The last four days have been an enormous spiritual experience for me and my family. We may not have been able to see Pope Francis but the video clips, the articles, the news, and the collective prayers of different churches and spiritual communities online have helped us experience the “Lolo Kiko fever”.
The whole Papal visit was all about the children and the youth. From the Villamor Air Base, young students greeted the Pope with songs and dance. When the Pope was on his ‘jeepney’ PopeMobile while plying the streets of Manila and on the way to the University of Santo Tomas, he was captured by energy of the teens and the children. He hugged and kissed babies, toddlers, and the rest of the youngsters. Most of all, the adults showed and expressed the “children within” them.
Now that the Pope has left the country, what lessons have we learned and realized that our children are God’s blessings and not our properties?
Why Your Children Are Not Your Investments
We’ve encountered this kind of culture right within our family circles. Although this is not uniquely Filipino but rather more of an Asian one, many Filipino parents still believe that “manufacturing” more than two or three babies are great investments for their future and their future needs.
I am not against parents having as many children as they want. It is our responsibility as parents to pro-create as many human beings as we can. However, parents should remember that pro-creating should not mean multiplying the number of our children beyond our capacity to take good care for each of them.
Unfortunately, many parents also think that to have many children is an assurance of a wealthy and comfortable future. So they don’t save for their retirement or at least for the college education of their younger children. They believe that elder children can take care of their younger siblings. So yes, no need to save!
Dear fellow parents, please do remember that the children we train today will also be parents of your grandchildren tomorrow. We must walk the talk and show them all the things they will determine never to do when they are parents.
If you are not saving and investing for your retirement by yourself, how would you expect your children to save for their own future? Parents, your children are not your financial investments. Never pass on to your children the responsibility that should be yours and yours alone.
“Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6
We should leave a legacy of wisdom and responsible parenthood to our children. Be frugal and simple in your lifestyles as parents and your children will be forever thankful that you practiced these virtues. Show our children the value of saving and growing money in preparation for the golden years and you will be greatly respected and appreciated.
Showing our children the value of setting retirement goals and planning for them will be seen by them as an enormous appreciation of being good stewards of God’s blessings.
Invest in your relationship with your children but don’t treat them as investments for your retirement.
“After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children.” – 2 Corinthians 12:14
Follow my posts this year by subscribing to Rock To Riches.
Rock your way to abundance!
#moneyliferocknroll
—
If you want me to coach you in improving your finances, type your name and email below and click the Subscribe button: