TO OUR CHILDREN.....
My heart is broken as I am sure everyone's in Ireland is at this present moment and it goes out to the women, young girls and the children who featured in the Mothers and Babies home report which was championed by the amazing heroic Catherine Corless and which was launched today. Listening, watching and reading the various news reports today and watching the RTE news just now and reading part of the report itself of what happened to our young children, our young girls and our women in our beautiful country during that horrible evil time makes me wonder, "what life is really all about?" The Church and the State need to really apologise and also look after the survivors in every way.
I remember the following prayer poem called ‘To Our Children’ by Sally Meyer's which probably will mean so much to every parent after seeing what happened to little vulnerable children, vulnerable young girls and vulnerable women at the hands of evil people in our country over those years........
"To Our Children".........
”Just for this morning, I am going to smile when I see your face and laugh when I feel like crying. Just for this morning, I will let you choose what you want to wear, and smile and say how perfect it is. Just for this morning, I am going to step over the laundry, and pick you up and take you to the park and play. Just for this morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink, and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together....
Just for this afternoon, I will unplug the telephone and keep the computer off, and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles. Just for this afternoon, I will not yell once, not even a tiny grumble when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck, and I will buy you one if he comes by. Just for this afternoon, I won’t worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned. Just for this afternoon, I will let you help me bake cakes, and I won’t stand over you trying to fix them. Just for this afternoon, I will take us to Supermac's and buy us both a Supermac's meal so we both can have toys....
Just for this evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you. Just for this evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry. Just for this evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars. Just for this evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV shows. Just for this evening, when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.....
I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers dealing with their children who have suffered the evil of abuse, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children’s graves instead of their bedrooms, and mothers and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can’t handle it anymore.....
And when I kiss you good night, I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then, that I will thank God for you, and ask him for nothing, except one more day..."