GUNS FALL QUIET NOW

It has taken weeks of intense combat, but Iran and Israel have made peace. A ceasefire is established.

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For the first time in what has felt like forever, rockets are no longer in the air. The skies are silent. Cities are quiet. The terror hasn't completely disappeared, but for today, at least, people can breathe. The sound of war is silent, and that is a big deal. Even though the silence is tenuous, it is important. This is not peace yet, but it may be the beginning of something more.

The battle has caused profound hurt to both sides. Common people have been hurt the most. They were not involved in the decision to fight, but they bore the biggest price. Families lost loved ones in Iran, in Israel, in Gaza, and throughout the region. Children have witnessed war firsthand. Houses have been flattened. Electricity has been shut off. Schools have shut down. Hospitals have been flooded. A lull allows individuals to rest. An end to violence for an instant can prevent deaths. It can also allow hearts to start to mend.

The shooting has ceased, but the pain remains. Loss does not go away with a truce. Individuals are still mourning. Damage is still done. Debris remains where houses were. Sirens, screams, and funeral memories will not soon be forgotten. Kids will have this fear for years to come. Some will become angry men and women, unless they are shown something better than war. A ceasefire is merely the beginning. The hard work follows: mending the people, the sites, and the broken faith.