As people who work with children, we have a great responsibility. At many points, they will freeze like a rabbit in the headlights believing sincerely that they cannot do this, whatever it is. In those moments, we have a choice. Either we let the child continue as they are tell them to chalk it down to experience. Or, we come alongside them, look them in the eye, tell them we believe in them offer to help them do it. This poem is about the long term impact this has on our children.
I believe in you
If the world walked by
Without a care
He'd have simply sat and stared
But one said they believed
This was not who he was
He was not simply ok
He was not just the sum of experience
Product of what had shaped him
Friends, family, life
He could be better
One had said to him
Long ago behind a wooden desk
While life swirled his ears
Dragging him down by the ankles
Swallowing him whole
One said he believed
That if he tried
He could succeed
That if he aimed for more
His hands would be full
That he was made for more
A purpose greater
Than the cards that life had dealt him
The world had walked on by
But this one had stopped
Each day he'd paused
And through this young man's storm
He spoke a ray of sunshine
Which parted the clouds
And showed him a glimpse
Of something far greater
"I believe in you"
We're his simple words
No more, but never any less
And these words rang in his ears
Like a gong in an empty dojo
Or waves breaking upon a deserted beach
These words sunk in deep
Deeper than he'd thought
For one day many years later
When all he thought he'd heard was long forgotten
Those words rang clear once again
"I believe in you"
An in that vital money
He chose greater than he thought he could
He aimed for more
He stepped out to take a risk
And to his surprise he walked above the waves
He wandered free through raging fires
He reached up to that far off mountain
He reached with more than his strength
With new strength he had been given
Long ago
Through the one who stopped
And with 4 words
Showed they cared
And he succeeded
All because long ago
Far ago in time and experience
One had said to him each day
"I believe in you."
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