I do not share the meaning of my tattoos on a regular basis, nor do I tell the stories behind them, as I find it deeply personal and representative of an important space and time in my life. In fact, I have made up stories and jokes that immediately get people off the topic and have become quite effective. But in the wake of the terror that happened this past Friday morning at Sandy Hook Elementary school in Newtown Connecticut, I’ve decided to share one of my tattoos with the blogging world. It is placed underneath my left arm and is lightly inscribed in gray cursive saying, “Sorrow is healed with love, laughter, and compassion.”
When I read the horrific news about a small elementary school in Connecticut Friday morning, I had the immediate reaction that most of us experienced. Anger. Hatred. Frustration. Confusion. More Anger. I couldn’t contemplate why someone would not only harm their mother and other adults, but then hurt and kill precious and innocent children. My mind was rotten with horrible thoughts and images of pain and suffering. What would they tell the parents? What was happening in our country? I’d seen shootings before, but children? Elementary schools? I cried, and cried, and punched a few pillows. It wasn’t until I saw the outpouring of tears and emotion, even from our president on live television, that I realized I wasn’t alone in my anger and sadness. In fact, the whole world was crying.
I can honestly say that my anger and frustration has not ceased. The more I see the images on television, the parents coming forward in grief, the innocent little faces broadcast on every news site, the more I feel that the pain in this country and in that town, is far from over. It is this reason that I look to my left arm many times a day and remind myself why I painted a permanent message that describes the healing process; Love, laughter, and compassion.
In times of grief and suffering, we must join together and do as Jesus taught, by loving one another fully and completely. We must learn to laugh, even when tears frequently glide past our cheeks. Lastly, we must have compassion, and in this specific case, even for the young man who committed such a heinous crime. None of us truly know the horror he felt, or what was going on behind closed doors.
Tonight as the sky cries and the cold sets in, I am still angry, frustrated, and my heart is completely broken for the families of the victims, as well as a community that may never fill this new void. But I am warm with the thought of my own family, who I will, as the president suggested, “hug a little tighter” and tell them how dearly they mean to me. I can promise you that through sorrow and grief, just like a tattoo, wounds can be healed leaving a scar or memory as a reminder of our strength. May we all hold the scar of this latest shooting as a reminder to keep each other close and show compassion in a violent world. God bless Sandy Hook Elementary, the families, and the whole community of Newtown. Keep praying.
haleybee 