Living Our Lessons

No matter how frequent or lofty our speeches to them may be, our children learn from our examples. They are keen observers and everything they see in our lives becomes a lesson. They watch how and what we eat, how we drive, how we treat other people, how we respond under pressure or when we are upset. They pick up the subtle innuendos in our humor and language. They know how we treat animals and older people and other children. They spend their entire lives studying us and becoming like us ... vowing to do otherwise. Consequently, each moment is a “teachable moment” because every situation we encounter requires a different response. When they are young we can skip pages in a picture book or slip a quarter under their pillows from the Tooth Fairy. However, before long, we don’t fool them at all. I daresay we fool ourselves much longer than we continue to fool them. It behooves us, therefore, to glean the most from each opportunity which presents itself, especially since the cement of their individual characters begins to harden as they grow older. And, in the end, they are our only legacy which really matters so look for the lessons in life and make them count. Rest assured, the kids are learning even when we don’t intend to be teaching. Today’s poem is a true story about how we went to a lot of trouble on behalf of a humble bird. Too much trouble, perhaps, but there are lots of injured animals in the world and many of them are people. We just never know how our lessons may get applied. Teach always, and never be afraid to learn as well.

Broken Wings
We found an injured hawk last night
Out back, down by the creek
With a broken leg and wing, at least
She was tired and scared and weak
We caught her in the laundry hamper
And cared for her that night
A bird of prey, now broken
Dethroned, and robbed of flight
We called the game preserve at 3 Forks
And found a lady there
Who rehabilitates such birds
And gives them proper care
With a little love and luck, one day
We hope the hawk might fly
To soar, once more, upon the breeze
As master of the sky
If not, at least my kids will learn
We did the best we could
To care for what God sends our way
As every person should
For the greatest lessons we can teach
Sometimes are simple things
Like simple lessons of compassion
Mending broken hearts and wings
By Frank Carpenter ©