A Day for Peace

Today is the UN World Day for Peace. Jacob's school gave plastic cups to all the kids. They wrote the name of a war-torn country on the cup, then arranged them in the chain link fence to say "Be the Peace." Later this morning, they'll have a peace march around the school. I don't know that peace marches really do much to change the world. I do however, believe that individual choices can eventually change the world. I do believe that we can be the peace. Jacob's country of choice is Afghanistan. My project for today is to find something tangible that we can do together to improve conditions there. I have some ideas, but I'm always open to suggestions!

I highly recommend Todd Parr's The Peace Book. The book explains what a peaceful world looks like in simple language with clear, colorful illustrations. It's been a great conversation starter in our house for many different topics from ecological responsibility to homelessness.

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life. Amen.