“Mr. Jim, I know you think this is all strange, but you are the father of a very special child and I just ask you to give this a try. So, Mr. Jim, there is an old prayer that comes all the way here from Africa and Anne. She said this prayer over everybody she ever saw. We all been passin’ this prayer down and especially when there’s a fear or a doubt that we are facin’. My grandmother, she taught me this prayer in French and it goes like this: Qu’est-ce que vous entendez dans votre cœur, ça sonne comme le calme avant l’aube, ça sonne comme le vent faire son chemin vers la mer? Pouvez-vous trouver votre vraie voix là, celui qui dit Je t’aime? Arrêter de penser pendant quelques secondes et laisser l’amour prendre le relais?”

I could feel the stillness deepen in the room and as Mama finished the prayer she was still holding my hand, which was clasping the necklace.

It was one of those time-standing-still moments, and as Mama peered directly into my eyes she translated the prayer from French to her version of English.