I was reading one of my favorite blogs today and she recalls that fateful day 10 years ago, watching the news on TV, holding her 5-month-old, thinking of her newborn's future "What kind of world will you grow up in?" Ten years later, she answers this question. (Please read her whole post it's beautiful.)
"You will see good and evil at their finest hours. You will see more hatred, more atrocities and more cruelty than this world has ever known. And some of that evil will hurt our family. That’s part of this whole experience in mortality and is part of this gift of agency.
But you will also see how the strength of the human spirit will always push back and prevail against darkness.
I saw that on 9/11 when firefighters and police rushed into burning towers and people lined up outside of blood banks to help the wounded. I’ve seen it every time there’s a natural disaster and people from around the country and the world send food and money and blankets to total strangers to relieve their suffering. And I’ve seen it every time our troops kiss loved ones good bye as they deploy for missions that may never bring them home.
With all of the darkness out there guys, always remember that there is even more goodness in this world. Be part of it."
That's what I want to teach my children. There are bad people who will do evil things, but we can stand up against them. We can be united, do good, and spread that in the world. Stand up for what you believe in but make a stand with service and love, not hatred and violence.
Church was really inspiring today. I found it interesting that Forgiveness, Charity, and Service were topics that were covered today in our various meetings. How inspiring that these topics seemed to fit so well with the day's thoughts and emotions. This is what makes up the goodness of the world that gets us through these difficult times; the things that unite us rather than divide us. At home we talked with the kids about the 9/11 attacks and why it's important for us to remember that day.
So to my children, I would say...
There are evils in this world sent to destroy our spirits and knock us down. That is a part of this life, but there is also a goodness in the world that will always overcome bad. That goodness is made up of love, compassion, kindness, respect, and the desire to live a Christ-like life. Be a part of that goodness. Be a light that shines in the darkness of bad times. Uplift and comfort those around you, that they may share in your light and together become a beacon of hope for many more. Our trials and conflicts do not define who we are. What we learn from them defines us and that is what makes the difference.
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