All The Stars Are Laughing

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-artwork by my student Quincy who loves The Little Prince as much as I do


​Magical things happen in a classroom when I teach the famous French novel The Little Prince to students. It’s an allegory that keeps revealing itself even to those who have heard it many times. I love to call Sam, my new grandson, my little prince. I can’t wait to share this enchanting story with him.

This year, I used The Little Prince as the basis of a French unit about friendship and how different groups around the world view this concept. I changed my approach to teaching culture. I shifted from analyzing products of different countries to discussing beliefs of people.

It’s a French teacher’s dream come true to see famous The Little Prince quotes resonate with children. I love when my students’ eyes light up with the realization that they can in fact “see” with their hearts. Little hands shoot up with eagerness. They want their turn to explain how one sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes.

In fact, something magical happened this spring as I shared the story. The Little Prince once again charmed me as I discovered new meaning for old, familiar words. As I read about friendships and stars in a new context, The Little Prince comforted me in unexpected ways.

My family celebrated the incredible life of Bob’s mother, Mama Polly, last week. I witnessed sincere acts of friendship from dear people who took time to care for us after she died. These friendships and these beautiful people made me extraordinarily grateful. I began to think about what is essential in life, about what can’t be seen with eyes.

-How important it is to reach out to others even if you haven’t seen them in a while because my friends lessened the burden of loss we were feeling.

-How it’s ok if you don’t know quite what to say because I don’t remember their words. I just remember them being present in my home or at the funeral.

-How taking the time to care is essential. These friends were busy, but they chose to make time for us.

Losing a cherished family member is hard. It is sad despite celebrating an amazing life. It is emotional despite preparing for the inevitable. You just think you have more time.

Mama Polly was my prayer partner. I cannot count the times over the last twenty-one years that I called her to ask her to pray with me, to pray for me, and to lift us up. She didn’t have one favorite quote, one favorite hymn, or one favorite bible verse. She loved them all and shared them effortlessly.

Mama Polly also had the last word with me in that special way only a good mother-in-law can. After celebrating her birthday, she said Jo- I want to thank you. I tried to explain that the birthday fixings were all Bob because she enjoyed knowing her boys looked after her. Mama Polly replied, I mean to say thank you for this today, but also thank you. Thank you for all the other times when I didn’t say it for the things you have done for me.

Having the last word can be a powerful thing. Her last words to me were words of love and gratitude. What a mighty witness she lived.

On this Mother’s Day, as I celebrate being a grandmother for the first time, I also celebrate the many women in my life who shaped my character, watched over me, loved me fiercely, and celebrated so much life with me. My grandmothers, aunts, and friends who were such beautiful moms and are no longer with me. Mama Jo, Grandmama Bessy, Mama Powers, Gran Jan, Memama, Aunt Marcia, Aunt Patsy, Miss Mary Anne, and precious Amber.

On this Mother’s Day, The Little Prince, soothes my heart once again by reminding me about stars. He tells about finding those we have lost among stars in the sky.

That will be my present… When you look up at the night, since I’ll be living on one of them, since I’ll be laughing on one of them, for you it’ll be as if all the stars are laughing… And when you’re consoled, you’ll be glad you’ve known me…You’ll feel like laughing with me.

I will search for laughing stars. I will be consoled knowing that Mama Polly and this legacy of Godly women still fill me with love because this legacy is rooted in their love for Jesus. I cherish their lessons in love by remembering that this love is patient. It’s so very kind. It doesn’t get envious and isn’t proud. This love does not humiliate others and it is not selfish. It isn’t angry and doesn’t keep a list of wrongs. This love doesn’t get happy when evil happens.This love is truth.
It protects.
It trusts.
It hopes.
This love perseveres.

All the stars will be laughing tonight.
Don’t forget to look.