Would Your Life Be Different If?

[wabbit]

If I had a daughter, would she have peace in her heart, that all was well with her world, peace in her mind that she knew who she was, and that she is good enough just the way she is?

Will she know that the people around her are worthy of her trust, that she may place her confidence in their hand and not be disappointed by complacency or uncaring?

Will she know compassion? Will she know how to give with humility, and selflessly but without compromising her needs and aspirations?

Will she know to serve without being a martyr?

But most of all, will she know these things from me? Will I have taught her these things, and ingrained them upon her soul, and fulfilled my duty as a mother and a nurturer?

If I had a son, would he have peace in his heart, that all was well with his world, peace in his mind that he knows who he is, and that he is good enough, just the way he is.

Will he know that the people around him are worthy of his trust, that they may place his confidence in their hand and not be disappointed by complacency or uncaring?

Will he know how to be strong and powerful but is gentle and kind, and be able to weep tears of empathy for those less fortunate than he?

Will he be able to command armies and navies and still be able to hold the hand of a small child?

Will he know how to serve his fellow men, with honor and compassion? But most of all will he able to know these things because I have taught him, will they be ingrained upon his soul, and will I have fulfilled my duty as a mother and a nurturer?

If I had a child, would I teach them about unconditional love through the way that I live? Love for themselves, love for others, love for God. Will I teach them about who they are? That they are a child of God sent to this Earth to love and laugh and be loved. That they are a child of the universe, and that they are OK. That what they are and who they are, is OK.

Will I teach them to stand up for themselves? To stand for what is right, even if they will be unpopular. There is no dishonor in that.

Will I teach them to laugh? Laugh at themselves, because we all make mistakes. Be able to laugh at the simple things, and not be caught up in the drama of everyday life.

Will I teach them how to smell the roses? That there are some things that you have to do to keep your life on an even balance and that smelling the roses is a good thing.

Have I learned these things for myself? Are they ingrained into my soul? In learning, we are able to teach others.

I have to try, for in trying can we only succeed.

[buoyantcat]

That makes me think...

[lucy]

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too,

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,

If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;

If all men count with you, but none too much,

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

--Rudyard Kipling