Ever since I was a baby, my mother would read me the children's book "I Love You Forever." To this day, it is one of my favorites and I plan to read it to my children as much as I can. However, this book will stay with me forever because it made me realize something very important; that one inevitable event in the life of every single human being that unites out race: death.
The book goes through the stages of a son's life. Baby, child, pre-teen, teenager, college student, and adult. I always thought it was interesting to see so many years of life condensed into a few pages. Now, while the child is growing up, the mother would always go into the child's room at night and sing him a little song "I live you forever, I love you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be." And yes, I am quoting that from memory.
Anyway, at the end of the book, when the boy has grown to become an adult, his mother, who used to sing him this song as he slept, even when he was a college student, is very sick. He holds her in his arms and sing "I love you forever, I love you for always, as long as I'm living, my mommy you'll be." Soon after, it is made clear that the mother has passed... yet the circle of life continues. This boy, who is seen growing up through the book, has a baby girl, and sings to her "I love you forever, I love you for always, as long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."
This book will always stick with me because it made me realize that whatever happens, people are going to die. Realizing this inescapable truth as a child was interesting. Looking back now, I only remember myself being confused and sad, yet anxious and happy to sing to my own children. Death nowadays is portrayed as a horrible thing; something to be feared. But it, like life, is as aspect of being that unites every human on the planet.
The circle continues, love continues, life continues. The death of one person means the emergence of life for another. It's a beautiful cycle. "For dust you are, and to dust you will return" (Genesis 3:19). Honestly one of my favorite quotes. But it's true right? What separates an ordinary American man from Alexander the Great? Besides a couple of miles of ocean, land, and mountains, and the conquest of a large part of Eurasia... not much. What has become of Alexander now? Why the answer would be dust! See? Death happens... to everyone. You can't live with it, and you certainly can't live without it.
That little children's book, I Love You Forever, I now see, has made me realize that even though death is inevitable, there is no need to fear it. Live life to the fullest... YOLO!
Moving from "I Love You Forever" to Genesis--not a bad gap here, Mr. Sergio.... :-)
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like this book touches on very heavy topics for a children's book! It's very bitter sweet and it's cool that even though it was read to you along time ago, you can still quote it and the message has stayed with you.
ReplyDeleteI had this book too! It gives me one of the most nostalgic feelings when I think about it, or see it in a book store. While reading it my mom would always seem to lower her voice, and become more nostalgic. I never really understood it, but apprently you did! I'm quite impressed with your level of recognizing reality! Love your blog. Death
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