To the Moon and Back

The Healing Reflection invites you to explore grief and healing. Reflect on your emotions and memories of loved ones. The activity is reading a children's book called "Guess How Much I Love You," which brings back memories of playing with the narrator's father. The story portrays the love between Little Nutbrown Hare and Big Nutbrown Hare as they try to express their love for each other. Reflect on shared experiences with someone special and appreciate their impact on your life. Welcome to the Healing Reflection. You are invited to come near grief and move toward healing. Set an intention to imagine what loving someone to the moon and back means for you. Notice where your thoughts are today. What words best describe your mood? What positive memory can you recall about your person today? Notice what comes to mind. Is there a favorite movie, TV show, song, or book that reminds you of them? How are you feeling right now? Sit with the emotions for a moment and just honor this feeling. The activity today is me reading a short story called Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney. This book has beautiful illustrations by Anita Jerram. This is a story I shared with my children during their younger years because it reminded me of a game my own father and I played together. This book has a way of causing me to feel closer to him, to my father, and I love it for younger children. Little Nutbrown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nutbrown Hare's very long ears. He wanted to be sure that Big Nutbrown Hare was listening. Guess how much I love you, he said. Oh, I don't think I could guess that, said Big Nutbrown Hare. This much, said Little Nutbrown Hare, stretching out his arms as wide as they could go. Big Nutbrown Hare had even longer arms. But I love you this much, he said. Hmm, that is a lot, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I love you as high as I can reach, said Little Nutbrown Hare. I love you as high as I can reach, said Big Nutbrown Hare. Oh, that is very high, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I had arms like that. Then Little Nutbrown Hare had a good idea. He tumbled upside down and reached up the tree trunk with his feet. I love you all the way up to my toes, he said. And I love you all the way up to your toes, said Big Nutbrown Hare, swinging him up over his head. I love you as high as I can hop, laughed Little Nutbrown Hare, bouncing up and down. But I love you as high as I can hop, smiled Big Nutbrown Hare. And he hopped so high that his ears touched the branches above. That's good hopping, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. I wish I could hop like that. I love you all the way down the lane as far as the river, cried Little Nutbrown Hare. I love you across the river and over the hills, said Big Nutbrown Hare. That's very far, thought Little Nutbrown Hare. He was almost too sleepy to think anymore. Then he looked beyond the thornbrushes, out into the big dark night. Nothing could be further than the sky. I love you right up to the moon, he said, and closed his eyes. Oh, that's far, said Big Nutbrown Hare. That is very far. Big Nutbrown Hare settled Little Nutbrown Hare into his bed of leaves. He leaned over and kissed him goodnight. Then he lay down close by and whispered with a smile, I love you right up to the moon and back. Reflect. What movie, song, TV show, or even a book is something that you've shared with a special someone that you might be missing today? Just take a moment and think of that. And if you have time in honor of that person, spend some time with that and reflect on what that person brought into your life and what they mean to you. Thank you for listening. Have a beautiful day. © transcript Emily Beynon