I Received so Many Uncountable Gifts
In order to nurture the special relationship of parent and child, and fulfill our roles as parents, there are number of things that we are signing up to do. Here are lists of several essential ways to fulfill our parental responsibilities.
The gift of life
It is easy to forget that in the act of receiving a child into our lives we are sharing the gift of life itself. Remembering the precious nature of life can help us to keep the ups and downs of daily life in a proper perspective.
The gift of love
The most essential ingredient for a happy life is love. There is no feeling more satisfying to the soul, both in giving and receiving, then love. When we include a conscious awareness of this truth and nurture it as the most basic value of our relationship with our children, we will find that many mistakes on both sides can be weathered.
The gift of time
Time is the proof of our caring. When you spend time with your child you are saying with your actions, I love you and I would rather be with you than doing anything else. This is one of the best ways that you can objectify your love. It is also one of the greatest blessings.
The gift of good manners
Children from a young age can be taught to behave. This isn’t an imposition on their free will. It is a gift that will enhance their lives. The process of developing good manners will help them to begin learning to see how others are affected by their actions. Through the establishment of basic good manners we are giving our children a skill that will benefit them in every other part of life.
The gift of self control
Through the establishment of good manners from the very beginning we are planting the seeds of a character trait that can serve as a strong support for success in any endeavor: self control. Practice cultivating self control in your own self first. Then attune yourself to ways that you can instill these same values in your children.
The gift of positive mental culture
By bringing the principles of positive thinking into all areas of life we develop in our children the experience that all good things are possible. Positive mental culture includes ten overarching areas of development: non violence, non lying, non greed, non sensuality, non covetousness, cleanliness, contentment, self control, self study, and devotion to god.
The gift of education
An academic education isn’t essential for living successfully in this world. There have been numbers of great people throughout history who couldn’t read or write. But next to those great souls who can shine in spite of this lack of formal training, there are millions who could advance their lives immensely if they could but read and write. It isn’t enough that we simply send our children to school. This is a gift that opens up a world of information and possibilities for our children. Don’t leave this area to chance.
The gift of reverence for all life
Along with these most basic gifts we need to add a reverence for the sanctity of all life. While we can’t make our children believe in god or appreciate the beauty and value of the incredible variety of life forms that inhabit our planet, we can communicate our own belief. Not to share your view on these issues is to by default preach that they have no value. The communication and application of the highest aspects of life should always be at the forefront of family life.
