01/15/2024
As a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, most times my perspective of client problems are from a relational standpoint; after all, the quality of our lives is dependent on one very important relationship (God) but low quality relationships with family, friends, colleagues, church and the rest of the world also affects us.
I love this quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. because it highlight’s the importance of the family unit. Strong families are the fundamental building block of strong communities and societies. Families are where we are educated and indoctrinated during childhood and adolescence how to live a moral, creative and productive life for the Kingdom of God….or not. God calls parents to raise a child in the way they should go (Proverbs 22:6) which goes beyond church attendance. Parents should seek God about His plans and spiritual gifts for their children so that you can train them specifically in the will of the Lord.
As parents and followers of Jesus Christ we are called to serve as witnesses to our faith not just to the outside world but first, to our children and our family (our first ministry). We are called to demonstrate and model like Christ, by our words, actions and attitude with boldness, humility, tenacity, urgency and love.
2024 is the year of the family as God designed. The restoration of family relationships and the awakening of the importance and placement of family in the educational (not just academic) process of our children. As parents, we are our children’s first and life long educator. Our approach may change from a pedagogical approach to an andragogical one as our children mature but as mother and father like Dr.King said, we are the main educational agency of mankind.