On Children

It is that time of year when many of us are involved in graduation stuff. Perhaps …

our own children are preparing to finish their high school journey;
perhaps we are proud grand parents;
perhaps we are leaders in groups where our youth are marking this amazing moment in their lives; or
perhaps we ourselves are graduating.

For all of us this is a time of transition. For those who are graduating this marks the culmination of years of study, hard work, determination, challenge, joy and celebration. For some it means moving out of the security of the family home and beginning a new adventure which brings its own set of challenges and excitements.

As Parents and grandparents we see the growth of our children and we can celebrate their accomplishments. This is a time marked with great pride and it is a time that is also filled with some anxiety and sorrow. As our children graduate and prepare to move out into the world on their own we are concerned for the things they will have to face and we hope that we have taught them well. Some of us might even wish that we could keep them closer for just a little longer.

The Prophet

One of my favourite books is “The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran. In it you can find the following passage on children:

On Children (by 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.

Blessings
Valerie