Child Of Mine

Bill Staines

Child of mine, you are the wildest wind and the dearest dream
I will ever know.
Love's lasting light shines out from deep within this father's heart
As I watch you grow.

Child of mine, you are the break of dawn and the brightest star
I will ever know
Love's lasting light comes shining on and on from this mother's heart
As I watch you grow

Chorus
There is a road, and that road is all your own
But we are here, you need not walk alone.
To face, not fear each coming new unknown
Is the way to lift your wings

Child of mine, you are the sweetest song and the greatest gift
I will ever know.
Child of mine, where spirits fly above there is but one
that belongs to you.
So let it grow and it will thrive on love
For it is love that sees us through

You have the hands that will open up the doors
You have the hopes this world is waiting for
You are my own, but you are so much more
You are tomorrow on the wing, Child of mine.

WE ARE lyrics by Asaya Barnwell, Sweet Honey in the Rock

For each child that’s born,

a morning star rises

and sings to the universe

who we are

We are our grandmothers’ prayers

We are our grandfathers’ dreamings

We are the breath of the ancestors

We are the spirit of God

We are

Mothers of courage

Father of time

Daughters of dust

The sons of great visions

Sisters of mercy

Brothers of love

Lovers of life

Builders of nations

Seekers of truth

Keepers of faith

Makers of peace

Wisdom of ages

We are one.

On Children

Kahlil Gibran

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, 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 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 our 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.

WHAT SHALL WE GIVE THE CHILDREN? (author unknown)

....The open sky, the brown earth, the leafy tree, the golden sand, the blue water, the stars in their courses and the awareness of these.
Birdsong, butterflies, clouds, and rainbows. Sunlight, moonlight, firelight.
A large hand reaching down for a small hand. Impromptu praise, an unexpected kiss, a straight answer.
The gift of enthusiasm and a sense of wonder. Long days to be merry in and nights without fear. and most of all,

The memory of a good home.