May 27, 2022 — For their families’ sake, I keep imagining those 19 lost children, one by one, wrapped in the arms of Oma Hannlis. I see her giving each her nurturing, undivided attention, and asking what they loved most about their family and friends and pets. I bet she’s shown them each how to send signs that only their own loved ones still here on earth will recognize, signs meant to assure those who loved them best that they’re healthy and happy and safe, now and forever. I picture Hannlis calling, “Let’s go, kids! Time to learn to swim in the clouds. Everybody in!”
Yesterday morning as I stretched, I know I heard my Girl Scout Leader Mom up with physical therapist Hannlis singing, “Head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes!” for the kids. I pictured my gracious mother introducing these new arrivals to those from Ukraine and Buffalo and a million other places across our grieving globe. I hope she’ll host kiddie tea parties as she did for my friends and me, with little finger sandwiches and ginger ale served in champagne flutes. Hannlis will bring Pfeffernusse cookies.
Being as politically active as my mother and Hannlis both were, I know they’re discussing how bipartisanship worked back in the day and, as eternal optimists, are now lobbying a higher power for it to work again. For a lifelong liberal, Mom was a surprisingly big fan of the first President Bush and shared his hope for a “kinder, gentler nation.”
I heard my mom reference that quote so many times in her life that, after her death, I found that it was from his 1989 Inauguration speech. The actual text reads, “America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the Nation and gentler the face of the world.”
In the same address, our 41st POTUS declared, “My first act as President is a prayer. Heavenly Father,” he said, “make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words: ‘Use power to help people.’ For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. Help us remember, Lord. Amen.”
Help us all remember, Lord. Amen.
Jodee Stevens
Founder & Chief Creative
Thank you, Jodee, for bringing me smiles, tears . . . and HOPE.
Oh yes … “Help us remember, Lord. Amen.”
if the eye could weep
to the measure of
its sorrow,
all day and all night
it would weep.
(rumi)
the cardinals were everywhere
this morning when i sat and
watched the clouds float by.
i imagine they are on their
way to uvalde.
Thank you Jodee, I am quite sure that Hanliss greeted every one.
I pray that we can turn back to a “kinder, gentler Country”. God help us all & watch over all God’s children.
Well said.. Thank You we all needed that. To a “kinder, gentler country” and world.
Nothing to add, so beautifully said. I pray that God hears us. I pray that the lawmakers in Washington, DC, are ready to make this madness stop. There is a sickness in our country and it must be stopped.