“I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe.”  ~ Dalai Lama

As I turned on the news yesterday, my heart sank learning of this great tragedy. I watched as our President paused in tears over our Nation’s terrible loss. In that moment, as most parents, I began that process of searching for just the right words to give comfort to my own children and in this hour.

The following, is a letter I have written them. I hope it brings comfort to your children, as it did to mine.

A Letter to My Children.

To my most precious darlings, my love—my light…

I suppose that you’re wondering what it is that is going on in this great big crazy world. And, as with all things, you’re probably looking to me to provide you answers, insight… perhaps, even a little light. But the truth is, it’s not always easy being a parent and finding always just the very right thing to say. I suppose, when you were much younger, this job was much easier.

Why is the sky blue?

How many stars are in the sky, Mommy?

Where does all the toilet paper go when we flush?

But then, you’ve grown. And now, you are just a little older, and your view of this world has changed, as it always and forever will.

And you’re probably looking to me now to give you just the right words to make sense of all of these most recent and horrible catastrophes. But the bottom line is that, sometimes, I just don’t know these answers. I can’t always be there to help you to understand why it is that these things are happening.

But you are here now, seeking comfort—and as your Mom, I feel compelled to share with you my heart.

My darlings, sometimes there are no answers. And, sometimes, there are just no words to describe what it is that we should be thinking and feeling and believing as we move through to our next day.

All I know and I have ever known is that everything we have and will ever need is right here with us in this very moment.

You’re probably wondering what it is that we must do when faced with these often overwhelming life situations. My darlings, what you must do in these moments is breathe, because that is always the very first step.

Then, when you’ve found your breath again—’be love.’ With every breath of every moment and with all that you’ve got in your hearts— ‘be love’ again.

Because, my darlings, when these things happen in our world, you will find that love is what we all most need right now. You will serve this world well, if you are able to carry this forward in your hearts no matter what the darkness may bring.

Be love, my beautiful babies. And know, that we are much more than our bodies, that our inner light will shine on just like all those stars in the sky. Our spirits, and the energy that we share, will forge the path for our next generation.

Be love, my beautiful darlings. Because, in the end, you will always find that it’s true what they say: “love conquers all.”

Why has this been such a difficult year? Why did this happen? My darlings, in life you may find that sometimes there are just no answers and no words to describe.

It’s in these moments that we must most hold dear to our hearts faith and hope and lovingkindness, because without these there is no hope.

Hope is what will always bring up the sun on a brand new day. Hope will forever toss those stars high and deep into the dark sky. Hope is what will carry us through those nights when we feel that we have lost it all.

In those moments when you feel your hope is most challenged, those are the moments you hold hope most dear to your hearts. Because, in the end, and no matter what, hope is what will always and forever carry you through even your most darkest hour.

Sometimes, there are no answers. But in the end, we always have hope.

In love and light, forever and always,

Mommy

P.S. Hope is what makes the sky blue.

~

Ed: Kate B.

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