Parents will not realize, perhaps until much later in life, the long-lasting effect of the moral values they teach their children. The young child's mind is like an empty chalkboard, and the first impressions written on it are almost impossible to erase. They may become smudged or later experiences may overwrite them, but they will never completely vanish.
The most potent lessons are taught, not with words, but by example. I remember my mother would never sit down to relax in the evening, until the dishes were done, the kitchen tidied up, and the places set for breakfast. I find myself following her pattern. Even on nights when I'm particularly tired, as after a full day of shopping, I still need to have the kitchen whipped into shape and ready for the next morning before I sit down and put my feet up. Of course, I have the advantage of a dishwasher, which makes the job considerably easier.
The next time you attend a church service, look around. Chances are, you'll notice a preponderance of grey and balding heads, and a scarcity of young people. The seniors came from a generation in which church membership was very important. For their parents, the worshiping community formed the basis of their social life and friendships. For the men, it provided business contacts and the opportunity for networking. Now, even in their senior years, the children of that generation carry on the tradition. Each Sunday, they can be found at church, often in the same pew they occupied as children, decades ago.
Parents are the primary influence in the formation of a child's conscience, and that conscience has a long memory. Do you feel uncomfortable telling a lie, keeping something that doesn't belong to you, or using strong language? That's probably the voice of a parent echoing down the years, filtered through your subconscious, forcing your conscience to nudge you until you get back on track. This was the track your mother and father followed, and the one they tried consistently to instill in you, until it became an ingrained aspect of your character.
If you have particularly good manners, and always say "Please", and "Thank you", you learned that at home, in childhood. Those people who always write notes thanking others for gifts or kindnesses shown, began the practice under a parent's watchful eye. If you are inclined to give generously to charities, and to help those less fortunate, you're probably following the example of the grown-ups observed in your early years. If you fail to discriminate because of race, religion, age or gender, chances are you come from an open-minded, welcoming family.
If parents only realized the great influence early moral and ethical training would have on their child's life, they would take great care to ensure that those influences were as principled and wholesome and as they could possibly manage. When we pause to realize all the areas in which our parents gifted us with good example, and consider how our lives have been enhanced by that early training, would we really want to do any less for our children?
