I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh through my tears
I was born to love
I’m gonna learn to love without fear

Talk deep into the night
Who knows what we’ll find

Intuition, deja vu
The Holy Ghost haunting you
Whatever you got
I don’t mind

Put your elbows on the table
I’ll listen long as I am able
There’s nowhere I’d rather be

Secret fears, the supernatural
Thank God for this new laughter
Thank God the joke’s on me

We’ve seen the landfill rainbow
We’ve seen the junkyard of love
Baby it’s no place for you and me

I was born to laugh
I learned to laugh through my tears
I was born to love
I’m gonna learn to love without fear.

—Unknown  (At least… I’m not sure; tell me if you know!)

Walking down a crowded street,
There’s heartache all around;
The tears I cannot see,
Are hidden by a smile, by anger, by dreams.

One little girl, one of millions,
Lost and alone.
All those she trusted
Have turned her innocence into
The nightmare she now lives.

An outcast far from home 
Her dreams stolen
By those she called her own.
Scorned by all and loved by none,
Her heart is dying,
Broken inside.

A lover rejected, tossed aside -
Heart is broken, bleeding.
The pieces of shattered trust
Gathered slowly
To build a wall to hide behind.

Down every street,
And in every home,
Hearts are aching and
Dreams are breaking.
This world is so very cold,
Leaving fear in pain’s wake.

My heart is heavy,
Holding the weight of
Death and suffering.
How do you bear it, Father?
To see lives falling apart?
To watch hope fade
In hands of cruelty?

My child, you see but a piece.
I see tomorrow through today.
I see already heaven,
Even while every tear now is wept.
As you see yesterday, I see forever.

I weep with the broken,
But hope is not lost.

I will bring justice;
I will right every wrong;
I will heal every heart;
I will mend every wound.

I see tomorrow,
So trust me through today.
Let me wrap my arms around you;
Let me wipe away your tears;
Let my hope replace your fears.

Not one sigh has escaped my ear;
Not one tear have I not caught.
I see the boy alone in darkness,
And I am even now shining a light.

I know the name of the girl
Stolen from her home,
And I am even now, calling her to me.
I weep with the woman
Who’s been left alone,
And my arms are holding her still.

I have watched the wanderings of the man
Whose hope is gone with the fading of dreams,
And even now I comfort and guide him.

I created the beginning
And I know the end.
Rest my child, all will be well.
Someday the darkness will be overtaken
By my radiant and glorious light.
But for now take heart -
For I AM.

—Kimberly Staples

For I hope that I will always choose to not let the chance pass me by. 

• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to kiss your spaghetti-covered face instead of waiting until it is washed. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to hold your hand instead of the camera. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to rock you to sleep instead of sending you back to bed alone. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to play dress-up with you instead of working on my ‘To-Do List’. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to treasure the moment instead of wishing for better timing. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to smile at your painting instead of frowning at the stain on your shirt . 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to read your favorite book for the 100th time instead of insisting we pick out a different one. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to give you ‘now’ instead of promising ‘later’. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to be your best friend instead of just being ‘the mom’. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to listen to you instead of talking myself. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to say “I love you” instead of giving unneeded lectures. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to help you face obstacles instead of allowing you to be daunted by them. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to build unshakable bridges between us instead of impregnable walls. 
• I hope that someday when I have the choice, I will choose to tell you “I’m glad I chose you.” instead of leaving you to wonder. 

— Julia H.

Thank you for letting me post this piece on my blog, Julia! Thank you for writing it, for sharing something that is obviously close to your heart with all of us. It’s truly beautiful. That is exactly the Mom I hope & pray to be some day, too. Keep looking up, girl!