Parents, Children, and Appreciation – Sunday, May 08, 1949
One of the difficult tasks that confronts parents is to pass on to their children an appreciation of what has gone into the making of the things they enjoy. Through years of work and worry, parents put forth their most earnest efforts to make comfortable homes. Their children, in turn, not yet having had to make their own way, often take things for granted, and sometimes assume that comforts and conveniences come easily. Parents may tell their children a thousand times over how difficult it once was for them, how many midnight hours have gone into the making of their homes, how they went without, labored long, and, finally, by hard and sure steps, acquired what they have.
To this story children often listen respectfully but sometimes seem not too much impressed. This is partly the fault of children, but perhaps as much the fault of parents who are often over-eager to spare their children the very experiences that have helped parents to face the difficulties of life successfully. This attitude on the part of parents is seemingly natural enough, but of questionable wisdom, because parents are not always going to be here to protect and provide, and sooner or later their children are going to have to stand on their own feet. There are some things parents can do and some things they cannot do. They can suggest the course their children’s thoughts should take, but they can’t think for them. They can show them how life should be lived, but they can’t actually live for them.
They can help in many ways, but they can’t forever hold their children up beyond their own height or spare them all the realities of life—much as they would want to. One of the greatest gifts that parents can give to their children is to help them to learn how to face life on their own feet. And one of the greatest gifts children can return to parents is an earnest appreciation for the privilege of life, an earnest respect for the teachings they have received, and an earnest appreciation for the homes which the love and labor of their parents have provided.
“The Spoken Word,” heard over Radio Station K S L and the nationwid6 Columbia Broadcasting System, from the Tabernacle, Temple Square, Salt Lake City, Sunday, May 8, 1949, 11:30 to 12.00 noon, Eastern Time Copyright 1949.
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May 08, 1949
Broadcast Number 1,029