It can be said that behind many successful people are individuals or teams that contribute to their success. For example, a successful husband may have a skillful wife managing the family and household affairs. A successful actor may have hardworking backstage staff. Many successful students may have had parents who toil tirelessly every day to keep them on track. Below is a story that teaches children to value gratitude and grow into successful individuals.
A young man with excellent grades applied for a manager position at a large company. He passed the first interview. The chairman conducted the final interview. To make his decision, he asked the young man a series of questions. From his résumé, the chairman saw that the young man had consistently excelled academically from middle school through graduate school, without interruption.
The chairman asked: “Did you ever receive a scholarship at school?” The young man replied: “No.” The chairman asked: “Did your father pay your tuition?” The young man replied: “My father passed away when I was one year old. My mother paid my tuition.” The chairman asked: “So your mother works at a company?” The young man replied: “My mother washes clothes for others.”
The chairman asked the young man to show his hands. He extended a pair of clean, white hands. The chairman asked: “Have you ever helped your mother wash clothes?” The young man replied: “Never! My mother always wanted me to study more. Besides, she washes clothes faster than I can.” The chairman said: “I have a request. Go home today and wash your mother’s hands once. Come see me tomorrow morning.”
The young man felt confident about his chances. He went home happily and told his mother he wanted to wash her hands. Surprised and touched, she extended her hands. As he washed them, tears fell. For the first time, he noticed his mother’s hands were covered in calluses, and with a wound that was painful when touched by water.
He realized that these worn and wounded hands had washed clothes every day to pay for his tuition. His mother’s hands were the price of his graduation. After washing her hands, he silently washed all the remaining clothes. That evening, mother and son talked for a long time.
The son learned what true gratitude is
The next morning, he returned to see the chairman. The chairman looked at his swollen eyes and asked: “Can you tell me what you did yesterday?” The young man replied: “After washing my mother’s hands, I finished her load of washing.” The chairman urged: “Tell me how you felt.” The young man said: “First, I learned gratitude. Without my mother, I would not be here today. Second, I learned that by working alongside her, I could understand her hardship. Third, I realized the preciousness of family affection.” The chairman said: “I want to hire someone who knows gratitude, who understands others’ hardships, and who does not treat money as life’s priority. You are hired.” The young man worked diligently and won the support of his colleagues. With the hard work of all staff, the company’s business grew significantly.
If a child is pampered from a young age and taught to always think about themselves and become indifferent to their parents’ toil, then at work, they will expect colleagues to obey them. As a manager, he will not understand his employees’ hardships and will complain about everything. Such a person may achieve good grades and enjoy temporary glory, but in society, he may not accomplish great things, leading to failure and unhappiness. Are such parents loving their child, or harming him?
You may give your child a big house, fine meals, piano lessons, and a large-screen TV. It may be wise to consider when you mow the lawn, let your child pull weeds under the hot sun. After meals, let your child wash the dishes. It is not because you cannot afford help, but because you truly love your child and wish to instill a good work ethic, a sense of duty to help others, and a sense of self-worth as a valuable member of the family. Let your child know that, even as a parent who earns good money, they need to avoid developing a sense of entitlement and instead learn to be grateful. This aging parent can be likened to the mother who washed clothes. A child should be taught to learn gratitude.
Translated by Cecilia and edited by Maria
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