Roots and Wings

A framed cross-stitch with orange flowers and indigo birds and a few really profound words has forever been a part of the house I grew up in.

“There are two lasting gifts we can give to our children.

One is roots. The other wings.”

As a little girl, these words confused me, roots and wings, as gifts? As I grew up, I understood the meaning more clearly, and now, as each year goes by, and as life continues to hit me in waves, the truth of these words, stitched into the small canvas, has become a mantra etched in my heart.

When I think of these words, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for my parents.

When I think of these words, I am consumed with love for my boy. I am swallowed by my hopes for his future.

I am determined to give him these gifts, like my parents gave them to me.

I want him to be grounded by deep roots of love. I want him to feel a love from within that no one can ever take away. I want him to feel secure in himself and know his worth. I want him to know that in order to really, truly give love, he first has to have a deep and true love for himself. And let his love from within spill over into the world.

I want his roots to dig in so deeply that no storm can ever uproot him. I wish I could shelter him forever. But I know that the winds and rains will come and he’ll have to face them, because we all do. And when he does, I want him to have roots so strong and deep that he may be lashed about and thrown asunder, but he’ll know that he is grounded all the way down through his soul.

I want my boy to soar.

If anyone ever tells him that he shouldn’t, he can’t or he won’t,I want him to remember his wings, and know that he should, he can and he will.

I want him to look up into the skies and have dreams big enough to eclipse any horizon. I want him to look up and remember every day what a beautiful painting God has created, just for us, forever changing, always a fresh palette from the day before. I want him to know that his own life mirrors those skies – always in transition, and that even when dark clouds block out the light for a while, the sun will find its way back through.

I want him to have a strong enough foundation, deep enough roots, that he’s willing to take to those skies without fear. I want him to know that his wings can take him wherever he wants to fly.

Namaste.