In the face of the unspeakable grief suffered by families in the wake of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, this past Tuesday is this story of loving support that arrived in the traumatized community. It came in the form of wet noses, wagging tails, and listening ears.

Several organizations across the country have brought certified therapy dogs to comfort mourners in Uvalde, and are visiting churches, schools, and hospitals, as they have done in other communities that have suffered the terror of mass shootings.
As this country experiences yet another horrific event in which children, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and neighbors are murdered with guns that seem to be available for the asking, it also sees moments of great generosity, of empathy, of compassion, of abiding love that enfolds us.

May each of us, as we grieve the many ways hate surfaces in our world, remember that love is also present, in the aid and comfort offered by strangers, in the cuddling of a warm furry dog.
This Memorial Day weekend, remember not only those who have perished in wars, but those who have died in the war perpetuated by gun violence in schools, in grocery stores, in mosques, in synagogues, in concert venues. Hold all those in your hearts and memory.

During this holiday weekend, take a moment with your family and friends, or perhaps with only yourself, and recite this liturgy written by my UU colleague, Rev. Caitlin Cotter Coillberg, responding with We grieve together.

We Grieve Together
By Caitlin Cotter Coillberg

As the news cycle brings us images of terror and heartbreak once again,
We grieve together
As each of us faces into this new level of horror,
We grieve together
As we remember other moments of pain, fear, and loss,
We grieve together
Yearning for an end to violence and suffering,
We grieve together
Yearning for a true peace where all feel safe and whole,
We grieve together
Yearning for greater justice, compassion, and wisdom,
We grieve together
In the shadow of violence we remember we are all connected in love
We grieve together
In the shadow of violence we recommit to working for a better world
We grieve together
In the shadow of violence we find comfort and courage in each other
We grieve together

In peace and love,
Rev. Carol