A mother's meditation on another senseless shooting

Please, God, should we ever be in the wrong place at the wrong time,

caught in the chaos of someone's not-right mind and broken heart

let my body be the shield 

that muscles between the harm and my child

let my quick-thinking

wedge us into safe corners

let me muster all of my swiftness to run

and strength to carry

my child and me into the light of day

where people who can help 

will be standing and hoping

where the hearts of a nation

will be pounding and praying 

And please, God, if my son stands

in a moment of terror alone

wrap him in the palm of your hands

and send him to me as soon as you can

For all the mothers who have shared this prayer

to their own gods and higher powers and unknown universes,

steady our breaths and palpitations

into one beat, one thought

that hums loud enough and low enough 

to blanket the mothers who have lost 

sons and daughters and partners and their own lives

who have frantically searched through crowds

who have been covered in someone's blood

who have never healed from the gaping hole

that it must be to watch a child die.

Please, God, envelope us today

so that the love is greater than the pain

and our worlds are turned back on their axes

and our babies are safe in their beds again.

Comments

[Erin]

Thank you for your beautiful words at such a sad, senseless time.

[ilinap]

Oh Jessica, my heart hurts so much. Your words are beautiful.

[Brett]

So beautiful and so in synch with so many.

[Cindy Fey]

Thank you, Jessica.

[Mommyfriend]

Yes Jessica, yes.

[Kristen]

Beautiful.

[Dora "Dooritos"]

My hear says the same. and you just have to hold your breath sometimes. <3

[Lizzy]

Beautifully written, thank you for your words.

[Lina@fancy frugal life]

Beautifully said. tears**

[Kat]

Wonderfully, heart-rendingly written. Thank you.

[Rebecca]

So beautifully written, thank you for sharing your heart in such a poignant way