A Love Letter: To my Children

To my children:

My mother, your grandmother, worries for me because at the age of 33, I do not have any children of my own. She worries I will not have anyone to care for me when I am older. I laugh and tell her that I am “working on it.” I think her worries are silly, but there is a nagging sensation that if I don’t start soon, there will be no one to take care of me when I am old and frail.

What is worse than not having children to take care of you, is having children who ignore you and make you sicker.

I’m afraid for Earth. Our Mother Earth has billions of children, but we disregard her health and wellness. When we were young, our mother was strong and able to sustain to us. But as we shut our eyes and go about our daily business, we do not see that our mother is growing old and sick.

Maybe it’s too late.

Maybe it’s not.

We must take care of our mother. She is the only one we will ever have. There is no other mother.

I will do my very best to make her better; but I need everyone. My best intentions will not be enough. I hope when your aunts and uncles convene in Paris 2015, they will put their petty squabbles aside and create a plan to make our mother stronger for you.

I hope you experience the warm embraces of our mother in the summer; the touch of clean water on your lips; or the gentle touch of wind in your hair.

Others will say there is nothing wrong with her. They do not silence themselves long enough to listen to our mother when she speaks. When she has a fever, her skin breaks, they say, “It will not last; put a band-aid on it.”

No! We must not turn our backs.

In truth, when I am gone, there will be others to care for you. But will they be strong enough? Our strength depends on the strength of mother Earth.

We all perish. But if we lose her, we will no longer exist.

WE WILL BE THE CAUSE OF OUR OWN GENOCIDE.

My children, my dears, I only have an inkling, but I know, I love you. You must do your part. Do what is right.

Love,
Your mother