Comments on: Learning Lessons #6: Appreciation http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/ Doing the Dance of the Children Wed, 08 Feb 2012 00:33:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.5 By: Joseph P. Mogan http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/comment-page-1/#comment-363 Joseph P. Mogan Tue, 05 Feb 2008 05:59:02 +0000 http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/#comment-363 There is much wisdom in what you have stated, Jennifer. All too often people do not appreciate their loved ones while they still have them. This reality hit me very hard after my mother died in 1975 (when I was just 18 years old)! Those things about her that bothered me before her death were no longer very important! Many years after my mom's death, a relative CRITICIZED her cooking! I thought, "Who cares?! What I would have given to have her back! Whether she was a good cook or a less-than-average one was of little concern to me!" I am reminded of an important point about being critical. Some years ago I read about a lady named Sonya Carson, who, because of her third grade education, did not read very well. One day one of her two sons (either Curtis or Benjamin) criticized her for not being able to read as well as he could. While she did not deny that her son had reading abilities superior to hers, she also let it be known that she did not appreciate his critical attitude, saying, to slightly paraphrase, "Please do not criticize me. Rather, kindly educate me." She made sure that her sons got a good education, one of them becoming an architect and the other one becoming one the world's top pediatric neurosurgeons (named Dr. Benjamin Carson, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carson). So, I thank Mrs. Carson for inspiring me to think up this quote: "One of the greatest tragedies of human existence is that people spend entirely too much time criticizing and not nearly enough time educating." Love, Joe There is much wisdom in what you have stated, Jennifer. All too often people do not appreciate their loved ones while they still have them. This reality hit me very hard after my mother died in 1975 (when I was just 18 years old)! Those things about her that bothered me before her death were no longer very important! Many years after my mom’s death, a relative CRITICIZED her cooking! I thought, “Who cares?! What I would have given to have her back! Whether she was a good cook or a less-than-average one was of little concern to me!”

I am reminded of an important point about being critical. Some years ago I read about a lady named Sonya Carson, who, because of her third grade education, did not read very well. One day one of her two sons (either Curtis or Benjamin) criticized her for not being able to read as well as he could. While she did not deny that her son had reading abilities superior to hers, she also let it be known that she did not appreciate his critical attitude, saying, to slightly paraphrase, “Please do not criticize me. Rather, kindly educate me.” She made sure that her sons got a good education, one of them becoming an architect and the other one becoming one the world’s top pediatric neurosurgeons (named Dr. Benjamin Carson,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben_Carson). So, I thank Mrs. Carson for
inspiring me to think up this quote:

“One of the greatest tragedies of human existence is that people spend
entirely too much time criticizing and not nearly enough time
educating.”

Love,
Joe

]]> By: Maggie http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/comment-page-1/#comment-347 Maggie Fri, 01 Feb 2008 04:23:54 +0000 http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/#comment-347 I can't thank you enough for this blog...You are truly one of the most Beautiful human beings I have ever known..thankfully you are a part of me. May I remember, by your influence, how important loving people for who THEY are is. Thank you so much for you! I love You! xoxoxo I can’t thank you enough for this blog…You are truly one of the most Beautiful human beings I have ever known..thankfully you are a part of me. May I remember, by your influence, how important loving people for who THEY are is.

Thank you so much for you!

I love You! xoxoxo

]]> By: Alexis http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/comment-page-1/#comment-346 Alexis Fri, 01 Feb 2008 03:00:33 +0000 http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/#comment-346 What a wonderful post, Jenn! One of my confessors always tells me anytime I confess being impatient, or frustrated exactly what you said. So, the house is a bit of a disaster- oh well, who cares? As long as its somewhat picked up and clean, time is best spent playing cars, Lincoln Logs, pirates or whatever else crosses our kids' minds. Today we planted Venus Fly Trap seeds in a little plastic planter. Most of the dirt made into the planter, but not all of it. Plus, we had quite a bit of glitter on the table from Tate, and some other stuff strewned about. But, I've learned to say to myself, "that's what vacuums and washing machines are for & there's always time to clean up later :)" God bless & see you at Holy Angels. What a wonderful post, Jenn! One of my confessors always tells me anytime I confess being impatient, or frustrated exactly what you said. So, the house is a bit of a disaster- oh well, who cares? As long as its somewhat picked up and clean, time is best spent playing cars, Lincoln Logs, pirates or whatever else crosses our kids’ minds. Today we planted Venus Fly Trap seeds in a little plastic planter. Most of the dirt made into the planter, but not all of it. Plus, we had quite a bit of glitter on the table from Tate, and some other stuff strewned about. But, I’ve learned to say to myself, “that’s what vacuums and washing machines are for & there’s always time to clean up later :) ” God bless & see you at Holy Angels.

]]> By: Kristen http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Kristen Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:57:05 +0000 http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/#comment-345 wow...what a great post for the week before Lent. I really have to step back this year and be deliberate about thanksgiving. Thanks Jen! wow…what a great post for the week before Lent. I really have to step back this year and be deliberate about thanksgiving. Thanks Jen!

]]> By: froglady http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/comment-page-1/#comment-344 froglady Thu, 31 Jan 2008 18:54:57 +0000 http://www.mommyofmany.com/2008/01/31/learning-lessons-6-appreciation/#comment-344 I came to that conclusion years ago that we only have our little ones for a limited amount of time (and, it goes by so fast) so cherish and spoil them while you can - now! I came to that conclusion years ago that we only have our little ones for a limited amount of time (and, it goes by so fast) so cherish and spoil them while you can – now!

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