Every Child is a Star
Every child deserves to know that they are made of stars. From the tiniest babe to the gangly teen, we should be whispering it in their ears. “You are part of something absolutely amazing,” we say. “Your body was part of the very beginning, and it will be part of the very end.” Of what? Of everything.
I remember the golden glow of the nightlight shining on my baby’s face. Swollen lips pursed, eyes glazed, barely closed. This beautiful child was born from my womb, but he is not mine. He belongs to the universe, not me. But he is mine.
Every child needs to know how to shine.
We must lift them up and show them how to focus their beams! To be present in every moment. To listen to their innermost desires. To guide them and show them the paths their ancestors took on their way to new inventions.
Age 4: “Mommy, mommy I’m building a ship! It’s going to be a big ship with a ladder and there’s enough room for you to get in. We have to attach the wheels. RRRRRRR they’re spinning fast! Come sit here. You sit and I’ll steer…”
Every child wants to follow.
It’s built into their biology. They learn best from engaging in the sensory experiences of their world. But they also learn from us. As we wake, work, play, and sleep, they come to understand what it means to wake, work, play, and sleep. When we see and respond to human suffering, they are not looking at the circumstances but at our compassionate expressions.
This is how they learn to care for others less fortunate. When we wipe the counter with a smile and hum a song we love, they are watching and listening, too. This is how they learn to take joy in the little things. They follow us just as much as we follow them.
We deserve to feel connected to the universe and own the parts of us that are ancient and wise. We deserve to harness that energy and use it for the benefit of all humankind, and that means treading lightly and with respect wherever we go.
