The Children

For the past couple of weeks, I have been seeing horrific pictures of blown-up and murdered children on television and on the internet. Pictures of children who should've been playing, painting and jumping around - not blown to bits. The pictures are so heart wrenching that it is impossible not to feel outrage, sadness, depression and frustration....and so many more emotions. The pictures haunt me in my dreams; I think of them every waking moment. And I think of the mothers. How can a mother bear to see her child like that. I cannot even begin to imagine the depth of her suffering.

Imagine yourself a mother, looking down at your child who has just been burnt or lost a limb in an explosion. Your child is crying, reaching out for you, needing the safety and comfort that you have always provided him with. But this time you are completely helpless. You cannot do anything to ease his pain. You are probably screaming yourself, crying out in anguish. My baby is hurt, someone please help him. But nobody can - nobody can take away the pain. He will either die a slow death in front of your eyes, and your heart will bleed for every second of his suffering, or he will live, maimed for life, a shadow of what he might've been if things were different.
How can any mother endure that?

I will not talk politics, I don't care who is right and who is wrong. I don't care who started this war and what the history books say; that is a discussion for someone much more knowledgeable than myself. But I have a right to express the anger I feel when I see such cruelty, such unfairness.

To the mothers who have lost their children in this war, and all the other wars, nothing I can say will ever erase the grief and agony you have been through. I pray for you, I pray that you have the strength to go on living, the will to exist in this mad world that is governed by cruel, heartless people. I pray for you to find peace, to find forgiveness for those who tormented you and stole your happiness. I pray for you everyday.

To the children, the angels that light up every parent's life, no matter how bleak the circumstances are; on behalf of the human race, I apologize. We let you down. You deserve a much better place.

I hope that no mother and no child has to experience this, ever again. Amen.

Safe....with you

I wake up suddenly....scared. Darkness is all around me. I can't move; I am paralyzed with fear. My heart is beating so fast. I am disoriented for a moment...where am I? Why am I scared? Slowly, I realize where I am but I can't figure out why I'm scared. I feel so helpless. I want to cry....I am soooooo scared. I can't shake off the fealing of fear. I need comfort, I need someone..........I need you.
Slowly, I move my arm and reach out to you. I touch your arm tentatively, and then hold on to it firmly. I edge closer until my body is touching yours. I rest my head on your shoulders. I close my eyes, and start breathing slowly. My heart beat slows down. Gradually, the fear lessens. I start relaxing......eventually, I fall asleep.
How could I have ever been scared with you by my side..................