Dona Nobis Pacem ~ Grant Us Peace~

"While we watch the storm clouds gather and prepare for the storm, let us never forget that the sun still shines behind those dark clouds and may somehow break through before the storm descends. I see sunshine in the real desire for peace in the hearts of humanity, even though the human family gropes toward peace blindly, not knowing the way. "
--- Peace Pilgrim ---

I've included another favorite by --
"A real soul is something you make by walking through fire. By keeping on walking, and by remembering how it felt."

--- Peter Straub --

I'm excited to join the second anniversary of Blogblast For Peace, which began as a simple post by Mimi from Mimi Writes in the fall of 2006. The message Mimi sent in her first post "Dona Nobis Pacem" Latin for "Grant Us Peace" has traveled from blog to blog reaching 35 countries and 46 states, an amazing accomplishment.

This is the second annual posting of Blogblast For Peace. The original post was published in November of 2006, then published again six months later on July of 2008 and now on November 6, 2008- I decided to take part in all three. Mimi's Peace Globe movement is one of the most impressive memes in the blogosphere, therefore, like many of my fellow blogger's, I'm delighted to be a part of it.

Together we'll have our Peace globes posted throughout the internet along with our favorite words about what peace means to us individually- and that is cool-

Here is the link to Mimi's Official Site for Blogblast For Peace if you would like to join us, or read more about this incredible movement.

In addition, here is the link to Mimi's post and the list of bloggers who have joined and posted their Peace Globes.

When I read that we were asked to write about what peace means to us, along with a poem in our peace globe, I thought of the poem and quote I used in my previous Blogblast posts. Only this time, I also thought about humanity and the individual parts each of us play in relation to peace. I don't think I told a story in my first two Peace Globe posts, but for some reason, I felt this one may be significant.

Here's my story:

When I was a small child, I paraded toward my parents bedroom at the end of the hall, but when I got there, the door was closed. I immediately sensed that something was wrong, but without thinking or knocking I barged in the room anyway and saw my father kneeling on the side of the bed crying and praying.


My father was crying...he never cried. He was my hero, the Chief of Detectives at the Sheriffs Office, a cowboy, and the only person who knew how to put the Christmas lights on the tree- my father didn’t cry – nevertheless grown-up tears rolled out of his blue eyes and down his expressionless face- I couldn’t understand what he was saying to God.

Frightened, I started to run from the room, but he pulled me onto his lap, rocked me back and forth, and said, " I know there will be peace on earth one day... Sweetheart, I know there will be..."

Years later, I learned that I caught my father crying minutes after Senator Robert Kennedy was assassinated at the Ambassador Hotel in 1968.

I asked him once how he could have been so sure there would be peace on earth after what happened that day, especially at that time in our country and his career.

He replied, "Because a world without peace, love, and tolerance will not stand long. None of us will survive on a planet divided by hate, violence, injustice, greed, and prejudice." Then he said..."And I didn't have the heart to give up on my country, our world, and humanity itself."

I was brought up believing that we need to remain grateful for our blessings and cautious of becoming indifferent to the sufferings of others...

That we must never tolerate, minimize, or silence the unjust treatment of others, anymore than we would silently witness a loved one suffering the same fate.

That is one reason I love the following quote by Peter Straub.


"A real soul is something you make by walking through fire. By keeping on walking, and by remembering how it felt."

--- Peter Straub -


My mother and father taught us that attitude is everything...which to me means we can choose to live a peaceful life full of love and laughter everyday, and everyday we can choose whether to pass what we have along to others...

Whispered from a genuine heart, kindness, truth, wisdom, compassion, and love, are my favorite words...

Mimi, thank you for reminding us to have faith in peace, love, and kindness, and for creating an excellent way for us to individually express what peace means personally to each of us.


Enjoy the video 'Humanity' and the song Get Together by The Youngbloods-



Thank you Paula from Paula's Playground for designing such a wonderful peace globe for me on the fourth annual blog for peace, I decided to use it again. :))