Every young person's future is full of possibilities. As 


parents, we have the incredible privilege of cultivating, 


shaping, and directing our children's hearts to God! 



Question:


Are we teaching our children the way of wisdom and life, 


or are we instilling in them the way of folly and death?



Family life is changing, and so, too, is the role mothers 


and fathers play. We are witnessing an increase of 


single-parent or primary parent systems.



The normal childhood experience of over 61 percent 


of today's youth is to live with only one parent and/or 


spend part of their lives in a single parent family. 



Single-parent families can be defined as families where 


a dependent child or children lives with one parent.



In the latter half of the twentieth century, the number of 


single-parent families increased rapidly and dramatically. 


Some have utilized this shift to suggest that we are 


witnessing the collapse of the family. According to others, 


this disintegration is harmful to children, families, and our 


society.



Others argue that single-parent families are not necessarily 


abnormal  or problematic, but rather a different form of 


family. Regardless of how one views family diversity, the rise 


and stability of single-parent households has a significant 


impact on the social, economic, and political conditions of 


family life.



Mothers and fathers frequently bring distinct strengths and 


parenting techniques to their positions. These roles should 


complement each other for healthy child rearing.

Fathers impact their children in large part because of the 


strength of their relationship with their children's mother.


Mothers and fathers who have their children's best interests


at heart can bring unique strengths to their relationships with 


their children.



Children with both a mother and a father can benefit 


from extra attention... as well as a wide range of 


nurturing processes.

We will never be perfect parents, but when God is in the forefront of all of our


affairs... there is nothing we can do, on our own, that will have a higher return.


God provides the skills needed for managing the home and our families.


God knows that a positive, godly environment

helps families thrive, and the benefits extend beyond generational!

May we always keep God at the forefront 



of all of our affairs. We can succeed...



when God leads us.


Young people see how Mom and Dad rely on God in their


 trials and will remember how God saved them. The faith of 


parents in God's sufficiency will have a tremendous influence 


on their children. When faced with decisions in the future, 


children will have those examples of faith and trust in God to 


help guide them.



Our Father's love is 


consistent and unwavering.


 

Children will be drawn to God when they realize the 


unchangeable nature of God's love through the example


 of their parents. We also want our family to also see Jesus 


in us in the privacy of our own home.



Children actually learn from their parents' disagreements.


Children learn that calm often follows storms when their 


parents exchange heated words, but later resolve their


differences peacefully. If we show forgiveness, patience, 


and acceptance, our children will expect to see the same 


traits in God.



Negative behaviors or examples, as well as consistent 


harshness, busyness, or emotional neglect affect a child's 


picture of God.



Children learn from their surroundings. Regardless of 


gender, both parents should teach their children to be 


honest, responsible, trustworthy, and polite.



There are differences in parental play styles. Young guys 


can learn a lot about life from a single mother. Mothers are


 usually the ones who teach their children about God, good 


manners, respect for elders, etc.



Women can raise a fine man by far, but as quiet as some would


 like to keep it, there are certain masculine attributes, such as


 teaching a child how to be a genuine man, that women cannot 


fully provide.



A remarkably clear phenomenon is taking place in terms of 


our children's perspective of authoritative adults. The mother


 is usually the major authority role at home.  The majority of 


the teachers and churchgoers are female.  Women have been 


compelled to fill roles that some males have completely 


abandoned, producing voids and identity crises for everyone 


involved.




Raising a child without visible male role models at home, school, 


and other important sites can leave our youngsters feeling empty and


 defenseless. In their efforts to fill this unexplained emptiness, they


grow curious... sometimes about gang culture and street masculinity, 


which could lead them into criminality.

Question:

Will the presence of fathers and God-centered households

help in the fight against crime?

The involvement, support, and connection


 of a father to his children has been


 linked to safer, more positive surroundings


 and outcomes.



The presence of a father



is crucial to the



 well-being of his child.



Children who have involved, caring fathers


 are much more likely to do well in school,


 have positive self-esteem, and avoid 


high-risk behaviors like drug use, truancy, 


and criminal activity.

Every day is father's day!

Dads occupy a unique and vital role in the lives of their children.


 They serve a unique and critical function in nurturing and directing


 the development of children. Many experts now believe fathers can 


be as nurturing and sensitive to their children as mothers are.



Fathers take on additional tasks as their children grow, encouraging


 their children's intellectual and social development. Even when a parent


 is 'just playing' with his children, he is fostering their development.



Children who have involved fathers tend to be more academically,


developmentally, and socially sound.


Dads are crucial.


From birth to adulthood, fathers have a

 significant role in their children's

 development.

Numerous research have come to the same conclusion: 


children with involved fathers have a social and academic edge


 over children with distant or no interactions with their fathers.



Another study discovered that elementary school children who


had solid bonds to their fathers during infancy performed better 


on tests of empathy, or the ability to see a situation from another


 person's perspective. These children recognized how other 


children were feeling and took steps to make them feel better.



When fathers are connected with their children, the children 


appear to have fewer discipline issues. The involvement of the 


father is beneficial to the children.



Numerous studies show that children with fathers who ask about 


what they learned in school and their day-to-day social activities


 and connections perform better in school than children who do not 


have that kind of feedback or interest.


The earthly father is a child's


 first image of God.


Fathers are much more than just another adult in the household.


 Involved fathers provide great benefits to their children that no


 other individual can bring to the table. Children who have an 


involved father in their lives are more likely to be emotionally 


secure.



It should be noted that a father figure does not have to be a biological


 father for children to benefit. It could be an adopted father, stepfather,


 or uncle in the family. When fathers are more active with their children,


 it benefits everyone.



Some of our children are wandering aimlessly because someone has


 failed to provide them with their history... their bridges to the world. The 


bond of an extended family, friends, and teammates becomes very powerful


. 

It also explains why some adolescents join gangs. They want to belong, 


even if it's wrong.

We all have a profound desire to feel 


like we are a part of something 


greater than ourselves.


 This need includes people, places, and possessions. Our instinct 


for belonging, for being wanted, accepted, enjoyed, and loved by 


close ones is extremely powerful!



Fathers and mothers provide possibilities for their children by 


connecting them with a large network that includes grandparents, 


aunts and uncles, cousins, and family friends.



Our children must understand their genuine worth and purpose.


Questions to Ponder:


Are we truly taking the time to teach our children about the 

benefits of being pure in mind and body?

Are we teaching our children about their bodies being the 

temple of the Holy Spirit?

Are we instead emphasizing and teaching our children

about condoms, birth control, and safe sex?

To avoid creating indecent tendencies in boys, we must teach


 our daughters to dress modestly. Parents must keep an eye on


 their children's clothing on a regular basis. Men should be


explaining why this is so vital... to their family members. 


Furthermore, we must teach our sons to step back when they 


see inappropriate things that may inspire unsafe sexual 


thoughts and/or conduct.



When our children are young, parents should begin sowing 


little seeds. This is something we want our children to grasp 


before they start forming emotional or physical attachments.



The battle for purity takes place in our minds and what we put into


 our brains. What we allow into our minds is what we allow into our 


bodies through our senses. What we see and hear will create images and


 thoughts in our minds.



We must monitor what enters our children's minds (through their eyes 


and ears). Keep an eye on what our children are viewing on TV, doing


 on the internet, and reading. We will have to intentionally set safeguards 


and boundaries, and give "a boat load" of instructions in this area.



The battle is real, parents. To educate our children about abstaining will


 require some time and work on our part, but it will be well worth it!

Are we, by example and words,

 stressing a Godly attitude towards drinking and drugs,

or are we waiting for some school program 

to give our child a "Just say no" lesson?


Do we keep our children accountable to us as their parent 

and guardian, or are we more interested in trying to be their 

best friend and get them to like us?

Nothing keeps us on our toes and knees 


like parenting!

Are we like Joshua, who said these wonderful words:

"As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15),

or have we left our children to find their own way in this world full

 of temptations, sins, and evil?
Children want to have standards to live up to!

Children may oppose us at every turn, yet they are secretly grateful 

that we love them enough to want to encircle them with high standards 

and rules. Not only do our children want it... God wants us to impart

 His commands and standards to them!


Deuteronomy 32:46, "And He said unto them,


Set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you this day, 


which ye shall tell your children to do, all the words of this law."



Deuteronomy 6:6-7, "And these words, which I command thee this 


day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto


 thy children, and shall talk of them when thou sit in thine house,


and when thou walk by the way, and when thou lie down,


and when thou rise up."



Regardless of the label we wear parent, teacher, neighbor, or aunt...


we have the opportunity every day to be the best version of 


ourselves and share that with the children in our world.



May we let the children in our world witness us modeling 


appropriate behavior. May we commit to pray daily with and 


for our children.



May we provide a safe haven, where our children's questions are 


answered and their doubts can change to faith and certainty.



May we invite all children to experience the love of God.


May we send them out to reflect God in their daily lives.



"What a sweet reward it is for parents to hear adult 


children say, "We are grateful for the way you all raised 


us and all of the life lessons that we were taught."


Jesus loves me still today, walking with me on my way,

wanting as a friend to give light and love to all who live.

God intended for parents to be the primary caregivers for their children. 


Although none of us are ideal parents, we can all be praying parents!


Prayer is our highest privilege as parents, and and prayers can cover 


our shortcomings.



We believe divine guidance and inspiration can leave a rich heritage for 


our children, grandchildren, and future generations.



We will know that our lives mattered as we pass the baton to the next 


runner... because we are consciously leaving the world a better place... 


for future generations.