Life Lessons From 32,000 Feet
My set up:
So my 7 year-old runs up to his mother and says, “Mommy, I know what I want for my birthday.” “And what would that be, Callahan?” she asked. Confident in his reply, he stated, “I want one of those cards with a horse on it that you give to people and then they give you stuff…and then they give you the card back.” Hmm…turns out he was referring to our credit card. And from his perspective and life experience, this is the coolest thing ever! We give someone a card, we get whatever we want, and then we get the card back to use again…and again. What a deal. He doesn’t know, bless his sweet heart, of the possible dangers lurking in this type of transaction. Problem is, some folks much his senior don’t know them either. Not until it’s too late.
Rest easy. I’m not going to fill this post with statistics intended to scare someone into financial stewardship. Numbers can be so impersonal, can’t they? Even big numbers. For example, how much sleep have you lost this week over the $17 trillion owed on our national debt? And how much fretting have you endured from unfunded pension liability this morning? “Un funded what?” you say. Exactly, but how many of you have worried about your kids today? I’m going to put that percentage in the high 90s, and it’s only 8:36 in the morning.
My point:
Culture has some obvious pitfalls awaiting our kids. And as parents, we try our best to prepare them for what lies ahead – pun intended. The development of integrity, dignity, morality, humility and propriety – all worthy of the time spent. However, time must also be given to the ideal of financial stewardship – the managing of the resources that have been entrusted to us.
A quick show of hands: How many of us have ever linked our quality of life with our standard of living? In other words, the higher my standard of living, the greater my quality of life. (Guilty as charged) Seems plausible, right? And I would imagine there are some of us who know that not to be true.
And for so many, that has been a painful lesson to learn. For some, the costs are not just measured in dollars and cents.
Unfortunately for many, a higher standard of living has been achieved through debt – and dare I say – emotional and financial slavery. Quality of life, wisdom would counter, is raised through discipline – not debt. You realize margin, and freedom, from the concept that your income doesn’t have to drive your spending. Culture, on the other hand, will bait us into the notion that it’s okay to have now, what we don’t have to pay for until later. Sounds great, doesn’t it. And there’s no lie there. You will indeed pay for it later.
My multiple choice question:
1) Who do you want to have the greatest influence on your children’s concept of financial stewardship?
a) You
(The parent or guardian who brought the child into the world and/or who has accepted responsibility for raising said child.)
b) Culture
(Which has brought us such delights as ABC Family Channel, Lady GaGa, and the aforementioned national debt.)
Hint: Culture doesn’t get the phone call when your child’s credit card is maxed out. And culture’s not going to lose any sleep over your child’s financial ruin. You will…to both.
Like the lady (or gentleman) on the airplane says, “Place the mask over your mouth and nose first, then over that of your child.” Makes total since. Get yourself on solid footing so that you’re able to pour into the well-being of your children. Now that’s something worth listening to.
Introduce your children to financial stewardship. Call us, we can help.
