Are Our Children Our Own?

[cardero]

A co-worker asked me what GOD thought about raising children. After I gave her my response she mentioned that she heard of a poem that described the same thing that I explained to her. The next day she brought the poem in for me and I present it to you in its entirety:



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

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 backwards

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 Archers hand

Be for gladness;

For even as He Loves the arrow that flies

So he also Loves the bow that is stable





Since my co-worker did not K(NOW) who wrote the poem the question that I am wondering is:

“Who wrote this?”

and

What is your opinion on this poem and does it pertain to your REALationship with your present children or for children that anyone is planning to have?

 

[Pah]

Sounds like something from Gibran who said some other wonderful things.

It appears in The Prophet

I think it speaks more to parents of children.

Bob

 

[huajiro]

The poem pretty much explains my life with my son....I try to protect him, but not force any of my ideas on him. I pretty much let him go and watch.....and learn. He is the one who is pure and innocent, something I need more of, I try to learn to be like him more, and keep him from being affected by the world.