My friend Karen and I used to call each other “Bubbelina,” our own construction based on the Yiddish “bubbela,” a term of endearment. Karen’s not on the earthly plane any longer, but she is with us in spirit. To honor her, and the kindness, humor and compassion with which she greeted each day, I’ve taken to thinking of everyone I meet as a bubbelina, a dear one.

Loss has been an in-your-face theme for many of my bubbelinas, and to you all especially I offer prayers of healing and hope. Part of grief, I think, can be to feel lonely and isolated. Perhaps that’s also part of the human condition in general. Yet separation is an illusion. We are all here together, interdependent, connected, needing one another. It can be hard to own the need, yet reaching out to help and be helped is so very powerful, consoling and healing.

The gift of heartache is a softened, open heart. And the gift of a softened, open heart is the joy of joining together in spirit. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace, just for today. And please bring  a smile to the hearts of all my bubbelinas, old friends, new friends, friends I haven’t met yet. Amen.