"It takes a village to raise a child."

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If Children are a gift from the Lord. and,

"They are a re-al blessing, (not a curse!)…"

Then how can I begin to understand

a grand-child, this is wild (- it won't be worse!).

For what a blessing! What a gift they'd be!

And living close enables such a gift.

And what a blessing this could be to me,

& Katie, if we let it be the lift

that opening ourselves to who God sends 

us to, as well as whom he sends to us

in ways that are appropriate; this tends

to show where we get energy to fuss

as love would do, not to get comfort's slump,

but listening ourselves to what you share,

and noticing how love will not be stumped, 

but bounces back, and bends to get to where

it's sent, I think it is the light of life.

It's energy refracts, diffracts, impacts,

but graciously, & starts within*. It's rife!

It doesn't knock you over by it's acts

of force, of course, but there are other ways:

Recall that fable of the sun and wind;

It emphasises, concretely displays

the way of love & life, that won't rescind,

but takes account of their responses too;

compared with plain ol' pow-er, force of arms,

which doesn't  ever think to pique or woo.

Oh God we need your help, your love's own charms.

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*  I'm thinking (& I might be wrong) that light is here used, in the term "light of life", as a model of, or picture for, something. Light is energy abounding and "waving against itself" and it is this quality that makes it able to slightly "bend corners". See Dr. Christopher S. Baird's physics article.

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"..Children are a gift from the Lord. They are a real blessing…" Psalm 127:3-5 

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