"Raise them to respect women, raise them to stand up for others,
raise them to care for the earth, raise them to be kind
compassionate and honest."
Shannon L. Alder
MATTHEW, my youngest son turns 43 years old today. I can easily span his life except for various episodes hidden from me. Throughout the years, he has had a passion for nature whether fishing, rock climbing, cave camping, or simply walking barefooted in grass beneath the trees. He has maintained a love for gardens, harvesting fruit, vegetables and flowers. He has learned more through experience than reading grade school, high school and college materials.
MATTHEW has a timelessness about him. He easily plays with little children, engages with strangers and listens very earnestly for nuggets of wisdom from elders. He respects that all people have a gift to share and he is waiting with anticipation. He has learned about bees, woodworking (which he has won awards for), cross breeding plants, and compulsive desire for connection with water.
MATTHEW took years before he could be appreciated by others for his inner gifts. He is not easy to get to know as he does not express him self easily. If one waits long enough, however, he or she will be rewarded with an enthusiastic opening of his heart. He feels things deeply, cultivates an awareness that misses little. I love him dearly, as he has authentically grown into to the beauty of his heart and soul.
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