We Have a Lot of Hope

When my wife and I started out we said we wanted a big family. That is an easy enough thing to say when you are young and dreaming of a good life.  A daughter and a son later the family responsibilities were crushing.  I was topped out.  My arguments always rested on, “how could we possibly afford to give these precious little ones what they deserve”.  In my mind, it was that big ticket item, college that weighed most heavily.  I wasn’t persuasive. Six children later, two are currently in college.

Of course, I feel silly now about being overcome by my fears. Thanks go to my wife. We embraced hope rather than fear in our future.  Isn’t that what children are, hope in the future?  We have a lot of hope.

Things seem to be working out fine.  If we keep doing what we are doing, these children will be prepared for and receive that college education that so intimidated me.  And what are we doing?  Our best. Every day. The same as you.  We take it very seriously as we do all the demands of providing for our family.  We have choices; our cars, our lifestyle, our vacations, our use of time etc.  They reflect our priorities.  We also take the attitude that the world will support us and our best efforts because it will.  Nobody wants to see us fail in the care of our family.  There will be help if we cannot do it on our own.  My two children attend a selective private university.  They share that experience with the child of our good friend, a single mom who struggled in and out of welfare all of her children’s lives.  There is a supportive infrastructure in families and friends, the education system, social networks, government services and churches all seeking to support our success in educating our children.  For us parents, the task is to believe in ourselves, that we can prepare our child to thrive in school and in life; scholastically, emotionally, spiritually as well as financially. We can’t allow the doubts or discouragements to convince us otherwise.  When all is said and done there is a truth that every great achiever eventually comes to understand, “No other success can compensate for failure in the home” David O. Mckay. 

All the best to you who nurture children, may your and their hopes be realized.