Bishop H. David Burton
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In affluent circumstances, parents too often fail to tell children "no," a condition that can lead ultimately to problems for all.
"The unbridled desire for more often has tragic consequences . . . Parents who have been successful in acquiring more often have a difficult time saying no to the demands of overindulged children. Their children run the risk of not learning important values like hard work, delayed gratification, honesty and compassion."
Although many well-to-do and well-meaning parents do raise successful children, there is a struggle to "set limits, make do with less and avoid the pitfalls of more, more, more."
Meekness is more difficult to attain when the pursuit of worldly things becomes an overriding obsession.
Generous church members willing to share their means have been instrumental in providing relief to areas of the United States and the Caribbean that have been devastated by hurricanes in recent weeks. "Thanks again to all of those of you who give of your means and those whose hands have lightened the load of so many."
"In discussing our various longings for more, I'm not suggesting we adopt 'Scrooge' as a role model for good parenting. I am suggesting that it is important for families and individuals to aggressively seek more of the virtues which go beyond this mortal life," through such qualities as waiting, sharing, saving, working hard and making do with that which one has.
