Friday, June 30, 2006

Children Learn What They Live

As I was growing up I frequently saw this poem around and thought it was nice, but unimpressed to say the least.
My mom just posted it on her blog and I've read it again for the millionth time in my life and suddenly it has taken on a whole new meaning! For the past year or two I've heard so much that if I want to see myself just look at my children...
LORD HAVE MERCY!!!!


Children learn what they live

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.
Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

"Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is framed in one of the bedrooms at my grandma's house, and it's been there my whole life. I love it. Thanks for posting it!

layne (herman) said...

I thot I would try reading this changing the word "children" to the word "coworker."

It might be easier to influence the lives of our children (by the Grace of/and with the help of God) but think about the impact that attempting these traits could have on our place of employment....

Thank you for sharing the poem Susan-Sophia.

Anonymous said...

Thank you, Susie, for posting this. It has been your Mom's guiding summary on child rearing from the beginning!

God bless you as you continue to pass down to your children teaching by example. You are doing a fine job of it!

Auntie Carol

Bluecanopy said...

Man, everytime I click back here I think about how I need to print this out.