Were My Needs Met?
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; Through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures.
Proverbs 24:3-4
How full is your well? Believe it or not- it has a lot to do with your childhood. Our childhood should be a springboard into adulthood. It should be a time when we are receiving all that we need to be successful and navigate through adult choices- through life skills. We should become rare and beautiful treasures through the wisdom and understanding our parents pass down to us. However, if certain scenarios occurred, then it’s like starting off behind the eight-ball of life.
Were you behind the eight-ball or did your guardians give you a springboard? The proof is in the generation before you. When one generation makes good and sound choices, they are role modeled for the next generation. Have you ever heard the saying, “Do what I say, not what I do?”. Well, it’s actually more powerful the other way around. When we are witnesses of poor behavior, we are in danger of making our own. But when we are witnesses of good, sound choices, we are blessed to be given a toolbox or a springboard that will help us make good choices as well.
Now then, my sons, listen to Me; Blessed are those who keep My ways.
Listen to My instructions and be wise; Do not ignore it.
Blessed is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at My doors, waiting at My doorway. For whoever finds Me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.
But whoever fails to find Me harms himself, all who hate Me love death.
Proverbs 8:32-36
Let’s take an inventory of what is helpful to the next generation when it comes to health, life and the pursuit of happiness when living in the United States. When talking about poverty, what are some of the simple ways that start a child out on the right foot?
- Finishing high school, going on to college or picking up a trade.
- Getting married before having children and planning when to have them.
- Good stewardship over money earned- having a savings account and not being tempted to buy the latest fashion, but rather save for the future.
- Purchasing a starter home
Does this look like your childhood? Did your parent or guardian demonstrate self-control when it came to money? When it came to planning families, one’s future and a strong work ethic?
Think about these questions:
- Did I witness a loving marriage in my home?
- Did anyone encourage and support my education (reading to me at night, checking my homework to make sure it was done, disciplining me for bad grades, attending parent-teacher conferences)?
- Did my parent/s ever volunteer at my school or to coach a sport?
- Was I supervised (did I have a curfew, proper discipline- meaning the punishment fit the crime, taught respect of elders, proper bedtime and a reliable dinner schedule)?
- Did I have responsibilities around the house (chores and accountability for the cleanliness of my room) to ensure I learned life skills?
- Did people speak to each other with respect and patience in my home?
Word to the Wise:
Children are very influential, they are paying attention to everything- as you look back, don’t you find this to be true of yourself? So if it is true about you, it will be true about your child as well.
