We talked with our daughter and her husband this morning. They work in Charleston and live in Mt. Pleasant.
She said they have been to three of the prayer vigils held and plan to attend the funeral services for all nine.
She told us inside the church many white people were in attendance. Everyone prayed together, they listened to the speakers together, they hugged together, and they cried together all as one people who are reeling from the heartbreak and grief they all feel from losing such great people all in the name of hate.
She said in that church there was no hate, and it was all about people of different races coming together as one in peace and love. She said it is as if Charleston has a blanket of love over them all and everyone knows that justice will come for those who died and their loving family members. She said one of the saddest things everyone of all colors are talking about is Roof too found nothing but love and acceptance when he entered the church.
I am so proud of all of the citizens of Charleston who have reached out to gather these victims' families in their arms to comfort them and to show goodness, kindness, and love for all others resides in the hearts of way more people than those who hate.
Like I said early, Charleston should be a casebook example of how people of all races can come together to overcome hate. There is nothing more powerful than love. The victims' families know good will overcome the evil Roof did and they will be stronger and more bonded than ever. What he tried to destroy did not work for it has made them even closer than ever before.
It has shown how coming together as one in peace and love to get justice is obtainable and it is the dignified and honorable way to honor all the loving people who died. I have cried every time I have seen one of the surviving family members speak out. They aren't raging, they are very articulate kind people who are very well spoken who lovingly tell about their great loss.
May God be with all of the families in the coming days as they lay their love ones to rest and to celebrate the lives of nine of Charleston's finest citizens. They will never be forgotten.