Life's Longing for Itself

And other important things our children can teach us

My daughter and son, Morgan & Jon - my MoJo - in morning light. Morgan looks as if she’s had one too many. Jon looks like he’s straining to smile, but finds this moment awkward and embarrassing, as if he’s saying with his face, “Not again.” Love as it's intended to be.

Remember when you wished upon a Dandelion? You believed your wishes would come true. But we often forget the power of hope as we get absorbed by the aches and pains of life. And then the belly-aching begins because we fail at this or that. We don't succeed in establishing the reputation we expected. Some of our wishes don't come true. But what Morgan reminds me in this moment is to be glad I'm alive. I'm still living my life, bruises and all. And it's a good life. And there's power in that.

John Maxwell puts it like this: "If there's hope in the future, there's power in the present."

Lord of the Playground: Jon moves his eyes to his next conquest like Genghis Khan, fearless, determined, unstoppable.

Surrounded by good books he couldn’t yet read, Jon shares a smile with his missing tooth.

Not a worry in the world, just thrilled in the moment.

With her bear-bear, pig and baby, Morgan drifts off in peace to her happy place among the sea creatures, unicorns, and neon forests.

The Kennedy kids owning the Palm Beach Breaker’s playground, daring anyone to enter their kingdom.

Jon and me enjoying a game of high school baseball, back when we still wore watches.

A trip to the Bahamas with good friends. The ocean calm, good times to come.

Morgan enjoying Key West “snow” one winter day.

Ready for the Fourth of July, Jon wearing a ridiculous shirt, but that would change.

Rocking away in Carmel, CA at Clint Eastwood’s Mission Ranch resort, Jon counting the sheep above his head. He didn't find that funny.

At the Dune Deck Café in West Palm Beach, FL. Jon wearing a better shirt...

“To laugh often and love much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

And most recently, Morgan and Jon with me in California, in their 20's, still reminding me of the power of presence, youth, love, hope, courage, determination and true happiness. My MoJo.

“Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life’s longing for itself… You may give them your love but not your thoughts, for they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, for their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow…” ~ Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet

(Above image by Hugh Macleod of www.gapingvoid.com)