WHERE
LOVE PREVAILS, THERE TOO IS PEACE
Where love consistently is the guiding Light
No matter the travails, the obstacles, the disappointments
of life
The child who grows up feeling deeply loved, cherished by
her elders,
those entrusted with her care, including long-term friends and extended
family,
She feels a sense of grace, of being protected even though
the way be long, the path uncharted and not always clear. She has no doubt she is lovable and
loved,
And that makes all the difference, for she has no need to question her
worth.
Where parents are deeply present, following their own
integrity
The child at a core level knows her life is precious. She is at peace with being Grateful
Beloved,
Accepted at a deep, abiding level
Even when she trips and falls, encounters others who don’t
respect her
She has a mysterious core of “I can make it!” Her self-esteem is not undone by
adversity.
She knows there are folks she can count on even in stormy
weather, and she trusts herself deeply too. She has a sense of optimism and resiliency in the face of
life’s changes.
As I write I also weep, for I did not grow up with the
assurance of being loved and protected, encouraged to make choices right for
me. I did not grow up in a
household where calmness was present, where parents learned to confide in one
another
And not burden their growing children with problems that belonged in the
adult world.
I had no model for balancing intuitive hunches with analytical
thinking, for taking time out when upset or angry to be gentle and patient and
kind. Many lessons a well-loved
and nurtured child has imprinted within her I am still learning. Being born with one parent
missing in a war-zone and the other in shock at the prospect of parenting alone
meant my early years felt very rocky, emotionally unstable, and I was often
adrift in a sea that did not feel safe, surrounded by people still reeling to
find their own peace with the realities that happen in the aftermath of war,
with its very real losses to the survivors, and those bereft of their partners
or parents. Finding and trusting
the Light in my own being has been a lifelong journey. It’s hard, even today, to lose a parent
who would have loved you if given the chance. Alas, war still creates harsh realities for so many
families.
I recall a deep sense of peace enveloping me after Lara and
Meagan were born by Cesarean section.
I felt blessed and protected to have given life to these precious,
healthy daughters. I was blessed
to have found wonderful parents, eager and glad to be raising them as their
own. During the pregnancy I
envisioned this sweet child would bring much joy and light to those who shared
her life, and she would not forget or abandon me. The double blessing whispered within me turned out to be two
babies, healthy and alert right from the start. The deep love of two mothers and a father who fell in love
with them at first sight would also bless them. They’ve been cherished dearly in their prenatal life and in
their formative years, with the added bonus of sharing life with a best friend
since their conception.
May this special season be a time of peace, wonder, gratitude, and joy
for us all, amidst the busyness of December. Let us remember to count our blessings, and realize we may be a blessing to others more than we realize. Take care, and honor whatever feels loving and kind.
