"Your Children are not your children" by Khalil Gibran

"Your children are not your children."

Khalil Gibran

Khalil Gibran presented himself to me quite by surprise in a public library.  I had graduated from college, married, and was pregnant with my first son.  One day per week, I had a date with my growing self at the library.   As I settled in to the library table with pen and paper and lists of authors to pursue, I noticed a small book already waiting for me:  The Prophet by Gibran.

Khalil Gibran captured my attention immediately.  Throughout my pregnancy I would devour his works and for some odd reason, began to copy his works by hand.  His words flowing through my mind were the blood flowing through my body.

"Your children are not your children," challenged me as I awaited the birth of my son.  My child was mine!  I would be nurturing, accountable, and present in his life.  Of course he would be my child!  In time, I would bring four children into this world and continue to dispute internally Gibran's wise words. Deep inside, however, I eventually understood his meaning  and let my children go.