On Children...

Contemporary Reflections on a Timeless Theme

Khalil Gibran’s poem has been a constant in my life. My father always quoted from it, and he even had arguments with his older brother about the core theme of letting your children go. “My kids are not arrows I just shoot away!” yelled Uncle Nasser, as he understandably defended his French and Persian family-centered lifestyle.

When I had kids of my own, I got a deeper experience of what this poem really means. I remember getting so caught up in the early years over my sons not meeting my expectations. At a real low point after a workout in the locker room of the YMCA, a wise old-timer who those in my community know as “Fabulous Fast Eddie” asked me what was wrong. After hearing me out, he too surprisingly brought up this poem.