Which is the single most factor that affects our children and youth? The response of parents may vary from anything like TV or MySpace or music or friends. A few might say church. But, studies (and experience) have shown that only a very few parents would think of and mention something that is very close to themselves-their own family. How much ever we try to ignore or cover up the real life situation of our families, it will surface through the words and actions of our own children.
Traditionally, we have placed much importance to the families in which we have grown up. Parents normally boast about the spirituality of our homes in which they grew up. In spite of the hard times in a situation of limited economic resources, the parents of old had a wealth of spiritual resources in store for their children. Naturally they had much quality time spent together with their children, which helped their faith formation and character building. Sad to say, our situations in the first world have compelled us to go for cheap substitutes.
The recently published Report Card 2007 showing the well being of children and youth in Philadelphia has some distressing realities in store for us (www.philasafesound.org). One of the central observations is that “Youth violence remains a major problem”. Also, another shocking fact is that even though “pregnancy rate for 15- to 17-year-olds continued to fall, rates for older and younger teens were on the rise”. The teen pregnancy rates hovers around 55.8 per 1000 females. We might brush these facts away as it doesn’t concern our community. But it should warn us to the disastrous consequences of broken and dysfunctional families in which these teens grow up.
The mainline culture has tricked us into thinking that the Gen Y does not appreciate the importance of family ties. But a recent survey by AP and MTV is a shocking refutation of any such thinking. To a question, what makes you happy, asked to more than a thousand people of NYC between the ages of 13 and 24, the imagined answers were, “sex, drugs, a little rock ‘n’ roll, maybe some cash, or at least car keys”, but he real and shocking top answer was, “spending time with family”. “Nearly three quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy”. http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3499089
Parents beware! Don’t barter quality time with your children with an extra work for providing for them something more; it’s a poor bargain. Give them your time, give them your love, give them your faith (hope you have a little!) Build your home wisely (Matthew 7:21-24)
Sam Achen
rev_matscar@yahoo.com