A  FAMILY THAT SACRIFICES IN THE

 LIGHT OF GOSPEL

The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He frustrates the plans of the people. The counsel of the Lord stands forever, the thoughts of His heart to all generations.  (Psalms 33:10-11)

PART III

Click here for Part I

Click here for Part II

A family attains discipline and punctuality when the Spirit of God fills in our home.  In order to obtain a happy family, each member of the family must accept that they have their own portion of responsibility and duties. 

Nowadays, the virtue and purity of marital life is perishing, its results are reflected even in its fruits. Look! How quickly the links of marital life get separated and broken.  Even minute misunderstandings destroy countless families.  Let us explore into this matter.

After giving birth to children, it is the marital relationship that is the center point and God reveals the new face of His plan to the husband and wife.

Are there any parents who do not complain about their children? Right from the moment a baby is formed in the womb, the thoughts and emotions of the parents are mixed in the blood of the baby.  All these habits and personalities keep growing in their little minds as they grow up.  For no reason at all, the children  become slave of anger, fear, anxiety, sadness and hot temper. 

Children show great love and trust towards their parents and their closeness towards them incomparable.  It is quite natural for a child to jump into its mother’s arms wherever he sees his mother.

Children who are conceived unexpectedly may not receive enough love from their parents. Though they may not express it but deep within it is a cause of their restlessness and  the new born baby can experience and understand it. Such children expect a lot of safety and protection from their parents often and  become prone to untoward incidents.  Thoughts such as ‘My parents don’t need me’ often arises within them. As the children grow the good and evil thoughts in their mind keep growing. 

It is an important duty of parents to lay a good foundation in their children’s lives and the best ideas are found and explained in the Holy Scriptures.

In trust and unity and in the holy knowledge of God’s son and according to measure of Christ’s perfection, all should reach and become a mature person.

If parents are unable to help or don’t take interest in their children to  develop a true and steadfast love , they will not be safeguarded against iniquities and mistakes.  If parents are to be pleased in their children’s future, then they will definitely teach them the rules and regulations.

You, who are believers in Christ Jesus, when  pressed down with problems or put down by failures, would be best and appropriate to seek solutions for your problems in the Word of God.  All these things have to be taught to the children their childhood itself.  As time goes by in moments of doubts and confusion, these little verses will become the light for their feet.

Psychiatrists advise, “Do not punish children.”  But the Holy Bible says, “One who does not use the stick to discipline his child, does not love him.”  Discipline is essential to develop obedience and good habits. 

Those who love their children will not hesitate to correct them.  The Word of God says, “You will reap what you sow.” When you keep satisfying the liking and needs of your children, you reap a big harvest of bad habits and indiscipline.

Children are obliged to happily obey their parents and it is one of the commandments, so that they obtain goodness and attain long life on this earth.

When you renew the relationship between parents and children in the right manner, the home becomes heaven.  The Lord grants children with a peaceful future and at that moment exceedingly beautiful heavenly paradise comes into existence.  Children should realize that there are limitations in everyone’s life.  When the children realize that if they reject the just limitations in any manner they receive punishment, then thereafter they will themselves find the limitations.

Parents realize that it is quite natural for a child to play and enjoy his life but it is equally important that the child should be handed over small responsibilities. It is essential to have a control in watching T.V., etc. and it should not become an instrument of babysitting. 

Dear ones, you desire to give good nutritious food to your children.  Similarly, it is necessary to give good food for the growth of mind.  Jesus said, “Your food doesn’t go into your heart.  But what goes into our mind touches our heart.”  The time a child spends before the T.V. affects his life to a great extent. 

‘Time is life, do not misuse it.”  In this manner when parents take charge and become exemplary, they can remove numerous discomforts from the family.  However mischievous your child may be, if we handle them in a right manner, they will become the light of the family and the community. 

If you nurture the child on the basis of Word of God, in the future they will establish a good home, making their parents happy. 

In the Holy family there were struggles, poverty and problems, but the birth of Lord Jesus transformed that family.  By respecting, obeying His parents and always helping them, Jesus produced comfort and joys in that little family. 

Thus if you discipline your children according to the Word of God from childhood, you can build many families like the Holy Family.  Your house will be transformed into a home of hard work, discipline, the spirit of prayer and comfort.

‘But my children are grown up… what should I do?’  Don’t Worry!

You still can show interest to send them to the spiritual classes that are prepared by the Holy Spirit and for spiritual retreats.  Bring home good pocket books based on the Bible and good CD's of spiritual songs. 

Dear parents, if you pay attention to this, the Lord will become your refuge and your children will themselves be inspired. 

Like shining lights as per your dreams they will become gift of God by spreading good deeds in home and society.  The crab who walks only in one direction can’t teach his children to walk in the right way.  Children very quickly learn to imitate their parents.  You might have heard this old saying. ‘I want to become like my mother or my father’. 

So become parents who give good examples to their children.  If parents develop their children in the right way, then God will surely bless the parents. 

May Lord Jesus who spread the light in the Holy Family bless you!