A world of change- March 14, 2011

Like everyone, my heart aches for the people of Japan. Just a year ago it was in Haiti. We watched the tsunami in Thailand back in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

When I used to see the images of catastrophe I thought of the bigger picture. I would marvel at the amazing video of shaking buildings or that one wave engulfing a house. I would wonder about the environmental impact, and economic aftermath. I would tune into the telethons and donate some money to relief efforts while laughing at the gaffs of spoiled celebrities. (Kanye West anyone?)

Of course I was heartbroken by the images of human despair. But, this time it’s different. When I saw the first pictures coming from Japan the first thing I thought was, “How fast could I get to Charlotte to throw my body over hers?” “What if I couldn’t get to her and something fell on her in the quake?” I wondered if I had enough arm strength to hold onto her during a tsunami wave. I had horrific images in my mind of her drowning, or Greyson and I being washed away from each other as we tried to save our daughter. (Ginger too. Lots of pets are killed in disasters like this.)

This child has stuck in my mind.

Associated Press

The caption read “Self Defense Force member reacts to rescuing 4-month-old baby girl.” I have a 4-month-old baby girl. I felt an unbelievable kinship to this child’s mother. She and I were pregnant at the same time. We could’ve had our babies on the same day. I imagined the agony her parents must have been through in the past few days. I have prayed for this family. I rejoice in her safety. I hope her parents are alive too. (The article didn’t say.)

The whole world seems different now. Everything has changed.

4 Responses to “A world of change- March 14, 2011”

Heather says:

March 14, 2011 at 10:02 am

It's amazing how much our views on the world change after having kids. My first reaction to news stories is always "What if those were my kids…" or "I can't imagine what those parents must be feeling" I can't even watch shows like Law & Order SVU anymore – it makes me physically ill to see such terrible things happen to children, even if it's fictional.

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C. Beth says:

March 14, 2011 at 6:17 pm

I found myself thinking about the kids too. Then I find myself trying NOT to think about it…. It's just so horrifying.

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Liz says:

March 15, 2011 at 9:53 am

Scary world events right down to sad TV shows or movies are totally different once becoming a parent. We definitely "see" things differently.

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Jamie says:

March 16, 2011 at 8:52 am

That cliche about your heart living outside your body when you're a mother? It's true. You're seeing it right now. Every baby is your baby. Every child is your child. It makes the news unbearable because in those brief moments, that baby or that child is mine. And I can't stand it.

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