The well-dressed man stood outside the driver’s side of the limousine, waiting. He had just transported his passengers from the church to the cemetery in what I hoped had been a momentary respite from the intensity of receiving so many fellow mourners. I was compelled to thank him for his care of them and he responded by sharing a poem he had just written, in his deep calming voice:
In a place called peace, I had peace in this place.
I’d been placed in a peace I had never been placed before.
So please, continue to place me with peace,
For peace is now my favorite place.
I hugged the kind man, whom I now know as Darren, for he reminded me that peace is real, attainable and good.
-Thank you, Darren, for growing love.
It is difficult to adapt to a life without a loved one who helped us define was living is. This is especially true at Christmas, with its abundance of traditions and memories. We trumpet the arrival of the Prince of Peace, yet may struggle to fully accept the gift of peace that is offered to us.
On a recent Sunday, our pastor reminded us that the Messiah was given the name Emmanuel, which means God is with us, always. He is concerned about us at all times. He is not only in our midst, but also within each of us. Acts of love bring us a sense of peace because we fulfill what is asked of us by God – to love thy neighbor.
If we have confidence our loved ones who passed are in a place of peace, as Darren reminds us, then all the more reason to be actively part of peace on earth.
“Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”- Phil 4, 7.
the grow love project 
Amen love mom