A message to myself

There is so much I want to say today. Today as my little boy turns seven, I feel like my most important life lessons have been taught to me through my children. A few weeks back I read something that really resonated somewhere deep inside. Today- this sums up all that I feel sometimes when I see the larger picture. Inspite of a million words ringing in my brain, today I will not write more- except sharing what I read a few days back-

Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

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, 
which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, 
but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

- Kahlil Gibran