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 [be] 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.
-Kahlil Gibran
Isn't that bow & arrow analogy great? For some reason, it made parenting come alive in a new way for me. My little brother had a bow & arrow we used to shoot around in the back yard at trees, and I was terrible at it! My arrows would hardly ever hit the tree, let alone stick in the tree. But luckily I feel like I have more potential in my archery skills of parenting than I do with real archery. After reading this book, I really feel like I have tangible activities and goals to help give my kids the best trajectory possible. This book makes me want to be a better parent. I just wish I had a fraction of the energy as these authors do! They're amazing, have endless patience, and are so positive in their parenting.Thinking of the bow & arrow analogy got me thinking about Psalm 127. Children really are a blessing from God, and I need to remember my duty to "send them forth" into the world with morals. I am grateful for the 3 children in our quiver who teach us so many lessons. I wish more people could see children as the blessings they are instead of another inconvenient person on earth that is contributing to global warming. (Yes, I recently read a letter to the editor in the Chronicle from a person who was complaining that people with kids shouldn't get tax breaks and how those people deserve to be taxed more because the more kids you have, the more you are killing the earth.) Hmm.
Just the other day I went to the grocery store with all 3 kids (something I do frequently), and everyone was acting great. All of a sudden, the teenage bagger sees us and gasps, "Are they ALL yours?!!?!" The first nice thing I could think of to say was, "Yep, aren't they darling?" She then proceeded to ask me their age differences (not a big deal), but she got confused and thought I had 4 kids instead of just 3. She nearly fainted, but quickly recovered when she realized I just have 3. It was a funny experience, but the funniest thing is that I have a conversation like that about 75% of the time I go out with all 3 kids. No lie. People just can't believe that we would actually PLAN to have more than 2 kids--especially since I already had "one of each".
Anyway, I'll get off of my soapbox now. I just wanted to share this quote with you. I'm trying my best to raise our little quiver of darlings. I hope Tyler & I always remember this analogy that "[we] are the bows from which [our] children as living arrows are sent forth."
7 comments:
That's a great poem. I love that analogy too. I remember getting that "one of each" line a lot in the Bay area, like once you have a boy and a girl you have no business wanting to have more kids. But I agree, your kids are definitely adorable. I need to track down that book!
Thanks for the great thoughts. You're a great mom; thanks for the reminders. And I may think you're "crazy" too but I'd love to be that crazy myself.
Happy Easter!
I think that quote is from Kahlil Gibran's book, "The Prophet." It's a great book, and certainly a great poem! It has always stuck with me as well. Thanks for the inspiring post.
Oh Nats--I'm so glad you shared the poem. It is definitely an inspiring and motivating thought and it's so refreshing to hear "the other" perspective.
I've been thinking about this a lot myself over this past week. What is wrong with our world that they think children are a bane instead of a blessing? I actually have many LDS friends who feel this way as well and have decided to put off children until money cars and houses figure themselves out first. They really don't get it! I wish I could share my joy with them. Sometimes I feel guilty for having my kids and having so much joy and watching others who think they have it all and really don't.
That picture of you and Annie is so precious Nats. What an inspirational entry. Thanks for your insight and maturity. I love you and look up to you in more ways than you know. Heaven knows we need more kids in a home like yours.
I love this and am so glad that you shared it with me. I always love to see how much you love your kids and adore just being with them. I think I would enjoy that book, I'll have to add it to my list.
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