Carol A. Hand
When my daughter was born,
my view of the world forever changed.
“To have
a child
is to decide
to have
your heart
forever
walk around
outside
your body.”
(anonymous)
Life was no longer something I peered at
from a safe distance
I felt it deeply – glowing in my heart
Powerful, shifting emotions
forced me to realize how precious
and precarious life can be
Holding each of my grandchildren for the first time
intensified my sensitivity and commitment
to do all in my power to be a loving presence
Watching them as they grow
amplifies both joy and pain
celebrating their accomplishments
suffering when they encounter challenges
***
Sometimes all I can do is
to simply try to be a loving presence
***
In times such as these it’s not easy
to believe the future holds bright possibilities
Let our hearts awaken and glow
with celebratory joy
***
“Sometimes all I can do is / to simply try to be a loving presence”
~ As always, Carol, your reflections on life touches the heart.
~ I don’t have grandchildren of my own, but regard my neighbors’ kids as I would my own grand kids. I watch them begin to crawl and take their first steps. I watch them explore the world around them and exchange their first words with me, “the lady who loves gardening.” I try always “to be a loving presence.”
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Thank you for your lovely comments, Rosaliene, and for sharing such a powerful example of being a loving presence in the lives of others. ❤
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Very emotional reflections, dear Carol! Anyway…we must be optimistic. The darkest time is always before the sunrise. And it’s on the way! 🙂
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Thank you for your upbeat comments. Maria. ❤
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🙂 Courage, dear Carol! Editing is a tough job! I’m looking forward for your book to be published. I’m very curious to read it! 🙂
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Powerful ‘portraits’ on life and living…
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Bette. ❤
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😀 Powerful thoughts and beautiful artwork.
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Thank you so much for your kind words, A Shift in Consciousness. 🙂
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Just beautiful Carol, Thank you!! Your words have touched my heart, as usual.
I have got a big smile right now. Thank you!
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Thank you so much for your lovely comments, Hector. I send my best wishes to you in gratitude for your kindness. ❤
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So beautiful. ❤️
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Thank you for your kind words, dear Carrie. ❤
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Carol, the future does hold bright possibilities. Your children and grandchildren come to you with problems. We have to admit we can’t solve some of them, but we can show them a path through what they are wrestling with. The world is alive. The rocks hold heat just like our hearts. The rivers flow just like our blood. We bloom and scramble for light and then we rest. I love your poem Carol, and your granddaughters portraits. You and I are so lucky. We get to see our grandchildren grow. They will be okay. Take care. Bob
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Thank you so much for your wise and comforting comments, Bob. Time with grandchildren is a gift as you so eloquently point out. ❤
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Oh my gosh, how I love this. Your experiences with having a child is so much like my own. She has been a great teacher and her lessons are always about loving and accepting! I had just about given up the thought of ever having a child as James and I had been married for 9 years and I had not gotten pregnant. Then they found a tumor on my thyroid and removed the benign mass and I got pregnant two months later. Nikki was born 5 days before I turned 30 and has been the joy of my life since the moment I knew I was carrying her in my body. Her dad adores her as well and so we raised her with great love! Sadly she miscarried the only biological child she would have, but she has been blessed to parent her husband’s daughter from a previous marriage and the two Guatemalan children they adopted. She too loves her little family and she and her husband have done a splendid job parenting their children. As for the future. None of us is even guaranteed more than what we already have. When I had a stroke almost 5 years ago now, that day could have been my last. But a surgeon managed to remove the two clots from my brain and here I am. So I just live one day at a time and try to serve the Lord and bless those around me. That’s all any of us can really do and worry is pointless and takes time away from loving and enjoying! Thank you for sharing your story. As always I find we have so much in common. Indeed I believe we are kindred spirits and am so glad to be your friend. Hugs, love, and blessings, Natalie 🙂 ❤
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Dear Natalie, I’m deeply grateful for your deep and lovely comments. Thank you sweet and dear friend. ❤
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Thank you Carol! And as always you’re so welcome my lovely Ojibwa friend❣️😘
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This is a very beautiful post, heart warming and eye teary mood yet with a smile ❤️ 🙂
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Thank you so much for your lovely, heart-touching comments, Saadia. ❤
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Wow! wonderfully articulated! I can relate so much to your reflections. 🙂
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Thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments, Balroop. Sending you my best wishes with your new book. ❤
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Thanks for the wishes Carol, much appreciated. 🙂
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🙂
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What lovely portraits. The feelings are worth holding onto 🙂
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It’s always a pleasure to hear from you, Alok. Thank you so much for your thoughtful, lovely comments. 🙂
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Even in my darkest moments, I continue to have hope for our children and grandchildren. If I can teach them everything I know about love, my hope is that they will build upon that education, teach others, and slowly the world will evolve into a kinder, more peaceful place. ❤
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Somehow I missed replying to your thoughtful, lovely comment, Diana. Belatedly, I thank you for sharing your always thoughtful and important reflections. ❤
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No worries. Always a pleasure to visit your beautiful words.
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As much as these seem to be dark days indeed (at least so far as our politics and culture are concerned), we see the goodness in our children and grandchildren, and we realize that for their sakes, things must not and can not continue down this path. Hopefully our love for them and encouraging them to think for themselves will show them the way.
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Thank you so much for your thoughtful comments, Mister Muse, and for sharing your insights and hopes for the future. 🙂
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they’re such beautiful
continuations into the future
guided by your beautiful
continuations into the past 🙂
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Profound insights, David, and so eloquently-said. Chi miigwetch, dear friend. ❤
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Reblogged this on The Militant Negro™.
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So heartfelt & beautifully penned:
“Watching them as they grow
amplifies both joy and pain
celebrating their accomplishments
suffering when they encounter challenges”.
Love this post, Carol… sending best wishes & good vibes 😀
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Dear Aquileana, thank you so much for your kind and lovely comments. Sending gratitude and blessings to you, too. ❤
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These are such beautiful and reassuring words. To be a loving presence can perhaps be the most we can do. Thanks for reminding us of the importance of being there for our children and theirs. I am awaiting my first grandchild and I love the words that our heart is outside us when we have a child and we do all we can to protect but ultimately their lives become their own and we must just be loving!
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Thank you so much for sharing such important insights, Navasola Nature, and for your kind words. How exciting to hear about your first grandchild! I send my best wishes to you and your family. ❤
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