The Holidays are a time to celebrate with family the joys of being together, giving gratitude for all that we have, and remembering those that have gone on before us. Unfortunately for many in this Connecticut neighborhood and others around the world who have lost loved ones, the holidays will be forever changed.
We could discuss the need for greater gun control in the United States as well as getting America to wake up to the importance of getting proper help with those who suffer form personality and mental disorders. We could discuss the need for a spiritual awakening and better communication in our relationships. But instead, we’d like to celebrate the life of all those who died yesterday.
They were each someone’s child, mother, father, sibling, partner and friend. The gift of life is one of our greatest treasures and no one has the right to take it away, especially in such callous and cruel ways. I think most parents spent a little bit more time with our children last night and watching them more closely as they went about the business. I know I did.
“Children are the hands by which we take hold of Heaven” -Rev. Henry Ward Beecher
Children are our greatest examples of selflessness, love, and kindness. They have their moments of growth where it can be a bit challenging, but in the next instant they surprise us with their compassion and love. They are closer to Heaven than we are and remind us just how simple life really is.
Each of these children that left this world prematurely will be missed on a level that human words cannot express or define. But the memories of joy and love they have left as their legacy will live on.
If there is anything we can learn from yesterdays event and those proceeding this tragedy, it’s to love and give love everyday. We don’t know when our moment will come and we need to make sure that our last moments are always on a happy, loving note. You can’t tell your loved ones “I love you” enough. This has also made me realize just how important it is to choose your battles.
Another way to show love is to give of your time to those in need. If any of our readers live near the Sandy Hook Elementary School area, we would encourage you to find a way in which you can serve the families and communities at this time. It may be as simple as helping out with daily chores that will easily be forgotten at this time.
Our prayers are with the families, survivors and first responders who will need all the support needed to make it through the next few days, weeks, months, and years. God bless you and watch over you. May His love engulf you and provide the comfort and peace designed specifically for you.
All our love,
Staff from Linked in Hollywood
Be Still My Soul
“Be still, my soul: the Lord is on thy side.
Bear patiently the cross of grief or pain.
Leave to thy God to order and provide;
In every change, He faithful will remain.
Be still, my soul: thy best, thy heavenly Friend
Through thorny ways leads to a joyful end.
Be still, my soul: thy God doth undertake
To guide the future, as He has the past.
Thy hope, thy confidence let nothing shake;
All now mysterious shall be bright at last.
Be still, my soul: the waves and winds still know
His voice Who ruled them while He dwelt below.
Be still, my soul: when dearest friends depart,
And all is darkened in the vale of tears,
Then shalt thou better know His love, His heart,
Who comes to soothe thy sorrow and thy fears.
Be still, my soul: thy Jesus can repay
From His own fullness all He takes away.
Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on
When we shall be forever with the Lord.
When disappointment, grief and fear are gone,
Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored.
Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past
All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.
Be still, my soul: begin the song of praise
On earth, believing, to Thy Lord on high;
Acknowledge Him in all thy words and ways,
So shall He view thee with a well pleased eye.
Be still, my soul: the Sun of life divine
Through passing clouds shall but more brightly shine.”
comicreleaf
comicrelief2
Comic Relief
parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
LIH
linkedinhollywood.com 
This beautiful arrangment and choir bring chills. I wish I could be there to give service. All I can do at the moment is pray.
Yes, this music is very comforting and consoling. Very lovely.
Everyone,
Do you think tragedies like this are mostly gun control? Mental disorders? Or are there other factors combined that we should be looking into to avoid such incidents?
LB- I have a few theories. Yet, I’m still too upset to give my thoughts without becoming belligerent. Perhaps tomorrow.
LB,
So sad, I would not know where to begin…
I copied and pasted this from Facebook. Morgan Freeman is a brilliant man.
TURN OFF THE NEWS…….
Morgan Freeman’s brilliant take on what happened yesterday :
“You want to know why. This may sound cynical, but here’s why.
It’s because of the way the media reports it. Flip on the news and watch how we treat the Batman theater shooter and the Oregon mall shooter like celebrities. Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris are household names, but do you know the name of a single *victim* of Columbine? Disturbed
people who would otherwise just off themselves in their basements see the news and want to top it by doing something worse, and going out in a memorable way. Why a grade school? Why children? Because he’ll be remembered as a horrible monster, instead of a sad nobody.
CNN’s article says that if the body count “holds up”, this will rank as the second deadliest shooting behind Virginia Tech, as if statistics somehow make one shooting worse than another. Then they post a video interview of third-graders for all the details of what they saw and heard while the shootings were happening. Fox News has plastered the killer’s face on all their reports for hours. Any articles or news stories yet that focus on the victims and ignore the killer’s identity? None that I’ve seen yet. Because they don’t sell. So congratulations, sensationalist media, you’ve just lit the fire for someone to top this and knock off a day care center or a maternity ward next.
You can help by forgetting you ever read this man’s name, and remembering the name of at least one victim. You can help by donating to mental health research instead of pointing to gun control as the problem. You can help by turning off the news.”
Morgan Freeman: BRAVO! BRA-VO!! I have much to add, but I’m too tired to do it right now.
Applause! OMGosh this was so wonderfully said. No this was not cynical its the TRUTH. I have a tear in my eye. Morgan Freeman said all the things I’ve been thinking these last few days but too angry and upset to articulate. Thank u Paris for posting this.
Thanks Morgan, but even more Paris; for the generous post. I guess we have some bad behavior to purge. Hopefully we’ll learn how to support this group of victims without supporting another generation of copycat killers.