Such a tragedy, but this is inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
I happen to be loosely acquainted with Alissa and Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was among the first-grade children murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut in 2012.
I cannot possibly know their pain and grief. I can only imagine how they felt when Emilie’s clothing was returned to them, still with bullet holes in it.
To call it tragic is such a tremendous understatement.
Alissa said her healing began when she reached out to the shooter’s father and decided to meet with him. She realized, in a way, that he was a grieving parent too. And she offered him an olive branch in a way that made an enormous impact on him.
None of this changes what happened. Nobody can change it. But we can affect how we treat each other in the aftermath. We can choose how we react.
I’d like to think I could have the same courage as Alissa and Robbie. But I hope I never have to find out.
My friend caused the death of the headmaster’s only son in high school. They were very forgiving, and did not press charges even though they could. He too dropped out, became an alcoholic, now it’s pills & alcohol and he is yet to get back into society 17 years later. We still reach out, his parents give us updates, but they are also helpless and cannot get him to make any sort of progress. I miss him.
SpecFor on February 22nd, 2021 at 03:38 UTC »
Damn. I hope they're better now.
jackof47trades on February 22nd, 2021 at 04:02 UTC »
Such a tragedy, but this is inspiring. Thank you for sharing.
I happen to be loosely acquainted with Alissa and Robbie Parker, whose daughter Emilie was among the first-grade children murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut in 2012.
I cannot possibly know their pain and grief. I can only imagine how they felt when Emilie’s clothing was returned to them, still with bullet holes in it.
To call it tragic is such a tremendous understatement.
Alissa said her healing began when she reached out to the shooter’s father and decided to meet with him. She realized, in a way, that he was a grieving parent too. And she offered him an olive branch in a way that made an enormous impact on him.
None of this changes what happened. Nobody can change it. But we can affect how we treat each other in the aftermath. We can choose how we react.
I’d like to think I could have the same courage as Alissa and Robbie. But I hope I never have to find out.
Alone-together on February 22nd, 2021 at 06:22 UTC »
My friend caused the death of the headmaster’s only son in high school. They were very forgiving, and did not press charges even though they could. He too dropped out, became an alcoholic, now it’s pills & alcohol and he is yet to get back into society 17 years later. We still reach out, his parents give us updates, but they are also helpless and cannot get him to make any sort of progress. I miss him.