As many of us, I am still struggling to understand why this tragedy happened in Newtown this past Friday. As a mother, it is hard not to relate to the sense of loss that the parents of the 20 children who are no longer here with us are feeling right now.
The prayer vigil led by President Obama poignantly reminded us to question what is important to us, to our lives and what gives our lives meaning. Our children. Despite all the other lofty goals we set for ourselves in our lives, some parents may be able to relate to the excerpt below that he so eloquently read from his speech:
Why are we here? What gives our life meaning? What gives our acts purpose?
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We know our time on this Earth is fleeting. We know that we will each have our share of pleasure and pain, that even after we chase after some earthly goal, whether it’s wealth or power or fame or just simple comfort, we will, in some fashion, fall short of what we had hoped. We know that, no matter how good our intentions, we’ll all stumble sometimes in some way.
We’ll make mistakes, we’ll experience hardships and even when we’re trying to do the right thing, we know that much of our time will be spent groping through the darkness, so often unable to discern God’s heavenly plans.
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There’s only one thing we can be sure of, and that is the love that we have for our children, for our families, for each other. The warmth of a small child’s embrace, that is true.
The memories we have of them, the joy that they bring, the wonder we see through their eyes, that fierce and boundless love we feel for them, a love that takes us out of ourselves and binds us to something larger, we know that’s what matters.
We know we’re always doing right when we’re taking care of them, when we’re teaching them well, when we’re showing acts of kindness. We don’t go wrong when we do that.
Despite the hardship our kids give us, think of all these wonderful qualities that they have to give our lives purpose and joy.
Namaste
Kids, Kiddie, Boys and family yoga classes begin January 3, 2013! Find out more at laughing heart yoga
Elisha Fernandes Simpson CKYT, RYT, aka laughing heart yoga teaches family, mommy and me (newborn to pre-walkers) and kids (ages 8 -18) yoga. Become a friend on Facebook's laughing heart yoga page. Tweet her at ElishaLHY or just use good ol’ email: info@laughingheartyoga.com
