Question
After my father passed away, my younger brother’s family has started to live with my demented mother for a few years. I found out that my brother has been job less for two years and embezzled my mother’s money. What should I do to keep my mother’s money for her future usage? (Female 60’s)
A
When many problems arise and tangle up, it is important not to lose the focus of what the real problem is here. In these situations, what you need to think first is not the succession of property, but the nursing care for your mother. The focus should stay on the mother, not the money. It is necessary to discuss with your family about the progress of disease, what kind of care your mother will need, and what the budget will be.
A home where family members learn Kami’s teachings together share thoughts, talk to, and support each other, and fix jittai.
Family needs to be one and it is necessary to strive to make a home where Six Elements of Happiness(*) bloom.
Learning how family should be and a right way of life as a human being from Kami’s teachings will lead all your family members to happiness. Discuss with your family members once again calmly and faithfully with Kami’s teachings in your mind, and when necessary, enlist cooperation from specialized agencies like public administration and lawyers. Each one of the family members needs to learn Kami’s teachings, and strive to consider other’s feelings and work on the differences, and make a conclusion.
When your younger brother comes to think about mother’s life and realize that he needs to protect her, his will to work naturally comes forth from his kokoro.
(*) Six Elements of Happiness: Kami shows the elements of happiness as human beings and this is one of the important basic principles of life. Happiness is to be blessed with a husband or wife, blessed with sons and daughters, good health, occupation, livelihood and hope. When the husband and wife are in good relationship, the parents and the children will be in good relationship. When the family is in good terms, your health will be good, and your determination to work hard will not wither. You will be able to contribute to society, protected with a good living and live life with hopes and dreams. For more information, please read pg. 21 of “How to Live” and “The Basic Principles—Family, Health and Work.”