I received a compliment from one of my co-workers today.  You see, yesterday at noon our Jack Rinehart covered a devastating story.  A precious, three-year-old girl was allegedly beaten to death, at the hands of her mother and the mother’s boyfriend.  Jack was supposed to be live for the story.  We were having problems with our live truck, so Jack had to do the story via telephone.  We also ran out of video, so the director came back to me on camera, while Jack was explaining this heartbreaking story.  Julie Pursley commented how she thought I handled myself well… while sitting there and listening to this sad story.  I can tell you that hearing and reporting stories about abused children never gets any easier, nor should it.  People will often ask me how I handle hearing depressing news day in and day out.  Well, I can assure you… I don’t just forget about it at the end of the newscasts.  I’ve always cared about children.  However, after I became a mom, I became especially sensitive.  I always think of my own kids and how much I hurt when they do.  I feel guilty if I don’t read a book to them everyday.  How could anyone in his or her right mind hurt a child?  I’ll never understand.  All I know is there’s a special place in Heaven for children who suffer such cruelty here on earth.

Today we ran a story about legislators in Massachusetts who are considering a law to ban spanking by parents.  It’s no doubt a controversial measure.  I venture to say that some parents give their kids a little slap on the bottom when the kids get out of hand.  Some of my co-workers give little spankings… and many of us were spanked as children.  All of us agree, however, that there’s a line between spanking and abuse.  While spanking would never be my first choice to discipline my children, does the government have a right to tell me to spare the rod?

My heart certainly breaks for every child… every person… who has been a victim of abuse.  While I don’t think you’ll ever see me cry on the set, believe me.  There are days when I’m crying on the inside and saying prayers for the families who suddenly find themselves filling our newscasts.