Dear Parent,
Many years ago, when I was just a teenager preparing to leave Ireland for school in England, I began to feel anxious. This was before the Internet and cellphones, and to be so far away from my father with no way of immediately reaching him made me feel a bit nervous. My mom had passed when I was only ten, so my daddy was my everything. One night, just a few days before I was scheduled to leave, he took me outside to the backyard. It was a clear night with a full moon. And he said, “Roma, wherever you are in the world, that moon will be shining on you. So whenever you feel alone, always look into the night sky, and you’ll be reminded of how much I love you. I’ll leave a message for you in the moon.” I hugged him, so grateful for his sweet gentleness and his constant care and attention.
As the first full moon ascended after I had settled in England, I went outside and looked up at the moon, and I instantly felt my dad’s love. It was a great comfort. At that time, I even created this little rhyme: “Moon, Moon, Moon so bright, take our message in your light. Then shine on us so we will know that we are loved wherever we go.” This little verse became the inspiration for this book all these years later. Unfortunately, my beloved father died during my final year in drama school. In my deep grief, I was so worried that since his spirit had departed from this earth, I would not be able to feel his love in the moon. That he would no longer be able to send messages. That I would see the moon and not feel his presence, as I always had before. I was almost afraid to go outside and look.
But I finally walked out to the very backyard where he had promised his moon messages. I looked up at the big, bright moon, and sure enough, I felt him—his quiet love, so silent yet so strong. I picked up his message: “Wherever you go in the world, Roma, the same moon will always be shining down on you. So never forget, no matter where you are, I will always be there, loving you.” Tears streamed down my face as I felt his love so powerfully. The moon has been a beautiful symbol of comfort to me all these years, and I’ve shared this message with my own daughter, Reilly. Even though we have the technology to be literally at each other’s fingertips no matter how many miles may be between us, I sometimes text her when we’re apart, even now that she is grown, and say, “Go look at the moon! I left a message for you there.”
My intention in writing this book is to offer that same reassurance to your children. If ever your children are anxious about you traveling for work, or about going to Grandma’s house overnight, or nervous about a first sleepover with a friend, you can read this sweet story about the message in the moon and bring comfort to them. They will carry this image with them for their whole lives, like my own daughter has. And the constant moonlight will forever remind them they are not alone and they are dearly loved. For the truth is, we never walk alone.
“He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart” (Psalm 91:4).
Reading with your children is so valuable. These are precious moments to share together. May God bless your family, and I hope you enjoy
A Message in the Moon. Love and light,
Roma
Copyright © 2023 by Roma Downey; Illustrated by Holly Hatam. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
