"I know that, Grandma," she quickly replied.
"Oh, do I tell you that too much?" I asked.
She looked at me puzzled. "No," she said.
"Do you think I love you just a little bit?" I said, kiddingly.
"No, Grandma, you love me back here." Hannah jumped off my lap to extend her arms behind her. "No," she added, pointing to the ceiling. "You love me way up to the sky and over."
"Oh, yes," I said. "I do love you that much. You are just so special."
Hannah looked straight at me. "All people are special, Grandma," she stated in her sweet matter-of-fact way.
"You are so right, Hannah," I replied. I paused for a second and then asked, "Do you think that you can make it so that all people know they are special, Hannah?"
"No, Grandma. Can you?" she hopefully asked.
"I wish I could, Hannah, but I don't think that I can either." Hannah climbed back on my lap. "But you make me feel special and I make you feel special. That's a start," I added.
Our conversation ended as we hugged each other tightly. This wise four-year-old knew in her heart that everyone is special. "I hope we adults don't convince you otherwise," I thought.
After I got home, I immediately wrote down our conversation. It was one of those that you don't want to forget. The conversation also seemed destined to be part of this blog, but I wasn't sure why or how. It didn't seem to fit into the inner peace truth. Yet, I had such peace in my heart knowing the connection Hannah and I had made. Maybe that was what the truth was all about. Before the night was over I understood that Hannah had indeed helped me to see the deeper meaning of the truth: Inner peace is the greatest possession one can have.
Possessions of any kind are only possessions until they are shared. Once shared, our possessions become gifts. Hannah and I had openly shared our love and appreciation for each other. In so doing, we created a magical moment in time. A moment that I will cherish. You can't share love that you don't have. You can't make other people realize how special they are if you don't realize your own specialness. I knew that the deeper meaning of the truth was to develop inner peace, not just to be a savored possesion, but to be a cherished gift to be shared. In an earlier blog, I talked about hearing the phrase "Pray for peace, people everywhere." I still nightly pray for peace-filled spirits. Now I will add for inner peace to be obtained and shared. I pray for the kind of peace that radiates outwardly once established from within. Yes, Hannah, I think we can help change the world. The change begins with our willingness to develop our inner selves and then to give our cherished inner possessions away.
The next truth: Welcome all emotions rather than flee from them. Right now, I'm basking in love and feeling grand. Okay, that's the easy emotion to embrace. I'm ready for all.
Love and peace,
Linda