Poem: If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again

Poem: If I Had My Child to Raise Over Again
a wonderfully insightful poem by Diane Loomans

http://www.flickspire.com/m/iaaw/RaiseAgain#.ToB6hACBzyd.gmail

my sentiments to a T, wonder if & when any of us with the same desire will ever be given such a chance.

If I had my child to raise all over again,
 I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.
 I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.
 I would do less correcting and more connecting.
 I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
 I would care to know less and know to care more.
 I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.
 I'd stop playing seriously and seriously play.
 I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars.
 I'd do more hugging and less tugging.
 I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often.
 I would be firm less often and affirm much more.
 I'd model less about the love of power And more about the power of love.
--sent to me by my daughter, who is a mother herself.

My Grandchildren---{ my reason 4 positivity:) :) }

You would call yourself lucky to be blessed once in your lifetime

God has opened his gates to bless me 5 times

All angels with cherubic faces & gleaming eyes

Well  aware of ways to take us, elders for a joyride

Smiling and gurgling to get that evasive sweet

Yet making us feel as if they have done us a favor

Their tearful eyes make us squirm

Their cries wrench our hearts

Their smiles light up our lives

Their pranks make us laugh

Ages ranging from a year to 8 years

They lighten the darkest room

So mischievous, yet so innocent

Lavishing love on you

Wrapping you around their fingers

With their hugs and smiles
God gave them to us to remind us

Of his presence in our lives

Through their divinely unconditional love

So I never take them for granted, but always

Thank God for this wonderful blessing of

My grandchildren

Religion--personal or social?

It is a personal issue so long as it doesn’t affect anyone else - if you worship in private and don't try to impose your views on others or persuade them to your religious viewpoint. The moment you involve any other person in any way it becomes a social issue

Religion is such a complex concept with so many variations that it is impossible to label it, However, while it can be a great motivator for people to do good, it shouldn't be their only motive, and it shouldn't be taken to the extreme.

What bothers me is not religion itself, but intolerance. No one has the right to force their beliefs on others or discriminate against someone because of religion. Discussions and healthy debates are fine, you can't change the way others think. Even if you force someone to follow the same religion as you, you've failed, because you cannot make another person believe something they truly do not believe.

We don't just have to read scriptures and blindly believe in them, rather we should look into how maybe some of the teaching of God for whatever particular religion can stand on its own. It's a great way to get people to really stop and think about why they are acting/behaving a certain way and whether they are justified in doing so. Basically, I'm advocating education.& thinking critically about it

The true horror starts when one side believes that theirs is the only God allowed, anywhere, at all. When religious leaders eat in silver and gold plates and the vast majority of their followers eat dirt, something is wrong. I personally believe in God, I just don`t believe in those who claim to represent him/ her and have a claim to speak for them so others are only allowed to listen.

In my opinion, whatever your belief is, you should give your child as much freedom as possible to decide on his own. If you follow a religion, it is okay, but let your child decide, once it has the maturity to decide neutrally, whether it would like to be a part of that religion or not. If you force a child into one belief, you don’t give its mind the possibility to develop in its own way.

Of course, religion provides an idea of certain values and also a community where those values should be prevalent. The truth is however that if you have a functioning family or a circle of friends, a community of loving people around you, you have the support that you need to raise your child with the values that you want. You don’t need religion for that. Leave your child free to decide for himself or herself.