One of my daughters, who lives in Los Angeles, was forced to evacuate due to the fires.
After she had safely evacuated, she sent me a picture with the message, “Mom, look at what I took.” It was two of my college sweaters that she kept. Yes, they are very old
I imagine that in the chaos of leaving everything behind, she grabbed what she could and I am assuming that besides what was valuable and important, she thought about those items that, though simple, held the deepest meaning and connection to home. When I saw the photo, I gulped and I shed a few tears.
This moved me deeply, because it’s a reminder of what we do in times of crisis… we grab what we can, often without thinking, but driven by a desire to hold onto something that connects us to our memories, our safety, and our sense of home.
For so many, though, this connection is lost forever. The survivors of these fires are facing the unimaginable - losing everything that grounded them.
I’m incredibly grateful that my daughter and her home are safe, but I can’t stop thinking of the countless others with huge losses who are now struggling, feeling uncertainty, or are without the memories, belongings, and sense of security that make a house a home.
In times like these, it’s essential to show compassion and support to those who’ve lost it all.
Let’s come together to help those impacted by the Los Angeles fires.
Find ways to help: https://www.bjmartinez.com/help-los-angeles
There are many ways to get involved.
Make a difference in someone’s life now.
Donate what you can.
In moments of tragedy, we often find ourselves feeling lost, together we can help keep hope alive #wecandothis
Thank you.
