A lovely day at the movie theater with our two
grandchildren. The littlest found it
hard to sit still so I took him for a walk in the mall to burn off a little
energy. About halfway down the mall I
suddenly began looking to see where an exit door was or a service entrance. I looked at people with backpacks as I held
the little one's hand and wondered how I would keep him safe if a person began
shooting in the mall.
I raised three children, sometimes it seemed like dragging
them, when it was really me nagging, cajoling, bribing them to get errands
done. In and out of malls, Target,
grocery stores, discount centers and never did I worry about a shooter. I worried if I was going to pull my hair out
or who might be in time out when we got home if they didn’t stop terrorizing
each other.
With my oldest grandson, we have been in many of those same places
I took my kids to and never worried about a shooter. After three mass shootings in a week, I was
looking around that mall differently than I would have a week prior.
I don’t want to worry about every angry person who walks by
me. I don’t want to wonder what is in
that heavy backpack. I don’t want to
live like this, but this is a new reality.
I am not going to stay home and be a hermit, but I am going to be more
aware of where I am and what my options are.
I pray that those who are in power and can make changes will
look at the families and friends of those who have lost a loved one and grieve
with them, have sympathy for their pain, and if they have ever lost a loved one
for any reason then to feel empathy, and try to prevent another family from the
unthinkable.
