WORD PUZZLE

ACROSS

1. Extend credit

5. Accumulate

10. F F F F

14. Double-reed woodwind

15. A seal

16. Masterstroke

17. Diva’s solo

18. Warehouse

20. Surrender

22. Distended

23. It comes from a hen

24. Adjust again

25. Tomfoolery

32. Under a spell

33. Good-looker

34. Married

37. Was indebted

38. Supporting column

39. Rend

40. S

41. Birthing coach

42. Varnish ingredient

43. Compulsively

45. Suffered

49. Foot digit

50. A disrespectful laugh

53. Not devious

57. Beyond belief

59. Type of sword

60. Apollo astronaut Slayton

61. Adhesives

62. Liturgy

63. At one time (archaic)

64. Affirmatives

65. Glance over

DOWN

1. Unit of bread

2. River of Spain

3. French for “Black”

4. Was unbearably loud

5. Designate

6. Glove

7. Yore

8. Knights

9. Killed

10. French school

11. Infractions

12. A friction match

13. All tuckered out

19. Steed

21. Quaint outburst

25. Sneaker or pump

26. Chops

27. Former lovers

28. Convulsion

29. Cunning

30. Collection of maps

31. Louse-to-be

34. Sage

35. Wicked

36. Declare untrue

38. Weep

39. Merrymakers

41. Avoid

42. Violent disturbance

44. Pressure

45. Comment to the audience

46. Not outer

47. Tongue touches

48. Everglades bird

51. Jittery

52. Anger

53. Away from the wind

54. Sweeping story

55. Bristle

56. Observed

58. Passenger vehicle

Our world has been increasingly plagued with insecurity – emotionally, economically, politically; both locally and globally. We are confounded by the uncertainty of earthly life, bewildered by constant change, dreadfully suspicious of one another. And, alarmingly, we are veering our faith, away from God and towards manmade technologies.

All religions preach that faith in God contributes to strength of character, that it enables man to stand up under things that otherwise would astound him or crush him. But it has now become very difficult to maintain a sense of poise, balance, levelheadedness, good sense and moral strength, qualities that are valuable in the here-andnow as well as in the hereafter.

We are seeing a world that is becoming so willing to exchange its moral convictions for little comforts and conveniences. There is, perhaps, nowhere else to look where problem begins – the home. The formative environment of the home has been slowly but consistently degenerating.

True, we are providing our kids with better education today. But, for the most part, the modern educational system only equips young learners with practical skills – and not strength of character. We produce professionals in rocket science that are emotional and spiritual wrecks.

We are surrounding our kids with luxuries we never knew of in our own youth. Our modern education has taught us that personality is a creature of the environment, and so we try to surround our children with comforts, so they may develop fully. We inadvertently make life so easy for the young ones.

Parents spare their kids from discomfort and hardship. They tend to make life easier for their children. The kids are raised in an environment steeped in transitory delights. In effect, the young no longer embrace humanity’s collective spiritual heritage – they tend to believe that there is nothing beyond this physical existence.

We erroneously think that it is the function of parental love to shield our children from the hard realities and transport them to a world of fantasy. Too much comfort and convenience can deflect the attention growing children from the real secret of living.

Young people might be expecting to find life, to pick it up, and go on their way. That is a lie.

We never find life; we create it.

So much so, parents cannot live life for their children, to completely spare the young ones from the pain of possible failure and disappointment. Often the best teacher that children can have is a difficult environment to awaken the courageous drive and endurance of their slumbering, uninitiated souls. Hardship and difficulty train them to be able to stand adversities steadily and become an inspiration to others.

Growing children shall be prepared for all the trials that are sure to come in life on their own. And they shall be taught to trust in God to make the trials as well as the blessings that may come their way to be just enough that they can stand; that their achievements will not bloat their ego, that their losses will not break spirit. And then they shall be truly ready to face life!