This is a hard one for me to write.
Wednesday September 13th was a late start day, so we didn't have to be to school until 10:15. Seriously NO excuse for being late and I kinda chewed my kids out about it on the way to school- we were skating in about a minute late and as we drove past the high school, I could hear the lock down alarm going off- I figured it was a drill, but Bryson told me that they had just drilled on lockdown the day before...
When we pulled in to the kids' schools, there was a staff member who informed us that all the schools were in lockdown and we just needed to 'sit tight' for a while in the car. Eventually we were brought into the school where we waited for the next few hours and the details started to emerge about a shooting at the high school- fortunately we were all together so I knew my kids were safe the whole time- it brought a lot of peace in the aftermath.
The whole experience has given me such a different perspective recently. There are stories of tragic things all over the news and it can get so overwhelming. The thing I keep telling my kids (and myself!) is that yes, bad things happen. They happen everyday. Some times they're terrible and far reaching, other times, it only affects us personally. The thing to remember, is to look for the good. While
certainly everyone wishes that this had never happened,
so much good has come from it. Love wins. Good wins. I never realized just how much a simple "Freeman Strong" sign on a business in town could mean. It is so touching to see how much people care, how much people give with no expectation of acknowledgement.
Bryson is in high school band and thus participates in the pep band at home football and basketball games. Friday morning I got an email from his band teacher- the school had decided to go on with the football game that night, and he was going to be a "one man pep band". He invited any kids who felt that they were ready to join him. It wasn't required, it wasn't mandatory. The opposing team, and rival school didn't know if there would be a pep band, but knew we needed one, so their kids, as an independent activity, drove themselves the 45+ minutes to Freeman and joined our pep band. It was so touching to hear about. Schools in the league wore Freeman Strong shirts and ribbons. It's just been overwhelming to see the outpouring of love and support.
The first day back to school after the incident, I happened to attend the middle school assembly that morning. The principal shared a beautiful poem by Mother Teresa:
People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, others may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best that you have and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
I love it.
