The children are our future

I happened to hear Whitney Houston's old song The Greatest Love of All the other day on late night radio and the lyrics just called out to me.

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside

I must have first heard the song when I was a teenager, and back then, the lyrics didn't mean anything. But all of a sudden, I now understand what the songwriter was trying to get across. After more than 20 years, it makes sense to me now.

Give them a sense of pride
To make it easier
Let the children's laughter
Reminded us of how we used to be

Our children, no matter how naughty, irritating and disobedient, are our future, our hope, our love and pride. We should never "disown" them, be ashamed of them or talk to them in a negative way. Instead, we have to instill in them a sense of belonging and trust, where they can learn from mistakes without being rejected, where they can grow in an environment of loving security.

Lastly, we were all kids once and we remember how we ourselves were playful, always pushing the limits by tormenting our parents. Let them laugh, have fun, for they - like us - will only be children once and we shouldn't take that joy away from them.