Parental responsibility and the importance of the family

Iam addressing this topic of parental responsibility and importance of the family because I have received several requests from concerned citizens who want it discussed in the hope that it would bring about positive change.

The apparent rise in anti-social behaviour is a world wide trend and we are not exempt from it.

In the Holy Bible the Apostle Paul writing in his Second Letter to Timothy more than 2000 years ago said “this know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

For men shall be lovers of their ownselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, Unthankful, unholy. Without natural affection, trucebreakers, FALSE ACCUSERS, INCONTINENT, fiERCE, DESPISERS of those that are good.

Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof, from such turn away”. So he carries on in Chapter 3. He gave wise counsel to not only people at the time but to all of us.

We are the people in the last days he was referring to. From a biblical perspective we are living in the last days of the last dispensation in the fullness of time, at which the Bible says Jesus Christ will return to rule and reign on the earth in its paradisical glory.

Paul warned to beware of evil men who shall wax worse and worse deceiving and being deceived.

Then the advice: Remember the things you have been taught and you have learned in the scriptures.

They are for “thy profit and learning,” he said.

The family as an institution is under intense attack by the adversary because he knows that society, the vanua, community, the Government are only strong if the fam- ily is strong.

Most of the social ills we face today can be traced back home to the family.

That’s where everything begins. If children are taught well at home by their parents or guardians, the risks of them going astray are minimised.

In fact studies have shown that children who have gone on to succeed in life have been raised well at home by their parents or foster parents, some in orphanages. We should not be surprised with the changing face of our social landscape. We have been forewarned by God’s servants like Paul.

What we need to do is to guard against evil entering our homes by teaching our families God’s laws and standard.

That’s why the role of parents is so important.

They teach their children to obey the rules at home, at school and everywhere they go.

This is not the responsibility of teachers. Children are taught obedience through the examples of their parents or guardians. Parents, who smoke and drink alcohol, cannot teach their children not to smoke or drink alcohol because it’s hypocritical. Parents must spend quality time with their children instead of attending social and cultural activities that do not benefit the family or children. Sometimes we spend hours at the club or community hall around the grog bowl talking about things that are of no consequence to anyone.

Church activities must be reviewed so that they do not impose unnecessary burden on the family.

They should be designed to strengthen the family spiritually and will have lifelong positive consequences. Parents who invest their time and resources on raising their children will reap the rewards later in life.

Their children are most likely to do well in life and become productive and law abiding citizens.

They bring joy, satisfaction and fulfillment to their parents in their twilight years.

That’s what it is all about. Our jobs and other vocations in life should be family friendly, meaning they should benefit the family.

Today I would like to challenge all parents and guardians to evaluate how much prime or quality time they are spending with their children.

Let’s make the change if we need to and see the positive results.

Let’s stop blaming the Government, the Police, teachers and church pastors for our failure.