specifics on all our purposes in life are???

Well- to anybody who is reading this-- I woke up thinking about this around 2:30 a.m. , as I had a conversation with someone about it yesterday.
--- Their philosophy of life (from what they said) seemed to be to get by with doing absolutely as little "work" (for earning money) as possible- that they could have more time to inter-relate with others- like family and friends and so help them have happier lives.
Well a quick look at that seems like it is ok- but somehow something seems skewed?

It seems that there are
CIRCLES OF RESPONSIBILITY
(for providing for our own needs and wants)

and first we are to make sure we have enough of the necessities
(oxygen, water, food, shelter, clothing ((to cover our nakedness and for modesty and protection)), means to stay clean enough to be healthy etc)

I believe that each person than CAN
(has the mental and physical etc ability)

- needs to be responsible for themselves FIRST
(like in the airplane safety directions- parents are to put on their OWN oxygen mask first- as THEN then can make sure they can take care of their kids- the children- if they HAD enough oxygen might not know enough to help the parents!)

Then when WE have our at least bare necessities then we can help others.

I think we get into trouble about this on both ends--

I know of some parents (long time ago- and I won't name names but not in my faith)

who felt their Christian responsibility was to go out in the world to help others
-- which is PART right- but their priority was in their own home first-- as it turned out their children didn't have enough supervision and the older brothers were abusing their young sister- which impacted her whole life in terrible ways!!!

Charity
(the pure love of Christ)

we are told BEGINS at home
(we are taught it best by example and there our responsibility also begin)

back to the CIRCLES OF RESPONSIBILITY

So think of a target-- and put yourself in the center (first)

in the next ring would go your spouse (if you have one and finding the best person for you to marry is right up there on the priority list in my view at the right age)

then comes your children
(some I think get mixed up and put their children before their spouse-- but it is that USUALLY
(if the spouse has THEIR PRIORITIES RIGHT -- then they are what you need to BEST take care of your children-- a father to provide and protect his wife and children, and the wife/mother to nurture the children-- with BOTH of them working with all respect together as a team and each doing what they are best skilled to do to help their family, train the children to be responsible for themselves (and others as needed) and provide the loving atmosphere in their shelter, nutritious food, adequate clothing and adequate education etc-

and the parents being the best role models they can be for their children that the children can go out in the world and also find the best spouses and raise responsible families.

--- HOWEVER-- if a spouse proves to be "toxic"
(so mean and deranged as to emotionally and or physically or sexually abuse any others- and refuses to get help to heal whatever was the cause, then the other spouse must get themselves and the children to safety.

Other ways a spouse can fail in their responsibilities would be to be so selfish that they care only for their own entertainment and needs and do not value the others in the families needs equally-- so they spend their money or time on addictions (alcohol, drugs, porn -- anything that uses their money or time
(which is needed to make the money to supply the physical needs)

or their time is needed to emotionally support their family
(sick kids all night? burned out Mom, housework overwhelm etc--
or for the fathers-- if the mother is so focused on her social life, or her looks or THINGS that her children are treated as problems etc instead of how

I think children should be treated--
as our spiritual best friends/brothers and sisters
sent from our Father in Heaven into our care while they are unable to care for themselves
and we are to help them have all the assistance/training we would like to have if we were them
--- not to over indulge them (causing a wrong feeling of entitlement)
but training them to see the big eternal picture and themselves as valuable in it
as is everyone else. Teaching them to be responsible for themselves and assist others as they can.

--- Which takes me back to what I was thinking when I woke up.

Of the conversation I had-- that the "skewed" view-- was the avoidance of work. I believe that it is BY our work, that we can bless others lives.

Here is a song that describes this to me. :)

Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel

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“252: Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel,” Hymns of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, no. 252

Energetically

1. The world has need of willing men
Who wear the worker’s seal.
Come, help the good work move along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

[Chorus]
Put your shoulder to the wheel; push along,
Do your duty with a heart full of song,
We all have work; let no one shirk.
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

2. The Church has need of helping hands,
And hearts that know and feel.
The work to do is here for you;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

3. Then don’t stand idly looking on;
The fight with sin is real.
It will be long but must go on;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

4. Then work and watch and fight and pray
With all your might and zeal.
Push ev’ry worthy work along;
Put your shoulder to the wheel.

---- The "Put your shoulder to the wheel" part refers I believe to when the Mormon pioneers were traveling west (escaping persecution because of their religion) and it was in the days before the automobile- so they traveled in covered wagons pulled by oxen or horses, with large wheels, that could get stuck in mud or sand etc-- and so often they needed the people to get together and "put their shoulders to the wheels and push" to get over the rough spots.

Anyway-- so back to the conversation that caused me to wake.

I think that the song shows that WORK is a blessing,

though again work can be totally overdone and the person be driven to work to "get ahead" in life, or "be successful" etc and they do not balance the work in their lives, with some rest (Sabbath Day) and with family and friends a little play.

I think though that it is WAY more likely that the skew will be "not to work" (not be responsible for your own needs- but expect hand outs and help from others, and even the government (which is taking from other workers in taxes etc) rather than doing what is necessary to supply for their own needs and wants, with some SAVINGS kept by for emergencies that they not be a drag on others.

Like in the analogy of the shoulder to the wheel-- it was for a SHORT BOOST when they couldn't do it themselves-- not to sit back (maybe drinking alcohol or doing drugs etc and or watching TV, sports or porn etc) and use up others lives (time is what our lives are made of- and it can't be replaced)- but we can help others get what needs to be done by giving of our time or funds to supply what needs to be done that THEY CAN'T DO FOR THEMSELVES.

I believe when we "help" others-- when they are NOT really in need, but just have been selfish or lazy-- then we actually are hurting/enabling them to continue.

Some of the best feelings we can have is when we help correctly when it is really needed. :) We can lie to ourselves and "rescue" others who don't really need to be rescued-- and I think it is a false thing we will come to regret when we understand what we have done by our "helping". It is not all that easy to find how to really help others.

Parents, I believe can really hurt their children in this way too. Mothers especially are prone to do too much FOR their children, instead of teaching the children to work and get the good feelings they can enjoy from seeing the work they did :).

I think the best way to teach children is to let them first see YOU happily work, and then as soon as they are able to "lift a dust rag" let them help WITH the work. Also the best way is not to say "good job" but to help THEM evaluate their own work, and ask them if they see how happy it makes you feel, and how do they feel etc.

It sure is a challenge! --

Anyway back to the purpose of life-- I think there is are Bible and other holy scripture about it (ok, lots of scriptures about work. :)

Even God works! "