And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said,
Speak to us of Children.
And he said:
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, nor 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.

... When you kill a beast say to him in your heart,
"By the same power that I slay you, I too am slain;
and I too shall be consumed.
For the law that delivered you into my hand shall deliver me into a mightier hand.
Your blood and my blood is naught but the sap that feeds the tree of heaven."

i have this book
i've tried countless times to read it as i've heard it is a wonderful read
i can't seem to do so
why is that?

When the student is ready, the master will appear.
Perhaps you are not ready yet.

hmmm
if it has to do with a 'student/master' relationship i don't know if i'll ever be ready
i have some serious religion issues and too many questions to count

no student/master thing, just poetry. What gives with the religion issues?

i'm not sure
no one can answer my questions

maybe you haven't been asking the right person, or hearing the answers.

maybe

communication is a tricky thing. For example.

Messenger says something to receiver.

Receiver then filters message through thought process which includes:

1. Personal experiences
2. Judgments
3. Fears
4. Prejudices

and translates what was heard. Which may not be what was said.

well
that's not really the case here...but
perhaps one day i'll find what i'm looking for

travel well and tread lightly.
Sun on your back and terra' firme under your feet.

Namaste'

To understand Gibran one must let go of preconceptions. He continually challenges everyone on this throughout the book...especially traditional or mainstream Christians.

Gibran was a Catholic, born in the late 1800's in Lebannon. He was excommunicated from the church for "Heretical writings", but later reinstated, posthumously I believe.

His writings (The Prophet and others) describe personal relationship with God without the need for clergy or churches of even groups of other people who feel the same way.

Look for God everywhere and in every person you meet and you will soon be able to understand Gibran.

Peace
Jason

YUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Kahlil Gibran is one of my absolute loves!!!!!!!!!!!


Why in parenting?

Then again, why not?

This is posted on my refrigerator. It a favorite of mine.

what about Loa Tzu?

Thirty spokes will converge in the hub of a wheel;
But the use of the cart will depend on the part of the hub that is void.

With a wall around a clay bowl is molded;
but the use of the bowl will depend on the part of the bowl that is void.

Cut out windows and doors in the house as you build;
but the use of the house will depend on the space in the walls that is void.

So advantage is had from whatever is had from whatever is there;
But usefulness rises from whatever is not.

*shakes head*
this is driving me crazy

The first post was about children

Thanks for your replys! Blessings to all on your journeys in parenthood!