It’s graduation season! There are preschoolers graduating to Kindergarten, Kindergartners to Elementary School, Elementary to Middle School, Middle Schoolers to High School and so on.
All graduations, to varying degrees, have commencement addresses. These speeches are designed to impart wisdom and encourage students as they move to the next chapter in life. We recently came across a fantastic commencement address that has a simple message which is as applicable to the college graduate as to the preschool graduate!
Please take less than 2 minutes to watch this video segment from Admiral McRaven, Commander of Special Operations (Navy Seals), as he addresses the graduating class at the University of Texas.
For us, there are two significant takeaways from this video segment that reinforce pivotal ideas that we’ve taught our boys and applied to our marriage and lives.
Little Things Do Matter
Perhaps Admiral McRavens had Luke 16:10 in mind when he mentions that little things turn into big things:
“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.”
We allow our children more freedoms and responsibilities as they demonstrate that they can do the little things well. The difference between good and great in the class room, at a recital, or on the athletic field is doing the little things well. Therefore, it stands to reason that being intentional with the little things in our marriages, parenting and personal growth, has big implications for our overall fulfillment in life and for our children’s outcomes as well.
Picking up your toys, practicing or studying a little more, helping in the kitchen, serving in the community and making your bed matters. These are all “little” things that have significant corollary benefits that lead to “big” things. How else do we learn self-discipline, self-control, empathy and to not be self-centered? It’s by doing the little things like making your bed… every day!
Actions Proceed Beliefs
“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.”
The origin of this quote is in question and has been attributed to many different people over the years – Alistair Begg, Stephen Covey, Charles Reade to name a few. Regardless of the author, the truth in the message is inspired. And yes, making your bed can affect your character and destiny.
In parenting, we focus on teaching our children to do certain actions before they even begin to understand and believe, in their hearts, the virtue of the action. A six year old may think properly greeting people is “the most painful thing in the world!” But later, he’ll come to believe that a proper greeting demonstrates virtues of the heart like courtesy, honor, respect, kindness, and love. By consistently demonstrating these virtues in this simple act (making them habits), he will begin to define his character and his character will define his future – whom he will marry, how he will parent, and grow personally.
So, as our son Alex graduates from High School this coming weekend, our heartfelt loving message to him is simple. Continue to make your bed every day!
Blessings to Your Family,
Shelly and Rich