We humans need security. We want to know that we
are safe and we are loved and it is all going to be
okay. And yet…it isn’t always safe, and it sometimes
isn’t going to be okay. Even being loved can be taken
away. Enough good news? I certainly wouldn’t blame
you for walking away about now. Here’s the thing.
Love anyway.
Insecurity doesn’t have to break us.
I want to believe that I will always be able to keep a
safe roof over our heads and make the rent and feed
my family. And all I can do is today. I want to tell
those I love that I will always love them …and yet my
history says sometimes things change. All I can do is
today.
I want to tell my kids they are safe at school and at
the mall, and that nothing bad can touch them. And I
want to tell them that I will never die. All I can do is
today.
We cannot build our security on things being
predictable.
We have to build our security on our ability to be
responsive.
We cannot build our security on controlling the
world around us.
We have to build our security on our ability to
manage our inner world.
We cannot build our security on promises or
guarantees.
We have to build our security on forgiveness and
compassion.
We cannot build our security on the ability of one
person to protect and reassure us.
We must build our security on the ability of love to
protect and reassure us.
Anxiety is exhausting, and it doesn’t do a very good
job of protecting us.
Love means loss and broken hearts. Love anyway.
—Maureen Campion
Appearing in Pathways to
Family Wellness Magazine
