The blessing of Stars

One way to help kids, or even yourself, feel better in these frenzied days is to create a bright starry room. In this season of Epiphany, my writing group used that word as a prompt. I thought of the lights on my bedroom ceiling that were there when we moved in a few years ago.

The stars must have been fastened on by loving parents, I feel pretty sure. The room is ten by ten, holds just a twin bed and the walls are painted a delicate shade of pink. At night when I turn out my light, stars shine from the ceiling, like a heavenly canopy to fall asleep under.

I love to think about how much the parents must have treasured their child to go to all that work. Finding glow in the dark stars for sale somewhere. Excited to pick out various sizes, measuring from point to point, some two inches, some three and some even four inches across.

Those parents may have peeled off backing papers and stood on a ladder. They may have bent backwards, reached up, and pressed each star to the smooth white plaster ceiling, rubbing it into place with the backs of their hands. Getting off the ladder and wondering how it would look in the dark.

What was it like when they put the little child to bed that first time in this room bearing a starry sky? Did they make up stories to go with each star? Did they call them by real constellation names? Was the child a bit frightened at first? Or did they love the radiant stars right away?

I’m grateful for parents like that. Their gift lives on past their time in this house and shines down now on me, still a little girl at heart. I love the blessing of my starry starry night.

It does help me feel better in these troubled times.