Train up a Child when He is Young

I have a friend who grew up from a poor family in the rural environment. He worked at a very young age helping his parents tendering their farm. Although there is plenty of homegrown food to eat, money is scarce. Simple life pleasures are limited to home made toys. No TV, no video games, quality of living is not as good as it was in the city in their time.
He is doing well now as a family man of his own, earning quite much as an employee, living above average in the city. Life’s pleasure is not simple, movies, dinner, electronic gadgets and toys for their only child.
As we were talking one time over a cup of coffee, he said he was happy with the way they are living now. He said, he will give his child everything he feels he was deprived off when he himself was still a child.
I can see how his son got everything he asked for, remote controlled toys, PSP’s, DVD player, and everything. That bothers me, I realized why his child at five years of age been acting as if he’s at the level of his parents. He got used to the thought that his parents would buy everything he asked.
Giving what their child wants is not a problem, but they seem to miss giving him the parental guidance and the moral values to control his attitude.
I remember going through the same as with my friend during my childhood days. I woke up as early as four o’clock, assist my grandparents in the rice field, looking at other kids playing with their toys, eating simple foods and fruits I gather at the forest. Life was simple but fun. I missed it.
I don’t have any resentment for what I have been through. My experience has taught me how to value work and spend my time efficiently, to love and respect my parents more and more each day as I understand how hard they have been going through by experiencing their work myself. I’m sure my friend been the same.
The bible says “Train up a child when he is young, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). It is not wrong to give our kids everything they ask for but let us not forget to show them the real values they should learn out of it.
It’s not bad to make them work a little so they would understand how hard it is to make money. Besides, it’s a good exercise.
What we are making them today will determine what they will be tomorrow. Let us and our experience be their lesson.