Truth for the Trenches

Psalm 126: 2-6 Our mouths were filled with laughter,      our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations,      “The  Lord  has done great things  for them.” The  Lord  has done great things  for us,      and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, [ c ]   Lord , like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears   will reap  with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them. What makes you cry? Lack of sleep, physical pain, being yelled at, cleaning up blueberries off your freshly mopped floor, noise, arguing, not fitting into your clothes, repetitiveness of your days...didn't I just describe motherhood?  This Psalm has been rolling around in my head all week and being sung through the dishes and egg cooking and bath giving and lunch making. ...

My kids asked why they weren't going to school today. When we told them it was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day my seven-year-old son said, "Oh I know who that is. He is the guy who taught people that skin color doesn't matter". "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter." I Have a Dream, 1963 It is so basic and so simple. Kids can understand a lot and when current events or historical events come we should teach the basic truths to our kids now. The world is hurting and though I will protect my children from some details, I want them to know the suffering and mistreatment of people so they learn to love well. The idea of being treated like equals is something kids understand from a very young age. We talk often in our house about the word "fair" and how that doesn't mean each person gets exactly the same thing. It means each person is treated like an individual that has value and worth.  They connect wi...