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<blockquote data-quote="Signorina" data-source="post: 610292"><p>I was cleaning up my bookmarks last night and I came across the parable below. I am relatively sure it was something that was passed along this board a year or more ago...and I bookmarked it because it spoke to me when I read it and then I promptly forgot all about it. Sometimes, there are no coincidences because it was fresh in my mind when I read your post today... the words and the message are hard to digest and go against the grain of motherhood but last night I ended up nodding to myself as it sunk in... it applies to so many situations in our lives and especially to our relationships with our adult children who want us to bear the responsibility for their poor choices. I hope it helps...</p><p></p><p> <em>Rabbi Edwin Friedman tells the story of a man who had given much thought to what he wanted from life.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'">After trying many things, succeeding at some and failing at others, he finally decided what he wanted.</span></span></em><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>One day the opportunity came for him to experience exactly the way of living that he had dreamed about. But the opportunity would be available only for a short time. It would not wait, and it would not come again.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>Eager to take advantage of this open pathway, the man started on his journey. With each step, he moved faster and faster. Each time he thought about his goal, his heart beat quicker; and with each vision of what lay ahead, he found renewed vigor.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>As he hurried along, he came to a bridge that crossed through the middle of a town. The bridge spanned high above a dangerous river.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>After starting across the bridge, he noticed someone coming the opposite direction. The stranger seemed to be coming toward him to greet him. A the stranger grew closer, the man could discern that they didn't know each other, but yet they looked amazingly similar. They were even dressed alike. The only difference was that the stranger had a rope wrapped many times around his waist. If stretched out, the rope would reach a length of perhaps thirty feet.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>The stranger began to unwrap the rope as he walked. Just as the two men were about to meet, the stranger said, 'Pardon me, would you be so kind as to hold the end of the rope for me?'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>The man agreed without a thought, reached out, and took it.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'Thank you,' said the stranger. He then added, 'Two hands now, and remember, hold tight.' At that point, the stranger jumped off the bridge.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>The man on the bridge abruptly felt a strong pull from the now-extended rope. He automatically held tight and was almost dragged over the side of the bridge.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'What are you trying to do?' he shouted to the stranger below.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'Just hold tight,' said the stranger.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>This is ridiculous, the man thought. He began trying to haul the other man in. Yet it was just beyond his strength to bring the other back to safety.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>Again he yelled over the edge, 'Why did you do this?'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'Remember,' said the other, 'if you let go, I will be lost.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'But I cannot pull you up,' the man cried.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'I am your responsibility,' said the other.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'I did not ask for it,' the man said.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'If you let go, I am lost,' repeated the stranger.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>The man began to look around for help. No one was within sight.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>He began to think about his predicament. Here he was eagerly pursuing a unique opportunity, and now he was being sidetracked for who knows how long.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>Maybe I can tie the rope somewhere, he thought. He examined the bridge carefully, but there was no way to get rid of his new found burden.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>So he again yelled over the edge, 'What do you want?'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'Just your help,' came the answer.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'How can I help? I cannot pull you in, and there is no place to tie the rope while I find someone else who could help you.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'Just keep hanging on,' replied the dangling man. 'That will be enough.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>Fearing that his arms could not hold out much longer, he tied the rope around his waist.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'Why did you do this?' he asked again. 'Don't you see who you have done? What possible purpose could you have in mind?'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'Just remember,' said the other, 'my life is in your hands.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>Now the man was perplexed. He reasoned within himself, If I let go, all my life I will know that I let this other man die. If I stay, I risk losing my momentum toward my own long-sought-after salvation. Either way this will haunt me forever.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>As time went by, still no one came. The man became keenly aware that it was almost too late to resume his journey. If he didn't leave immediately, he wouldn't arrive in time.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>Finally, he devised a plan. 'Listen,' he explained to the man hanging below, 'I think I know how to save you.' He mapped out the idea. The stranger could climb back up by wrapping the rope around him. Loop by loop, the rope would become shorter.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>But the dangling man had no interest in the idea.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'I don't think I can hang on much longer,' warned the man on the bridge.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'You must try,' appealed the stranger. 'If you fail, I die.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>Suddenly a new idea struck the man on the bridge. It was different and even alien to his normal way of thinking. 'I want you to listen carefully,' he said, 'because I mean what I am about to say.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>The dangling man indicated that he was listening.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'I will not accept the position of choice for your life, only for my own; I hereby give back the position of choice for your own life to you.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>What do you mean?' the other asked, afraid.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'I mean, simply, it's up to you. You decide which way this ends. I will become the counterweight. You do the pulling and bring yourself up. I will even tug some from here.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>He unwound the rope from around his waist and braced himself to be a counterweight. He was ready to help as soon as the dangling man began to act.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>'You cannot mean what you say,' the other shrieked. 'You would not be so selfish. I am your responsibility. What could be so important that you would let someone die? Do not do this to me.'</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em></em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"><span style="color: #000000"><em>After a long pause, the man on the bridge uttered slowly, 'I accept your choice.' In voicing those words, he freed his hands and continued his journey over the bridge.</em></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: 12px"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman'"></span></span><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'"><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'"><span style="font-size: 12px"></span></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'"><span style="font-size: 12px">Read more: </span><a href="http://kevinmartineau.ca/would-you-let-go-of-the-rope/#ixzz2iOrfJJB8" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 12px">http://kevinmartineau.ca/would-you-let-go-of-the</span>-rope/#ixzz2iOrfJJB8</a></span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Signorina, post: 610292"] I was cleaning up my bookmarks last night and I came across the parable below. I am relatively sure it was something that was passed along this board a year or more ago...and I bookmarked it because it spoke to me when I read it and then I promptly forgot all about it. Sometimes, there are no coincidences because it was fresh in my mind when I read your post today... the words and the message are hard to digest and go against the grain of motherhood but last night I ended up nodding to myself as it sunk in... it applies to so many situations in our lives and especially to our relationships with our adult children who want us to bear the responsibility for their poor choices. I hope it helps... [I]Rabbi Edwin Friedman tells the story of a man who had given much thought to what he wanted from life. [SIZE=3][FONT=times new roman]After trying many things, succeeding at some and failing at others, he finally decided what he wanted.[/FONT][/SIZE][/I][SIZE=3][FONT=times new roman][COLOR=#000000][I]One day the opportunity came for him to experience exactly the way of living that he had dreamed about. But the opportunity would be available only for a short time. It would not wait, and it would not come again. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]Eager to take advantage of this open pathway, the man started on his journey. With each step, he moved faster and faster. Each time he thought about his goal, his heart beat quicker; and with each vision of what lay ahead, he found renewed vigor. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]As he hurried along, he came to a bridge that crossed through the middle of a town. The bridge spanned high above a dangerous river. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]After starting across the bridge, he noticed someone coming the opposite direction. The stranger seemed to be coming toward him to greet him. A the stranger grew closer, the man could discern that they didn't know each other, but yet they looked amazingly similar. They were even dressed alike. The only difference was that the stranger had a rope wrapped many times around his waist. If stretched out, the rope would reach a length of perhaps thirty feet.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]The stranger began to unwrap the rope as he walked. Just as the two men were about to meet, the stranger said, 'Pardon me, would you be so kind as to hold the end of the rope for me?' [/I] [I]The man agreed without a thought, reached out, and took it. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'Thank you,' said the stranger. He then added, 'Two hands now, and remember, hold tight.' At that point, the stranger jumped off the bridge. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]The man on the bridge abruptly felt a strong pull from the now-extended rope. He automatically held tight and was almost dragged over the side of the bridge. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'What are you trying to do?' he shouted to the stranger below. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'Just hold tight,' said the stranger. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]This is ridiculous, the man thought. He began trying to haul the other man in. Yet it was just beyond his strength to bring the other back to safety.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]Again he yelled over the edge, 'Why did you do this?'[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'Remember,' said the other, 'if you let go, I will be lost.' [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'But I cannot pull you up,' the man cried. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'I am your responsibility,' said the other. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'I did not ask for it,' the man said. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'If you let go, I am lost,' repeated the stranger. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]The man began to look around for help. No one was within sight. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]He began to think about his predicament. Here he was eagerly pursuing a unique opportunity, and now he was being sidetracked for who knows how long. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]Maybe I can tie the rope somewhere, he thought. He examined the bridge carefully, but there was no way to get rid of his new found burden.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]So he again yelled over the edge, 'What do you want?' [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'Just your help,' came the answer.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I] 'How can I help? I cannot pull you in, and there is no place to tie the rope while I find someone else who could help you.' [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'Just keep hanging on,' replied the dangling man. 'That will be enough.' [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]Fearing that his arms could not hold out much longer, he tied the rope around his waist.[/I] [I]'Why did you do this?' he asked again. 'Don't you see who you have done? What possible purpose could you have in mind?'[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I] 'Just remember,' said the other, 'my life is in your hands.' [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]Now the man was perplexed. He reasoned within himself, If I let go, all my life I will know that I let this other man die. If I stay, I risk losing my momentum toward my own long-sought-after salvation. Either way this will haunt me forever.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I] As time went by, still no one came. The man became keenly aware that it was almost too late to resume his journey. If he didn't leave immediately, he wouldn't arrive in time. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]Finally, he devised a plan. 'Listen,' he explained to the man hanging below, 'I think I know how to save you.' He mapped out the idea. The stranger could climb back up by wrapping the rope around him. Loop by loop, the rope would become shorter.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I] But the dangling man had no interest in the idea.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'I don't think I can hang on much longer,' warned the man on the bridge.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I] 'You must try,' appealed the stranger. 'If you fail, I die.'[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I] Suddenly a new idea struck the man on the bridge. It was different and even alien to his normal way of thinking. 'I want you to listen carefully,' he said, 'because I mean what I am about to say.' [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]The dangling man indicated that he was listening. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'I will not accept the position of choice for your life, only for my own; I hereby give back the position of choice for your own life to you.'[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]' What do you mean?' the other asked, afraid.[/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I] 'I mean, simply, it's up to you. You decide which way this ends. I will become the counterweight. You do the pulling and bring yourself up. I will even tug some from here.' [/I] [I]He unwound the rope from around his waist and braced himself to be a counterweight. He was ready to help as soon as the dangling man began to act. [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]'You cannot mean what you say,' the other shrieked. 'You would not be so selfish. I am your responsibility. What could be so important that you would let someone die? Do not do this to me.' [/I][/COLOR] [COLOR=#000000][I]After a long pause, the man on the bridge uttered slowly, 'I accept your choice.' In voicing those words, he freed his hands and continued his journey over the bridge.[/I][/COLOR] [/FONT][/SIZE][COLOR=#000000][FONT=Helvetica Neue][SIZE=3] Read more: [/SIZE][URL="http://kevinmartineau.ca/would-you-let-go-of-the-rope/#ixzz2iOrfJJB8"][SIZE=3]http://kevinmartineau.ca/would-you-let-go-of-the[/SIZE]-rope/#ixzz2iOrfJJB8[/URL][/FONT][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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