Believe
in PossibilitiesA newborn baby comes into the world as a bundle of energy, full of pure potential—a fresh, new spirit. Such a little body, such a big miracle. Regina, mother to two, told me, “You can’t mold kids. I thought they were blank sheets of paper. Boy, was I shocked.” When you recognize that your children have their own destiny and their own divine nature, when you trust that this is so, endless possibilities for spiritual comfort will come to you.As parents we have a tendency to think it’s our role to guide our children toward worldly success, and although this is partially true, it is not the entire picture. Your children are spiritual beings; their souls as well as their bodies need your care. Parents who put the emphasis on things—success, fame, possessions, and worldly thrills—are doing their children a great disservice. I met Luke in a hospital emergency room after he tried to kill himself with pills and booze. He was a good student, was accepted to college, and had every material advantage; still he was miserable. This is not an unusual story, for our children are bombarded daily with worldly seductions that slowly corrode their souls.
Believing in possibilities means trusting in the divine nature of your child and seeing the divine nature in yourself. Parents can light the way to deeper fulfillment in little ways, the most important of which is by your example. Live more simply, treat every living thing lovingly, learn to live in the moment, and take time to enjoy the things in life that truly matter. Spend time with your children in nature. Whether or not you go to church, you can add a spiritual practice to your life. Tom takes his family on a retreat to the desert to feel the connection between the earth and the universe—sleeping under the stars refreshes us all in ways that are hard to describe. Nick and Satya meditate. The Hogans have a family pea patch in the middle of their city. The Wongs sing in the choir, the Joneses belong to a prayer group, and Manda and I put out a daily offering of flowers at our front door.
A vital part of our spiritual quest is coping with the down times, the hard times, the turmoil, the anguish. Children too feel blue and feel the longings of their souls. As parents we sometimes jump in too quickly to make it all right. Sometimes it is wiser to be with them in spirit and let the answers unfold. Believing in possibilities, we know that although tough times come, we can transcend them and survive. That with each struggle, comes a lesson and a fresh possibility.
Copyright 1996 by Judy Ford. Reprinted here with permission from Conari Press. This essay may be printed out for personal use but may not be reproduced in any manner, including electronic, without prior written permission from the publisher.
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