A Poem to Share

I love this thought-provoking poem extracted from Kahlil Gibran's 'The Prophet'

Your children are not your children.
Thy 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, 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 bow from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,
and He bend you with His might that His arrow 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.

I feel that these are among some of the finest advice there is about being parents.
Yes, as a parent, I am full of expectations - that my children will make my dreams come true.
But I do know that it is not possible; nor fair...for them to be living my hopes and dreams.

I hope that I have learnt to accept that each and every child is different...with their strengths and flaws. I appreciate their individuality; and even embraces their differences with mine. They are my blessings; and God's gift to me.

Chase your own dreams, kids...
I am blessed...that you are....you.