A desolate and dirty homeless man came up to me yesterday and asked for $20. To my amazement, he grinned and said, “Thank you very much!” after I paid him $50. Do you not recall me?
He turned out to be Ross, a high school classmate. I was startled when I remembered our fights, but he had previously kept me safe. His life had now turned tragically. “I went to jail seven times, smoked, drank, slept with women, joined a gang, abandoned three pregnant women, and now I’m begging for food,” he admitted.
I found myself wondering why our lives ended up so differently after he left with a nervous gait. The solution came to me: my parents. His childhood lacked discipline, but they were tough, establishing timetables and standards.
I used to believe that my parents were the worst people in the world, but now I realize that they provided me with a solid foundation. I had to respect authority, eat healthily, and abide by the regulations. None of that applied to Ross.
In the end, I’m grateful for my strict upbringing. It shaped me into who I am, while Ross, without that guidance, lost his way. As I reflect, I thank my parents and conclude, “How can we change this breaking world? Educate the child.”
