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When I was a kid

by Alex Dixon  
9/20/2009 / Family

When I was a kid, I used to feel sorry for myself. I could see that we were poorer than all my friends, and I didn't think it was fair. When mom used to drag me to the poor shops in the rough part of town to buy some clothes; when I used to eat soggy Marmite sandwiches and nothing else for school lunch every single day; when I saw how much stuff my friends had in their rooms. I used to dream about being rich one day- I studied accounting and computer science at school in the hope of one day earning as much money as possible. I thought that if I was rich, then I would be really happy. The truth is that I had a happy childhood, I just thought that somehow money would magically make everything even better.

Now I'm older, I hear about what some other people's lives are really like - having a dad that doesn't care about them; having parents who are too busy having fun to spend any time with them; being in families that are full of abuse, betrayal, lies and anger. I have realised just how amazingly blessed I was as a child. I had absolutely the best start in life that anyone could have.

I had parents that loved (and still love) each other so much- until I was about 5 I didn't realise that Mom and Dad were actually two separate people- I thought that they were somehow one person with two different bodies. That's how great their marriage is.

They weren't perfect parents (no-one is!), but they did their best every day. Mom was always there for us - I don't think I had a door key till I was 16. I didn't know what it was like to be home alone. Dad put us first is everything- he didn't love his job but he was such a hard worker, because, unlike so many men, he realised the importance of taking responsibility.

We were looking at some old home videos the other day, and there was a bit about where Dad was digging a pool in our back garden. He dug through 6 foot of rock and shale, by hand, with almost no help, just so that his kids could have a pool- so that we would be happy. Connor was watching with us, and a couple of days later, he said 'Mummy, God built you a pool in your garden.' And I laughed and said: 'No Connor, God didn't dig me a pool. Papa did. But God did make Papa.'

And the reason that my parents' marriage is so strong, that I have such a great family, is thanks to God. I truly believe that happiness, strong marriages and families, are not possible without a close relationship to, a love of God. Because this world sucks. No matter how great your intentions are- no matter how much you love your new spouse when you say 'I do'- life gets in the way. People aren't perfect, so relationships cannot be. We are not strong- we all have weaknesses. But in our weakness, God is our strength.

He teaches us that love is not just a passing feeling or emotion; it is a choice that we make to serve, to care for, to forgive.

And would money have given me anything like this happiness? No. Would education, popularity, good looks? No, no, no. They are all nice
distractions that do not last, and in the end have little meaning. God made family to love each other no matter what, through all of this life and into the next.

My parents and grandparents taught me how much God loves me, and how to love him back. And for this reason, and so many others, they gave me the best childhood that I could have had. I am so grateful for them, and to God for blessing me with them.

Alex Dixon 18/09/2009

I am 27 years old, married and have a 3 year old son. I am studying for a degree in English lieterature. I love reading, writing, scrapbooking and socialising with friends. I help out at my church's sunday school.

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