Hope

Dear Elli,

Today is September 11th.  A profoundly sad day in our nation's history.  I wrote a letter to you last year on this date, and I told you my story of that awful day.  How it felt from my perspective, as a 19-year-old college sophomore.

Today I'm going to tell you your story.  From your perspective today, as a five-year-old kindergartener.  Your perspective is amazing.  And I never want either of us to forget the way you felt today.

You're five now.  Very young, but certainly not a baby anymore.  So I decided to tell you what happened on September 11, 2001.  I told you that a few bad guys, who had hate in their hearts, flew airplanes into three big buildings and hurt a whole lot of people.  And many of them died.  Almost 3,000 innocent people lost their lives. 

You were shocked, and you wanted to know if I knew any of the people who died.  I told you no, but I know a lot of people who did know them.  You told me that I should ask them about their friends who died. That I should learn their names.  And I agree.  I should do that. 

Then you were very quiet and very solemn for a few minutes.  You were thinking.

When you finally spoke, this is what you said:

"That's a whole lot of people who died.  But you know what, Mommy?  I bet those people had babies.  And their babies are growing up.  And they're going to go back into that city.  And there's a few bad guys, but way more good guys.  And the bad guys can never win.  Because there are always more good guys."

That's what you said.  A five-year-old kindergartener, exactly 13 years after that day.  You weren't alive that day.  You weren't a twinkle in my eye.  I had not yet even begun to contemplate your existence.  But you get it. 

You get the point.  The point that it was a terrible day for the entire world.  It was horrifying.  People's lives were torn apart and changed forever.  And we should remember the people who were murdered that day.  We should ask their friends about them.  And learn their names.  We should never forget.

And after we take care to remember, we should also take care to be hopeful.  Because we can be knocked down.  We can be broken and bruised.  But we will always win.  As long as we get back up.  As long as we continue to teach our children the value of hope.  And the knowledge that fear has no power in the face of hope.

After all, there are a few bad guys, but way more good guys.  There are always more good guys.

Of that fact, you are certain.  And for that certainty, I am proud.  Never forget that.

I love you.

Mom