Charge to the Child (by Joy Harjo)
Remember the sky that you were born under,
Know each of the stars stories.
Remember the moon, know who she is.
Remember the sun’s birth at damn that is the
Strongest point of time. Remember sundown
And the giving away to night.
Remember your birth, how your mother struggled
To give you form and breathe. You are evidence of
Her life, and her mother’s and hers.
Remember your father. He is your life also.
Remember the earth whose skin you are:
Red earth, black earth, yellow earth, white earth
Brown earth, we are earth.
Remember the plants, trees, animal life who all have their
Tribes, their families, their histories too. Talk to them,
Listen to them. They are alive poems.
Remember the wind. Remember her voice.
She knows the origin of this universe.
And that this universe is you.
Remember that all is in motion, is growing, is you.
Remember that language comes from this.
Remember the dance that language is, that life is.
Remember.
A baby was created by the hand of God Above, to give the world the sweetest touch of tenderness and love.
With the softest whisper God made baby's skin, then designed two trusting eyes to put starlight in.
With giggles from a waterfall and breezes passing by, God made a baby's laughter and a tiny, sleepy sigh.
God made the world a precious gift more dear and pure than gold, With little toes to play with and tiny hands to hold.
He sent this brand new person on moonlight's reflection gleam, All wrapped up in a rainbow of wonder, hope, and dreams.
Speak to Us of Children (by Kahil Gibran)
Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughers 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 can not visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterdays.
You are bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer seeks the mark upon the path of the infinite,
And he bends you with His might that His arrow may go swift and far.
Let your blending in the archer’s hand be for goodness.
For even as He loves the arrow that flies,
So He loves the bow that is stable.
Blessing
With abiding confidence and affection, we send you forth on your journey of life. May you be filled with thanks and wonder, humor and fun, hope and perseverance so that you may grow in wisdom and grace.
May God’s blessings rest upon you, may His peace abide with you, and may Her presence illuminate your hearts now and forever more. Go in peace.
"I Am Love"
Author Unknown
"Some say I can fly on the wind, yet I haven’t any wings.
Some have found me floating on the open sea, yet I cannot swim.
Some have felt my warmth on cold nights, yet I have no flame.
And though you cannot see me,
I lay between two lovers at the hearth of fireplaces.
I am the twinkle in your child’s eyes.
I am hidden in the lines of your mother's face.
I am your father's shield as he guards your home.
And yet… Some say I am stronger than steel, yet I am as fragile as a tear.
Some have never searched for me, yet I am around them always.
Some say I die with loss, yet I am endless.
And though you cannot hear me, I dance on the laughter of children.
I am woven into the whispers of passion.
I am in the blessings of Grandmothers.
I embrace the cries of newborn babies.
And yet… Some say I am a flower, yet I am also the seed.
Some have little faith in me, yet I will always believe in them.
Some say I cannot cure the ill, yet I nourish the soul.
And though you cannot touch me, I am the gentle hand of the kind.
I am the fingertips that caress your cheek at night.
I am the hug of a child.
I am love.”
From: Everyday Blessings:
The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
by Myla and Jon Kabat-Zinn
“When we become parents, whether intentionally or by happenstance, our whole life is
immediately different, although it may take some time to realize just how much. Being a parent
compounds stress by orders of magnitude. It makes us vulnerable in ways we weren’t before. It
calls us to be responsible in ways we weren’t before. It challenges us as never before, and
takes out time and attention away from other things, including ourselves, as never before. It
creates chaos and disorder, feelings of inadequacy, occasions for arguments, struggles,
irritation, noise, seemingly never-ending obligations and errands, and plenty of opportunities
for getting stuck, angry, resentful, hurt, and for feeling overwhelmed, old, and unimportant.
And this can go on not only when the children are little, but even when they are full grown and
on their own. Having children is asking for trouble.
"So why do it? Maybe Pete Seeger said it best: ‘We do it for the high wages…kisses.’ Children
give us the opportunity to share in the vibrancy of life in ways we would not touch were they
not part of our lives….they share …[their] vital nature with us and call it out of us as well, if
we can listen carefully to the calling.”
"Apache Blessing"
"May the sun bring you new energy by day,
May the moon softly restore you by night,
May the rain wash away your worries
And the breeze blow new strength into your being,
And all of the days of your life may you walk
Gently through the world and know its beauty."
Every Person Born into This World
From a passage by Martin Buber (adaptation)
Every person born into this world represents something new, something that never existed
before, something original and unique. It is the duty of every person in Israel to know and
consider that he is unique in the world in his particular character, and that there has never
been someone like him before. For if there had been someone like him before, there would be
no need for him to be in the world. Every single person is a new thing in the world and is
called upon to fulfill his particularity in the world.
Children learn what they live.
If a child lives with criticism, she learns to condemn.
If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.
If a child lives with ridicule, she learns to be shy.
If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilt.
If a child lives with tolerance, she learns to be patient.
If a child lives with encouragement, he learns confidence.
If a child lives with praise, she learns to appreciate.
If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.
If a child lives with security, she learns to have faith.
If a child lives with approval he learns to like himself.
If a child lives with acceptance, he or she learns to find love in the world.
Untitled
Excerpts from Francis Thompson and William Blake
Know you what it is to be a child? ... It is to have a spirit yet streaming from the waters of
baptism; it is to believe in love, to believe in loveliness, to believe in belief; it is to be so little
that the elves can reach to whisper in your ear; it is to turn pumpkins into coaches, and mice
into horses, lowness into loftiness, and nothing into everything, - for each child has a fairy god-
mother in his/her own soul; it is to live in a nutshell and count yourself the king/queen of
infinite space; it is:
To see the World in a grain of sand,
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
Omaha Native American Children's Blessing
Sun, Moon, Stars, all you that move in the heavens, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his path smooth, that he may reach the brow of the first hill!
Winds, Clouds, Rain, Mist, all you that move in the air, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his path smooth, that he may reach the brow of the second hill!
Hills, Valleys, Rivers, Lakes, Trees, Grasses, all you of the earth, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his path smooth, that he may reach the brow of the third hill!
Birds, great and small, that fly in the air,
Animals, great and small, that dwell in the forest,
Insects that creep among the grasses and burrow in the ground, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his path smooth, that he may reach the brow of the fourth hill!
All you of the heavens, all you of the air, all you of the earth, hear us!
Into your midst has come a new life.
Make his path smooth, then shall he travel beyond the four hills!
From the Tao Te Ching
Giving birth and nourishing,
having without possessing,
acting with no expectations,
leading and not trying to control:
this is the supreme virtue.
Irish Baby Blessing
May all the blessings of our Lord touch your life today.
May He send His little angels to protect you on your way.
Such a miraculous gift, sent from above.
Someone so precious to cherish and love.
May sunshine and moonbeams dance over your head.
As you quietly slumber in your bed.
May good luck be with you wherever you go.
And your blessings outnumber the shamrocks that grow.
Little baby on the way,
Getting bigger every day,
Kicking mommy here and there,
God please listen to our prayer.
Keep our baby safe and strong,
Let his time with us be long,
Help us teach him right form wrong,
And we shall praise thee all day long.
This little on, though not yet here,
Is loved so much, has grown quite dear.
Delivery time is growing near,
That's why we pray our plea you'll hear.
Please help up Lord, we pray to Thee
With thankful heart, on bended knee,
To raise this child that he might be,
A happy child because of me.
-Tina Greenfield
MOTHER...
Mother You filled my days with rainbow lights,
fairytales and sweet dream nights,
A kiss to wipe away my tears,
Gingerbread to ease my fears.
You gave the gift of life to me,
And then in love, you set me free.
I thank you for your tender care,
for deep warm hugs and being there.
I hope that when you think of me,
A part of you, you'll always see.
~Author Unknown~
A MOTHER'S LOVE
A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.
~Helen Steiner Rice~
Fervently
1. There is beauty all around
When there’s love at home;
There is joy in ev’ry sound
When there’s love at home.
Peace and plenty here abide,
Smiling sweet on ev’ry side.
Time doth softly, sweetly glide
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Time doth softly, sweetly glide
When there’s love at home.
2. In the cottage there is joy
When there’s love at home;
Hate and envy ne’er annoy
When there’s love at home.
Roses bloom beneath our feet;
All the earth’s a garden sweet,
Making life a bliss complete
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Making life a bliss complete
When there’s love at home.
3. Kindly heaven smiles above
When there’s love at home;
All the world is filled with love
When there’s love at home.
Sweeter sings the brooklet by;
Brighter beams the azure sky.
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.
Love at home, love at home;
Oh, there’s One who smiles on high
When there’s love at home.
Time Well Spent
See tiny fingers and tiny toes,
Bright baby eyes, cute baby nose;
Hear baby gurgles and baby sighs,
As Mom and Dad sing lullabies.
Life is changed, but that's okay;
It's fun to spend glad hours each day,
Taking time for all the good
That comes along with parenthood.
By Joanna Fuchs
A Baby Changes Things
A baby changes things;
They’ll never be the same;
Your life is filled with wonder,
Since your little miracle came.
There’s lots of things to do now,
But with the new tasks you face,
Your family gains more love,
And bonds time will never erase.
Congratulations on your new addition!
By Karl and Joanna Fuchs
Baby's Choice
Did you ever think, dear Mother,
As the seeds of me you sowed,
As you breathed new life inside of me
And slowly watched me grow,
In all your dreams about me
When you planned me out so well,
When you couldn't wait to have me there
Inside your heart to dwell,
Did you ever think that maybe,
I was planning for you, too,
And choosing for my very own
A mother just like you?
A mother who smelled sweet and who
had hands so creamy white,
A tender, loving creature
Who would soothe me in the night?
Did you ever think in all those days
While you were coming due,
That as you planned a life for me
I sought a life with you?
And now as I lay in your arms,
I wonder if you knew
While you were busy making me,
I was choosing you!
~ Colleen M. Story ~
When we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about.
God sent you the best he had the blessings of baby hands and ten small toes that came in rows Imported from Angel Lands! God blessed the little darling and to earth sent us this joy; He has won Our hearts already Your blessed baby. I send you the best I have a wish that is big and true; That God will bless with tenderness His dear little gift and you!
If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle.
Vincent van Gogh
Diaper backward spells repaid. Think about it.
Marshall McLuhan
"Babies are bits of stardust, blown from the hand of God."
-- Barretto
"Before you were conceived
I wanted you
Before you were born
I loved you
Before you were here an hour
I would give my life for you
This is the miracle of life."
~ Maureen Hawkins
"The smile that flickers on baby's lips when he sleeps-
does anybody know where it was borne? Yes, there is
a rumor that a young pale beam of a crescent moon
touched the edge of a vanishing autumn cloud,
and there the smile was first born . . . ."
- Rabindranath Tagore
Nothing is as precious
or brings home so much love,
as a brand new baby
sent from above.
It is not a slight thing when those
so fresh from God love us.
-- Dickens
"Sometimes", said Pooh, "the smallest things take up the most room in your heart."
"My precious little baby
I have loved you from the start
You are a tiny miracle
Laying closely to my heart."
Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.
-- Elizabeth Stone
A baby is born with a need to be loved - and never outgrows it.
-- Frank A. Clark
If your baby is "beautiful and perfect, never cries or fusses, sleeps on schedule and burps on demand, an angel all the time," you're the grandma."
-- Theresa Bloomingdale
No one likes change but babies in diapers.
What good mothers and fathers instinctively feel like doing for their babies is usually best after all.
-- Benjamin Spock
A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
Babies are always more trouble than you thought - and more wonderful. ~ Charles Osgood
"We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"My precious little baby
I have loved you from the start
You are a tiny miracle
Laying closely to my heart
Each day I feel your presence
Each day you heart beats softly
As only I could know
So I'll keep this in a special place
And remember each year through
Of this very special time in my life
The moment I carried you"
-- Author: Unknown
A mother's joy begins when new life is
stirring inside...
when a tiny heartbeat is heard for the
very first time,
and a playful kick reminds her that she
is never alone.
We never dreamed you'd be so beautiful...
In all of the times we tried to imagine
every last detail of who you would be,
thru all of the nights we spent quietly thinking
of how we would feel
when we first looked at you,
we patiently waited
and silently wondered.
We hoped and we prayed
and we tried to imagine...
but we never dreamed you'd be so beautiful.
Babies are angels that fly to the Earth,
their wings disappear at the time of their birth,
one look in their eyes and we're never the same.
They're part ot us now and that part has a name,
that part is your heart and a bond that won't sever our babies are angels, we love them forever.
