Thank God for the gift of my children

My heart goes out to the parents and families of the children and teachers who lost their lives in Newtown, Connecticut.

Our thoughts and prayers are with them and their family members in their suffering and loss.

Two years ago while in Ethiopia adopting our second little girl, the tragedy, sadness and suffering I saw in some parts of that country was so sad. Let’s not forget that 196 children died needlessly in our own country’s State care in the last number of years. The Connecticut tragedy also makes me spare a thought for the other 9m little children that die globally each year in often horrendous circumstances.

I was reminded of the words of the American writer James Agee, who said that: ‘In every child who is born, under no matter what circumstances, the potentiality of the human race is born again, and in them too, once more and in each of us, is born again our terrific responsibility towards human life.’

I have started to hug my two little girls more tightly and I am thanking God for giving me the opportunity to have them in our lives and for the wonderful gift they are to my wife and myself.

Ronan Scully

Knocknacarra

Galway