Looking for Gratitude in Tragedies

One week ago today two men exploded bombs that sprayed evil on a major sporting event, on a city and nation, and most importantly, on the lives of so many people who will be haunted by their actions forever.  In the aftermath of events like like took place in Boston it's easy to look at yourself and see all of your limbs in place and feel grateful.  And to have your family come home to greet you with hugs and kisses exactly the way they did the day before and feel overwhelmed with thanksgiving.  But this morning I spent a few minutes feeling grateful for people who were at the center of that tragedy, whose lives will never be the same as they were the day before.

Today I sent out he following thank you notes:
The first, to the family of Officer Sean Collier, the MIT police officer slain by the two terrorists last week;

and the second went out to MBTA police officer - Officer Richard Donohue - who was struck by bullets in an exchange of gunfire between the terrorists and him and his fellow officers .