This morning, as usual, before going out to work, I visited my son's bedroom.

            I consider this a kind of sacred ritual for every morning: I come very close to his crib, carefully tidy up his blanket, nest him lovingly so he won't uncover himself.

I then run my hand through his soft hair a few times and say in my mind: "I love you so much!"

He usually moves softly, as if he somehow reacted to the external stimulus during his sleep.

He stays there, in silence, peacefully, preparing his little body and his soul for one more day of happy discoveries.

I say good-bye, trying not to make any sound, and leave through the door light-hearted, ready to face another day in the world.

The next time I see him, later on, he will be awake, running up and down the house, playing with his toy cars, and he will give me one more pleasure: the one of receiving his smile which, without saying anything, says everything.

Even if some days are tough and the battles are difficult and tiresome, everything is settled and comforted in that smile.

Children's smiles have an almost magical power and those of our sons´ and daughters' are even greater.

 They seem to want to make us realize that, even when life is turbulent, full of painful thorns, there is still a lot of joy in it.

Even if, at this exact moment, there are many people wishing to stop living, becoming weaker in their battles, wishing to give up, there are many others being thankful for life in a contagious jubilation.

And I am certain that  "being a parent" is one of those motives for sheer joy, for being grateful to God, and another one of the many reasons we have to keep going on without giving up.

My son and the mornings always teach me this precious lesson, the one of renovation, of rebirth from water and Spirit.

*   *   *

 Many parents complain of not having watched their children grow up.

Time goes by so quickly! I can't remember anymore! - are expression we frequently hear.

Are we paying attention to our children as we are supposed to be? Does time really go by so quickly that we keep so few memories?

There is either something wrong with time itself or there is something wrong with us.

It would be really good to hear from a father, a mother: I remember every conquest, every day in the childhood of my son, every new word...

It would be really good to hear:  I have enjoyed every day I spent with you, my child, when you were little, as if it were the last one. I did not miss any opportunities with you.

Let us enjoy the time we have with them, in every age, in every condition of life.

Let us enjoy the existence by their side, engraving in our hearts the beauty of each new discovery, taking pictures with our souls - registering in our inner being every smile of their faces.

Spiritist Moment Team.
October 27 2008.