At a recent wedding that I attended with my husband, the father of the bride, who serves as our godfather in our wedding, recited this poem and offered it to his daughter.
I'd like to share it to you also.
- Mommy Smiley
I'd like to share it to you also.
On ChildrenIt's moving. It's poignant. It also sounds harsh to a parent like me, but it's the truth. And in as much as I sought out that same individuality from my parents, so will my child one day.
Kahlil Gibran
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children
as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bends you with His might
that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
so He loves also the bow that is stable.
- Mommy Smiley
I have always loved this poem and aspire to live up to it, some days doing pretty good, other days, not so much! Parenting is an amazing journey, but as someone told me years ago when I had my first child, it is their path, not yours. My job is to guide not walk the path for my child. Great to find you on voiceBoks. I'm now following and look forward to reading more!
ReplyDeleteThank you for that wonderful advice, Kathy. I hope that during the not so good days, I'll remember your wise words.
ReplyDelete