A STORY OF A GIFTED CHILD
THEY SEE that this is a child
with a learning disability.
I see that this is a child
with extra learning abilities.
THEY SEE that this is a child
who does not express his needs.
I see that this is a child
whose needs they don’t want to hear.
THEY SAY this child needs to watch more TV,
to be more like others.
I say they need to turn off their TV,
and watch this child
for a while.
IF THEY WOULD,
they would notice that
this child does not walk by a flower
without admiring, smelling,
or touching its little petals.
THEY SAY that this child
does not pay attention to what they say.
I say, they don’t pay attention
to what this child hears.
IF THEY WOULD stop for a while,
they would know that he does hear their voice.
But that he also hears,
as loud as their voices,
his own thoughts.
He also hears
someone next door crying,
needing attention.
He hears the gentle singing of birds,
announcing spring’s arrival
and his own heartbeat.
AND IF THEY WOULD
just pause for a second,
and ask him to share,
they would hear the greatness
of a wondering mind.
Maybe they could answer
some wise question,
or maybe they could learn something,
and thank him for sharing.
Oh, then they’d be surprised
that he hears their voices more.
THEY SAY that this is a shy child,
who does not make friends easily.
I say that if they really try
to make friends with him,
they could learn great things about friendship.
They would see that
this child looks at everyone as a friend.
THEY SAY this child is not capable of finishing his tasks.
Oh, but yes he is.
They don’t realize that sometimes
with the task they give him,
he also receives another task
from his own Teacher.
As other children are working on the task:
“Write the word ‘Butterfly’ten times,”
he, after only a few letters,
sees beautiful colors.
He sees the butterfly coming to him
and picking him up on its wings.
They fly, fly together
to see all their friends.
And then his Teacher says,
“Oh, My child, paint this beautiful experience for Me.
Paint so my other children can feel and see it too.”
And he obeys,
and he finishes his task.
THEY SAY that he is internalizing his feelings,
or that perhaps he’s not happy.
But if they’d only ask him,
or give him a couple of brushes,
and some paints,
and simply ask him how he feels,
and wait a little...
Oh, this child would paint
in such a clear way.
He would share so eagerly.
And yes, he would tell.
AND IF THEY WOULD
open their soul
and their heart,
they would see,
a Truly Happy Child.
LILIANA KOHANN
©2001 Artpeace Publishing
(In Silence Received)
with a learning disability.
I see that this is a child
with extra learning abilities.
THEY SEE that this is a child
who does not express his needs.
I see that this is a child
whose needs they don’t want to hear.
THEY SAY this child needs to watch more TV,
to be more like others.
I say they need to turn off their TV,
and watch this child
for a while.
IF THEY WOULD,
they would notice that
this child does not walk by a flower
without admiring, smelling,
or touching its little petals.
THEY SAY that this child
does not pay attention to what they say.
I say, they don’t pay attention
to what this child hears.
IF THEY WOULD stop for a while,
they would know that he does hear their voice.
But that he also hears,
as loud as their voices,
his own thoughts.
He also hears
someone next door crying,
needing attention.
He hears the gentle singing of birds,
announcing spring’s arrival
and his own heartbeat.
AND IF THEY WOULD
just pause for a second,
and ask him to share,
they would hear the greatness
of a wondering mind.
Maybe they could answer
some wise question,
or maybe they could learn something,
and thank him for sharing.
Oh, then they’d be surprised
that he hears their voices more.
THEY SAY that this is a shy child,
who does not make friends easily.
I say that if they really try
to make friends with him,
they could learn great things about friendship.
They would see that
this child looks at everyone as a friend.
THEY SAY this child is not capable of finishing his tasks.
Oh, but yes he is.
They don’t realize that sometimes
with the task they give him,
he also receives another task
from his own Teacher.
As other children are working on the task:
“Write the word ‘Butterfly’ten times,”
he, after only a few letters,
sees beautiful colors.
He sees the butterfly coming to him
and picking him up on its wings.
They fly, fly together
to see all their friends.
And then his Teacher says,
“Oh, My child, paint this beautiful experience for Me.
Paint so my other children can feel and see it too.”
And he obeys,
and he finishes his task.
THEY SAY that he is internalizing his feelings,
or that perhaps he’s not happy.
But if they’d only ask him,
or give him a couple of brushes,
and some paints,
and simply ask him how he feels,
and wait a little...
Oh, this child would paint
in such a clear way.
He would share so eagerly.
And yes, he would tell.
AND IF THEY WOULD
open their soul
and their heart,
they would see,
a Truly Happy Child.
LILIANA KOHANN
©2001 Artpeace Publishing
(In Silence Received)