DAYS OF PREPARATION – DECADES OF PRACTICE

It is often hard to identify the intonation of voices, whether they have a lamenting or longing tone, when we hear people speaking of how quickly childhood passes and how fleeting are the days of youth. I wonder if it is because adults perceive these days as having sped by all too rapidly that we are often tempted to crowd as much as possible into the hastening days of our children and put as much as possible upon their plates. Whatever the reason we see each succeeding generation's wants being responded to in ever increasing amounts by overly solicitous parents. Each generation of fathers and mothers seem to expend ever increasing endless efforts and resources in providing clouds and spoons laced with silver to their offspring.

In spite of the frequent warnings given by inspired leaders that this activity and object led method of parenting will almost always lead to unrealistic expectations during adult years and put up hurdles which may be detrimental to unifying relationships which must exist if marriages are to survive; we continue to add storage rooms to house last weeks latest and fill garbage bins and second hand stores with yesterdays greatest. We continue to ignore the essential teaching of how to prioritize, by making sure our children do and have everything while turning our backs on inculcating the value of balance and well being.

Although there has to be some positives to the bottomless provider parenting philosophy, and there is nothing amiss in parents making sure their children find full and beautiful experiences as they go through the struggles of maturation; we must never forget that where childhood and adolescence are measured in years, adulthood is more often measured in decades. Many of us will live a decade in adulthood for each of our teenage years. We must never forget that with all our striving to make these youthful years memorable, it is more important that they become preparatory years. Therefore it seems, that parents, in all their getting and giving and rushing from one event to the next, should give thought and keep in mind that these formative years during the brief span called youth are but a prelude and preparation to numerous adult years.

I know that when one writes down some ways in which we might better prepare children for the majority of their mortality, there will be a temptation to add these new suggestions to the already crowded agenda. I would suggest that we might use the gift of discernment that is provided to well meaning parents, to make adjustments rather than additions in the limited time we have with our children during these important foundational years.

Therefore with the knowledge that I will be throwing feathers at golden calves I offer the following for thought:

We might consider spending less time being frittered doing the fleeting fun of fantasy lands and dedicate that time to teaching and practicing the true foundations of lasting happiness based on the eternal truths which have been provided by a loving Heavenly Father.

We need to help our children understand the true joy of constant and continual learning, helping them understand that learning is not just a system of hurdles which must be conquered in order to meet predetermined goals, eventually to be cast aside with the other encumbrances of youth. Hopefully instilling in them a lasting hunger, a consuming quest to find everlasting truths, an excitement for learning which will formulate and stimulate a desire to know the unknown and become acquainted with the known.

Amid the happy moments of play we need to help our children understand the joy which attends meaningful work and the fulfilling of stewardships and the attending accountability.

Since the days will inevitably come when the body will no longer glide effortlessly and seems to be unconditionally fit. We need to help our children understand that the body is not only here to serve us, but we are to serve it also and have an obligation to keep it in as good of order as possible. We must help them understand that there will be a tie between having a well fueled and well fed instrument and the enjoyment of the decades of adulthood.

We must help them understand that variations of emotions and reactions to external stimulus is a part of our passage and exists in the all lives, and can choose to be happy in this telestial societal environment or chose to dwell in a state of unhappiness. We are never in control of the stones which might be hurled in our direction we are only blessed with the direction of our reaction to these missiles which continually surround us all.

They need to be helped to understand that busyness does not always equate to joy, and that many of the higher joys and advancements which we embrace are found in quiet moments of isolated meditation and introspection.

We will leave a lasting void in the long years of the adult life of that child who is never introduced to the sublime feelings which can come when communing with Deity during the practice of prayer and pondering.

My prayer is that in some small way we might be stimulated to consider that the days we journey with our offspring in their youth, are but a precious few, which if not carefully monitored can easily be squandered on well meaning but short term thrill trails. My prayer is that we might spend more of these precious few days away from providing glitter and glitz based memories, and in activities which build important eternal foundational patterns for adulthood. My prayer is that somewhere in the carefree reveling days of youth there will be time set apart for the introduction of activities which will bring fulfillment to the decades of adulthood and then into the future stages of our existence. My prayer is that lasting happiness will be ours with those whom we love so dearly because we have been divinely led to spend these precious days as they have been eternally appointed to be spent.

THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY - WILLIAM L. RILEY