Loving and Being Loved: "The Giving Tree"

When you want to know more about the morality of loving and being loved, you can talk to your therapist, your pastor or your friends and family. You could also review religious texts. I suggest an all encompassing option ...Read "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein. It looks like a children's book...and it is. It explores adult issues and it does so insightfully. It investigates interpersonal morality and analyzes self-worth options in tender ways which leave the reader with meaningful questions about issues of friendship.

This is a story about a young boy eating an apple underneath a tree. The tale of the tree's union with the boy can expand to embrace matters of love vs. selfishness, working vs. philanthropy and social welfare vs. capitalism. Your age and interests influence your reactions to this otherwise simple fable. As you read, you may ask yourself if charity reduces or magnifies who we are. You will learn not to take advantage of others. You will learn not to give until you have disappeared. If the book saddens you, learn why.

A 4 year old will be enriched by the story. A 24 year old may become intuitive. It can be penetrating for a 74 year old. Your reactions are likely to change each time you read it. Don't give this book away; You will go back to it frequently over the years.
Whatever the age of a child to whom you may read, whatever your own age, whatever your interest in relationship boundaries - you can be enlightened by the boy and the apple.
READ "THE GIVING TREE."