I saw one of those reality shows recently that my daughter likes. What Would You Do? And it was a show where a couple fought publicly with a young girl who had supposedly promised a baby that she was now deciding to keep.

They showed the scenario many different ways, with the pregnant girl left, or the adoptive husband or the adoptive wife. In one scenario, the adoptive wife was left, and two women came out of nowhere in this restaurant and prayed with her, an actress who wasn't actually looking for a baby in real life at all. The actress was still moved to tears because the strangers prayed that she might be blessed with a baby, a baby she hadn't ever really considered in her life at all.

I have people in my life right now who are having a hard time with health. People for whom I just wish peace, for whom I wish safe passage. I keep thinking about those two complete strangers who came out of nowhere and prayed. I am told when my grandfather lay dying on the side of the road, a woman appeared and held his hand and told him it was okay to go. A stranger.

I thank you, stranger. That I might be so blessed.

There are two individuals on opposite sides of my family now who are having a hard time. I wish them a safe and painless passage.

Tonight my daughter and I watched a show in which a family had to decide to put their dog down, as we have put so many cats down. And my daughter asked how that would go, and I explained euthanasia.

If only my own passing could be so easy, I said.

She nodded from her nest on the couch. Perhaps I shouldn't bring up such subjects with a nine-year-old, but she has experienced the loss of many pets now, and truly, I think we dread death more than we should. Life is a circle. It should be, and it is. I think there is more than this that we see right now. I don't know what it is, but I believe there is more. I believe that it can be beautiful.

I remember a line from one of my favorite movies, LADY JANE, in which she says: The soul takes flight to the world that is invisible. At there arriving, she is assured of bliss, and forever dwells in paradise.

I believe that. That we are assured of bliss.

I wish bliss for my family.

I wish bliss for my family.

Because I do believe that the soul takes flight, and there arriving, we are assured of bliss. I wish that for all of you.