Weekly Question: Share Your Words of Encouragement, Hope

As we've all been glued to various media outlets this week, watching the horror of the Boston Marathon bombings unfold, we've been covered with one appalling, heartbreaking story after another.

In the midst of all the bad news, good news and kind words of hope and encouragement shine all that much more brightly.

We've heard of heroes who risked their own lives to come to the aid of those injured in the blasts. We've learned of communities rallying around their hurt or even the families of those who were killed to show support and love. We've seen runners, such as Wayland's Alexis Avila, talk about the compassion and generosity of strangers who came to the aid of confused runners.

Even as we all attempt to come to terms with this tragedy, we've seen how much a moment of kindness, compassion or love can truly mean.

So for this week's Weekly Question, we just want to continue that trend of trying to find the words to love and support one another in the midst of what has damaged us deeply.

I'll get you started with a few words that Avila said to me; words he was willing to say even though his wife, parents and other loved ones were yards away from the bombings.

We live in a scary world where something bad like this can happen at any moment, but it’s important to hold on to what is important in your life and enjoy the moment. It’s imperative that we worry about today and what’s in front of us. Any one of us could be one of those unlucky three who were killed. We’re all in this together. I honestly have faith in people again, believe it or not. There are bad apples, there are terrorists that need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But the people in the aftermath, there is so much good, there’s community.”

I feel sad coming out of this, but I’m strong too.

Weston, please share your words of hope and encouragement below.