A mother’s advice to her daughter: “Cook a man a fish, and you feed him for a day… But teach a man to fish, and you get rid of him for the whole weekend.”
Mothers can get a bad rap when it comes to advice. Whether it’s in good humor, like the joke above that I borrowed from a “Joke of the Day” website or the stereotype of the nagging mother on a television sitcom, unsolicited parental wisdom is not always well received.
While motherly advice is often easy to give, it can be hard to hear. A car ride or long walk with my son or daughter is usually a good time to clear the air between us. While we’ve had our share of challenges, we’ve been blessed with good health and a fabulous support network. So our talks and my motherly advice have been limited to homework or boyfriends — the usual teenager stuff.
When I asked last week for advice from the readers of Clear Views, I received a note from one reader who, due to circumstances with her health, had experienced more heart-felt exchanges with her mother.
She wrote: “When I was sick, my mom always told me, ‘Always live each day like it’s your last. You never know when your time will be up. Be sure that the ones you love know how important they are to you, and tell them what they mean to you. If God brings you to it, he’ll bring you through it. Don’t ever take anything for granted.’”
She continued, “We’re fighters and we have a LOT more living to do. If you put your mind to it, you can conquer anything. You were put here on this earth for far greater things, and this is just one test that you will overcome to get on with the rest of your fantastic life.”
This week — as we take a few days off (Clearfield’s facility will be closed July 4th and 5th) — like millions of other Americans enjoying Independence Day with fireworks and picnics, I’m going to remember this mother’s advice. I’ll try not to sweat the small stuff, enjoy my family and friends, say a little prayer of thanks, and then come back ready to conquer the wonderful opportunities we have in front of us to deliver cost-effective broadband networks.
Happy Independence to All!