I had a thought as Clara and I drove up the canyon yesterday. She was praising God for creating such a beautiful world and we were remarking on how we love living in a place where the trees turn different colors in Fall -- yellows, oranges and reds. And how in the spring they blossom with completely different colors -- bright pink, pale pink, white, yellow, purple and then finally leaf to various shades of green. The leaves are different shapes and sizes and there is so much variety.
I'd been listening to a podcast about personal revelation. And how when a calling is made, there's not necessarily one person that can fill that spot. There are several, but the person making the calling prayerfully thinks through different options and chooses one of the several he feels most excited about. Sometimes a name comes to mind we wouldn't have normally considered. And other times, when we've got the perfect person, we're told (by others in the organization) we can't have that person and we have to go back and reconsider. Doesn't mean we didn't get our inspiration right. Or that another person won't be as good in that position.
With these things in mind, I thought of Adam in the Garden of Eden naming the animals. He didn't magically choose the name that God wanted him to choose. Opposite. He chose a name and God essentially said, "That sounds great."
Similarly, when our kids make decisions, they're not trying to guess what we want them to do. We don't have one path in mind for them and hope they read our mind and choose it. No. They have had life experiences and talents and likes and dislikes and it all goes into choosing their path.
We just enjoy sitting back and watching the process and whatever they decide, and said, "Sounds Great~" (Although when it comes to our kids, usually I'm like, "Sounds AWESOME!")
2 comments:
Man ALIVE. This is good. Thank you! It sounds right on to me.
Here is a poem about marriage that my sister Carol sent me. I think it relates to the ideas you share in this post:
On Marriage
by Kahlil Gibran – 1883-1931
Then Almitra spoke again and said, And what of Marriage, master?
And he answered saying:
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of you be alone,
Even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.
As family members we live and dream so close to each other. I sometimes figure that I should be in perfect unity with my husband and my kids. In reality, when this dowsn't happen, I feel guilty or disappointed. Even resentful. Why aren't we the same? Why don't they see it the way I do?
Your post and this poem reveal that we can live together, but not be the same. We can love each other, but not grow in each other's shadow.
Yes, deep thoughts. Thank you!
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