To My Daughter

Never stop staring at the skies, or watching the sun dip between the trees. Still be mystified by the silhouettes of branches in the twilight when the air is cooler and the world has turned to black and gray.

Never stop following frogs and insects around your backyard, scaring them into tall grass before you pounce to snatch them up. Keep on chasing them, and once you catch them, never stop laughing. When they finally leave, it is okay to cry about it. They were your friends. They will still continue to be, but it is okay to grieve when someone has gone away for awhile even if you know you will see them again. Do not let anyone tell you not to feel or how to feel, even me. Of course, there are appropriate ways to express your feelings because you would never want to cause harm to others, but the emotions themselves are lovely and dark and twisted and bright and everything in between. They are REAL. Stay real. Stay connected to yourself.

Sometimes, when you lie awake at night, it is okay to sing songs to your dolls and stuffed animals and talk to your pillow. If you do not want to go to work, it is also okay to, just for a little while so you are not late, walk around your yard or play chase or pick flowers or watch cartoons until the last minute. It will lift your soul. You are fully connected to you, are you not? You constantly fill your bucket.

If you stay this way, you will never be depressed, people can never manipulate you or your emotions, you will forever be smart and creative and strong, and the world will adore you, but even if they hate you, you will love yourself and that is what matters. Remember to watch the winds move the world around you as though everything is swaying to a song. Sing that song... out loud... so the neighbors shush you... until the words make your throat raw... never stop.

And if you ever look up into the stars and moon, remember your God made them and the sun too, just for you. Remember they were there when your mom and dad were young, and we gazed at them too. When your grandparents were young, when your great grandparents were young. They are ancient, watching many generations. They will be around when your grandchildren look up into the heavens, too. Know that your soulmate is under those same celestrial bodies, waiting for you. And if you do not have a soulmate, if you are not destined for romance or marriage or children, know that happiness lies there too, with you lying on a bed of grass in an open field with the clouds making pictures for you.

Alone, you never are alone. Even if you are blessed to live to a ripe old age and your golden curly locks turn gray, and your eyes fade, and your muscles ache, and you are all alone because everyone you love has passed from this world to the next with God before you, even if, remember you are never alone. God is always with you, and He, unlike everything else in this dying, aging, molding, graying, disintegrating world, He is permanent and unchanging and forever present and forever loving you. Love Him back, and be at peace whereever you are in life. And listen to the frogs croak outside your window and remember me and your dad catching them for you to hold in your hands and laugh. And remember laughter.

Laugh for me. Love for me. Remember God is love and laughter, do that for me. And be at peace, forever young in spirit.