December 29, 2009 – Carl Sandburg wrote a poem called “The People, Yes,” and in it, he wrote a verse about what a Great Mother would say to her child. It is, I think, what all of us should say to our children, and to the people we love:

“I love you,”

said a great mother.

“I love you for what you are knowing so well what you are.

And I love you more yet, child,

deeper yet than ever, child,

for what you are going to be,

knowing so well you are going far,

knowing your great works are ahead,

ahead and beyond,

yonder and far over yet.”

– Carl Sandburg

This is not always what mothers and fathers say to their children. But it ought to be. It’s what we should say to one another.