The most impactful thing about the days and months and years after September 11^th for me was listening to the experience of our nation’s children.  I heard so many kids explaining what the day meant to them and what their plans were to help make the world a better place.  One thing was clear.  It shifted the course of their futures. This event struck all of us on so many levels and continues to be a marker in the conversation about the brotherhood of man and how we practice humanity around the globe.

So many stories of loss and love and heart break and bravery and compassion remain as New York continues to reimagine and rebuild. I ran into this clip of Angela Lansbury at the Mormon Tabernacle discussing her concerns and reaction in the year after the attacks and how as a Grandmother she wanted to respond to what she witnessed.  Angela Lansbury asked herself what she could contribute with her talents.  The answer was as simple as it is beautiful… to sing a song using her voice to spread a message and remind all of us it is our job to be there for our kids, all our kids.

“All of us, grand parents, parents, aunts, and uncles, we all have to try to do everything that we possibly can to show them that they are safe and loved and that good will triumph over evil and right will prevail.”

As she sings this beautiful song for the Christmas show at the Mormon Tabernacle Ms. Lansbury speaks the truth and spreads the message that all of us deeply understand.  Not only do children listen to everything we say.  They are sponges of the world they inhabit and it is our responsibility to nourish their hearts and souls with love. Reassure the little ones.  So they feel safe and whole. I don’t know how you hold September 11th in your heart but I do know that for me it remains the day that millions of children’s hearts shifted in consciousness and their understanding of safety took a beating.

To everyone, now and forever I join in this message from Stephen Sondheim, sung below so beautifully by Angela Lansbury….

While we may experience worry and stress it is our job to protect our children. To shield them from harm’s way and to enlighten their journey. It is our job as parents and teachers and land lords of the earth to rise into our magnificence and teach our children well.

Lots of Love,

Melanie

As a little bonus. Here’s an interview where Angela Lansbury talks about the moment of owning her star turn in the show MAME and the challenge to being in the spotlight… “As my great friend Katherine Hepburn said you ‘Take stage.’  A Wonderful moment. You decide you are going to go for it.”