I think I’m done venting for the time being. Thank you for bearing with me through my momentary madness.
Today I encountered the following poem and have decided to share it in an effort to turn this literary mood to a more peaceful state. If I’d remembered this gem a few days ago, I could’ve saved myself a bunch of angry outbursts. KG was much more eloquent…
On Children
Kahlil GibranYour 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.
Years ago, I came across this quote:
“You are the child of god’s holy gift of life. You come from me. But you are not me. Your soul and your body are your own, and yours to do with as you wish.”
I fell in love with it and searched endlessly for the author and/or any additional portions of it. Never came up with anything and it always frustrated me. When I read your post today I immediately recognized this beautiful thought. The phrasing is slightly different, but obviously from the same original source, don’t you think?
Yes. It’s clearly the same message.
I just heard the above quote in the movie “Secretary” and looked it up online. Your site is the first one that I’ve found that gives any clue as to where it originated. I am so thankful because I can remember my father reading/quoting me the same verses by Kahlil Gibran. Thank-You! A million times, Thank-You!
Very cool. Thanks for stopping by!