Raising Children in God's Will

by Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Section 4. What the Parents Should Teach

1. The Thing That Is More Important Than Study

Those people who have been blessed by me, put up your hands. All right, where do you think you are headed for? Before you heard my words, you lived as you pleased. The blessed families these days say to their second-generation children, "Study! Study! Study!" You stupid people have forgotten the very basics of the path of the life of faith. You, who have become half-wits, do you think that by telling your children to study hard, they will become faithful and filial sons and daughters? That's preposterous. They will say, "My mother and father suffered in the Unification Church, but I am not going to go that path!"

You have to teach them the way of love that will enable them to digest all these things. That is why the mother and the father have to drag their children wherever they go, even going without food, they have to show their children with tears how to love the neighborhood, and pray for the country. When they had little sense, they thought this kind of thing was a waste of time but after they come to their senses, they will say, "Our mother and father are the best!" The children know that their mother and father are not shedding tears for them. The more they grow up, the more they will come to realize that their parents will love the country and live for God's Will and to save humankind, even if it means discarding their children. I have come to realize this. They thought this is to take responsibility for the fate of this country and this race, and to be a pioneer to make the base for the restoration of humankind." Or the parents who worry about their sons and daughters' future and educate them to become people who can benefit the village? You, over there. How about answering this question? [The parents who educate their children to live for the country]

It is good to live for the country, but we were not born with the authority to be the master of one country. We are people who were born for all people, for the world. Because all the things on the earth belong to humankind, we have to live for the world. So although Koreans may teach their children to say, "I am studying for Korea," you should teach them to have a philanthropic ideology to go beyond their tribe, their nation and their race, and to become pioneers who, with the heart of a brother or sister, sacrifice their bodies and their whole lives for the restoration of humankind.

Of the parents who teach their children to be like this and the parents who teach their children to be loyal to their country, who are better? You, ladies over there. How about answering this question? Which of the parents is greater? [The parents who teach their children to live for the world] You know everything already. Yes, that's how it is. (38-233)

3. You Need to Urge Your Children To Study Hard

Parents letting their children sleep when they want and play when they want, those urging them to sleep more and play more are fine as far as I am concerned. After all, these are not bad things. Why do they keep on saying to us, "Study! Don't fight with your brother. Love your parents. Do this! Do that! Why do they tell us not to fight?" Children often wonder in this way. (95-50)


You should always urge your children on, even if they know already. If you keep on encouraging them, they will gain power. It is not good to say nothing at all. This applies to your school-aged children as well. Even if they already study hard, you should urge them to study harder. You have to do this frequently. [Laughter] You shouldn't just leave them to study or not as they please. (131-244)


Think about it. You have to push your children to study hard in kindergarten, push them to study hard in elementary school, push them to study hard in middle school, push them to study hard in university, and even push them when they are studying for a doctoral degree. (103-199)


Most children want to play when they see their neighborhood friends. They are really happy. They are even happy to see the village dog. To the children who like to run and play about, you should say, "Hey, you little rascals. Don't do that!" If your children study, shedding tears, they will succeed in life. Who should they study for? Not for themselves. They should study for the country and the world. Do you understand? Is this good or evil? Is it bad? [It is right]

Do you like your mother and father hitting you? [Yes] If the children don't study, the fact that the mother has to say, "Your father and I are sacrificing very much to give you a good education so that you can be happy in the future. Why don't you study? I'll teach you to disobey me!" is because of the fallen history of man. The fact that you and I have to put right this world, is a pledge that you and I have made together. (97-99)


When Hyo Jin was still young and not so wise, he didn't understand about me too well. However, the more he came to understand and grow up, the more he bowed his head, unable to lift his face before me. He is like that these days. When I leave America, he telephones his brother-in-law, although he could telephone me directly, and says, "Hey, what is Father doing these days? Find out everything and report back to me." He could ask me. Mother is here, too: he could ask her as well if he wanted to. But asking Father is .... The more he thinks like this, the less he feels able to raise his head.

When he sees me he remembers that the father of his youth and the father today is exactly the same. There is no change but ... When I see this, I feel rather sorry. And there are times when I turn my head away first. You should not live as you please. The universe will chase away that kind of person. Do you think that your children will become successful just by your worrying about them? They won't. You have to raise them giving love as the nourishment. You have to teach them the direction they can go with love. The more they grow up, the older they get, when they find a gold vein, although they thought that the mountain was not much, the more they dig the more they will come to realize that the mountain itself is just one big piece of gold. The more they dig, dig ... Do you think they will stop digging because it is difficult? (139-77)

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