And how can I give it to you?
It's not always easy for me to be your son (or daughter). There are parental expectations to fulfill, unsolicited direction to obey, unpleasant--but necessary--advice to swallow, and questionable fashion tastes that I find myself unwittingly inheriting. Other priorities demand my time. My own little family takes precedence now. Life is too busy for an afternoon phone call. And yet...
Every burden I have shouldered, you have shouldered with me, ignoring your own cares. Every decision I have made, you have guided. Every sorrow I have suffered, you have sorrowed with me. Your paternal protection, your maternal nurturing, have made me who I am today. Which of your burdens can I lighten? Which of your decisions can I sustain? Which of your sorrows can I share? Dad, Mom, what do you need? And how can I give it to you?
It's not always easy for me to be your boyfriend (or girlfriend, or spouse). I have so many demands on my time, I simply can't be that perfect guy (or girl) every day. I have emotional deficits that cry out for affection now, not when it's convenient for you. I can't guess your moods. I'm tired of feeling lousy for missing signals--unspoken requests for attention--that you thought were obvious. And yet...
You're the special soul who makes me want to be that perfect partner. My own emotional needs fade when I consider your happiness first. I want to learn your moods so I can lift you up. Please help me to understand your signals so I can present you with the attention you desire. Let's put "me" off to the side for now. Honey, what do you need? And how can I give it to you?
It's not always easy for me to be your father (or mother). I'm tired of seeing you repeat my mistakes...mistakes you could avoid if you would just listen to me! Why do you only ask for help with the challenges I never had to face? Will I ever have time to myself again? And yet...
I love you in spite of your mistakes. I pray for you and watch with pride how you tackle obstacles that never blocked my path. My time alone grows less and less meaningful if I can't share it with you. Son, daughter, what do you need? And how can I give it to you?
It's not always easy for me to be your sibling. It's not always easy for me to be your neighbor, your co-worker, your friend. It's not always easy for me to put my own cares aside and focus on the needs of others. And yet...
Living a life focused solely on my own cares, my own priorities, my own needs...is so much harder, and so much poorer, than living for you. How can I lift you up? Where do you hurt?
What makes you happy? And how can I give it to you?
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
"He who seeketh to save his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (JST Matthew 10:34)
It's not always easy for me to be your son (or daughter). There are parental expectations to fulfill, unsolicited direction to obey, unpleasant--but necessary--advice to swallow, and questionable fashion tastes that I find myself unwittingly inheriting. Other priorities demand my time. My own little family takes precedence now. Life is too busy for an afternoon phone call. And yet...
Every burden I have shouldered, you have shouldered with me, ignoring your own cares. Every decision I have made, you have guided. Every sorrow I have suffered, you have sorrowed with me. Your paternal protection, your maternal nurturing, have made me who I am today. Which of your burdens can I lighten? Which of your decisions can I sustain? Which of your sorrows can I share? Dad, Mom, what do you need? And how can I give it to you?
It's not always easy for me to be your boyfriend (or girlfriend, or spouse). I have so many demands on my time, I simply can't be that perfect guy (or girl) every day. I have emotional deficits that cry out for affection now, not when it's convenient for you. I can't guess your moods. I'm tired of feeling lousy for missing signals--unspoken requests for attention--that you thought were obvious. And yet...
You're the special soul who makes me want to be that perfect partner. My own emotional needs fade when I consider your happiness first. I want to learn your moods so I can lift you up. Please help me to understand your signals so I can present you with the attention you desire. Let's put "me" off to the side for now. Honey, what do you need? And how can I give it to you?
It's not always easy for me to be your father (or mother). I'm tired of seeing you repeat my mistakes...mistakes you could avoid if you would just listen to me! Why do you only ask for help with the challenges I never had to face? Will I ever have time to myself again? And yet...
I love you in spite of your mistakes. I pray for you and watch with pride how you tackle obstacles that never blocked my path. My time alone grows less and less meaningful if I can't share it with you. Son, daughter, what do you need? And how can I give it to you?
It's not always easy for me to be your sibling. It's not always easy for me to be your neighbor, your co-worker, your friend. It's not always easy for me to put my own cares aside and focus on the needs of others. And yet...
Living a life focused solely on my own cares, my own priorities, my own needs...is so much harder, and so much poorer, than living for you. How can I lift you up? Where do you hurt?
What makes you happy? And how can I give it to you?
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)
"He who seeketh to save his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (JST Matthew 10:34)
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