Thank God for Hometowns

I've been all sorts of emotional this morning. It's homecoming week in my hometown and that was always my favorite time of the school year. I can remember the memories I made with friends that I hardly speak to now. I remember the laughter and the feeling of being young and lucky. Last night as some kids were going home from float building there was a tragic car accident and one sweet senior passed away. I didn't know that beautiful girl but I know people who did. She was a senior and in one instant everything changed. Others were injured and I can feel the somber mood of my hometown from over 2,000 miles away through the FaceBook posts, the tweets on twitter, and the articles news reporters have shared. The thing about being raised in a small town in the south is that no matter if you know someone or not, when tragedy happens you come together as a community. Teenagers at my old high school gathered this morning in our schools commons area and had a moment of silence followed by a prayer for those involved in the accident as well as their family and friends. Kids came together regardless of their religion or their beliefs. That's what a hometown is all about. There is a kindness and a love I learned from being from a small town that not many people get to experience. You feel connected just because you were raised somewhere and it doesn't matter where you end up in life your hometown will always be a place of comfort. People cheer you on and when you are "lost in this crazy would and need somewhere to go to get found, thank God for hometowns." I am grateful to have come from a community where we can all rely on each other for comfort when tragedy happens. My thoughts and prayers go out to all involved directly or indirectly in that moment where things changed forever.

Thank God for Hometowns- Carrie Underwood