I can teach you things but
I cannot make you learn.
I can allow you freedom
but I cannot be responsible for you.
I can teach you to share but
I cannot make you unselfish.
I can tell you about kindness but
I cannot make you gracious.
I gave you life but
I cannot live it for you.
Joy, until we have felt sorrow;
Faith until we are tested;
Peace, until we are faced with conflict;
Trust, until we are betrayed;
Love until it is lost;
Hope, until we are faced with doubts
give you back the past, nor satisfy your other daydreams.
Your duty, your reward, your destiny, is in the present moment.
Be careful…. parts of this poem come from a much earlier copyrighted poem by Patrick Atkinson called “Message for My Child. You can find that full poem at http://www.godschild.org/message-for-my-child/