Shine the light.
It’s the only way to find our way out.
It’s the only way to find joy again.
It’s the only way to find solutions.
Shine the light.
Shine the light on love, on family, on holding tight to whatever keeps you going, be that your faith or your convictions.
Shine the light on real discussions about real issues… ALL OF THEM.
Shine the light on action.
Shine the light on humanity, compassion, and empathy.
It’s hard to get back to blogging… to get back to life right now. It’s hard to prepare for Christmas, to send the cards, to wrap the gifts. I’ve been thinking a lot about what I can do, like so many of us. And all I can come up with is I need to be a spark, a light. I need to take all this sorrow, which is slowly turning into a boiling rage, and make it into something positive.
I’m not here to tell anyone how to grieve, or how to act. I’m not telling you how to feel about these issues or what needs to be done. But I? I will be sending leftover holiday cards to lawmakers, and signing petitions that urge lawmakers to seriously discuss ALL the issues that came to play here- from access to mental health care to gun control. I will shine my light on those actions, as I also continue to shine it on my love for my family and compassion for others.
I’ll leave you with the most touching tribute I’ve seen to the Sandy Hook victims, from last night’s The Voice.
- 16Shares
28 comments
RT @babyrabies: Shine The Light: Shine the light. It’s the only way to find our way out. http://t.co/cXz03HUy
@babyrabies I didn’t see that last night. So moving. Thank you for sharing. And thank you for the post.
Love this post. I couldn’t agree more. And that video is amazing.
Thank you for sharing the links above. As a blogger I am also finding it hard to start writing again.
RT @babyrabies: Shine The Light: Shine the light. It’s the only way to find our way out. http://t.co/cXz03HUy
RT @babyrabies: Shine The Light: Shine the light. It’s the only way to find our way out. http://t.co/cXz03HUy
@babyrabies that is very touching. I think of those poor children every time I watch my own. It makes me very sad and angry at the same time
Beautiful. Thank you for posting.
Beautifully stated Jill. This horrible, horrible tragedy happened just 30 minutes from where I live. I am the mother of 3 children – one who will be attending Kindergarten in the Fall. I’m also an elementary educator in a K-4 school and up until Friday I’ve always felt safe in my classroom. This has hit very close to home for me for so many reasons and my emotions are raw. I have felt anger, grief, rage, terror, sadness, disbelief and anxiety over these innocent young lives lost and for their families who are left behind to try and make sense of this utterly senseless act. I didn’t want to send my daughter to preschool yesterday because I was too scared. The emotional side of me wanted to keep her home with me, we’d have a play date with the kids up the street. The rational side of me knew I should bring her and had to bring her and that keeping her home wasn’t the answer, I can’t keep her home with me forever. Sending my child to school will never be the same and I know so many parents are feeling these same feelings as I am.
Oh, Jen. I am so sorry you’re so close to this tragedy. My heart goes out to your entire community.
Damn. That video got me. Every single thing I read and watch gets me. Thanks for sharing.
I love how concerned you are with other people. Whether it is a sick child, a friend going through a tough emotional time, or innocent victims of senseless violence, I love that you use your blog and popularity to bring awareness and that you try to have a positive affect. I am very proud that you are my niece and that I have the pleasure of having you in my life. Thank you for this post and for taking the time and using your talent to make a positive impact.
I’m a new reader of your blog. Love your message here!
That video was beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Beautiful video, thank you for sharing. I’ve been crying through all of our Christmas preparations this week, thinking about those families, and wishing there was something I could do for them.
In addition to addressing the issues pertaining to mental health and gun control, I REALLY wish that there could be some government restrictions put in place in regards to HOW stories like this are reported in the media. There was so much irresponsible reporting in this tragedy it made me sick. I know, I know, freedom of speech and all, but truly, there has to be a way to get a handle on the reporting of these stories. I honestly believe the media has influence in these reoccurring nightmares.
Thanks for posting. Grew up 15 min away and this is so amazingly difficult to watch. That was a beautiful tribute.
The Voice made me tear up last night (for what felt like the thousandth time since Friday) — such a moving, beautiful tribute.
Thanks for sharing the video. So moving in such a time of emotional upheaval. I too am having a hard time griping with how such a horrific tragedy had to happen for change to hopefully occur. Tonight I focused on making home made gifts for my kids’ teachers, the unsung heroes.
As I watched that tribute on The Voice last night, I bawled the whole time. I truly cannot wrap my head around how horrific Friday’s events were. Makes me love on my own kids that much more.
Ugh I saw part of this tribute on TV today and was back to crying again. This picture was perfect, the post was great and this whole situation really has forced us all to take a look at our own lives and be grateful for what we are so lucky to have.
Thank you Jill. Beautiful post and photo. I’m right there with you. I totally agree that shining the light is the right way forward, but my light feels so very dim right now.
I heard a comment by Noah Pozner’s rabbi on “All Things Considered” today that I found very moving. I couldn’t find the transcript of the whole story, so I went replayed it and typed out what he said: “Noah, his classmates, and his heroic teachers who died trying to protect him, are with God in heaven. Now it’s our responsibility to bring heaven down to earth, act by act, good deed by good deed, until we reach a world filled with goodness and light.”
Just FYI, in case you weren’t aware: http://www.causes.com/causes/807161-stand-with-sandy-hook/actions/1716727
Hope you’re on the mend…
So moving. I keep coming back to watch it and have shown it to family & friends. My heart breaks for those families…and wow, does it really put things in perspective. It’s not about buying them the newest, biggest & best gift out there…it’s about simply being able to tuck them in at night.
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