The Boston Attack through the eyes of a child.

Tonight as we were tucking our littles into bed, they talked about being scared by the attack today during the Boston Marathon.  As I heard the somewhat erie sound of planes frequently flying overhead (having been diverted from flying over Seattle's airspace), I too felt uneasy and could only imagine how my children saw these events.  It was then that my Catholic upbringing kicked into high gear and we calmed them the best we could and said our prayers.  After Jerry and I tucked in Brayden and said good-night, we went into the girls room.  I could tell that my wise old Sage was thinking overtime about the events today in Boston.  We told her the best thing to do was to pray tonight for all those affected and then tomorrow, simply spread good into the world.  Kill evil with love.  Find that lonely classmate and talk to them, be extra kind, be the good that is needed right now, all in honor of the victims of this horrendous attack.

Sage and Saxton both asked to pray the Our Father one more time, and as we finished the prayer I emphasized the line, "deliver us from evil."  It is truly senseless evil that was behind these attacks today and trying to explain such horrors to children is very difficult.  Tonight I concurred that unfortunatly things like this do happen, sadly almost everyday, around the world despicable atrocities take place.  However, we can't live in fear, nor turn our backs.  Instead we need to fight back with peaceful and loving acts.  This might sound utopian and idealistic, but as a parent, it is all I can hope for.  The alternative after all, the thought that things are just going to get worse, that this is our new reality and that life is hopeless, isn't an option.  If we allow it to be, then those who commit these acts have won.

Our hearts and prayers are with all those affected today by the Boston attack.  The whole country truly is behind the city of Boston, the marathon runners and their families.