I learned very early on the power of story, and whether as a child, student, educator, or mother, stories have been an integral part of my life. Stories have the ability to not only take us places we may have dreamed about, they also have the incredible ability to transform.

One such story is Robert Munsch's,  Love You Forever,  a book that I read almost every night to my children. It touches to the very core of relationship between a mother and her child (and fathers as well!) Throughout the story, which chronicles a child's life, there is a repeated phrase:

I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

How I have thought of these lines this past week in the wake of the horrific events that took place at Sandy Hook School. I found myself repeating them for my now-grown children, children everywhere, and, in particular, for the children who died that dreadful day.

  I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

It is not hard to imagine Mary saying the very same words to Jesus on the day of his birth, during his childhood and adulthood, at the foot of the cross, and while lovingly holding him after his death.

  I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

This Christmas, our Bethlehem, may we celebrate all God's children as we remember and celebrate the birth of the Babe. I know that I will be hugging my children just a little harder and repeating the words,

I'll love you forever. I'll like you for always.
As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be.

 

--Joan Dollinger, SSJ Associate

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