For Today

This morning, I had a doctor’s appointment, ran some errands, then took my boys to meet friends for lunch.  We chatted for an hour or so, watching our children play happily, thinking of the coming birthday and holiday celebrations.  I came home, settled my little guys, looked at my phone for the first time all day, and my heart broke.

There’s nothing to say in the midst of this, but I thought of my former students, and my time spent in classrooms, and that reminded me of this speech by Lois Lowry.  I read it again just now, in the quiet of my home while my boys are playing with Ryan at the park, and somehow, it comforts me.  I also found this one, written in late fall 2001.  Lowry seems to understand the complexities of children in our crazy world.

Sometimes, when there’s nothing left to say, the written words of others are enough, and I offer these to comfort you.  Today.