From J.K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement speech
“I would like to make it clear, in parenthesis, that I do not blame my parents for their point of view. There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.”
-부모님때문에 내 인생의 방향이 틀어졌다고 탓하는데에는 유효기간이 있다. 삶의 운전대를 잡을수 있는 순간, 그 책임은 온전히 당신 몫이다.-
These words really comfort me. As a parent, how many times have I punished myself for steering my sons in the wrong direction? I can’t forget those sleepless nights, struggling for the regrets, feeling so sorry for my sons, and being afraid of uncertain future. During those sleepless nights, my mind always went back to those regrettable moments which came to me so vividly, and I always was suffering with the regrets, “Why have I done that at that moment? It’s all my fault! Although I keep regretting, I can’t do anything about it!, Oh, my God! Help me! Have mercy on my son!.”
However, Joanne Rowling’s words encourage me. There’s an expiry date for feeling sorry for my sons for my wrong decision. I am sorry that I influenced my sons in the wrong direction. However, it’s not entirely my fault. Although I kept insisting my way, if he was convinced of himself, he could have resisted me and could have gone in his own way. No one is perfect. We, human beings are supposed to make mistakes all the time. How strange it is! Even though I get older and older, I never get wiser! Probably, that’s why we always need to get nearer and nearer to our Lord, because he is our guiding light.