On and off all day today, I’ve just been staring at my computer screen.

Words seem so empty today. So shallow. So hollow.

Any words that do come to my mind don’t seem significant enough to share. So I sit and stare at my computer screen once more, trying to find a way to express how I feel. But no words can really express how I feel. My Christmas spirit is dimmed.

I learned about the CT school tragedy yesterday at work. While I was in between phone calls, a co-worker announced that 27 people, mostly small children, had been shot and killed at their school. 20 of them were under the age of seven.

I felt my lip start to quiver. I did my best to pull myself together but all I really wanted to do was cry and scream and sob. But I did my best to say as professional as I could. When it was finally lunch-time, I got in my car and sobbed deeply.

There is nothing any of us can say to explain this immense tragedy. There is nothing we can say to dull the pain, to take away the ache, to remove the crushing blow that these families and this community has experienced.

It’s bad enough that this happened at all. It’s even worse that it happened 11 days before Christmas. At a time when these children were looking forward to Christmas and Santa, their families are now planning funerals.

And so, I like so many other Americans and people around the world, grieve with this community. I do not know a single person there but I now feel like I do. I feel a connection I cannot explain. My prayers for these people are constant and heart-felt. I wish I could reach out and hug every person affected. I wish I could take a giant eraser; I wish I could hit a re-wind button, and erase this horrible tragedy away. But I cannot. I do not understand why this happened. Sometimes, I don’t understand God and His ways.

And so, in light of yesterday’s tragedy, I have decided to end this year’s 25 Days Of Christmas series. I feel like it’s the right thing to do. Really, my heart isn’t into writing about Christmas anymore this year.

I would like to share the address of Sandy Hook Elementary School, where the tragedy took place yesterday. I encourage anyone who feels compelled to send a card to the school with a note of prayer or encouragement or whatever is on your heart. People are also enclosing a $1.00 to help with funeral expenses for the families affected. If you feel compelled to do that, that would be so kind but please don’t feel that you have to.

Sandy Hook Elementary School
12 Dickenson Drive
Sandy Hook, CT 06482

Please copy/paste/share widely. Sending a card is something small but at least it’s something we can do.

Hug your children. Tell them you love them. And remember that each day we have on this earth is a gift. May God’s love and mercy reach out and touch those affected by this horrific and unthinkable tragedy.

A friend of mine shared this with me on Facebook last night. When I saw it, I just wept and wept. My only hope is that when those sweet children were finally face to face with Jesus, these are the words that those sweet children heard. They are at peace in the arms of their loving God.

On my way home from work yesterday, this song came on my CD player and it just said it best.

May God’s mercy heal of all us. And may His love cover us, too.