The first secret

I watch Cora playing in her playpen and I am amazed at how far she has come.  I see the NG tube in her nose and watch her try to pull it out again, despite the fact that I have been taught by her how I need to tape it to keep her from doing this. I see her grab different toys and rattle them and try to get them to her mouth.  I watch and listen as she talks her baby garble words and see how successful she has become at moving her tongue to make different sounds.

To Cora, life is an opportunity.  She doesn't care that she has to nap every few minutes because she has so little energy.  She doesn't mind that her heart isn't beating or working like it is suppose too. She has the trust that when she reaches her hand alongside her body that hand will find a toy to play with.  She knows where I am and searches for me.  When she finds me she smiles and laughs, because she knew I would be there.

I watch her and I am reminded of that line by the writer Robert Frost were he says, "I always entertain great hopes".  Cora is like this in so many ways.  People are always commenting on how   quiet and happy she seems.  I agree.  Cora has the ability to be so peaceful, and many times lately when I hold her in my arms and cry at the injustice of our life and events right now, she will look at me as if she carries the wisdom of centuries and hold my gaze.  Those little blue eyes seem to be telling me so much and, despite this sounding strange to some, as she holds my stare and gazes into my eyes, I would swear I can hear her speaking to my soul. 

This little child is such a blessing.  She has a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing.  She knows the first secret in wisdom, without having to be taught what that is. What an absolute gift in today's world.