A rose once grew where all could see,
sheltered beside a garden wall,
And as the days passed swiftly by,
it spread its branches, straight and tall...

One day, a beam of light shone through
a crevice that had opened wide
The rose bent gently toward its warmth
then passed beyond to the other side

Now, you who deeply feel its loss,
be comforted - the rose blooms there-
its beauty even greater now, nurtured by
God's own loving care


For Janet and Chomba with love and deep understanding.x

This photo was taken when my son Nicolas broke his collar bone and Chomba popped in for a visit accompanied by Jack. A few days later, both Nicolas and Chomba got chickenpox. Joe and I kept exchanging pictures of the boys doing silly things to cheer up their days. He always had a nice word or a top tip for us... He sent me the following message during a playdate that Nicolas had at their place: 

"They never stopped. I think they had missed each other. It's a solid friendship."
 
I love reading these words, 'it's a solid friendship'. The way adults perceive their child's relations tell a lot about the way the children themselves enact these relationships.

- Thanks, Joe, for teaching your son the real value of a friendship, rest assured that it is reciprocal from our part. 

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"