Daily Meditation: Monday, June 7, 2010

Obedient child - and unruly child

06/07/2010

A good and obedient child is obviously a delight for adults; they exclaim, 'Oh, isn't he sweet!... Isn't she adorable!' Of course, it's easier to deal with a child who keeps still when told not to move, who doesn't talk when told to be quiet, and so on. But what will such a nice, obedient child do later in life? Not a lot, that's for sure; they will always be unremarkable. A wilful, unruly child, on the other hand, causes upset for those around them, and their parents, neighbours and teachers are always lamenting, 'Oh, really, he is going too far!... Look what she's done now!' Yes, but the child everyone finds tiresome and a nuisance has so much more potential to become somebody. At present they are seen as insufferable, but when they have learned to channel their energies they will stand out because of their character and their talents. And their parents and teachers, whose task it is to bring out their qualities, must help them to do so.