[pullquote align=”left” background=”on”]There can be no keener revelation of a society’s soul than the way in which it treats its children. – Nelson Mandela[/pullquote]

I saw the most beautiful child the other day, with bright green eyes and the prettiest of hair-pin curls. She was peeking out from behind her Dad’s long winter coat, and in order to catch a glimpse of the foil-wrapped Valentine’s candy I was in line to purchase.

And when my playful wink caught her eye, there she went…disappearing, once again…and frightened that her curiosity had been discovered.

“Would you like to have a piece,” I offered with my most gentle smile – and one that I had hoped might encourage her to visit with for a while.

“Yes, please,” she answered, with hand outstretched…that is, until her Dad snatched her by the scruff of the neck, and pulled her back. My goodness, he knocked her nearly off her toes – all for the upset of one piece of candy.

“Didn’t I tell you to behave?” he snarled, sending this little one into a teary-eyed mess.

“Stop crying,” he shouted causing such a terrible stir. And, prompting others to lower their gaze – in the hopes of not having to get involved.

There’s always that split second following actions performed in haste that delivers such a sinking feeling…one that is not soon recovered.

“You can’t unring a bell,” my Mother used to say. And she was right, you know…because in this life, my dears…there are just some things you can’t ever take back.

Everything is inevitably imprinted by our actions. And these actions, become our most valuable legacy.

We forget that our children are right there looking up, with wide-open hearts…and taking in all these lessons we share.

Whether intentional, or not – their lives are forever changed, by all the choices we grown ups make.

And yet, how quickly we forget.

Sometimes, I wonder, how very nice this life might be – having the benefit of a spiritual ‘pause’ button?

So, I thought today, my dears…I’m hopeful we might take a moment to reflect…

That there’s always enough time to temper our words…and in order to ensure that these moments of patience last forever.

Namaste, and much love my dears.