Well if the world's got you down this week, here's a touching story that may give a bit of hope for the future. 

I went up north with my family for 36 relaxing hours this past weekend.  We camped right on Lake Superior, and it was great. On Saturday morning, my son invited me down to the shore for a "presentation." 

Knowing my 6 year-old, I was fully expecting a series of ninja kicks and violent cartwheels. 

Instead, he sat me down on the rocks and started having a conversation with our dead dog, and my dead father (who he never met).  It was startling.  He looked out at the waves and told Dad and my old dog Hank how sorry he was that they couldn't be there with us.  He told them he loved them, and that he'd never abandon them... 

It was adorable, in a creepy "Sixth Sense" kind of way. 

Reader, as much as I wish I could take credit, I have no idea where the kid got it from.  I don't talk like that, and neither does my husband.  He just kept talking and talking to dead folks with an empathy I can't comprehend.  I asked him why he did that, and he said, "Well how would you like it if I didn't talk to you after you die?  You'd be so sad." 

Gulp. 

Sometimes I worry about what's to come.  And then moments like this happen and I feel a bit better.  I believe that the empathy of future generations will truly make the world better than it has ever been before.  I can't get over just how much bigger my kids' heart is at his age than mine has ever been. 

So take heart.  Even when we can't see it amongst our peers, there are good things on the horizon. See you next Monday. -Em