All We Really Need to Know

My little girl, Samantha, started Kindergarten this past week. We sent her off with $1.50 for lunch money and a pink backpack full of school supplies. She was so excited, and a little apprehensive. But she did fine. She’s already made some new friends, and she tells us about learning to read, and art class, and music class, and PE, and a million other details. I think she really enjoys it. I think it was actually harder on my wife Tammy than my little girl. Tammy’s used to having her around all day. My little boy, Blaine, misses her too. But everybody seems to be settling in now. Several years ago, a book was published called All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, by Robert Fulghum (a very good book). How true that is.

Along with her lunch money and backpack, one of the most important things we gave her to take to Kindergarten was our love. I love my little girl very much (and Blaine and Tammy). Sometimes I call Samantha my little princess. That’s because I love her so much. The light is always in everyone, but the love we give to others is the hand that stokes the flame. The love Tammy and I give to Samantha teaches her that she is worthy of love. This is the basis of the self esteem that she will carry throughout her lifetime. It will give her the confidence and strength to grow and overcome adversity as she travels on her journey through life.

Our love also teaches her to love others. People learn by example, none more so than children. By treating her with kindness and love, we teach her to treat others the same way. (Of course, we must teach that love is to be spread freely, not confined within fixed boundaries defined by self, family, community, ethnicity, etc.) The light is the essence of humanity; it will always exist within each of us. However, the love that is passed down from one generation to another and among people of a generation determines the strength of the fire, along with the choice each of us makes to open our hearts to the light or shut it out. Thus, the love that we give our children is not only the best hope for our individual children, but is in fact our best hope for the future of mankind.

My little girl went off to Kindergarten with a $1.50 for lunch money and a pink backpack full of school supplies. She also carried the light shining bright within her- and my eternal love, for I shall always love my little princess. Like the final line of Keats’ Ode on a Grecian Urn, that is all she knows, and all she needs to know.

© 2004 Kurt Venables      

Who We Are  |  The Founder  |  The Magazine
Join Us!  |  Links  |  Home

Contact Us!  contactus@spiritualityandcommunity.com

© 2003-2004  Spirituality & Community.  All Rights Reserved.