There is no better time than now, when our hearts are simultaneously broken yet grateful for the presence of our own precious treasure, our children and grandchildren, to express our love for them.

The carnage in Newtown ripped my heart. I know the problem is complicated and its solution is crying out for a multifaceted approach, but common sense says it is time to legislate laying down some of our arms.

Death is not the story's title. And death is not the chapter's close. It's what is done in the face of death that makes the tale worth reading.

We are angels on earth who touch and are touched. In a time of darkness, we can be the vehicle for light. Intuitively, every one of us wants to leave the world a better and brighter place. Those that died last week live in us and through us.

On that one day, I saw nothing but love and concern and prayers and even more love from thousands, probably millions, of people. One person caused a lot of darkness, and millions of people responded with overwhelming light.

How does one handle the news that 26 people were shot in an elementary school, 20 of whom were small children? Managing our feelings in situations like this can be confusing and overwhelming. How do we find any power when we're powerless?

Survivors of tragedies struggle in ways that most people find hard to understand. The emotions are complex and confusing. The feelings depend upon on the psychological makeup of the individual involved and vary depending on the nature of the traumatic event.

We went to bed devastated Friday night and woke up on Saturday angry and afraid. We want answers and solutions, and we want to believe that somehow there is a way to move forward. But how? The start is by avoiding the urge to isolate, focusing on reestablishing a sense of safety.

Each of us can light a candle and stand up to darkness. Let's be a community that extends larger than Newtown. We are all connected beyond the boundaries of our cities or towns and can make a difference together.