you gave me birth today.. .. cannot thank you enough my princess... i hope when you read this post in your youth you will understand the implication of my beginning line...
maa has no wealth to bequeath you with.. except her love, her books and her music cds passed on to her by your grandpa.. my father...
today i leave a dream in form of words for you as your birthday gift.. hope someday you will be able to comprehend it and know what i always had for you in my heart and in my mind...
if i am able to inculcate even a part of it (the letter below) in you as a person... i will know my motherhood was blessed......
read it carefully my dear..
Abraham Lincoln’s letter to his son’s Teacher
Respected Teacher,
- My son will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish politician, there is a dedicated leader.
- Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend.
-Teach him to learn to lose and also to enjoy winning.
- Steer him away from envy, if you can.
- Teach him the secret of quite laughter. Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to tick.
- Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books.. but also give him quiet time to ponder over the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a green hill –side.
-In school teach him it is far more honourable to fail than to cheat.
-Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tells him they are wrong.
-Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough.
-Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when every one is getting on the bandwagon.
-Teach him to listen to all men but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
-Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad. Teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness.
-Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders; but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul.
-Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob… and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.
-Treat him gently; but do not cuddle him because only the test of fire makes fine steel.
-Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patience to be brave. '
-Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order; but see what you can do. He is such a fine little fellow, my son.
Abraham Lincoln.
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Before I started writing poetry seriously I wrote a poem on the birth of my first grandchild.Little did I believe that within 10 days my mother would be dead and days later my husband diagnosed with terminal cancer.....passing away 2 months later. I very often look at the poem and think "I had everything then". I have such a lot to be grateful for but that one poem hollds a special place in my heart.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post and found it wonderful to read.
Yvonne.
Happy Birthday Opal. :) I hope you'll realize what a fine woman your Mum is when you grow up! She'll probably stay your biggest fan for life; it's enjoyable to see her cherishing your every moment in the limelight.
ReplyDeleteSending you all the goodness you'll ever wish for.
xoxo
happy birthday opal :)!! may god fill your life with happiness and all the goodness.. and most of all LOVE :) bless ur heart and soul my lil baby. love u ever so much..
ReplyDeleteThis is lovely, Sushmita. Happy Birthday to your little angel. xo
ReplyDeleteBelated Happy Birthday, Opal.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post, Sushmita.
Sushmita... first Happy Birthday to your lil one.
ReplyDeleteThrough ur blog i'm going down my own memory lane when i had read this famous letter of Abraham Lincoln aloud to my own son.
True it is what any parent should ever wish for their child.
God alone knows how and when such wishes dissipate into the horizon and we start equating happiness of our kids with success.
Week late but I sure hope she had a great one! Ole Abe was wise one wasn't he?! Wishing you both the best. :D
ReplyDeleteJules @ Trying To Get Over The Rainbow
Dear Sushmita, firstly lots of wishes to your little princess. Secondly, congratulations for being a mother and a mother who can write so well. I wish all your dreams for your daughter turn out true some day and every day :)
ReplyDeleteLovely post...just like your name.
Sushmita, you always make me smile! Happy Birthday to beautiful Opal! I hope she makes people happy like you do one day!
ReplyDeletehappy belated Birthday to your kid :) Hope you had a lovely day and a lovely celebration!
ReplyDeleteI've never read this before and I certainly have missed out. Thank you for posting this great writing from a great president. thanks for sharing your beautiful words also.
ReplyDelete...Happy late birthday to Opal!
ReplyDeleteAnd loved the letter from Abe. Fascinating ;)
EL
belated Happy BDay to her :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm teary eyed with this post. The letter from Abraham Lincoln is very touching and I'm sure your daughter will be very happy when she gets the chance to read it. Not only that, she will be thankful that you are her mother.
ReplyDeleteThis touched me! I am happy to read this...Happy Belated Birthday to your Princess!
ReplyDeleteHappy belated Birthday to Opal! :)
ReplyDeleteI love the letter from Abraham Lincoln.
I'm late but been away. Happy birthday to your little one and I love, so loved your writing.
ReplyDeleteTake care my friend. God Bless you and your family.
i hope ur blessings help ur daughter b what you think a fine human being should be..as mentioned in Abe's letter...written for his son...:)
ReplyDelete