Sunday, March 27, 2011
Gratitude for what we were taught
We had an experience tonight that has inspired me to write this post to mom and dad. I just wanted to say a huge thank you for the lessons you taught our family. Tonight we spent some time with a family that is struggling in more ways than one and it is evident in the environment they live in. With all the hardships our family went through financially, we were never in this situation. We might have been in similar circumstances financially but we were taught to wash ourselves, keep a clean house, and be wise stewards of the things we had. I am grateful that we were taught to take pride in ourselves and to work hard. I'm grateful that we learned how to fix things around the house if there was a problem. We didn't always live in nice places but we tried to take care of the places we lived in. I also believe that being faithful in the church is essential to teaching these things. This family struggles and they have not been members for even 10 years and they are trying to do good things but they haven't grown up with it and I believe that their lack of testimony is certain essential things contribute to the hardships they face. I am grateful that you taught us how to have family home evening and read scriptures and pray and go to church each week. I'm grateful for the tough times because I feel like I'm a wiser person because of it and I hope that no matter how blessed we are financially that I won't forget the lessons learned and that I can continue to teach those essential things to my children--hard work, taking pride in yourself and your things, and to not have a sense of entitlement. There was a stark difference between this family and ours and I know it is because we were taught well and had good examples. So, thank you Mom and Dad!
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3 comments:
I agree. I wouldn't be the person I am today without mom and dad's help. They have taught me to be responsible and work hard.
Funny you should write this. I was just having a discussion with mom last night about this very thing. I am so grateful we were brought up in the gospel with parents that made it a point to have high standards. They didn't do what was easy; they did what was right. For example, shopping on Sunday isn't such a big deal, right? But it really is when you're trying to keep the commandments. Those little choices lead to larger ones. Mom and Dad didn't fudge on the little things. And that, in turn, has really made a drastic difference in all of our lives. We have a commitment to the gospel because of their examples to us (even if we didn't like it too much when we were teenagers!)
I agree with you Chelsey. What I was trying to say though was that I think having the Gospel taught in your home makes you want to reach higher financially if that makes sense. These people live in squallor. Like, it is literally disgusting what they live in and yet, I'm fairly certain our financial circumstances weren't much better than theirs. The difference is that Mom and Dad made us clean the house, they made us learn how to fix stuff, and take care of what we had. They made us get jobs (most of us anyway), and work for what we had. They made us shower and clean ourselves. We didn't live like these people live and I think we have all gone on to get educations and be sucessful because we had a sense of self worth, which is something I'm not sure these people have. I don't know how you can have a sense of self worth and live in an environment like they live in. And I think a large part of that is because they do not have the simple things taught in their home that we had. And, like I said, I think the Gospel teaches us to reach for something higher but if you aren't learning those basic priniciples, you don't know where to look for something better. And if you can't get better than your current financial circumstances, at least you can learn to take pride in yourself and what you do have. They don't do that.
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