"The Miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk
on the water, but to walk on Earth."
- Chinese Proverb
My life is extraordinary. I was born in a blizzard, my eyes wide open in surprise. My father was the first person I ever saw. My screams followed, low at first, then gaining power like the revving of an engine. Knowing myself, I can guess I was angry, having suddenly slid out of my comfort zone and into the 1970's.
In kindergarten we sat with our hands folded in our laps in peach, baby blue and yellow seats arranged in a horseshoe. It was the first day. The teacher called my name and I raised my hand.
"I'm special." I thought, when I heard my name announced formally. I still remember this. At that age, I had already been given the gift of Knowing the Sacredness of My Life by my parents and extended family. This is the greatest gift one can be given.
My grandmother's living room was my castle. The windows of my fortress were covered in heavy orange tasseled curtains, very luxurious in my five year old mind's eye. I sat on my throne, (a green high back chair), and spoke importantly to no one visible. I ate cookies secretly leaning over the marble coffee table, while I stared out at cars passing on the suburban street: my kingdom. I lined up my stuffed animal friends and made them suffer through grand speeches about the importance of using the potty every time.
No much has changed. The same marble table is placed in my living room now and the princess is poised on a loveseat, magic wand extended over Mr. Norman Whiskers.
"To follow me into the land of the fairies, press the X on your remote control." She's addressing the cat who stares back at her with dull eyes.
Okay, maybe some things are different. As I look at her, however, I smile from behind the door frame. I can see that she already values herself, as I was taught to do. I honestly believe that if every person embraced the idea that we are each special, and that our physical bodies are highly valuable, the world would be different. I try to foster this belief in each of my children.
President George W. Bush declared January 18th National Sanctity of Human Life Day. Here's what he said:
“The sanctity of life is written in the hearts of all men and women. On this day and throughout the year, we aspire to build a society in which every child is welcome in life and protected in law. We also encourage more of our fellow Americans to join our just and noble cause. History tells us that with a cause rooted in our deepest principles and appealing to the best instincts of our citizens, we will prevail.”
I know it sounds corny, but "I am special" is a lesson that can lead a child to great accomplishments and strengths. If we teach our children and ourselves to value life, then the world will change for the better.
"Do you not know that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit, which dwells
within you? You are not your own." - 1 Corinthians 3:16
8 comments:
So when do you come out with your memoir?
You're teaching me how to publish, and you'll be in the dedication if I ever do. -Loren
Loren, in my adult life there have been only a few friends and family that made me feel comfortable enough to share my writing with them. You help to carry me through this long process.
that is so the reason that i havve been so against our 10 billion a month dlooar war in iraq....the sanctity of human life...a wasr that is going to continue with or without the us of a and if we are out, then no american's will be invoved...i would like to write a memoire or memory or absurdity or unmentionable to my friends and relatives, but i can't even get my family to read my blogs...do you realize my wife has never no NEVER read any of my blogs, and when my kides say to her something i have written about her, she tells them to tell me to cut it out...sad but my readership is reallt zero to those that count
Mr. Putz,
I'm sorry your wife won't read your blog. Some people are wary of the internet. Do you ever write her letters on paper? Women love that.
War is horrible, but it is a grey area for me. I agree that it does not honor the sanctity of life, but some wars have brought about change, ie. the American Revolution, the Civil War and WWII. Personally, I prefer to protest peacefully, and write letters to politicians. However, if my family or home was directly threatened, I would not hesitate to defend it all with weapons. Thanks to grandpa D, I can aim and shoot a 9 mm. if I had to. :) No joke.
My husband doesn't read my blog either, only because I haven't asked him to. (He doesn't use computers at all.) I love the movie Funny Farm and die laughing when the writer forces his wife to read his book and she hates it!
The Milk Man (my stalker) is all over this blog. He's here every day while checking his email. He must fear my pen. There is no where to hide, my friends. He knows all of you readers too, by your comments, if not personally.
Seriously, I've asked him to give me feedback, and he knows I love when he writes stuff to me.
Elizabeth, isn't K the least bit curious when you write about him?
Kevin knows I would never say anything bad about him. Sometimes if I'm complaining he'll say, "Would you put that on your blog?" jokingly. Occasionally he'll be looking over my shoulder to see what I'm writing about, but the only post I printed out for him was the one about our wedding. He liked it. I like that he trusts me in what I write about our family for the whole world to see!
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