Someone said, “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” It’s not hard to teach our children to work hard. Maybe as we expect success, we push them too hard . Jack Herbert said, “Some of us are like wheelbarrows – only useful when pushed, and very easily upset.” Do we think of our children this way? Or do we teach our children that their work should also be an encouragement to others?

There was once a famous German artist named Herkomer, born in the Black Forest, whose father was a simple woodchopper. Herkomer was a gifted artist, and as his reputation grew, he moved to London and built a studio there. He sent for his aged father. His father, full of pride for his son, came to lived with him.

The old man enjoyed creating things out of clay, and he leaned to make very beautiful bowls and vases, items of which he was very proud. As the years passed, the old man’s abilities deteriorated, and at the end of the day, as he went upstairs to sleep, he would seem sad because he knew his work was now inferior.

Herkomer’s sharp eye saw this, and when his father was safely upstairs and asleep for the night, Herkomer would come downstairs. Taking in his hands the pieces of clay his father had left; he would gently correct the defects and faults, and mold them a little one way or the other. When his father came downstairs in the morning, he would hold up the pieces to the morning light, smile, and say, “I can still do it as well as I ever did.”

Our children work with others in school and will work with others the rest of their lives. Do we teach them to look out only for themselves – or also for the person who may need encouragement? Jesus worked with a purpose. He chose 12 men and invested 24 hours a day into their development. Even when He was tired and tried to get away for rest, people would scramble to find Him, so He could teach them and heal their diseases. Even on the cross, He reached out to comfort his mother, the Apostle John and the criminal next to Him who repented. Let’s learn from His example and the example of Herkomer. Let’s teach our children to work hard, but also to look to encourage them.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.

There was once a famous German artist named Herkomer, born in the Black Forest, whose father was a simple woodchopper. Herkomer was a gifted artist, and as his reputation grew, he moved to London and built a studio there. He sent for his aged father. His father, full of pride for his son, came to lived with him.

The old man enjoyed creating things out of clay, and he leaned to make very beautiful bowls and vases, items of which he was very proud. As the years passed, the old man’s abilities deteriorated, and at the end of the day, as he went upstairs to sleep, he would seem sad because he knew his work was now inferior.

Herkomer’s sharp eye saw this, and when his father was safely upstairs and asleep for the night, Herkomer would come downstairs. Taking in his hands the pieces of clay his father had left; he would gently correct the defects and faults, and mold them a little one way or the other. When his father came downstairs in the morning, he would hold up the pieces to the morning light, smile, and say, “I can still do it as well as I ever did.”

Our children work with others in school and will work with others the rest of their lives. Do we teach them to look out only for themselves – or also for the person who may need encouragement? Jesus worked with a purpose. He chose 12 men and invested 24 hours a day into their development. Even when He was tired and tried to get away for rest, people would scramble to find Him, so He could teach them and heal their diseases. Even on the cross, He reached out to comfort his mother, the Apostle John and the criminal next to Him who repented. Let’s learn from His example and the example of Herkomer. Let’s teach our children to work hard, but also to look to encourage them.

None of us are perfect as individuals – nor are our marriages perfect.  As we work together to maintain our love and a strong marriage, our homes will be a good environment for growing and happy children.