A Yom Kippur Moment

Sitting with my whole family in my sister’s home, I notice how my 12-year-old niece, without thinking, sits down on my dad’s lap. How special that a 12-year-old can still feel comfortable with her grandfather and without thinking just take a seat. And my dad gratefully accepted her on his lap. I am confident the moment was not lost on him. We both share the ability to appreciate the moment.

It was just a moment, a moment of connection, a moment of love, a moment of trust, a moment that was the result of 100s if not 1000s of moments before.

This moment encapsulates my hopes and dreams for my own future. One day I want my 12-year-old granddaughter to come and sit on my lap without a moment’s hesitation. I want to allow it to happen and experience that moment of gratitude. I want to represent safety, love and compassion to my grandchildren. I want to provide a place where they can just be.

While I watched my niece sit on my dad’s lap, I also felt a tinge of sadness. My niece will not be a sweet and innocent 12-year-old forever and my dad will not be around forever.  How can you grapple with this moment of pure love and joy, and then deep sadness? 

I guess the point is just to feel and welcome whatever emotions arise. These moments can create multiple emotions, both positive and negative. It is not our job to judge these conflicting emotions. It is not our job to deny them either. We are complicated creatures, and simplifying these moments would not do them justice

As I get older I hope to continue to feel these emotions no matter what they bring up. I hope as a mother I can model how to be open and awake to these emotions so my kids will appreciate these moments as well. 

How can we stop and enjoy these moments? If I had been texting, I would have missed it. If I had been thinking about what I needed to do tomorrow, I would have missed it. If I had been worrying about something I said earlier, I would have missed it. But I didn’t. And for that I am grateful.