Anna’s eyes were deep, dark and unfamiliar with the shadows and glow cast by the candlelight. They seemed to see beyond—sensing the deep, spiritual realities and presence of her surroundings rather than seeing the physical world in the way we adults understand sight. The eyes are the window to the soul and through Anna’s eyes we both could feel deeply how she knew more than we did.

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When a child comes into this world, they bring a simple, unconscious union with God, from whom they came. As William Wordsworth wrote, “Trailing clouds of glory do we come/From God, who is our home:/Heaven lies about us in our infancy!”