They ain't heavy, they're my parents.

I had a client who called not to renew his mother's medical insurance. His reason was, time is bad and non of his younger brothers and sisters are prepared to share to pay the needed cover for the old parent. As he is the eldest in the family, her mum is staying with him. The rest of the sibling are trying to avoid sharing the burden to care for the aging lady.

This is a sorrowful part of live! All parents will care for their children but not necessary children of today would standby for the parents when they are aging. Of course my client had the right to terminate and discontinue his insurance but it's also my duty to teach them the wisdom to live.

In life respect has to be earned. If a son wants his children to love and respect him, especially when he is old and cannot earn anymore, then he has to show to the children how he loves and cares for his mother when she is still alive. The young grand children learn from the father who willingly and sincerely loves the grand old lady. Kindness, thoughtfulness, humbleness are respect which should be shown and taught when the chidren are growing. Children might be innocent but they are not blind. When you sow the seed of love, eventually the fruits of joy and harmony will be in the entire family.

I hope my words of wisdom could enlighten this father, who is seriously considering whether to continue the needed medical cover for his mum. Though I am a life insurance agent, I play a role of a preacher as well.

Food for thought - "The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof ".
Richard Bach quotes