Bravery

This year, for the first time since I have become a mother, I have had to semi-explain the September 11, 2001 attacks to my children. . .

We had the news turned on Friday morning and a video of the towers falling was being shown. They saw pictures with people jumping to their death. They saw a plane crashed into an empty field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, the World Trade Towers, and the Pentagon. They saw people crying and mourning. They heard phone calls made to families. They did all of this with the utmost respect. Then when the segment was over, I knew that I had to explain a little better and I had NO idea what to say or how to say it, so I directed them into the kitchen and gave them a little chore while I thought. . .

While they were busy, my head was spinning. How can I tell them what happened without taking their innocence? How can I make them see just how terrible this was without causing them to be fearful of things? And then, clear as day, I remembered back to when I first heard of the Holocaust - I saw it on TV and I asked my mom what that meant. She, and the baby of the day, sat on my bottom bunk bed, and spoke to me. She kept it simple, yet accurate. Not too much, but just enough to satisify my curiosity. Then she decided that we would together read The Diary of Anne Frank. With the knowledge and trust that I could do this, I said a quick prayer and joined the kiddos on the kitchen floor. . .

They love to hear stories of when I was a little girl, so I started with what I was doing on that day. I told them that mommy was in college and I was asleep when the phone rang. It was Grammie (my mom) telling me to turn on the news. We spoke for a few more minutes and then I called Aunt RaRa (my big sister) who went to college with me at USM. I told them that I watched the news all morning and then went to class, but the teacher had cancelled it so Aunt RaRa and mommy went to church and prayed. After this, I knew I would have to delve a little more deeper. . .

I told the kiddos that there were some people that did not like America and they wanted to make us sad. That they made some very bad choices and hurt a lot of people. Both of the kiddos grandmas are from New York/New Jersey, so we spoke about how it scared us for them. They remembered a few months back when Osama Bin Laden was killed and asked me a question about him. I told them that the bad choices were his idea. We then spoke about the men and women that are serving in our military to keep us safe. To try and prevent this from happening again. I even told them that some of these people will go to Heaven while they are trying to keep us safe. After a few more moments, the conversation was over and they were satisfied, or so I thought.

What came next, surprised me. Hannah and Robert asked me if they could hate the bad guys. They both know that *hate* is not something we say or do in our house; that while we do not have to like everybody, we do have to do what God says and that is to love one another as He loves us. I reminded them of our rule, so they then asked me if they could pray for the bad guys! To pray that they could listen to God and make good choices. Even now, I am still having to pick my jaw up off of the floor. My 4 and 6 year old wanting to pray for the bad guys. Wanting to try and make right a terrible experience. Wanting to try and change the hearts of those that do not like us.

We said a prayer. A prayer for both the bad guys and the good guys. A prayer that they made up and led. A prayer that brought tears to my eyes. Even Wesley joined us, making the sign of the cross and using praying hands. And when they were finished, everybody stood up and went about the day. There have been moments where they will individually come back to me with a question or two, but I answer it openly and honestly, with as much or as little detail as their little minds can handle.

Blessed Pope John Paul II's Prayer
in Response to September 11, 2001

Almighty and merciful God,
You cannot be understood by one who sows discord.
You cannot be accepted by one who loves violence:
Look upon our painful human condition tried by cruel acts of terror and death,
comfort your children and open our hearts to hope,
so that our time may again know days of serenity and peace.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.