Children are on my mind this morning and maybe that is a sign that I need to write what I’m feeling. Sometimes we get confused about what our children are to us. They are a gift from God. We are entrusted with their care until they are old enough to stand on their own.

Then they need to know that we love them and have their back no matter what happens or what choices they make. We do not own them but are given the opportunity to raise them and be blessed by their presence in our lives.

That does not mean that we will not voice our opinions once they are grown. An open and honest line of communication is always a good thing. But we cannot press our will on them. To try to do so will only drive them away.

I have tried to let my sons know that I will always be there for them and love them. I don’t have to agree with everything they say or do to achieve this. No one on this earth totally agrees with another person on every issue. But I can’t think of any good reason to abandon them.

I remember reading Barbara Johnson’s account of losing her children. One child was killed in Vietnam. Another was killed in a car crash returning from Canada. A third had disappeared after an argument when he told her he was a homosexual. He was gone for years and couldn’t be found. She became so debilitated she couldn’t get out of bed.

Eventually she and her son were reunited. She spent a great deal of her time from then on helping other parents work things out with their children.

Her story changed the way I look at people and the mistakes they make. I realize also that I am not a perfect creature myself and make many mistakes on my own. I have one son who is estranged. He will not accept his brothers or me because we have a relationship with his children. I pray for him but only God can change his heart.

If you are out there today and you are estranged from your child and it’s your fault, you need to make it right between you.

If you are out there and you are estranged from your parents, you need to make it right.

If you have done all you can do, you are exactly where God is able to do things for you. When we are weak, He is strong.

Give Love To The Children

Give Love to the children. Children need love everyday

Give love to the children. Guide them on their way

Love’s like a burning flame consumes all that stands in the way

Love is the only power on earth to take all the hatred away

Give love to the children, set the children free

To make their own decisions then they will clearly see

Love is the sun the moon and the stars, love is a golden ring

Love is the one thing the whole world desires, be it beggar or king

Give love to the children, youth has not long to stay

Love is a long term investment the best you will find any day

Love like the rising sun, takes all the darkness away

Our children will tell their children and their children’s children will say

Give love to the children they are our crock of gold

and if perchance they ever stray they will come back to the fold

Give love to the children the children of today

Give love to the children and love will come to stay.

– Elizabeth Quinn

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Sylvia Hughes is a retired newspaper editor and a regular contributor to the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald. She can be reached via email at sylvia.hughes@r-cnews.com.