We learn that hope is not just a word. We learn to hope, to pray, to hold our breath and hope, just hope and then when all seems lost, they teach us to hope more.
We learn to rejoice when that hope becomes joy. Joy at seeing darkness turn to light. Joy at seeing the hope for tomorrow become the reality of today. And when we see them emerge from the darkness and bring us light, they teach us to laugh and smile and hope for more joy, more light, more smiles.
They warm our hearts when coldness creeps in. When they run around, or scoot around, they teach us to always look forward, never focus on what was, just what can be.
And when they run the wheel or maybe just hang out on the wheel, they teach us that all is well, all is right, all the darkness around can turn to light. We love them, we share their joy and then there are those times we must take a deep breath and grieve for them. But even in our grief, they teach us. They teach us that grief is ok, but even in the grief we cannot forget the smiles, the victories snatched from defeat.
They teach us to never give up hope for through the darkness there will be a light that will shine on. For if we learn nothing from our grief we have never really learned what they taught us. And we have learned too much from them to not have learned the gift of tomorrow. For they teach us to always hope, always.
Thank you for teaching us Paddy Cakes. Through the darkness you gave us light, you taught us well. You taught us hope. You taught us well.
Paddycake, Paddycake
Run the wheel as fast as you can
Paddycake, Paddycake
Run little man as you make me smile
Paddycake, Paddycake
Thank you for staying here awhile