THE BEST GIFT TO OUR CHILDREN
Rockefeller’s mother, Eliza, was an intelligent woman with strong common sense. A disciplinarian, she was devoutly religious and a believer in hard work and thrift. Her strong will and deep piety gave her remarkable serenity, which she transmitted to her son, John. A diligent and serious student, John was trained by his mother in matters of piety, neatness and industry.
His father William, both sociable and outgoing, was full of the joy of life and loved his son. He taught John to develop his innate gift for business.
William was as anxious as Eliza that all their children grow up self-reliant, honest, keen-witted, and dependable. John recalled later that both of his parents were examples of courtesy and patience. He said "I cannot remember to have heard the voices of either father or mother raised in anger or complaint in speaking to any of us."
William and Eliza also instilled in their son a rich heritage of giving to church and charities, the gifts being made from their childhood earnings.
In all, William and Eliza gave their son, John D. Rockefeller, a happy childhood – a gift he valued throughout his life far more than millions of dollars he made.
(Courtesy: East and West Series, March 2004)
Rockefeller’s mother, Eliza, was an intelligent woman with strong common sense. A disciplinarian, she was devoutly religious and a believer in hard work and thrift. Her strong will and deep piety gave her remarkable serenity, which she transmitted to her son, John. A diligent and serious student, John was trained by his mother in matters of piety, neatness and industry.
His father William, both sociable and outgoing, was full of the joy of life and loved his son. He taught John to develop his innate gift for business.
William was as anxious as Eliza that all their children grow up self-reliant, honest, keen-witted, and dependable. John recalled later that both of his parents were examples of courtesy and patience. He said "I cannot remember to have heard the voices of either father or mother raised in anger or complaint in speaking to any of us."
William and Eliza also instilled in their son a rich heritage of giving to church and charities, the gifts being made from their childhood earnings.
In all, William and Eliza gave their son, John D. Rockefeller, a happy childhood – a gift he valued throughout his life far more than millions of dollars he made.
(Courtesy: East and West Series, March 2004)
