Loving a Sad Heart!

I am feeling a strange sadness today as I look around and hear purposeful deaths of children.  When I was at the gym the other day I overheard a conversation of a ten year committing suicide because she was being bullied.  Ten years old!!!!  My heart just broke.  Today I heard of a friend's child trying to kill herself-I am not sure of her age, but I don't believe she is much older than that.  It drains my soul and my heart cries out!  Did she not know how much her family loved her?  Did her family not realize her agony?  Did they not see her cry for help?  This hits so close to home since we have dealt with Kai being bullied this year-at six and a half years old.  Did we handle the situation properly? Does he know we love him and we will protect him? Does he know how much he is worth to us?  The thought of him trying to take his own precious life is so unfathomable!  I hope that we never come to that place ever!  God is teaching me to appreciate my children so much more-but why does it have to come from someone else's loss or pain to open my eyes?  Yesterday I posted on facebook:  "Today instead of sitting and watching at the playground I chose to wrestle and light saber, make and eat 'chocolate cake' but not without singing happy birthday to all the kids who joined in-and laugh with my kids!  This is what its meant to feel like!"    We are working through the Fruit of the Spirit in our home.  During breakfast we go over the scripture and at dinner we draw from our "pot" different questions to discuss.  This week we have been learning LOVE.  God has been reminding me what love is:  "Love is patient.  Love is kind.  It does not want what belongs to others.  It does not brag.  It is not proud.  It is not rude.  It does not easily become angry.  It does not keep track of other people's wrongs.  Love is not happy with evil, but it is full of joy when the truth is spoken.  It always protects.  It always trusts.  It always hopes.  It never gives up.  Love never fails."  (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a NIRV)  That is powerful stuff and boy do I need to work on many of them.  I hope I am getting better at showing and teaching my children how to love and be loved.  To laugh, dance and get down and dirty with them just to see the joys on their faces-that is one of the true blessings of being a parent!  Love on your children today!