A Woman's View

Get your kids ready for life in the real world

This time of year most older high-schoolers--and their parents--are tied up in knots about what comes next.

Everyone wants to make the absolutely right choice.

College graduates are tense, too, looking for the absolutely perfect job.

That could be a long wait.

Recent graduates often feel dumped out in a world that's nothing like the dream they bought with their student loans. Some resign themselves to any job they can get that includes a regular paycheck. Others keep chasing their ideal.

Life is hard. How many of us tell our kids that beforehand?

1. Tell your kids the truth.

One columnist noted that today's graduates grew up with parents who continually asked, "How does that make you feel, Honey?"

The world of employment offers a rude shock. Bosses seldom ask newbies, "How do you feel about that?"

Employers want the job done well, on time. They concentrate on the bottom line. Unless their business thrives and turns a profit, there's no money to stay in business.

Or issue paychecks.

We do our kids no favor when we groom them to expect life should feel cozy and warm, like a mommy's hug.

2. Be a true friend to your kids

A good friend speaks truth, even when we don't want to hear it. Our children deserve the same from us.

Most of us learned the no-nonsense foundation for success along the way. In school, in the job world, or even in our personal lives, here's the formula:

W-O-R-K.

Sounds hopelessly outdated, doesn't it?

Especially since commencement speakers--and parents--tell young people, "Follow your bliss! Live for your dreams! Refuse to settle for less than what makes you happy!"

Then someone will bring up Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, a billionaire at age twenty-seven.

Reality check: How many Mark Zuckerbergs do you know personally?

3. Plant good seeds, so your kids can harvest good fruit.

Love your children enough to speak lasting truth. Even in a dream job, they will have to prove themselves.

Most employees start at the bottom. It will be a slow climb from there.

They will not like parts of it. Guaranteed. Life is hard, remember? This is what hard looks like.

A runner talked of training for a track meet. "Runners know you must keep your eyes on your goal. If you waver and look down at the track your energy goes to what's under your feet and you will lose the race."

To build a strong career, marriage or family we can't allow small annoyances to get us down. We fasten on what we want to have and let the other stuff go.

4. A good life does not depend on having every dream come true.

Stay with lasting truth to effect quality of life: Happiness comes from how we look at life, not from wealth and achievements.

Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

                                                                                        Ecclesiastes 4:6

Now there's a gift that keeps on giving.

Peace and joy,

Lenore

What you do every day matters...more than you know!

 A friend who lived in a remote, tiny town and went to a very small church told me about one quiet woman who was a member. She didn't teach Sunday School or Bible class. She didn't sing in the choir. She never headed up a committee. Most people had trouble remembering her name, because she would show up, be pleasant and do what anyone asked of her. No more, no less.

So, of course, hardly anyone noticed when she moved away Not long after that people began to grumble and said, "This place is falling apart! No coffee to put in the coffeemaker. No reserve rolls of paper towels or toilet paper. And whoever is supposed to sweep those sidewalks is falling down on the job!"

You're way ahead of me, aren't you? That "insignificant" woman had taken care of those things...quietly, on her own. Nobody saw her but the pastor, who often came and went at odd hours. When word got to him, of course, he told the complainers about how faithfully over the years this woman had ministered to everyone else--not for applause, but out of love.

Maybe you're a bit like that woman and you bless the people around you. Maybe you think you have no "place"--or if you do, it's way at the bottom of the pecking order. You're not complaining, but...

If that's where you are, here's a short poem that speaks to all of us, no matter what we do each day:

YOUR PLACE

Is your place a small place?

Tend it with care!--

He set you there.

Is your place a large place?

Guard it with care!

He set you there.

Whate'er your place, it is

Not yours alone, but His

Who set you there.

--John Oxenham            

So whatever we do, wherever we are in life, it's not by chance.

Just in case you're reading this at a time when you're not sure what comes next in your life, whether your pay will be cut or whether you'll have a job, here's a much-loved Bible verse to hang onto.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."

--Jeremiah 29:11-12           

Blessings,

Lenore

Your comments welcomed!