But someplace along the way Suzy, who was by now very grown up, lost touch with sewing and made nothing for a long time……until the tragic events of September 11. Suddenly fear and hatred were everywhere. Once good people turned bad and looked with suspicion at their neighbors. Bad people grew worse. Lies were told and terror ruled the people’s hearts as war spread. Friends and nations were pitted against each other about what to do. A great sadness hung over the world like a dark cloud. Peace on earth seemed impossible.

Then Suzy decided to sew again. She made a doll, and inside the doll was a little heart with a message that called for peace. It said “When my heart is at peace the world is at peace.” She chose this message, an old Chinese proverb, because it is pro-peace rather than anti-war. It conveys what she believes, that in those moments, no matter how brief, when your heart is truly at peace the feeling ripples out and touches others who may feel peaceful, too.