APPRECIATION: WAITING AND SWEATING= APPRECIATION

George McGurn

August 25, l999

This is a very silly story.

Gerald Andrew Johnston III has been spoiled rotten by his parents and his grandparents. He has been over indulged. He has been over protected. He has never suffered pain. He has never experienced sweat. But one day he overheard a group of people talking about a magical time in their lives. They were talking about their recent adventure in climbing Mt. Everest. Mt. Everest is the highest mountain in the world. And their adventure was the highest moment in their lives. Gerald overheard them talking about the challenge and the danger. He heard them talking about the hardships. He even hear them talking about the pain. He heard about the punishing wind and the bitter cold. He heard about frozen fingers and fatigue. Gerald didn't like to hear about the pain.

But Gerald also heard them talking about the intense feelings they experienced when they finally set foot on the top of the mountain. He heard about the feeling of satisfaction. He heard them talk about their struggle to help each other up the mountain. He heard about how proud they felt when they accomplished this goal together. They said they would never forget that feeling. And this accomplishment had changed their lives forever. Gerald liked what he heard now. And he thought he would like to experience that very same sense of achievement and that sense of accomplishment. But he wasn't sure he could go thru all of that pain and inconvenience to get to the top of the mountain.

So Gerald talked to his Mom and his Dad about his problem. They were horrified with this idea. Just the thought of their Gerald out in that snow and ice was too much. But to climb a mountain? No way. But they always wanted to keep their Gerald happy so they came up with a plan. And because the family was very, very wealthy nothing was impossible to keep their Gerald happy.

And the plan was to build a very safe elevator from the bottom of Mt. Everest all the way to the top. Now Gerald could be very safe and comfortable as he scaled Mt. Everest in style. Gerald loved the plan. He couldn't wait to do his climb and then experience those intense feelings that would change his life forever.

As the day of the climb grew near Gerald was taken to the base of Mt. Everest by helicopter. And then he was prepared for the accent by a team of faithful Sherpa guides who accompanied him into the elevator. Gerald was a little scared. But he was ready.

Gerald pressed the button of the elevator and the great adventure began. This was no ordinary elevator ride as we would know it. It was very bumpy and loud. But even tho Gerald was scared he didn't turn back. He really wanted to experience those great feelings.

Gerald has to endure fifteen or sixteen long minutes. And finally he is there. The elevator is on top of the mountain. Gerald steps out. Now he is on top of the whole world. He has done it. Gerald has conquered Mr. Everest.

And now he waits for his great moment when those intense feelings will change his life forever. But he doesn't feel anything. Nothing is coming. Wait a minute. No. The only thing he can feel is a little hunger pain because he is late for his snack . And then he feels a little gas from the bumpy ride. But that's it.

Now Gerald is furious. "What a rip off. I climb all the way to the top of the world and what do I get for it? Nothing!"

As Gerald heads down the mountain in his elevator he is so disappointed. He feels like he has been cheated. "How come those other people got all the good feelings and I got nothing?"

Well, a lot of kids are going thru the same kind of feelings that Gerald has. They seem to get everything they ask for. And their parents are willing to do everything for them. But they don't seem to enjoy what they get. They don't seem to feel any satisfaction or a sense of achievement. And they don't seem to appreciate what they get.

Some kids want a new bike at 9:00 in the morning and by 5:00 in the evening Mom and Dad have delivered the new bike. But the next day Mom and Dad look out in the driveway and find the new bike is still out in the rain. And their child has lost interest in the bike.

In order for children to appreciate what they have, something must happen between the time they say "I want a bike" and the time they actually "get the bike." Some effective parents hold off until a birthday or Christmas for the bike. Other parents take their kids comparative shopping to teach about different types of bikes and different prices.

Some parents expect their children to pay for all of the bike or for part of it. Some kids are expected to perform extra work around the house to earn some money for their bike.

We all know that when kids get everything they want right now, they won't find much happiness in what they get. And when parents do too much for their children they never feel a sense of achievement. Effective parents know that it's not what we have that makes us happy. It's what we have that we appreciate that makes us happy. And working and waiting and sweating make us feel very appreciative.