Temperance is a virtue that is fundamentally affirmative. It enables one to master self and put control on affections and emotions, likes and dislikes, desires, and pursuits. Generally, it helps to maintain equilibrium in the choice of action and to protect the interior desires of humans.
The human impulses, especially those generated from the environment and the desires of the heart, require self-regulation and self mastery. The ability to say yes or no and the understanding that not everything we feel or desire should be given free reign of action is the basis of temperance. There are natural impulses and external stimuli, and the ability to resist the trap set by these through calmness, rational reasoning, and serenity is the message of temperance. A heart that is in control of itself is a heart that knows peace. A heart that is happy is a heart that is free of deceptive and false sensation of intemperate disorders.
Parents and teachers have the basic responsibility of teaching the young ones temperance. They need to lead a temperant life that radiates peace of mind so that children will have the incentive to emulate them. Temperance needs to be transmitted from the family level to the school and then to society. Because temperance as a virtue is largely a detachment from the yieldings of the thoughts that materialised to unfulfillng
actions, it requires courage and a balance in wisdom.
Temperance is a morality that comes with struggle. The emotional, psychological, and mental struggle for one to be master of himself. It is a virtue that should be lived by everyone, especially children and youths who are more vulnerable and easily influenced by circumstances.
Children and youths need to know how to resist societal and peer pressure and avoid being deceived. They need to exercise restraints and act reasonably in provoking situations. They need to know when and how to exercise their freedom. They need to choose what decisions to make, how, and when to make them. They need to understand their right, their will, their pursuits, and know when to exercise them for a just course. They need to engage the right approach in the choices they make. They need to know when and how to rectify an erroneous decision. They need to know how to harmonise hostile situations. They need to understand when and how to compromise if need be. They need to align with the principles of respect and avoid being unnecessarily
unreasonable or erratic.
A child who struggles with temperance is likely going to face the same struggle as an adolescent and as an adult. Thus, many youths nowadays are dealing with excessive materialism, consumerism, immodesty, rising addiction, glutton, entitlement mentality, and instant gratification.
The ability to moderate pleasures should start from infancy and taught by parents. Knowing the right portion of food to give a child, enforcing rules like doing homework before playtime, setting TV and video games limits, monitoring access to computer time and other gadgets, conserving resources like food wastage, or spending so much time in the shower. All these and more fortify the temperance of children and regulate their impulses from childhood to adulthood.
During lean financial times, families that practice temperance find it easy to navigate through the desires of their children, respond to their quests, and cater for their tastes. Children and youths who are used to a temperant life can easily secure a harmonious life and noble character through moderation and balance. They can conveniently practice discernment, prudence, self-denial, self mastery, sacrifice, love of God, and peace of mind.
It is pertinent to note that striking a balance in the road to temperance is very important for families. Parental restrictions in temperance should be guided with caution and moderation. It shouldn’t be made to stifle the joy of their children. Explanations and compliments must accompany every journey of self-denial they are taught. Neglect must not creep in to avoid the engulfment of guilt.
Temperance is godly. Let your children hear No from time to time and be used to it. They may not always love it, but they’ll understand that it is part of living and will learn to say no if need be. They will witness the balance and the joy that temperance brings and live with the peace all the days of their lives.
In the words of Magret Cavendish, for pleasure, delight, peace, and felicity, live in method and temperance. Let your children mount securely to the height of character through temperance.
BIBLE VERSE
Galatians 5:22-24
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law
PROVERBS
Àgúnbàjẹ́ ni tolódó
Pounding-until-it-is-ruined is the habit of the owner of the mortar…Yoruba Proverb
RIDDLE
I am the solution to finding what it is you’re looking for. People do this every day to find out more, what am I?
Amara Ann Unachukwu
