“This is me and Orie. We’re going for a walk. I’m holding her hand,” my four year old, Josie, said. Josie is drawing more and more and it’s fascinating to observe how she sees the world and narrates stories. Orie is her baby sister due in May. I am so happy that Josie is excited about welcoming a baby sister. We’ll see how things unfold when the baby is here!

We were driving home from the store a few weeks ago. At a stoplight stood a person with a cardboard sign. A dog was resting at the individual’s feet with a soiled backpack nearby. Josie asked what the person was doing. “What does the sign say?” she asked.

I told her the sign said, “Homeless. Anything will help.”

The light turned green and I drove away from the street corner. I could feel Josie’s contemplation. She spoke up: “We can build him a home.”

Oh, baby, I thought. Sweet, sincere child of God. So many people need a home or want to feel at home… I don’t remember what I said to her.

And I don’t remember what I said when we were eating breakfast at a local diner that was showing the news on TV screens above us when Josie took a break between bites of pancakes to watch: “Fireworks!” she exclaimed. Oh, baby, I sighed. Those aren’t fireworks.

What do we tell our children about the Ukraine? About Florida? Texas? The school shooting near Nana’s house in Iowa? The neighbors who are homeless and hungry?

On my shelf, desk, nightstand are books like Faithful Families from Traci Smith (all the versions!) and When Kids Ask Hard Questions edited by Bromleigh McCleneghan and Karen Ware Jackson (Volumes 1 and 2). And next to me is Colors of Hope.

We must color every corner of the world with beauty, hope, healing, and love. I urge you to read this devotional journal from LGBTQ+ Christians. It is from us for you. We hope the book agitates you and empowers you.

Pondering all the questions, I’m going to play with magnetic blocks and build something with my daughter.

What are you building? What are we building? What are we dismantling and reimagining?

Melissa