In Memory of the Four

This is going to be a difficult week for the law enforcement community and their families. It is times like this that I wish I weren't counted in that, but the fact is, I am. Seattle and western Washington in particular will be grieving hard because last week we lost 4 brave souls all in one scary, horrific and awful moment. And all of this follows very closely on the heels of a Seattle officer who was killed in the line of duty only a few weeks ago. The memorial for these fallen officers is on Tuesday. I may not have even mentioned it here, except that some wonderful friends we met in China who live alllllllll the way over in New York took the time to email us and express their condolences and concerns upon hearing the news. I was actually quite shocked that the news had made it that far until DH explained to me why it was such big news. These four officers were caught off guard. They were in a coffee shop, enjoying a break, working on paperwork, talking about their Christmas shopping? Who knows. But that is where they were assaulted and killed, like it was just another thing on a to-do list. He was wanted and had served LOTS of time in other states. This is not justice.

I don't know a lot about the situation, mostly for self-preservation. But I do know that every time I hear a Christmas song, I think about those families who lost a member, a sister, a brother, a daughter, a son. I know one had a wife and kids, don't know about the others. I think about that Seattle officer who ended up killing the assaulter. His life will never be the same. None of their lives will.

I'm having difficulty processing this one. I feel so deeply with that wife, possibly wives. I can't imagine how she is doing it, coping. Maybe she is not. I just pray that she has Hope. Please keep these good folks in your prayers this week.