There are two ways to go through this life. You can
be a planter, or you can be a tramper. Children are like young plants. They
need the necessities of healthy foods and clean water to physically grow and,
they need mental stimulation which they get in school and at home, but what
about their spiritual growth.
Are we inspiring our young to reach past their limits
or family traditions? I watch and listen to how adults deal with the young. We
should be mindful of our words. I’ve mentioned this in an earlier post. Our
thoughts and intentions can take on conscious form and, our words can be as
sharp as a sword to an insecure child. Do we really want this to be our legacy?
When I meet adults who seem insecure, self-doubting,
or afraid to speak their voice, I think to myself, “There was very little planting
in her or his garden.” Did this person, as a child, constantly here remarks
like this: “You can’t do this, because: you’re not smart enough, big enough,
rich enough, white enough, male enough, female enough, etc. etc.” You get the
idea. Trampers point out the negative aspects while planters point out the
positive with words like these: “You can do this, if you study harder, if you’re
persistent, if you believe in yourself.”
Planters will not use religion, gender, race or
finances to discourage a child. A planter will say, “It might be hard, but you
can do it.” It takes one seed to start that garden in a child. One encouraging
word will inspire a child to reach above their capabilities. When that seed
takes root, the spark of imagination that shows in a child’s eyes is breathless
to behold.
The other day, I was selling my books at the Camden
Comic Con. A group of children between the ages of eleven to thirteen stopped at
my table to chat with me and a fellow writer. One of the girls asked me if I
wrote the books that I was selling. I said yes. She wanted to know how I wrote the
book. My reply, “I have all these stories inside me. I just write them down.” She
nodded, but there were questions. I could see them in her eyes. I added, “You
have a story inside you. Everyone does. Start writing your story.”
Her eyes lit up. I had planted the seed. She could
write, too. This little girl’s eyes shone with excitement and she couldn’t wait
to get home and try her hand at writing. I hope I encouraged all the children
in that group to spread their wings and not take “NO” for an answer.
I hope I also encouraged the little girl with the
sad eyes. When I told her to write down her story, her eyes lit up, but then
the frown returned. Was she a victim of trampling? I hope not. I hope the seed
took hold in her heart. I hope to see her selling her own books one day. Are
you a planter or a tramper?
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