sending Matt off to school this morning there was a moment of anxiety. Also, I know Gavin has exams today at college and after what happened this weekend, it’s unsettling to have your kids off in a world where people think taking someone else’s life is an option, even the lives of children.

I have to remember to take my own advice and…

pause. breathe. pray.

I remember the Monday after Sandy Hook thinking that if I didn’t send my kids back to school that day, I may never be able to send them off again. So Kate and Gavin went off to school and I sat and prayed over them, the other kids, their bus, the school faculty and staff, their classrooms, their schools.

Sadly, all these years later, I’m still praying for protection over our kids at school, and doing what is mine to do to try and make our kids safer.

I refuse to allow fear to win. We need light to outweigh the darkness and love to win.

And so that is the choice I will make today, to mourn with those who are mourning and, in honor of those lives lost, do my part to be love and light and not allow the darkness and fear to take root in my heart. This will be a wrestling match within yet I know who will win. And I pray love and light not only win the battle for my heart and mind, but for yours as well, and in our homes, communities, and in our nation.

Something needs to change.

What is ours to do today to be a part of that change?

With love and hope,
Shawn

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it - John 1:5