When children learn that happiness is not found
in what a person has, but in who that person is,
When they learn that giving and forgiving
are more rewarding than taking and avenging,
When they learn that suffering is not eased by self-pity,
but overcome by inner resolve and spiritual strength,
When they learn that they can't control the world
around them, but they are the masters of their own souls,
When they learn that relationships will prosper
if they value friendship over ego, compromise over pride,
and listening over advising,
When they learn not to hate a person whose difference
they fear, but to fear that kind of hate,
When they learn that there is pleasure in the power
of lifting others up, not to be found
in the pseudo-power of pushing them down,
When they learn that praise from others is flattering
but meaningless if it is not matched by self-respect,
When they learn that the value of a life
is best measured not by the years spent accumulating
possessions, but by the moments spent giving of one's self
sharing wisdom, inspiring hope, wiping tears, and touching hearts,
When they learn that a person's beauty is seen
not with the eyes, but with the heart;
and that even though time and hardships may ravage
one's outer shell, they can enhance
one's character and perspective,
When they learn to withhold judgement of people,
knowing that everyone is blessed with good
and bad qualities, and the emergence of either often
depends on the help given or hurt inflicted by others,
When they learn that every person has been given the gift
of a unique self and the purpose of life is to share
the very best of that gift with the world,
When children learn these ideals and how to practice them
in the art of good living, they will no longer be children --
they will be blessings to those who know them,
and worthy models for all the world.
David L. Weatherford
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