Monday - family - interdependence
Dearest Grandchildren,
The most precious of all is the family.
For the first "most of our life" years we are dependent on parents and others to a great extent. Eventually, we become independent - at least legally. Finally, as is the hope of most parents, we become interdependent.
The initial dependent state is a given because we are born helpless. The big questions are 1) will we become truly independent and 2) (when) will we become interdependent.
As Mom and Dad and others work to teach us skills they are teaching us to be independent. Being independent is very important. The more independent we are, the less that we will rely on others. The more we love to work, to create with our own hands, the more independent we are.
There is another type of independence - independence of thought. The world uses the phrase "Do your own thing" and it rings true because it is said at a time in our life when we probably have been "doing our parents thing" for all of our life. I would encourage each of you to find you individuality in thought long before the world's phrase will have meaning. I will try to give some ideas of this in future letters to you - it will take more than just one.
And, do take the opportunity to learn the skills your parents try to pass on. Help with meals, keep your room tidy, attend to what need of other family members you can. Your Heavenly parents, too, are trying to pass skills to you. Talk with Heavenly Father, read his writings.
As you develop each skill to the point that you can do it independently of anyone else then you have it down well enough that you can contribute to the family. At that point you will be interdependent - and what a wonderful thing interdependence is. That is why we have writing - so we can share what we learn and know with many generations.
Love always,
G'pa Bob
The most precious of all is the family.
For the first "most of our life" years we are dependent on parents and others to a great extent. Eventually, we become independent - at least legally. Finally, as is the hope of most parents, we become interdependent.
The initial dependent state is a given because we are born helpless. The big questions are 1) will we become truly independent and 2) (when) will we become interdependent.
As Mom and Dad and others work to teach us skills they are teaching us to be independent. Being independent is very important. The more independent we are, the less that we will rely on others. The more we love to work, to create with our own hands, the more independent we are.
There is another type of independence - independence of thought. The world uses the phrase "Do your own thing" and it rings true because it is said at a time in our life when we probably have been "doing our parents thing" for all of our life. I would encourage each of you to find you individuality in thought long before the world's phrase will have meaning. I will try to give some ideas of this in future letters to you - it will take more than just one.
And, do take the opportunity to learn the skills your parents try to pass on. Help with meals, keep your room tidy, attend to what need of other family members you can. Your Heavenly parents, too, are trying to pass skills to you. Talk with Heavenly Father, read his writings.
As you develop each skill to the point that you can do it independently of anyone else then you have it down well enough that you can contribute to the family. At that point you will be interdependent - and what a wonderful thing interdependence is. That is why we have writing - so we can share what we learn and know with many generations.
Love always,
G'pa Bob
posted by G'pa Bob | 3:39 AM
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