But now, when there is no war, nor the Soviet times, mothers do not need to struggle alone. This is my opinion, and I am eager to encourage all men to stop being milksops, but to take responsibility for their wives and children and for the building of strong families.
How are our families, our nation doing? The farther the worse it gets. We live in a time that is very difficult for families. The world seeks to undermine the value of family. For example, some 40 years ago, divorces were rare, it was unthinkable – if you have once said “yes”, how can you divorce now and forget about your children?
Who would have thought some 20 years ago that two young people do not get married, but live together, try out and then marry if it turns out well? 20 years ago it was unimaginable, even before that – hundreds and thousands of years everyone married and only then moved in to live together. I am scared to think what will happen after 20 years...
„You choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served …or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell…But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15) In this passage from the Bible, we see a principle, namely – the state is far from being a nurse for families. Instead – a devout family radiates blessing to all people. Society is made up from families. If the families are stronger, the society itself is stronger.
In Luther’s Small Catechism, each section begins with the words: “As the head of the family should teach them in a simple way to his household...”
Thus, I conclude that God will primarily demand from fathers to be spiritually responsible. Paul states in his Letter to the Ephesians: “For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church” Further on it says: “Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”
One day, each man will have to answer before God not only whether he has earned money for his family and spent time together, but also – whether he has taught his children to love God and the Word of God. And this should become the mother’s responsibility only if there is no father in the family.
Joshua, of whom we read in the Old Testament, was an exceptional father and popular leader. Joshua makes the people face a choice between the true God and idols. The issue of idols sounds rather religious, but still remains a topical issue. A man by its nature is not homo sapiens, but rather homo religiosos – a religious being. We all are – like it or not.
Even today we follow idols and ideals, and such idols also destroy families. Modern idols are not made as totems anymore, they are different. For idols are not only those we see in other religions – Zeus, Allah, Krishna, etc. I can name at least four the most common modern idols: money, power, fame and pleasure.
If you pay more attention to an idol, or even several, your family receives very little from you. The only thing that can stop this race after idols is men and women who dare to say: “Stop, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, the Triune God.” If families live in the light of God’s Word, their habits and attitudes are changing for the better, sometimes slowly, but thoroughly.
However, some will say – I will have enough time to found a family, I have the whole life ahead, I want to enjoy it! I also thought so once, when I was sixteen. But now I am glad that I got married when I was only 21, and now I have four children, my eldest daughter is already 6 and a half years old. Before that I could not even imagine how fantastic it is to have my own family, but today I would not change my family for any money, pleasure, fame or power.
I have some friends and classmates whom I occasionally meet and who had set seemingly great goals to be reached during their lifetime: find a well-paid job, build a big house, drive a luxury car, and then they would be able to support and found a family. But if you look at them, what have they achieved during these 10 years since graduation? Not much... Years are passing by, and most dreams have failed. Maybe they have a little higher salary, another step in career, but no families yet. And the huge earnings have also been a disappointment, since a lot of them has been spent on various latest technologies, on pleasure; and these former dreams are gradually disappearing, and people grow older. In the meantime, someone else has had children, and much has been invested in their future.
At this point, I wish to add that one thing is if you don’t have anyone to found a family with, but quite another if you have opportunities, but you let them go because you have very different priorities, or rather other idols that are leading your life. You think that you are controlling everything, but, in fact, idols are in control of you, and you give them all your time and energy.
Finally, I wanted to share some recent revelation concerning my family. Some time ago, I struggled with an enormous back pain for about half a year, I could not go jogging or turn on the other side at night – every movement was accompanied by great pain. After numerous tests and doctors’ consultations, I realized that there was no money or possibilities that could change this. And, at that moment, I dearly appreciated the joy given to me by children, when they came and hugged me, nestled up and simply played near me; they were happy with life and they “spread” this happiness to me.
Naturally, family comes along with worries and difficulties, but they cannot be compared with what the family gives back. The family is the best medicine for loneliness, boredom, insecurity and other problems. You receive from the family a lot more than any other idol could ever offer. “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord, the Triune God. “ Let us seek not for idols – fame, power, pleasure, money – but for strong families. Because it is the strong families that will build a strong Latvia!
Pastor and father of four Roberts Otomers
Nav komentāru:
Ierakstīt komentāru