Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction. —Anne Sullivan—
Children are not just the people under ten. We are all children at heart. And in many of the activities that call us we are as uncertain of the steps to take, as unsure of the course of the outcomes as any ten-year-old. No matter the age, what we all need in the midst of any challenge is soft comfort from a loved one and gently probing questions that serve to guide our choices as we move ahead with the task. Giving someone explicit directions about how to proceed can deprive them of opportunities for discovery. Stumbling is part of the human experience. Picking ourselves up allows us an additional glance at the landscape on which we tripped. In the second glance comes a new understanding and thus the growth the gift of life has promised us.
I’ll comfort another child today and willingly accept the guidance offered by my own mentor.