Lydia and I frequently talked about the things we wanted to make sure that our children knew by the time they left our house. This morning, when I was talking to my Mom, I was telling her that I should write down the things that I’ve learned and am continuing to learn about life in general, so that I don’t forget them, and she suggested blogging them. So I think that I shall set up a category called Universal Curriculum and add to it occasionally, as I remember things and as I learn things. I suppose that’s not too much different than Musings\’c3\’82\’c2\~except that these will be written more in the format of something that I’d like to eventually compile into a “textbook” for my children. So, keep in mind, these are subject to change!\par
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A\’c3\’82\’c2\~few Life Lessons are:\par
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The Time Value of Money: Money now is worth more than money later. Ex: $500 invested today is worth more than $500 invested 5 years from now. This can and probably should be a big factor in many life decisions, for example family budgeting and education choices.\par
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Many “crises” sort themselves out over time without extra effort on our part \’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’80\’9c especially those crisis primarily related to other people.\par
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Amy Hayes said in her talk at Ruth Frazier\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2s bridal shower that “what a husband really wants in a wife is somebody to be sweet to him.” (loosely quoted) This really struck me at the time, and of the dozens of jewels of wisdom I\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2ve no doubt heard this one has actually stuck around in my mind. It\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2s oversimplified of course, but the essence of it is very true: a man wants a woman who thinks he is a great guy, greets him with a smile and a kiss at the door when he gets home and is always “in his corner” to quote Pastor Tuuri. She\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2s always on his side, even when criticizing or even rebuking him: her goal is his improvement and success and sanctification. I\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2ve found that the evenings when I actually stop what I\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2m doing to greet my husband warmly almost always go much more smoothly than those when I\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2m “too busy” to take time to welcome him.\par
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Nothing lasts forever. “Things” don\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2t, people don\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2t, relationships don\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2t, problems don\’c3\’a2\’e2\’82\’ac\’e2\’84\’a2t, nothing. This can be comforting. Especially the part about problems!\par
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If you aim at nothing, you’ll hit it every time. Is that from Doug Wilson? Don’t remember.\par
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\’c3\’82\’c2\~\par
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\’c3\’82\’c2\~
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Universal Curriculum4 comments to Universal Curriculum |
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Yay! I look forward to entries in this category!
So, is “time value of money” simply a lesson you want to pass on, or do you think it’s applicable to things other than money, as well?
I actually think it was Wayne Gretzky who said that. I think it was, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it 100% of the time.”
Sorry, I’m a quote junky.
Regarding your question, Mystie: Mostly I was thinking of it in strickly in terms of money. For instance, young people should know how far it sets them back in financial terms when they make a decision to persue lengthy gratuitious education (that which isn’t particularly connected with vocation or money-making). Not that they shouldn’t persue non-financial goals, obviously, just that they should count the cost before they build the house! Also, if a young couple waits to save money “until later when we have more” they are not giving up the few thousand dollars they could save in the meantime – they’re giving up the tens of thousands of dollars that those original investments would’ve amounted to by the time they were 55 or 60 or so. I plan on drawing this example out in a spreadsheet with more details so that it makes more sense. Again, not to discourage other choices necessarily – just to make those choices more educated. I include this because I’ve run into many people who seem completely unaware of this financial principle and I would like my children to be more prepared in that area. I suppose you could look at children in the same way – if you start your family in your early 20s, verses your early 30s, you should be exceptionally rich in grandchildren by the time your 60!
And Amy Sue- thanks for the quote background! 