In the midst of all the ‘madness’ & violence, children are God’s reminder that there is still hope for the world!
I have been grieving quite a bit over the violence in the Tucson metropolitan area that occurred three days ago on January 8, 2011, when U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords and 18 others were shot during a constituent meeting held in a supermarket parking lot in Casas Adobes, Arizona.
I have been grieving over young people dying, and even the grief that I still feel which lingers since my Dad passed away, howbeit since June 24, 2010.
While commuting to work very early today on the metro I watched a young mother with her two children; the youngest was an infant and he was fast asleep in her arms. The oldest was a little girl of about 2, no more than 3 years old. Their mother didn’t have a stroller, so she carried the infant in her arms.
When they sat down, the little girl leaned against her mom and wanted to snuggle under her mother’s arm. She started to pout when she was unable to do so. I watched as Mom switched the infant to the other arm and her daughter immediately found the comfort and warmth she sought.
The little girl’s expression was p-r-i-c-e-l-e-s-s!!! She had the expression of a cat who just drank some milk and was wholly satisfied and content. She had this beautiful smile on her face that said to me, “ah, I am safe in mommy’s arms.”
Mom looked up and caught my smile then we both started smiling. I had my camera with me but did not capture the moment because I did not want to invade their privacy. Instead, that moment is forever indelibly stamped into the crevices of my mind.
This encounter with this beautiful young family caused me to ponder at the awesomeness of God and that we can always run into His arms, regardless of the hour, especially during those late-night hours when you want the warmth of someone’s arms around you, or the gentle rubbing of their feet against yours!
For me, I know that I am not alone and causes me to smile and sigh deeply…. Everything is all right in my world.
Nowadays, it’s not quite the same without that special someone but I am content….
One of these days, it will happen again….
Until then, thank you Abba Father for the reminder and the joy of children! My shoulders are certainly not built to carry this present grief so I release it now to you.
Thursday, January 13, 2011, at 8:36am