thinking about the kindness owen lars showed shmi.
shmi had a habit of looking out to the stars, and pondering on whether anakin was safe. whether she made the right choice in letting him go, what their life would have been like if he hadn't left with the jedi, and were a part of her newfound family. things she continues to loop back on for 10 years. i mean, this should be expected. imagine being enslaved, with your 9 year old son, and his only option of a better future and freedom, is to be taken from you, and trained to be a guardian of the galaxy? with no update or word. she expresses not even knowing if he were alive.
owen lars met her grief/longing with gentleness and patience, offering comfort in the image of anakin as something greater than absence. the imagery that he is likely a hero, alive, safeguarding the galaxy. he told her that anakin's existence out there made him feel safer. that anakin being out there, makes the galaxy a better place. even setting aside their enslavement, he insisted, anakin had been destined for something larger than tatooine– a calling, and to never blame herself. this and cliegg's comfort, helped in keeping shmi from carrying what would could have been a much heavier weight.
it brings me some comfort in knowing shmi was at least around those who loved her, and cared for her in her final 4 years, when she was free.