What We Must Teach Our Children...

Each second we live is a new and unique moment of the universe, a moment that will never be again ... And what do we teach our children? We teach them that two and two make four, and that Paris is the capital of France. When will we also teach them what they are? We should say to each of them: Do you know all the years that have passed, there has never been another child like you. Your legs, your arms, your clever fingers, the way you move. You may become a Shakespeare, a Michelangelo, a Beethoven. You have the capacity for anything. Yes, you are a marvel. And when you grow up, can you then harm another who is, like you, a marvel? You must work - we must all work - to make the world worthy of its children.-- Pablo Casals

While surfing the web tonight when I should've been asleep, I came across this quote, and it really resonated, especially in light of all of the tragedy in India and around the world. Our children are gifts--miracles. They are born full of possibility, innocent beings with an unlimited capacity to love. Somewhere along the way, we as adults, teach them hatred. We shatter their beautiful spirits. We focus so much of our attention on providing for our children's comfort. We spend millions of dollars as a nation on baby wipe warmers and bumbos and bedding. We make sure our children go to the best schools and strive to protect them from harm. Yet it seems that we spend little time protecting their innocence, their spirit. When I look at Lucy, I am awed by the endless possiblities for her. I want to provide her with every opportunity to achieve her dreams. But most of all, I want to sustain her innocence, her belief in good, and in the beauty of humankind. I don't want her to judge another on the basis of skin, or religion, or culture. I want her to know that she IS a marvel and never want to harm another. Perhaps I'm overly sentimental tonight as I sit in the quiet after my Thanksgiving guests have left. But when I look at my precious little girl who has finally fallen asleep, I am almost overwhelmed with love and hope. And I pray each day that I can help to make the world worthy of Lucy and all of its children.