...or sisters and brothers. These are my children. The older photo was taken when my son, the youngest, graduated college. This June he graduates med school. My daughter lives and works in NYC - unbelievably she's been there for 4 years already. This past weekend both were home, and it was heart-warming spending 'nothing' time with them. Nothing any of us had to do but enjoy each other's company.
My sister gave me Kibran's poem on the birth of my daughter, and I still treasure his words today.
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 our 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. ~ Kahlil Gibran
3 comments:
So nice to see photos of your children "now and as they were then". Time does fly. How blessed you are with such a beautiful daughter and such a handsome son. I love this quote and may have to borrow it for my blog. It's truly from the heart for all who are blessed to be parents. thank you.
Oh they are so beautiful, both as young ones and as young adults!! I'm so glad you were able to spend time with them, their company is a gift to cherish.
Gibran is one of my favourite poets, his words sing to my soul. This one contains such wisdom. I especially love the lines:
"You may strive to be like them,
but seek not to make them like you."
Love both of these photos! Your children are beautiful!
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