INDESPENSABLE...

"But my family needs me."
-Anonymous housewife

I needed to read this today from my book "Meditations For Women Who do to Much" by Anne Wilson Shaef. I accidentally read the page for September 28Th rather than August 28Th, well I shouldn't say accidentally...it was something divine!

Anne explains...
"There is nothing as secure as being needed...or is there?
There is nothing as draining as being needed. We have often made ourselves indispensable at work and at home so that we would feel secure and wanted. Deep down it was inconceivable that people in our lives could love us for who we are. Even if they might, could we afford to take the risk and let their love come to us?
Of course our children need us, but often much less than we wish. Unfortunately, trying to make ourselves indispensable is not relegated to the home and women who work in the home. Often we equate being indispensable with being secure. On fact, we confuse the two."

I feel that allowing myself to be indespensable is driven by my insecurity, my guilt that I am not a good enough mother, my yearning to be what my parents were not for me.

Anne's meditation for that day reads...
"WHEN I AM TRYING TO MAKE MYSELF INDESPENSABLE, I KNOW THAT I NEED TO LOOK INSIDE MYSELF TO SEE WHAT I AM FEELING." and I must add "and who I am."

The gift of a book...

Last night I was given a divine book by the the name "The Prophet" written by Kahlil Gibran it's copyright is from 1923. My dear friend and neighbor gave to my husband and I, her inscription she writes just inside reads:
"Dear P & S,
It is a long standing tradition of mine to give
this book to special people I love.
Enjoy these words-thay are filled with Beauty
and Wisdom.
I turn to favorite passages all teh time since first
I discovered this book over forty years ago.
Love always,
N.B."

She asked if she may read to me from it before she gave it to me and I was delighted, for she used to be a librarian and in theatre so her readings are exquisite. From the book she read...

"And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said, Speak to us of Children.
And he said:
Your children are not your children.
They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.
And though they are with you , yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts.
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.
You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.
For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinte, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;
For even as he loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable."

Chills streamed through my body, as I conncted to the passage which she had read.

In context to religion and spirituality, this blog is in no way affiliated with any certain religion, but rather with all. I do not label myself as one religion or another but rather, I am. However, the spiritual context of this site is meant to be rich, loving and fun. As I journey through this life, in this human form, it's definatley not an easy ride for me, it never has been, I just want to be their for others as they find their way through it all as well.