The truth is that sometimes I lie in bed at night and think about my children and just how LUCKY they are. They are lucky to have food. They are so lucky to have a warm bed at night. They are so lucky to go to a school with teachers who want to teach. They are so lucky to have two parents that love each other and two parents that love them. And maybe "lucky" just isn't the right word, maybe I should call this "blessings" or "gifts."
My heart breaks when I think this. Not because I don't want this for my children, because I so very very much do. No, my heart breaks for the mothers lying in bed at the same time as me wide awake with worry because they don't have food for their children to eat, or warm clothes, or who are wondering how they are going to make rent. My heart breaks for mother's who are stuck sending their children to a school that they just know is not a good fit for their child but they have no other options.
My heart breaks and I think how can I get my children to GET THIS. How can I get my children to see their "luck," "their blessings," "their gifts." How can I get my children to be so very grateful with what they have and and to use these resources wisely.
How can I get my children to realize that life and meaning and purpose is not in collecting the most toys or wearing the most expensive name brands. Life and meaning and purpose is about learning to give of ourselves not just financially but emotionally too.
And then I pray. I pray that no mater what income my children are at as they grow into adulthood, that they learn to budget wisely, and be truly content in order that they may give some of their earnings away. I pray that they learn to truly love someday and realize that being in a marriage and being a parent means really giving of yourself to the point where it is hard. Because true love, true giving of yourself in marriage and parenthood is difficult. But all the giving is oh so very beautiful and that is when life truly becomes meaningful.
