Tragedy strikes and my heart goes out to the victims and their families.
As someone on the other side of the world, I feel helpless. What can I do? Only pray. As the news unfolds, as the information sounds bleak and scary and horrific, prayer is the only instrument I have.
So, in fear and sadness and confusion, I turn to God.
In this moment, I am grateful for prayers that already have words. More than ever, I need the Hail Mary, the Our Father, prayers I can say while my mind and heart are full. Because I have no words to voice whatever those suffering might need.
As I pray, I watch my children, playing together, arguing and then working it out. I think of them—the present and the future—and I feel helpless all over again.
How can I possibly raise children in this world? How can I prepare children for life when there is hatred that is so strong it leads to this—to so much death, to terror in a city?
The truth is that I can’t.
Even with my husband as my partner in parenthood and in life, I am not able.
I don’t have the knowledge or the strength or the courage or the ability to combat the hatred and tragedy that came to Paris yesterday.
So we will try to raise our children in a home of faith and love and hope. And we will rely on God to do the rest.
“Hold your eyes on God and leave the doing to him,” said Saint Jeanne de Chantal. “That is all the doing you have to worry about.”
Please join me in praying for all those affected by yesterday’s events and for peace in our world.
