I was starting to plan for the teaching of Song of Solomom by Toni Morrison, and I ran across this excerpt in my files. After a quick search, I realized that I got this from Oprah's website. It sure touches my heart everytime that I read it. (Toni Morrison is deep.)
Here it is:
"One of Oprah's favorite lessons comes from Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison and the question she asked of all parents: When your child walks in the room, does your face light up?
"When my children used to walk in the room, when they were little, I looked at them to see if they had buckled their trousers or if their hair was combed or if their socks were up," she told Oprah in 2000. "You think your affection and your deep love is on display because you're caring for them. It's not. When they see you, they see the critical face. But if you let your face speak what's in your heart...because when they walked in the room, I was glad to see them. It's just as small as that, you see."
Toni's comment has become one of The Oprah Show's most profound lessons and has touched the hearts of many viewers—including Gennece, who says that hearing Toni's lesson changed her. "My daughter ended up dying of cancer," she says. "And the last two years [of her life], every time she would come home—whether it was from chemo or a party or the grocery store—I would always say, 'Niecy's home! Niecy's home!' And she would get so excited. ... That made a difference in my life. And now when children are in my space, it's authentic that my eyes light up, because my heart lights up."
"When my children used to walk in the room, when they were little, I looked at them to see if they had buckled their trousers or if their hair was combed or if their socks were up," she told Oprah in 2000. "You think your affection and your deep love is on display because you're caring for them. It's not. When they see you, they see the critical face. But if you let your face speak what's in your heart...because when they walked in the room, I was glad to see them. It's just as small as that, you see."
Toni's comment has become one of The Oprah Show's most profound lessons and has touched the hearts of many viewers—including Gennece, who says that hearing Toni's lesson changed her. "My daughter ended up dying of cancer," she says. "And the last two years [of her life], every time she would come home—whether it was from chemo or a party or the grocery store—I would always say, 'Niecy's home! Niecy's home!' And she would get so excited. ... That made a difference in my life. And now when children are in my space, it's authentic that my eyes light up, because my heart lights up."
Do our faces show what our hearts are feeling?
I love that Toni Morrison!!!!
2 comments:
I JUST had this conversation with our oldest daughter who is 11. She asked..mom why do you always turn around and look at me during church? My reply was I am soo proud of you all and have to make sure everything is looking ok. She smiles and said thanks I Thought you were looking because you thought I was doing something wrong. Now, I make it appoint to ALWAYS smile whenever I look at them during a service or whenever we are together. Thanks again for another great blog. This was a great inspiration for me as a proud mother!!
Tracy, great example. As a teacher, I must remind myself to smile when the students enter the classroom. I am normally very busy trying to start class and may not smile even though I am very happy to see them.
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