Teaching The Lesson That Counts Most
To live his life in the world he will live in requires faith and love and courage. So world, I wish you would sort of take him by his young hand and teach him the things he will have to know. Teach him, but gently....if you can.
He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just, that all men are not true. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero....that for every selfish politician there is a dedicated leader....Teach him that for every enemy there is a friend. It will take time world, I know, but teach him, if you can, that a nickel earned is of far more value than a dollar found....Teach him to learn to lose....and to enjoy winning.
Steer him away from envy if you can, and teach him the secret of laughter. Let him learn that bullies are the easiest people to lick....Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books....But also give him quiet times to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and flowers on a hillside.
In school world, teach him it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat....Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong....teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with tough people.
Try to give my son strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is getting on the bandwagon....Teach him to listen to all....but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad....Teach him that there is no shame in tears....Teach him that there can be glory in failure and despair in success.
Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness....Teach him to sell his brawn and brains to the highest bidder, but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to the howling mob....and to stand and fight if he thinks he's right.
Treat him gently world, but don't coddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient....let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself....Because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind.
This is a big order, world, but see what you can do....He's such a fine little fellow.
-anon.
PEACE.
From a parent point of view, I always hope that we will be able to instill much of this into our children. They don't have to be perfect at all things, but we'll be so very happy if they just become good people.
Very good writing in today's post ;)
Posted by
Mafia Wife |
10:41 a.m.
MF: Your comment is bittersweet for me personally. I think you hit the nail on the head "they don't have to be perfect at all things ....if they just become good people".
Unfortunately in many ways, I was brought up expected to be perfect in all things, anything less than that meant there was more work to do. I never won.
I have alternating periods of anger at my folks, with periods of forgiveness; as in "it's all water under the bridge now, it's how they thought parenting should be back then."
Usually, it's the forgiveness choice, but dammit it all to hell, there's still a little boy in there wanting to come out to play....do you know what I mean?
Posted by
Evydense |
11:22 a.m.
Very good post. I don't have any experience at parenthood. I grew up with low self esteem and zero confidence. A lot of it had to do with my parents expecting me to be perfect. As I grew up, I discovered that the idea alone of human perfection is absurd and unattainable. It's like now that I am an adult, I have to go back and fix my brain of all the crap my parents planted in there.
I am so scared to do that to my child, if I ever have one.
Posted by
Angie Pansey |
4:49 p.m.
That is awesome Rick & so very true. I try to remember to instill those values at all times.
Posted by
Mackey |
9:58 p.m.
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