For The Children

My youngest child is graduating from High School this month.  Her ceremony, dinner and dance were on Saturday May 30.  Coincidentally, Prince Jackson's graduation celebration was also on this day.
Having a daughter the same age as Prince and Paris, has made me keenly aware of the differences in their lives.  Today, I was thinking about how touching it was to watch her walk across the stage to receive her diploma, and listen to the inspiring speeches.  After months of planning, the dress was ready, hair and nails done, and all too soon, the magical day was over.   I was thinking that it was too bad that Michael wasn't there for Prince's graduation festivities.   Then I realized, if Michael was here, Prince's graduation would not have been anything like my daughters.  He wouldn't have been able to be just a graduate with his dad, one of the crowd.  That would never have been possible.

Then it hit me.  Michael wanted his children to have a regular life.  Without him, they can.  Without him, they are.  His ultimate sacrifice allowed his children to have the freedom that he wanted for them.  Is it too much of a stretch to imagine that he knew this?  In the overall Divine plan, was this part of the reason he left?  Of course, we don't know the details, but somehow, deep inside myself, I really think this is true.

From June 25, 2009 until today, I have never been able to accept that Michael was separated from his children.  It seemed to be the harshest part of the reality of him being gone.   So unfair, so tragic, so terrible!  No parent should ever have to leave their children.  No children should ever have to be apart from their parents.  Having a child the same age, 12, at the time, made my tears flow that much harder.

My own father was not part of my life.  The last time I saw him was when I was eight years old.  He didn't die.  He left.  How sad it is that parents in our society so often don't value the relationship with their children.  Michael loved his so much that he left them, to give them what he never had, a normal childhood.   Today I love Him 1000 times more than yesterday.