[blockquote source=”Kahlil Gibran”]Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.[/blockquote]

There was a tragedy recently at our local mall. A young man, devastated by love’s first loss, drew arms against those he felt had wronged him.

And, just like that, the faith of our sleepy town was lost – shattered along with the panels of glass, that littered the storefront’s walkway.

My dears, there is something very wrong going on – when our little ones are carrying guns.

And worse yet, when they feel that violence is their only remaining option.

I can understand the heart of this young man, still a child and not yet privy to the greater lessons of this world. I know the crippling pain of heartache, only too well. I know the brash sting of loneliness when all we’ve loved seems lost.

And, I know that fear that comes by way of wondering how will ever carry on.

But through these years, I have learned that no pain—no matter how great—can ever really last.

Because, in the end, my dears—all things must pass…

And leaving only these few faded shadows as proof to all that’s been.

It’s in the midst of all these far too tender moments, that we feel our spirit scrubbed raw from all these ‘jagged edges’..

And, not yet ever knowing, that the true pain is in our own revealing.

As parents, we feel it is our responsibility to shield children from the suffering in this world. In doing so, I think we’ve kept them from learning this most important lesson on pain – that nothing in life is ever so great, that we lose ourselves completely within it.

That there is always something there, to grasp our hand even in the depths of despair.

Have we forgotten to share with them how to pause and to breathe? To hold that space between impulse and rage?

How easily we curse the troubles of this world, without first looking closest to home.

My dears, I fear this is our greatest failing – when little hearts reach first for arms, instead of that which is needed most of all.

A little patience to allow for a fall, and the understanding that they will be much better for it.

And that, out of suffering emerges the strongest of souls.