Accept the children the way we accept trees—with gratitude, because they are a blessing—but do not have expectations or desires. You don’t expect trees to change, you love them as they are.

The quote urges a stance of unconditional acceptance toward children, likening them to trees: living beings that grow according to their own nature rather than to our plans. It distinguishes gratitude and love from possessiveness—warning that parental “expectations or desires” can become a subtle form of control that burdens a child with an adult’s unmet ambitions. The image of trees emphasizes patience, humility, and respect for organic development: you can nurture (provide water, light, protection) but you cannot dictate the shape. Ethically, it reframes parenting as stewardship rather than ownership, valuing presence and care over outcomes.