Wednesday 11 February 2009

French without tears

I don’t know the source of this — probably a tea towel — but it caught my eye on a wall plaque at a friend’s house; someone with strong Francophone African connections...

(translation below)
Je te souhait du temps...

Prends le temps de penser,
c'est la source de pouvoir.

Prends le temps de jouer,
c'est la secret de la jeunesse.

Prends le temps de lire,
c'est le source du savoir.

Prends le temps d'aimer et d'etre aimé
c'est une grace de Dieu.

Prends le temps de te faire des amis,
c'est la voie du bonheur.

Prends le temps de rire, c'est la musique de l'ame.

Prends le temps de donner, c'est le role de l'adulte.

Prends le temps de travailler, c'est le prix du succès.

Prends le temps de prier,
c'est la force de l'homme.
Oh all right — In English:
I wish you the gift of Time...

Take time to think,
it’s the source of power.

Take time to play,
it’s the secret of youth.

Take time to read,
it’s the source of knowledge.

Take time to love and be loved, It’s a gift from God.

Take time to make friends,
It’s the way to happiness.

Take time to laugh,
It’s the soul’s music.

Take time to give,
It’s the grown-up thing to do

Take time to work, It’s the price of success.

Take time to pray,
It’s the strength of humanity.

4 comments:

June Butler said...

Bishop Alan, this is lovely. I'm stealing it for my blog. I hope that's OK. I'll give you credit, of course.

Bishop Alan Wilson said...

Many thanks, GM. Love you to use it. Sorry, though about my rather dm translation of the last line, and very grateful to Justin Brett for suggesting what it really means far more clearly. Now corrected. It's funny it still takes me a day or so after crossing the channel to start thinking in French!

June Butler said...

I corrected my post, too. It reads better with the second.

Matt Kelland said...

I rather liked that - thanks for posting it!

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