When my father was a boy, his parents were unable to buy him a bike. So he got a paper route and saved for it. This and other situations made my father learn to work and wait.
And through working and waiting he developed character in these areas:
1. Self-control - 2 Peter 1:3-9
He learned patience that kept him from accruing consumer debt when he got older.
2. Gratefulness - Ephesians 5:20
He learned to be grateful for what he had and never acted like he was entitled to things he couldn't afford.
3. Confidence - Romans 12:3
He learned he could achieve goals which gave him confidence to tackle bigger goals in his life.But teaching a child these lessons today is much harder.
Why?
Because we typically can afford the things our children want, and we want to bless them with those things. We don’t realize that by giving them material blessings we may be denying them character-building opportunities.
My husband and I tried to teach our children the work and wait principle by making sure they had to earn some things even when we could afford them. A couple of examples:
- Our son loved expensive sport shoes. We paid for the moderately priced shoes, but allowed him to pay the extra from his birthday money or allowance. He actually started paying some of his shoe costs at age six.
- He also bought his first bike by collecting cans to recycle.
I encourage you to think of ways you can teach your children to work and wait. It's an act of love.
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Great post! This is something my husband and I feel strongly about. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! A child needs to learn these things so they can teach them to their children one day. You sound like wonderful parents instilling a work ethic in your son that will benefit his entire life.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your insights! I, too, tried to instill a good work ethic in my son when he was little. He's 26 now and while he doesn't do things the way I would, they seem to get done; he has found his own way--which was the ultimate goal.
ReplyDeleteI really like having the option to click on the daily 1-minute devotions in the posts that are sent out to subscribers. I didn't sign up for the daily notifications, simply because I do not check my e-mail each day. If I have a lot of e-mails pending, I tend to either delete them unread, or rush through, not allowing the message to soak in.
So true, and I needed this today! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteExcellent! We have 3 children and have done the same things. Trust me, it's been HARD only because we are constantly fighting the tide of our "entitlement" culture. Even well-meaning and loving Christian parents give their children WAY TOO MUCH....WAY TOO EARLY. This past year our middle son got his driver's license and of course wanted a car. His friends...Juniors in Highschool were being given NEW or near new vehicles and gas cards. Seriously??
ReplyDeleteWe had taught our kids to work and save...and my son (begrudginly) did just that. It was a long, difficult road. However, it was well worth it when he paid cash for a very nice used vehicle.....and it's all his! The look on his face was priceless! He'd worked hard and did well.
I could go on and on but the "proof is in the pudding"...I wish more parents could understand the spiritual and emotional "weight training" necessary to get a child to be able to handle the stresses of the world. Sad.
Thanks again!