One thing that my wife and I are trying to do is to instill in our sons a spirit of loving kindness, starting with one another and extending forth from there. Part of it definitely requires us setting a good example. We are trying, relying upon yoga and meditation to keep us grounded and calm. We rely upon the teaching of Buddha and Jesus to instill us with a sense of what is right, and pass these lessons upon our children. We also try to get the kids to meditate and most importantly think before they speak. Answer the question whether what is going to come out of their mouths is something that will hurt the person who is listening and also to ask how they would feel if they heard the same words. Today I received the following email from a friend. I think I will need to read this to the kids before bed tonight. Words to live by and think upon.
Fable of the porcupine
It was the coldest winter ever and many animals died because of the cold. Some porcupines, realizing the gravity of the situation, decided to group together to share warmth. This way they were better covered and protected; however - the quills of each one wounded their closest companions. After a while they decided to distance themselves one from the other and soon after they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth. Wisely, they decided to go back to being together. They learned to accept the little wounds that were caused by these close relationships, in order to benefit from what their companions offered. It was this way that they were able to survive and thrive.
Moral of the story:
The best relationships are not ones that bring together perfect beings, but are instead ones where individuals learn to live with the imperfections of others and can still accept the gifts they have to offer.
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