FAMILY VALUES - WHAT ARE YOUR OWN?

"Whose child is that?"

People ask this question whenever or wherever a young child is exceptional either in positive or negative way.

Recently, I asked my students whether they ever heard such question.

One student said a young man returned expensive cellular phone to the owner and people wondered to the point of wanting to know his parents.

The discussion that followed made me to ask: "What would you do if you see money on the road?"

Answers included:
"I will look for the owner."
"I will give to the poor."
"I will use it to play games."
"I will buy suya and eat."

Then, thanking all of them for their honest answers, I clearly told them that taking something that belongs to others and use it (including money on the road) without owner's permission is stealing.

It was at this point I thought of writing about family values.

What are they?

Family values are moral codes or principles that guide family members, young and old, in their behaviours. They are moral ethics that family members willingly accept in determining what they do or refuse to do.

Parents are primarily responsible for laying foundation of moral training of their children. They have serious influence in helping their children and wards in cultivating desirable way of life.

As parent, do you know you can only give what you have to your kids, teens and wards!

This means that you have to develop valuable values first. Then, you would be in a better position to influence your family members positively by words and actions and then make the age-long saying: "Charity begins at home" a reality.

Among the moral principles you can cultivate and strengthen in your family include cooperation, respect, discipline, honesty, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, integrity and generosity.

Where are you on this?

Answer to this is not final.

Wherever you are you need to realize that cultivating moral values is a lifelong undertaking. You need to uphold and strengthen them so that they can continue to remain with you.

The benefits of making moral values part of your family life are worth the sacrifices.

Remember, devotion brings success.