Suzanne Strong

Hey everyone,

Yesterday, I had a lovely time with family for Christmas but it was also a week since the Bondi shooting. In my country of Australia, we have not had anything significant like this thankfully. But what a horrible day it was last Sunday. Fifteen people, some Jewish and a few who were not, were gunned down by two shooters. Yesterday we had a minute of silence for these people. It was so devastating to think of the loss of these families at this time of the year, it is hard to comprehend the pain.

I am praying and thinking of all of these families, and especially the family of the little girl Matilda, who was only 10 years old, her whole life to live.

There were some wonderfully courageous people who stood up against these men and tried to stop them. An old couple had wrestled one of the gunmen and took his gun, and they both were mercilessly killed by him. What a terrible, terrible tragedy, but the bravery of these people is astounding. It brings tears to your eyes. Another man saved lives, he was a Syrian immigrant to our country, and he wrestled the gun out of one of the man’s arms and then took it and pointed it at him. He saved countless lives by stopping this man. He crept up behind him and jumped on him. What a hero!

This man was an immigrant and the two shooters had lived in Australia many, many years so we need to stop blaming immigration. The 24 year old man who is now in court was born in Australia.

Regardless of this, there were many people who shielded their loved ones, and protected them. There was another man who threw bricks at the shooter and he was killed. So, this Christmas I think we need to reflect on these things, we can’t make sense of things, but we need to appreciate our families and seek to spread more kindness and love into the world.

Martin Luther King Jr. said;

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

He also said;

 “I have decided to stick with Love…hate is too great a burden to bear…”

So, even though it is tough, choosing love over hate is something to consider and hopefully adopt. I still can’t reconcile this, with anything, it doesn’t make sense that someone would kill people in this manner. You know what, I don’t want it to make sense to me. I don’t want to understand it.

It’s a cliche, but be grateful for your loved ones this Christmas, and let’s try and spread love over hate.

Love Suzanne