Every once in a while, when most direly needed, a lightning bolt thunders down from Heaven, straight into the heart; generous amounts of joy and unconditional love accompany that Divine arrow that pierces our very being.
Recently, just before Christmas, just such a bolt shot into my life, and has reappeared, once again, this week. This particular bolt is a tiny, hazel-eyed, honey-blond waif of a girl, not much bigger than a minute. Do not mistakenly think that this small, delicate child that has thundered into my life is barren of the enormous capability to enlighten and change my life’s pathway to a much higher plane.
Appropriately, her name is Celeste, which means heavenly. The lovely Celeste has proceeded to capture my heart, and holds it in her iron grip, enveloping it in the tender mercies of her charm, and a smile as brilliant as all the stars in the sky. She quite suddenly bestowed the title of “Pa-pa” on me, one day when I unexpectedly walked into her Bella’s house. As I entered the room where she was, she looked up, cried out “Pa-pa” and ran with abandon straight into my arms and into my heart.
She has joined two other wonderful bolts from Heaven into my life in the Pantheon of earth angels that currently reside in my heart and soul. They are gentle Ben and Miss Ella Estlack, the precious children of my cousin Ashlee, and her husband (who also happens to be my editor and publisher).
Shortly after moving back home to convalesce after a second traumatic brain surgery, and even more traumatic marriage, Ben and Ella captured my heart the very same day that I, once again, met them. They have owned me since that day, using joy and unabashed love to nourish and fortify my parched soul.
These three little ones are the jewels in my life, along with, of course, my children – who are scattered on the four winds, and two magnificent grandsons who reside in faraway Puyallup, Washington, and a new granddaughter, also named Ella, who lives in distant Chicago.
Kyle is 19, and a brilliant freshman at the University of Washington. Cooper is his younger and taller brother, who has just completed a remarkable athletic accomplishment. He was selected as one of only 18 soccer players in the entire the state of Washington, to make the roster of the Seattle Sounders Professional Soccer Club’s development team. This past weekend they travelled to Las Vegas and competed in a multi-state soccer tournament, finishing second to California South. For those who don’t have a clear appreciation or interest in soccer, this is a big, big deal.
I must include my beast of a cousin, Monty Holland, in this most sacred list of lightning bolts from Heaven. He is now honorably serving our country as an airman in the United States Air Force. Monty is based in the heart of the children of the corn, Nebraska, most likely shivering mightily as I write this. Monty welcomed me home with good humored affection and was willing to share his abode with me, and seemed to tolerate me well enough. I’m really proud of the man Monty has become.
Seeing and knowing that the innocence of our children and young people is like looking into the eyes of God, I am so very grateful that He, in His infinite wisdom, knows just when to send down these lightning bolts from Heaven. When all is said and done, and our life on earth is ebbing away, the memories of the love and joy these precious people surrounded us with will accompany us as we begin our final journey into eternity.
One thing that this holiday season reminded me of is the goodness, the drama, the clutter, and the joy of spending quality time with friends and family over the holidays. Hidden just below the surface of the clutter and the cluttered lives, is a deep well-spring of love and devotion to each other. That is where the meaning of life can be found.
What are we to do with these lightning bolts from Heaven, especially in these days when terrible violence is inflicted upon these innocents? What is our responsibility to the young? How can we unconditionally support their search for meaning, and their struggles for significance?
I know that the influence of these gifts from Heaven has changed me forever, and for the better. I am fairly certain that we, as a village, do not properly protect them from harm, from pedophiles, from stone cold killers, and from the abuse of their parents and families.
We must find a way to better protect our children while keeping our Constitutional freedoms. As precious as they are, we have a responsibility to work together and create more effective ways to protect and nurture them. I’ve no doubt we can do this if we work together. Turning a blind eye and minding our own business is not an excuse to appease our collective conscience.
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