Bunny Kisses, Lilacs & Bird Songs

I saw a couple very disturbing articles of news on the Internet yesterday. A mock-gunman-attack-drill staged poorly, traumatizing 11 yr olds & their families was one story. More disturbing however, was the 98 yr old man being beaten by a carjacker with on-lookers doing nothing! This is sickening to me. I had the misfortune of my husband having free time this morning & turning on the television news before he left for work. There was discussion of this previously mentioned event several times & the video clip played twice. The third time it came on with the full news story I left the room, too choked up to talk, tears in my eyes to where I could hardly see to navigate the stairs outside. How could someone let this happen?! Why are people more than willing to protest everything & sue everyone but not get involved to help an elderly man? Don't speak harshly to a child in public or people will get in your business telling you that the child's psyche will be damaged, but by all means, lets stand around & watch a defenseless senior citizen be beaten. I'm sick, I'm ashamed of what our society & culture has become. Where is the hope? To me, those people who watched are negligent, they are practically accessories in allowing this crime to be committed. Where's the humanity?

On top of all this I received further news yesterday of some of the assault & "grooming" that took place against my friend's daughter, she was only 12. The stress from enduring the sexual assault & trauma caused her to start fires & to pick sores on her scalp that became infected. My friend was given a pamphlet written by jailed sex offenders about how they will gain access to children. I had chills & goosebumps & my stomach in knots hearing this information. By the way, it is important to know that fire-starting is a sign of someone being a victim of sexual abuse. So was the nervous picking, however my friend had no idea why her daughter had sores on her head & her daughter didn't even know she'd done it herself. Again I have to ask, where is the hope? Where is the humanity?

Another friend I spoke with yesterday was working on finding a home for a good 17 yr old boy with a 3.5 GPA & a 20 hr a week job. Why does a good kid end up walking the street looking for a place to sleep? Sadly the possible reasons are too many to count. Where's the hope? Where's the humanity?

The answer is that hope & humanity lie within each one of us. We need to act without fear & do what is morally right. My friend let the boy stay with her overnight & if she hadn't already had a houseful would have kept him longer. Luckily she found placement for him with an organization called Integral Youth Services. The monster that preyed upon my friend's daughter & others is no longer getting away with his sick acts & is being prosecuted. The only reason this even came to light is because one woman took a chance & called another woman to ask questions. Why are we often afraid to communicate with one another? Why is society so worried about being politically correct that we are immobilized? It needs to stop. Get involved! No matter what disability or limitations one faces there is always a way to help. No matter your economic background or standing there is always something that can be done. Maybe as little as thanking the gas station attendant & telling him or her to have a nice day, can be enough to let someone know someone else cares. A phone call or email may save someone from a suicide attempt. Get involved. Know your neighbors, know your community, know your resources, know how to help others or at least where to find help for others. That is the very least any of us can do for one another.

When I did make it down the stairs & blinked the tears from my eyes, was witness to something beautiful. Something God knew I needed to see. Our family bunny rushed over to the side of it's pen to greet our dogs. The big dog & the bunny kissed good-morning. It was so inspiring that these wonderful little creatures of God were loving & kind to one another. If they can be - so can we. The lilacs are blooming, despite abundant allergies their fragrance & beauty is comforting. Birds are singing too. Thank God for these things. Thank God for hope & humanity, even when I have to look to smaller creatures to demonstrate it. Be Blessed Dear Readers & furthermore, please, be a Blessing to Others as well. Thank you for reading.