Sometimes no matter how many sheilds we build around ourselves to protect ourselves emotionally, there are just some things that shoot like arrows straight through the armor. Today is one of those days for me. I'm strongly empathic, I have a difficult time reading the news and today I saw the story of the poor mother who came into her house to find her child had been beheaded by her own father.

As a parent of two, and a little girl the same age as this baby, I can't help but grieve for this child and her mother, not to mention all the people connected with this child's life. I just can't help putting myself in this mother's place, and I cry for them. I've been crying for them all morning. I can't help looking at, touching, holding and smelling my own little girl and thinking that this poor woman will no longer have that child to hold in her own arms. I look at my own daughter and think what a delightful, wonderful peice of joy and miracle she is, and I just cannot understand who could possible want to do what this man had done to his own little miracle of life.

"Today, mommy is having a sad day", I tell my own little girl as I cry and cry and try to explain without frightening her why I am so upset.

I light my candles, and cry some more. I pray to the Goddess to help us all to be kind to our loved ones, treat them with love and gentleness, and to remember how blessed we are that they are in our lives. To bring comfort to other children who suffer at the hands of their caregivers, the ones we never hear about, who live their lives in fear and pain. PLease God, Goddess, Lord, Lady, bless the human race with peace in our hearts so that we may bring agony of this kind to an end, for truly the souls of those who commit these acts of violence against the innocent and defenceless,  must suffer in agony.

Sigh. I really think the only thing I'm going to be good for today is hugging and holding my kids.