ON DEC. 14, 2012, 20 FIRST GRADERS AND SIX EDUCATORS were murdered by a gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. President Obama and I still talk about how that day was the saddest day we had in the White House.
Five years later, the families of the victims are the definition of character, consequence—and courage.
And I know it has taken courage. I know that no matter how long it’s been since such a horrific loss, every time you talk about it, you relive it as though you just heard the news. And I know this time of year is especially hard.
Around Christmas, I remember my daughter Naomi and my son Beau, their smiles lighting up the room brighter than any tree—just as I know the Sandy Hook families imagine their children smiling the way only kids do.
What I also know is that the way to get up and keep going is to find a purpose.
But it’s hard. It’s really hard.
THE REASON
This story is from the December 25, 2017 - January 1,2018 edition of Time.
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This story is from the December 25, 2017 - January 1,2018 edition of Time.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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