Let Love Rule

Ok, I know I wasn't going to do any posts at the moment. I've been loving the other stuff I've been doing in the run up to Christmas and so on. We're having a party, pretty much from Friday onwards until about the 4th January. Literally. Among other celebrations, Herbie's birthday will be on the 21st, and we are going to Spain with a bunch of friends for 10 whole days from Boxing Day onwards. There's a lot to do, lots to plan, so it's all about making mince pies and tarting up the house. I've enjoyed just watching some TV of an evening or arsing around on facebook rather than having to do any serious writing. It's been really nice. I've also been gathering some amazing books for research on my book and some fantastic things are falling into place behind the scenes for some BIG changes.

But tonight I really want to write. I've been aching. Hurting. Grieving. Jeez, listening to the news on the radio over the last week had me sobbing yesterday as I drove down the A17. I was listening to a story about a boy of 9 and his mother who had been stabbed by his father before he set the house on fire. I went completely numb. Being a mother of four boys, this kind of story just hurts so much. Being any human at all makes these stories hurt. Also in the news recently a one month old baby who had been terrible abused and was fighting for his life. Then a footballer who hung himself, to everyone's complete and utter shock. The Stephen Lawrence trial was also discussed on the radio yesterday. A man blew up a bunch of innocent strangers in Belgium.... so much pain and suffering, pointless suffering...

I know there is good in the world, I know there is joy. I know there are endless kind deeds, selfless deeds committed every day, by people in every country, of every creed, race, religion. But it hurts that humanity has this capacity for such evil, for such soulessness. Humanity means everyone, including you and me. In other circumstances we might have grown up to be monsters, who were so full of pain and hurt that it could have been us who committed these atrocious acts. It's a scary thought. It hurts that somebody felt so utterly alone and isolated that they would do any of these acts.

Being alone is such a sad place for anyone to be. Which brings me to Christmas. I think everyone is collectively pretty het up about all the wrong things at Christmas-time in some ways. We agonise about having the perfect outfit to wear, the perfect meal to eat, the perfect presents, bla bla bla, perfect perfect perfect.... and yet.....isn't Christmas really about getting under each others skin? This can feel uncomfortable with those who have gotten under it for the wrong reasons, but essentially, Christmas is a time for sharing secrets and confidences, about letting our barriers down, about talking to people we might not normally have much time for? About having the heart-to-hearts with those we are too busy to talk to deeply all year round? 

Is it really about stuffing our faces, getting wazzed and buying and receiving presents that may or may not hit the spot anyway? 

Christmas is a time to spread a ripple of love out there but why should it be confined to a few days of the year? Let's spread a ripple of love and goodwill, of kindness, and favours, right now. Let's commit to it all year round. To be less uptight with each other. To ask each other the question "How are you? and mean it. 

Each good thing we do for someone will likely cause them to do a good turn themselves. It's a gift that keeps on giving, with us at the epicentre of the ripple. With just one kind word we said. Or one generous act. Or simply a smile. We can offer the gift of our ears to really listen to someone. We can give them the gift of touch. Or forgiveness. Or hope. Or confidence. Or rememberance. We can help them with  muscle or time or help or just plain wonga if that's what's most needed.

The ripples of our caring will continue to be felt in the universe and may reach the distant shores of the heart of someone about to kill, or hurt others ..... love spreads.....

Who knows how far love can travel????

Xx Peace xX