For this month's Children's Program, we honored and remembered our beloved teacher, Taihaku. We first shared some of our nature experiences of this verdant late spring, many of which aptly revolved around the growth of our gardens. We then read and acted out the beautiful book Always Remember, written by Cece Meng and illustrated by Jago. The story tells of Old Turtle, who has taken her last swim, and of the ocean animals who each remembered how she has touched their lives.
The final page of the book reads:
"[S]he was a wonderful teacher and friend.[S]he loved to laugh and have fun.[S]he explored the unknown and discovered great things.[S]he showed kindness and strength.And [s]he made the world a better place.When Old Turtle died, the ocean took [her] back.But what [s]he left behind was only the beginning."
For closing we rang the bell three times, feeling Taihaku's reverberation in our own hearts and minds, honoring how she has touched each of us, and recognizing how her love and wisdom continue to spread throughout the world.
