When my children were young I received this advice: Don’t give children extravagant experiences, like a trip to Europe, what will they have to look forward to when they are adults?
I do not want spoiled children who think if they wish it, someone will give it to them. But the following thoughts keep pressing on my mind.
Where did St. Francis of Assisi and St. Patrick come from? Both were the sons of wealth. Even Martin Luther and John Wesley didn’t come from nothing. There are numerous people who came from nothing and God used them for something great – many of the 12 disciples, for instance. But even the first missionary to the Gentiles, Paul, was from “something.”
Why did all of those privileged people leave it all, even sometimes being disowned by their families, to serve God? I believe it is because they had tasted everything this world had to offer, and found it lacking.
I want my children to be spoiled for this world, to realize that the only true joy can be found in losing yourself in God’s will.
I don’t want them looking forward to experiencing life here on earth. I want them looking forward to heaven and trying to bring some of it here.
While they are still told, “no,” a lot, because that is an important part of life, if it looks like they are being spoiled, hopefully they are!
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