shining light

This afternoon, I went to fetch Henry from the bus, and I got to meet one of this new friends.  As we were all walking home, the two of them began to discuss something that happened in PE class.  My heart sank to the bottom of my gut as I listened to them describe a lock-down drill.  Later, Henry told me that had been scared when the teacher had them all hide together in the bathroom.  He said he had missed me a lot at that moment.

What awful, terrible, heartbreaking things happen sometimes to the children of this world.  I would give anything for Henry to never have to endure a real lock-down at school.

  But as we walked through the door, we discovered a birthday package from my mom.  We opened the box (I knew she had already wrapped the presents.) and pulled out present after present after present.  We stacked a tower of brightly colored boxes and Henry's smile got bigger and bigger.  He started to jump up and down in excitement.

My mother has always managed to be a beacon in my life.  She is optimistic and encouraging and full of faith.  Today especially, her love lifted me up out of a sad spot and showed me that there's so much love in the world despite the heartache.