On that Friday morning, Dylan Hockley, an autistic boy, and his special education aid Anne Marie Murphy saw evil.  Evil came in to one of the happiest place they knew…a classroom.  Anne Marie held Dylan, loved him in his last earthly moments; was trying to shield him from danger, and died with him in her arms.  In every school in America, there are teachers who love their students this much.  No, they will not all be tested and asked to pay the ultimate price…but this kind of love and caring is present in the educators of America.

All present in America is a spectrum of people….complete evil to total good and everything in between.  So many souls are broken and hurting and wanting comfort.  Evil is everywhere around us… but God is with us.  This made me think of Jesus’ birth and how threatening his power was to King Herod.  Herod wanted this newborn King killed.  When the Magi outsmarted Herod and forewarned Mary and Joseph to flee with the infant, Herod had male children under two killed.  Yes, this is a horrible story.  One that is difficult to read when you really think about what it means.

The advent calendar in our house is a series of little books…one for each day… that contain bits of the Christmas story.  They are also ornaments that are hung on the tree.  A good portion of the story is about Herod…yes, it is out of order…Herod’s order to slaughter the children would have come two years after Jesus’ birth.  But the retelling of Herod made it very clear to me that God is in control.  He has a plan for the world and for each of us.  God also understands what it means to suffer loss.  I am comforted by this.

I will leave you with this….I am stronger, more compassionate, less indifferent, and closer to my God because of the trials and suffering in my life.  God knows what I need and provides.