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How to Teach Moral Values Without Nagging
 Which one of these two statements sticks most in your mind? A) We should all have more unconditional love and care more about others. We should be kind and considerate, and help those who need help without thinking of ourselves or resenting the inconvenience. B) The Good Samaritan Parable Power* 
What do you remember most about your childhood? Did you feel loved? Were you comfortable talking with your parents? No doubt you have mixed memories. And yet, how likely are we to repeat the example of our parents, be it good or bad? Our parents did not have all the information available to them that we do now, so try to cut them a little slack. The important thing is: Where are we going from here, starting today? Recently a TV crew performed an experiment. They hired two actors— a young woman and a small boy. The setting was a city park. In the scene, the young woman posed as a babysitter, who loudly and repeatedly told the little boy he was stupid. Unaware of the TV cameras, a number of young mothers with small children passed by. To their credit, every one of them, like the Good Samaritan, stopped to confront the baby sitter and defend the child. This clip had a powerful impact on a multitude of viewers, because it was acted out. What kind of language do you use with your family? Do you humiliate your children in front of others? Supposing that the little boy in the episode grew up in that environment, how do you think he in turn would treat others? Children Learn What They Live But what about teenagers? You may ask. Try this. Tonight at the dinner table, sit down with your teen and plan a service project. Let him choose the activity— something that he is very good at, that he loves to do. Let it be for something positive, rather than against something negative. Let him be completely in charge. But you and the rest of the family will support him every step of the way, from planning to carrying it out, to writing thank-you notes to those who participated, to the family discussion of the results after it is finished. It will change his life. And he will never forget the experience, because it will have awakened the epic hero within him.  * More Parables |
