BUSY BUSINESSMEN

A teacher asked her students in an elementary school what they wished to become  when they grew up. There were several answers such as -  a doctor, an engineer, a teacher, a pilot, an astronaut, a driver, a film-star etc.                          One of the students gave a strange answer. This child told, "I want to be a television!" The teacher eagerly asked the child why he had such a wish. He told, with tears flowing from his eyes, "There is no one at home to watch me or care for me. Every one sits around the television. If there is anything wrong with the TV, they immediately give great attention and make it right."                         The loving teacher met the child's mother and discussed the issue. The mother said, boastfully, "My husband is a very busy businessman. He never gets time to look after the child's affairs." " But what about you?" asked the teacher to the mother. "What do you know about me? I am the president of the women's club and we have several important social activities and commitments. I have to attend our daily meetings and plan our activities." The teacher now learned why the child felt lonely and abandoned at home.                         A busy businessman used to go away from home early every morning and return only very late at night. Even when at home, he will be busy with his  computer  organizing his business activities. He did not find time to be with the members of his family.  Every day, while leaving home, he used to give his child some coins as pocket money. The child used to store the money in his piggy bank. One day, when he said good bye in haste  and started to get into his car, the child held the father's arms and asked him, "Daddy, how much money do you make in an hour from your business?"  Though surprised, he gave a rough estimate of his income. Then the child took his piggy bank, broke it open and handed over its contents to his father, saying, "Daddy, take all the money in this and in return, stay with me for some time!"                        Martin David Buxbaum (1912-1991), editor of Marriot's "Table Talk", said that success in parenting is not measured by the expensive gifts and facilities you may provide to a child: "But the measure of your real success Is the one you cannot spend. It's the way your kids describe you When they're talking to a friend."                       It is said that in bringing up children, we must spend on them half as much money and twice as much time. Jesse Jackson said, "Your children need your presence more than your presents." H. Jackson Brown, Jr. said, "Always kiss your children goodnight - even if they're already asleep."                      God created man in His image. Then He created the 'FAMILY' in the image of heaven. It was the first and best institution founded by God. The letters in the word, FAMILY may be regarded as representing the first letters of the words in the statement, "Father And Mother In Love, Year-round" or the hearty remark of a loving little child, "Father And Mother! I Love You". Parents should stand between their child and God- not as a separating wall but as a connecting link.                       ..................................... ©By: Dr. Babu Philip, Professor, Cochin University of Science & Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi-682016, Kerala, India, Prof. Mrs. Rajamma Babu, Former Professor, St. Dominic's College, Kanjirappally and Leo. S. John, Maniparambil, Ooriyakunnath, Kunnumbhagom, Kanjirappally, Kottayam-686507, Kerala, India. For more moral stories, parables and anecdotes for students, catechists, teachers and preachers, kindly visit the web-sites: http://www.moral-stories.com http://christian.moral-stories.com