To be Right or to be Liked

I read an interesting article about Bill Cosby yesterday.  He talked about his TV show "The Cosby Show" and his philosophy behind it.  “I based the series on two important things: Number one … I hated those series where the children were brighter than the parents, and those parents had to play dumb,” Cosby said. “Number two was that I wanted to ‘take the house back.”  I've never seen the show, but I certainly agree that the dumming down of parents only leads to disrespect.

Cosby gave an example of his own grandfather.  When Bill wanted to play high school football, his grandfather discouraged him.  "Your bones are not strong enough."  The young Cosby didn't heed his advice, and broke his shoulder in the first game of the season.  Grandpa Cosby didn't remind him of his advice, just asked how he was doing then he put a quarter in Bill's hand and he said, "Go get yourself some ice cream. It’s got calcium in it."

Bill summed up his parenting philosophy with this, "When it comes to parenting, to raising young people and keeping them safe, it’s better to be right than liked."

When I think about the leaders in my life (parents, grandparents, teachers and pastors) I am thankful that they chose to be right instead of liked.  They stepped on my toes, told me "No" and held firm to their convictions.  I didn't always like it, but I'm glad about it today!  As a child and teenager, I didn't have their life experience.  If they had let me make my own decisions, who knows where I would I be today.

I know now that it isn't always easy to take a stand.  With the wisdom of years comes the realization that those who were right, and weren't afraid to steer me in that direction, are also the ones I like!