Ablaze

The other day a dear friend sent me a video of Alanis Morrissette performing a single from her new album on the Tonight Show. It was virtual, obviously, and the kicker was she sang while carrying her daughter on her hip.

We are all making sacrifices lately, and those with children bear a particular burden during the pandemic. And our children see the changes and the feel the stress, and our anxiety pervades their minds too. So Alanis’s newest song spoke to me very personally, acknowledging realities and identifying her priorities. She reminds me of my mission as a mother to my kiddos, as she sings about her own:

To my boy, my precious gentle warrior,
To your sweetness and your strength in exploring,
May this bond stay with you through all your days,
My mission is to keep the light in your eyes ablaze.

By encouraging her three kiddos that they can persevere even when conflict arises, she has encouraged me. Through all our trials this late summer into fall, and into who knows how long, may I remember my mission.