While I want my children to have fun I also desire that they embrace the gift of work. Good, honest, character-building work. When I was a child I remember spending hours with my parents in their garden. Picking weeds. Harvesting beans. And then canning beans. It was hot, hard work. Work that taught me to value those beans in the middle of a cold Minnesota winter.
Work that shaped me.
Entitlement is a dangerous hook. When I view society I see the posture of wanting without working taking root in my life, my childrens' lives, and those around me. Slowly, the idea of "deserving" to have things replaces the idea of work. So we fight against entitlement. How? Via work.
I have a phrase that I tell myself and children -- (I first read it in a book by Steven Covey.) -- it's First Things First. How often do we overlook what needs to be done for what we want to do. It's a battle of self. And, as a parent, it's a character quality that I want to instill in my children. Maybe I'm not fun when I make them clean the kitchen, empty the trash, pick weeds, or fold their clothes. Yet, they learn from it. They learn about running a home, about laundry--and not throwing clean clothes in the wash, they learn. Maybe I don't purchase them everything they want when they want it.
Hannah saved for two years for her laptop. Two years. She learned how to wait, how to be content, how to save,and the value of a dollar. And she's a steward of her laptop. And she can relate to those waiting. It's a beautiful lesson, even though it was a hard lesson. There were days where she would lament not having her laptop, and we talked about faith and work and hope. So she worked. Hard. She babysat. She did work around the house. She earned it. And because of it I see a diligence and determination in her character. I see a daughter who goes to ballet, even when she'd rather sleep in. I see a daughter who is cheerful in her work. I see one who enjoys life, even working. This lesson? One that had to be taught---
--Through work.
Hannah's worn ballet shoes
beautiful work
