CHILDREN´S WISDOM

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CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/25/2008 6:36:20 AM

J1937

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From: Austria/Europe
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The 5-year-old son of my niece, Alexander, who calls himself "Aki", keeps surprising me with statements from which I, as an adult, keep learning and profiting.

He seems to have been born with a philosophical turn of mind as well as with a good portion of emotional intelligence. Isn´t this so with all children? Aren´t they still "closer to paradise", from which they have come?

When he was staying with me due to a prolonged illness of his mother, he was naturally homesick for her, especially when put to bed at night. One morning, though, I was amazed to hear him say, "When Mom is not here, I´ll take you for my Mom." And a little later, "You look after me during the night, and I´ll look after you during the day".

But what my niece has just told me on the telephone tops everything, I think. He was in a bad mood when she was putting him to bed, grumbling about everything, having to go to bed, not finishing what he wanted to do, his "scratchy" pyjamas, etc. etc., when his mood suddenly changed. He abruptly stopped himself, coming up with "Warum komm ich immer erst nachher drauf, dass ich mich eigentlich wohl fühlen kann?" = How come it is always later on that I realize it is possible for me to feel well (and be happy)?" And he went to sleep happily.

Changing my attitude by living in the moment - that´s what I for my part am still trying to learn...

Juliana
_____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

Post #: 1

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/25/2008 8:25:35 AM

artemis611

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Joined: 7/20/2007
From: Oklahoma
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Wow! That's really impressive for a 5-year old. I hope he can hang on to that attitude and not become a cynical adult.

Lori

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To truly listen is to perfect one's own virtue.

Post #: 2

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/25/2008 1:34:05 PM

Marie M.

Posts: 1123
Joined: 3/11/2007
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Juliana, The observations children have and may be heard saying allow one to get a look into their mind keep us learning everyday. Often times some statements can be so surprising. The thought of their little mind and their perspectives freshen our thoughts. Sometimes those thoughts and observations can come out and at the darndest times can get even the most straight faced individual to produce a smile. To make one think we all see things differently. In the mind of a child.

What comes to mind for me is when visiting a nursing home to visit my now 95 year old Grandma. My daughter who was 3 at the time had been quiet most of the time while there. When sitting in the dining room with us and the residents she looks around as says, "Maybe we should sing". At first I explained it was not appropriate, but thought later maybe we should have.

Marie

Post #: 3

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/25/2008 10:32:36 PM

Hildegard

Posts: 2473
Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: offline

And children know what they really need! I wrote this some years ago about an incident that really touched me.

WILL YOU HOLD ME?

She came into my office
around lunch time,
a slender, blond girl
of about five or six.
I had seen her
a few times before.
"May I stay with you
for a while?" she asked.
I had things to do, but
she wasn't looking
to be entertained.
She sat and asked a
question now and then.
After a silence, she
had another question,
"Will you hold me?"
She found a place
on my lap, her head
against my shoulder,
my arms around her.
She closed her eyes
and didn't talk.
I was touched by
her need and her trust.
She was fed and dressed,
but her heart was hungry.
At least, she knew to ask
for what she needed.
I hoped she would place
her trust wisely.
After a while she was
satisfied, got up
and left quietly.

Edda

_____________________________

Peace and joy!

Post #: 4

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/26/2008 5:05:07 PM

J1937

Posts: 784
Joined: 6/25/2007
From: Austria/Europe
Status: offline

Thank you warmly for this, dear Edda! I am glad now that I started the thread, as it bears such beautiful fruit.

Juliana
__________________________________
Speak Love in a World which can be cold

Post #: 5

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/27/2008 5:37:17 AM

J1937

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Joined: 6/25/2007
From: Austria/Europe
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Lori and Marie, Thank you for your contributions, too!
Searching through stacks of papers for something this morning, I stumbled over this quote by Thomas Bray, an English minister of the 17th century, which I have got in a German translation only:

"Habt keine Angst, dass Ihr Kinder verwöhnt, wenn Ihr sie zu glücklich macht. Glück und Zufriedenheit sind ein Klima, in dem alle guten Regungen gedeihen."

My re-translation (Edda, feel invited to correct):
"Do not fear to spoil children by making them too happy. Happiness and contentment are a climate in which all good human feelings can thrive."

Juliana
_____________________________
Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

Post #: 6

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/27/2008 8:56:04 AM

Marie M.

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Joined: 3/11/2007
Status: offline

Juliana, Yesterday while I was washing the tiny little fingerprints off my walls as I regularly do, my 4 year old daughter looks at me and says with a serious look on her face, "Mommy, what are you doing, washing the paint off the walls"? I chuckled and explained I was not removing the paint.

Marie

Post #: 7

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/27/2008 9:06:24 AM

Hildegard

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Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
Status: offline

Dear Juliana, there is nothing to correct! One might possibly enlarge on the word "Regungen" by adding a couple other possible translations, "promptings or striving", which take you to the beginning of action.

Edda

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Peace and joy!

Post #: 8

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/27/2008 1:32:05 PM

buttington

Posts: 1866
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: UK
Status: online

Juliana, the bit about spoiling children reminds me of the part of the book, "The Celestine Prophesy" which really stuck with me, although I read it a good many years ago now. It was in the list of things humans needed to learn in order to arrive at a bettter world.
The gist being, that we should give our children all the attention, respect and time we could, as well as love, and that way they would grow up without hang-ups, and, if they did it in turn for their children the results are obvious.

I had it demonstrated to me today, when Chloe was left behind because she had been naughty, while her dad and his girlfriend went out for a walk.
After being the centre of her dad's world, naturally Chloe was feeling neglected in favour of the girl-friend. Why don't they get it? I did point it out, but didn't get a thank-you!!

Thank you Juliana.

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Love is the only way

Post #: 9

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/27/2008 7:50:20 PM

joeharmony

Posts: 160
Joined: 11/21/2007
From: Newcastle, Australia
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Hildegard

And children know what they really need! I wrote this some years ago about an incident that really touched me.

WILL YOU HOLD ME?

She came into my office
around lunch time,
a slender, blond girl
of about five or six.
I had seen her
a few times before.
"May I stay with you
for a while?" she asked.
I had things to do, but
she wasn't looking
to be entertained.
She sat and asked a
question now and then.
After a silence, she
had another question,
"Will you hold me?"
She found a place
on my lap, her head
against my shoulder,
my arms around her.
She closed her eyes
and didn't talk.
I was touched by
her need and her trust.
She was fed and dressed,
but her heart was hungry.
At least, she knew to ask
for what she needed.
I hoped she would place
her trust wisely.
After a while she was
satisfied, got up
and left quietly.

Edda

It's a while since I've really had a chance to visit this forum with a quiet mind, and I was moved that this was one of the first contributions I read.

How much nicer the world would be if we all allowed our inner child to be nurtured in this way, and could give that nurturing to others. So many of us go through life with a hungry heart; how many hearts wither or are walled off to protect then from hurt.

I am greatly blessed that I have, after 58 years of hunger, found someone with whom there is that mutual nurturing. I greatly wish that for all.

With Love
Joe

Post #: 10

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 1/27/2008 9:22:07 PM

Hildegard

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Joined: 8/30/2006
From: Chicago
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Dear Joe, I am happy for you that you have found this nurturing. And, yes, it would be so good if everyone could experience it instead of trying to still this deep longing in ways that can't satisfy it.

Much love,
Edda

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Peace and joy!

Post #: 11

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/1/2008 12:50:16 PM

J1937

Posts: 784
Joined: 6/25/2007
From: Austria/Europe
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5-year-old Aki arrived tonight to stay with me for a few days.
What his mother told me is worth being shared here, I think:

With their kindergarten nurse, they had gone to a little chapel, and each of the children was told to say what they were grateful for. (Remarkable, isn´t it? Gratefulness practised at an early age). Now this is what Aki said (and the kindergarten nurse was surprised, as no child had ever said anything of the kind before):

"Ich danke dir, dass ich ein lieber Bub bin!" > "I thank you for being a nice boy!"

Juliana
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Speak Peace in a World of Conflict

Post #: 12

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/3/2008 7:11:35 AM

J1937

Posts: 784
Joined: 6/25/2007
From: Austria/Europe
Status: offline

You might think I am making this up - but it happened this morning when I was walking through the woods with Aki. He was impressed by everything, the singing of the birds, the tall trees, and the air. He contrasted it to the air in the town where he lives, saying, "It smells of trees, of plants, of resin, of nature". When we came to a sunlit clearing, he exclaimed, "Gott sei Dank bemerke ich jetzt, wie schön dieser Moment ist!" (I memorized it, so I could share it with you). "Fortunately I am realizing how beautiful this moment is!" He should be made an honorary member of the Gratitude Family, don´t you think?

Juliana
__________________________________________________________
Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best
(Bob Talbert)

Post #: 13

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/3/2008 7:33:09 AM

buttington

Posts: 1866
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: UK
Status: online

Juliana, it just reminds us what wonderful people small children are. Big ones are too of course, but somehow they temporarily lose that wisdom out in the larger world.

I remember when Chloe was 5 and she was always on about her time in heaven before she went into mummy's tummy. Now she can't even remember saying those things. That spiritual spark has to be nurtured or it gets lost in the more shallow 'pop songs and high street consumerism' culture of today.

Hopefully Aki will always remember how beautiful his moment was.

Love Jude

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Love is the only way

Post #: 14

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/3/2008 8:30:00 AM

Thankful one

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Juliana,
I believe Aki qualifies as a member of the Gratefulness family and is awarded the folowing Certificate of Achievement.

Post #: 15

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/3/2008 9:29:30 AM

J1937

Posts: 784
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From: Austria/Europe
Status: offline

Thank you, Thankful One, for this cute idea and the way you have posted it!
I will start a little journal for Aki with it and all his statements, so that he will be able to nurture his inner child once he is older...

Juliana

Post #: 16

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/3/2008 9:44:46 AM

Hildegard

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From: Chicago
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Juliana, this is a great idea! Aki seems wise way beyond his years. Later, when he will read what he said as a little boy, he'll probably remark, "Did I ever really say this?"

Enjoy his stay with you!!! The cake you baked together must have been delicious in many ways!

Love, Edda

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Peace and joy!

Post #: 17

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/15/2008 4:41:06 AM

J1937

Posts: 784
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From: Austria/Europe
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I just found this on www.2u.ie and thought I´d share it with you:

Little Jenny was afraid of the dark so her Mum kept a night light burning in her room. One night the light burned out and left Jenny to face the darkness. The next morning at breakfast, Jenny told her Mum what happened, “It was scary at first. I almost called to you. But then I remembered what you told me, that I was a light myself.”

It reminds me to remember that our children need spiritual "input", buliding on their innate wisdom...

Juliana
__________________________________________________________
Teaching kids to count is fine, but teaching them what counts is best.

Post #: 18

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 2/15/2008 2:03:18 PM

buttington

Posts: 1866
Joined: 6/9/2007
From: UK
Status: online

How lovely Juliana. I must try to remember that one.

Jude

_____________________________

Love is the only way

Post #: 19

RE: CHILDREN´S WISDOM - 5/15/2008 1:24:59 AM

J1937

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Joined: 6/25/2007
From: Austria/Europe
Status: offline

My little great-nephew, Aki (5), is back, staying with me for a few days. As he has been accepted as a junior member of the Gratitude Family and awarded a "Certificate of Achievement" by T.O.,

I have gone back to this thread and just re-read the postings. I am surprised (how easily one forgets!) and impressed by them, especially by what you have said, Joe:

"How much nicer the world would be if we all allowed our inner child to be nurtured in this way, and could give that nurturing to others. So many of us go through life with a hungry heart; how many hearts wither or are walled off to protect them from hurt."

Juliana
_____________________________

This is the mystery of Grace: It is never too late. (Bernanos)

Post #: 20