Sign of Love and Devotion
By Phortis Nespin
I placed a picture in the thread labels “Contemplation” (please refer to this now before continuing). It is a picture of a baby, mother, and father, holding hands. I looked at this picture for a long time and became aware of the deep meaning of this picture. I find it to be such a beautiful picture in its face value, but when you stare at it long enough, you begin to see the true “VALUE” of its meaning.
We look at this picture and think of the happiness and love that is inspired by holding hands. At every age, the simplest and most frequent sign of affection is the holding of hands. From the first date to the last minutes of life surrounded by loved ones, the truest sign of love is taking someone’s hand into your own with affection. I still remember the first girl I held hand with, and I will remember the first time I held my wife’s. I remember the first time I held my sons and daughters hands. I will remember them because of the indelible mark they leave on your soul! There is no greater moment is a person’s life as when the connection of love from one person to another is made.
But there is something more to this picture. Look at the baby’s arm position. Look at the way the mother wraps her fingers around the baby’s hand. Look at the way the father supports the two hands. It is the deepest vision of Family.
The baby represents the continuation of the species, the struggle of humanity, the innocence of youth, and the need for protection from a hostile world. The baby is a sign of love and devotion that the mother and father share with each other. The baby is the progression of the intellectual and spiritual essence of the mother and father. The baby is the purist sign of love that the mother and father have for one another.
The mothers hand comforts the child, she protects the child, and she nurtures the child. The mother is the teacher, the interpreter, and the inspiration for the child. The mother feeds, cloths, and keeps the child from pain and suffering. The mother is the purist sign of love that humanity has produced.
The fathers hand is slightly cupped by remains vigilant. He supports the mother in the protection of the family. He is the provider, the security for the family. The father is the hand upon which the family rests. He helps provide food, shelter, and life lessons. His role is not to nurture, but to strengthen the baby to the world that it is about to enter. A father’s love may be tough, but it is never ending.
This is what I see…What do you see?
Comments 13
I get the 'continuity', and even 'solidarity' allusions from this photo - two beautiful concepts mises à part the 'family values' under - (perhaps 'over-') tone. Those aren't the only things to be seen herein ... We find paradox : how many chapters of the Tao Te Ching would be ever so well illustrated by this photo ? The clenched, yet very relaxed, hand of the baby crowns the hierarchy of hands, and albeit the least in physical 'might', it commands the acts of the more 'mighty' hands of the mother and father which consolidate to support the well-being of the 'family' (sens large ...)
I would counsel here to look far and beyond the traditional family values, and their accompanying rôles of the participants ; there is as much of the feminine principle to be found in the father's symbolic as masculine principle in maternity. And the infant is also a formidable source of 'Life Lessons', as it has not yet been moulded to conform to the accepted notions of respectability - the likes of which govern what many would see in this photo.
What might be the most overlooked, yet essential element of the scene, is the black background upon which the hands come together. What can it tell us ? How can we interpret the symbols in conjunction with it or posed against it ?
This is a wonderful sermon, Phortis, thank you ! At the same time, it would be nice to see diverse interpretations beyond those of traditional parenting come through by it.
So, let's see where that goes ...
I can contemplate this meaning until I drive myself nuts... I thank you for this photo and sermon, and value the lesson, and thoughtfulness I received. May the force be with you!
Thank you.
I failed to see it for the bigger part of my youth. Thank you for reminding me and thank you for the nice sermon.
I failed to see it for the bigger part of my youth. Thank you for reminding me and thank you for the nice sermon.[/quote]
My father loved me... But, I wish he would have expressed it better...
Maybe we would have been closer as we got older...
He has passed now... Back a few years ago...
I tell, and show, my children every chance I get...
Thank you Phortis....
Then there was the way others treated me....so yeah my experience/understanding of love is a bit odd
My father never recovered from the front lines of the second wave in Okinawa, and he did not parent his nine children, nor did he ever express love physically or verbally. I remember not a single lesson he gave to me. Nor do I recall one proud lesson from any of the siblings. Yet, I forgive my father for what he could not do. When a thought of lovelessness along any lines enters my mind, I will for peace so that the lovelessness stops here and the space for creative flow can be made right here, right now. I will to pay forward golden coins.
I love my Dad, not for what he gave me, not for what he didn’t give me, not because I should; but mostly because my pain of being disappointed with him, being embarrassed by him, and the pain of wanting him to be like others Dad’s was way too much for me. I love him just because. I enjoy now holding unseen hands with him. Perhaps, that is an odd expression of love.