Tuesday, March 6, 2012

March a Month of Promise

March a month of promise to me.  I have had two sons born during the month of March and birth always brings promise.  One son is far away or so it seems.  His life has taken a different path than I could have imagined; but it is a path that he has found peace and love.  A path that I have accepted and embraced.  A path though, that is different than what I envisioned all those many years ago when I held him in my arms, when I read him stories, when I took him to school, when I went to his sporting events, when I went to visit him in Europe, when I...thought about his future.  Do I grieve because it is different than what I dreamed?  No, I celebrate.  I admire him, respect him, and love him.  I do miss him though.  Life is different than I envisioned.

5 comments:

  1. "It is a path that he has found peace and love. A path that I have accepted and embraced."

    Your post really resonated with me. When I was young and way before I had kids, I always thought that when I DID have children I would like by this, Khalil Gibran's famous verse:
    On Children
    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.

    But...when a daughter took a different path from the one I had envisioned, all those lofty words were hard to live by. Still, we find a way...and it's always important to remember to accept, embrace and love our children for whoever they turn out to be.

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    Replies
    1. Tara, Thank you so much! This is something I have read and yet had forgotten. Your comments added to the meaning. Your words I will keep.

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  2. I think the most powerful for me was that you do not grieve, but instead you celebrate.
    So many wise words in this post and Tara's comment as well.

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  3. As I read this I thought, "What a great mom." Our parents often try to control our lives rather than celebrate them. It is a great parent that cheers you on, doesn't judge, and celebrates you for you. I am sure that your son feels loved and supported. We never know what life will bring, best that we appreciate what we have been given just as it is.

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  4. I love the way you told this. My son did not follow the path I planned for him, but he is now a productive fine adult. Isn't that what we want in the end. You are wise.

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