In every small occasions, we have the opportunity to convey to our children the best wisdom that we have gleamed in life. While we may systematically take them to activities (music, dance, literature, arts, sports, etc), or even inspire them through exploration, such as reading to them various Chinese legends and saga of chivary, doing innovative projects in origami and robotics, showing them amazing educational software, or introducing them to fun abstract thinking such as concepts in "Godel, Escher, Bach", it is in fact during their own struggles and questioning about life that we are welcomed to make the most impact.

When they have to deal with issues such as how to express their opinions to an annoying kid, or school bullies, or whether to tell small lies to hide theiir errors from parents, how to delay gratification when they are envious of the kid wih more toys, or the grander questions of what is life all about, what is the point of it all when they feel bored, these are the times when we can share with them our own struggles, life lessons, how we are continually dealing with these life long issues, that they don't go away even as we grow older, ... It is through these discussions that we truly bond with our children, (in fact, with any one), that we gain their trust, and their obedience to our advise as they grow older.

This is where our own spiritual journey (or lack thereof) will heavily influence the path of our own children. I don't mean simply participating in a religion, but genuine personal search for meaning of life, for the source of hope, joy, and love. This path may be difficult, but obtaining it greatly surpass the value of being more efficient or intelligent or richer or more beautiful or more famous or more popular in life. For those parents who gave up on the search, and sees making money as their only worthwhile future, I would warn them that their children will likely sense despair. While my own search for life meaning has led me to know Jesus as the ultimate answer, and do wish you to come to the same conclusion, I will not force it down your system, but simply recommends that, if you haven't started your search for meaning of life, please begin, and the journey is worthwhile, and there is an answer. Now back to how it affects our children.

As an adult dealing with all the pressures from work and family, I find it essential to gain inner strength and focus from the weekly worship at church, which helps to refocus my life direction toward the One and Only God. The sermons of a good pastor can really recharge one's strength and hope. So in the same way, children need such hope and strength to deal with the problems within their own little world. Especially due to their memory and attention span, they need this daily!

With the above recognition, I had constistently (at least tried to remember, for a period of several months) give a short daily inspirational talk to my then 6-year old son. Much like a 5 minute discussion of possibly serious issues that he faces at the time, but giving them my own feelings and approaches in the equivalent problem of my context, sometimes adding historical Chinese stories that deal with the problem, and how the hope I derive from knowing Jesus enables me to face the challenge. Basically, we need to show them our realistic side, real struggles, so that they don't feel alone, and know that we feel for them, and are there to support them.

As various spiritual wisdom echoes, we often ask questions, not for answers, but to be connected, to know that we are not alone, and to be comforted. The greatest gift I can ofter my children is to introduce them to the reality of the One, Jesus Christ, whom they can one day know for themselves, to connect to, to be friends with, and to be comforted by. Perhaps then my children will know where my passion and love for them comes from, and that they themselves will have the kind of energy and strength for life that I have, through knowing God.

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