Just One thing for the children

Her brother, her dad and their dog have gone on a short trip, this may be the first time this has happened, she thinks.

“Mom”, the young girl asked, “could you help me become brave? I miss Dad, our dog and my brother, especially today. I’ve tried to keep myself busy, but it just doesn’t seem to work.”

“Well let’s try something, I’ve been waiting to share this short poem with you.”, her mom said. “I learned it from my mom. She would remind me about it, when I didn’t feel quite right, she’d say, “Choose just One thing now my child, let it fill your mind. It all works out you will see, there's nothing left to find.” ”

“Mom? That sounds weird!” she sighed. “Alright, I’ll try to think of just one thing.”

“I'll listen to the sounds outside”, she said. She heard the cars and trucks and horns and the occasional yelling; she didn’t feel any better…

Her brother, away from home, felt anxious, too, “Dad, I feel lonely and a little nervous, what can I do? I miss mom and even sis, especially today”.

“Well let’s try something, I’ve been waiting to share this short poem with you,” his dad said, “I learned it from my dad. He would remind me about it, when I didn’t feel quite right, he’d say, “Choose just One thing now my child, let it fill your mind. It all works out, you will see, there's nothing left to find.” ”

“Dad? That sounds silly!” he sighed. “Alright, I’ll try to think of just one thing…like that will help…” “What’s that son?”…”Love you dad!”

“I'll think of our puppy”, he said. He thought of his puppy, so cute, and playful… “Dad, I don’t feel any better, and he chewed up my new book!”

The boy and girl felt confused as they each tried to think of just One thing, seems everything they thought of, just made them think of more things.

“Just relax, you can do it.” they heard their parents say.

“Just don’t try too hard this time, and breathe easy OK?”

She listened to the cars again, and then drifted to the sound

of her strong and gentle heartbeat, she felt brave again, she found.

He listened to his pet dog’s breath and then focused on his own,

he found the peace he was looking for, and felt that he was home.

“Choose just One thing now my child, let it fill your mind. It all works out you will see, there's nothing left to find.”

Copyright Gerry Sander 2019