Jyotikalash

The parent-child relationship is one of the most wonderful gifts to human life. While on one hand our scriptures say that the parents should be worshipped just like God, the famous poet Wordsworth on the other hand says – “A Child is the Father of the Man”. A human child is a precious gift of God to the parents.
As a child grows, he or she is expected to develop in the form of maturity, wisdom, knowledge and human qualities like patience, effective expression, ability to work hard, etc. If parents want, they can facilitate their children in growing continuously. Irrespective of the fact from where a child and his family starts socially, financially, emotionally, academically and spiritually, if the parents take the responsibility of continuous growth of the child and the whole family, things can be much different than what we see today.
If a parent works hard, the child also feels committed to make a career, if a parent is emotionally strong, it is easier for a child to keep patience. If a parent gives respect to his elders, the child also feels respect for his parents and other elders. Children tend to reflect the qualities of their parents. Once they cross the teen age and become capable of taking charge of their life in their own hands, they can even cross the expectations of their parents. However, a strong foundation for a happy and successful life is generally laid down by parents or some parental figures.
A parent is thus required to become a role-model at every step. Moreover, parents are the best source of moral support to the child. A child is able to go very far in life if he or she gets a message from at least one of the parents –“I am with you.”  However, being too much ambitious for the career of a child may put undue pressures on him.
A child is able to make fast progress and at the same time, grow in terms of maturity and wisdom if  he or she gets aligned with his or her surroundings in the family, at school, in the work place and in the society at large. The first lesson of such an integration or alignment is also given by the parents when they themselves integrate their life with the future of their children and of the family. The best option for a parent is therefore to be a devoted parent. This is one of the best ways to serve God or to serve humanity.
To be devoted to the child is not enough. A parent should also contribute in making the surroundings in which his or her children are growing and would live in future, a little more healthy. To help in reducing the poverty of people around, to help people be more truthful, hardworking and committed to overall development, to spread peace around, etc. are some of the ways through which a parent can improve the surroundings. This is as much important as taking care of the cleanliness and hygiene in the household.
If a parent continuously aligns himself with the Creator, if he or she has faith or sense of devotion, the child also grows in a way that he is comfortable with himself and is an asset to his family and to many others. If every parent of today realizes that parenthood is a gift and take it as a mission, we can gradually make the Earth free from crimes, corruption and adversities. The stars twinkle for us because they are too far. But we know they have a lot of light. If parents want, they can bring out the light- the wisdom and power hidden in human minds and make every member of tomorrow’s society much more enlightened. Every child of today can be a star tomorrow.