I follow stories about missing children, now. I don’t think they registered quite as strongly before I was a parent. With the news about Terri Schiavo, the tragedy of Jessica Lunsford (age 9, may she rest in peace) and all the other depressing stuff in the news (What ever happened to the newspaper GRIT ?) This story stood out a bit for me. A bright spot, and something to offer thanks for.
These two kids were abducted in Atlanta by their Mother’s estranged boyfriend. He shot their grandfather and took off with them. Their captor having committed violence in the act of abducting them, I would hazard a guess that their chances were not good. But they are back home, now. They are safe.
In the case of Jessica Lunsford, at least the man was caught, and quickly. Cudos to the authorities responsible for nabbing him. My daughter is 9. If such a thing were to happen to our family, I don’t know that I would ever be wholly sane again. Our prayers go out to her family and community.
I must say that, since becoming a parent, whenever I see a story of someone losing a child it just about kills me as I think of how that would be to lose my baby. I now have a much greater sympathy for what Mary went through during the Passion.
On a slightly positive note, GRIT is apparently still around, at http://www.grit.com. I remember selling it in the 70s, but I thought it had gone by the boards long ago.