Insight

I discovered an aged and faded note , written in my mother's handwriting . The note had been used to mark her place in a book aptly entitled , "How To Simplify Your Life ". She had found the quote she copied to be of sufficient import to keep it all these years . How could she have known that it would be a source of strength and direction at the very time I would need it ? Here is the quote in question - "Privileges of an adult given to a child without them being held to the effect of the consequences breeds an unbalanced person ;sadly ." We struggle to do the best we can for our children ; to give them every opportunity for success . Yet , in this age of technology and fast and loose living , possessions come in far ahead of morals and good character . Remember how our parents had loving concern for their parents and when the time came to shelter and care for them in their advanced age , there was no doubt they would step up and do the right thing . We are lucky to receive a Mother's Day card ! The phone calls are always tainted with the sad fear that a plea for money lurks in the wings . We haven't reared our children with genuine concern for others , a quiet sense of their abilities and a drive to use those abilities to help others . They seem to be of the mindset that the material conveniences in our homes that we have worked for is their due and they are not shy to demand them for themselves . You know , that quote is right ! Giving our children all the goodies they say they want , without having them value the stuff enough to actually work for it and then maintain it is wrong . Think back to the things that came easily to you...did you value them ? Did you take good care of them ? Usually , the gift items were treated in a disposable manner...easy come - easy go ! It is not real love to pamper our children ; it does not prepare them for the real world .We must somehow backtrack and try to recover our losses and make our children people of real character...not "real characters " who are unable to rise above their greed and self involvement .