The title of my blog today was something that I probably heard about a gazillion times while I was growing up from my Mom and Grandma. The older I get....the more I see how true it really is. All it takes is a little observation and a little lookey loo at how much we are like our parents to realize how profound the old saying really is. We are so much like our parents in our thought processes, and many times in our way of thinking politically, even in our mannerisms. I have even been fooled a few times when calling a friend.....thinking they were their Mother or if it was a man....that it was his Dad. Now that is falling pretty darn close to the tree.
Some people may not want to admit they are like their parents at all. But if we are brutally honest....we have to admit it. Sometimes, I look down at my hands and startle myself....because I think I am looking at my own mothers' hands. Of course, there are many people who have purposely tried to be the opposite of their family members. But try as they may....there is always some pieces of the family tree they just cannot shed. Let's face it....if you plant an apple tree...you don't get an orange from it. We are pretty much like who we are around the most.
This is even true of our friends. I guess that is where the other old adage comes from...."Birds of a feather, flock together." We just feel more comfortable with those who we are most similar to. But sometimes it is good to take a hard look at how we act. Just because the crowd is behaving a certain way, doesn't mean it is advisable to join in. Think "Mob Mentality". Six million Jews were killed because the people involved thought as long as everyone else was alright with it......it must be alright. NOT. Think for yourself. If it doesn't feel right...it probably isn't.
This also takes Gommy to a quote I read on Facebook today. It was from a Lebanese-American poet who was born in the 1800's named Kahil Gibran, and it said, "You are the bows from which your children, as living arrows, are sent forth.....Let your 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." This means to Gommy that we, as parents, have an obligation to teach our children what is right and wrong and to monitor ourselves so that we don't fill our children with bigotry, hate and meanness. If we equip our children with hate and vitriol....that is what they will be experiencing throughout their life because what you put forth into the world....only comes back to you in full force. We need to be 'stable' in our discipline.....both with the children and with ourselves. We cannot expect a good outcome for our children if we teach them hate. We must think of how we are arming them for the world they will be living in when we are gone.
I recently read a very good piece from an Unknown Author...and it really resonated with me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Here it is:
Even though I clutch my blanket and growl when the alarm rings each morning, thank you, Lord that I can hear. There are many who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes tightly closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you Lord that I can see. There are many who are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the effort of rising, thank you, Lord that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedridden.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, and tempers are short, thank you, Lord for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our breakfast table never looks like the pictures in magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced, thank you Lord for the food we have. There are many who have no job.
Even though I grumble and bemoan my fate from day to day and wish my circumstances were not so modest, thank you, Lord, for the gift of life. This would be a great Thanksgiving prayer to say this year....Don't ya' think?So, take this week of Thanksgiving to reflect on all we have to be thankful for. Also, take a good look at what you are teaching your children. Make sure it is all about love and treating people as they would like to be treated. Have a great holiday everyone and let's make this coming year a kinder gentler year, filled with kindness. You can do it....Gommy is pulling for you....Hugs & Mush, Gommy
