I was talking with a friend the other day about the challenges I saw for kids today. As the father of two teenagers, we were specifically talking about the difficulty of getting the teenagers to not only go to church, but to see the importance in why they were there.
There is a family in our church who has 4 girls, 1 boy, another girl on the way. They do everything together and are a poster-Catholic family. This led to the discussion point: Why aren't my kids as focused on the family and on church?
I believe it has a lot to do with society's lack of acceptance of religion in our lives . Not the acceptance of Catholicism, but of religion in general. When I was growing up in the 70's & 80's, Wednesday night was off limits to the schools for activities. That evening was for the local churches to use for religion classes and such. Now, no such thing exists. In fact, my children's high school had activities on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, two important days in the Catholic Church and in other churches as well.
Also, when I was growing up and would go to church a lot during Lent, none of my friends harassed me about going. They were more or less ambivalent. The school was very accommodating and the teachers did not mind. I believe that today, if a kid came to school 15-20 minutes late several days a week during Lent, they would be in trouble. I do not believe the school would be very accommodating.
As a parent, I find it hard to teach my children the importance of God in their lives when everything around them says He is not. Entertainment, school, friends, everything seems to work against having a strong relationship with God. The 10 Commandments seem to be guidelines now instead of laws.
Society also teaches that if you can't touch it, feel it, taste it...it just doesn't exist. One of my favorite examples of knowing God is present in my life is simple. When I am faithful in my donations to the church...money always seems to be available when I need it most. When I decide not to write that check...I seem to have money problems. Try getting a teenager today to understand that "faith" connection. They just don't get that stuff.
As far as family time goes...so many things pull at the family's time. Kids need to work as soon as they can so they can have that car or get money for college. Both parents are working to make ends meet...there just isn't time, it seems, to nurture that family connection.
My greatest fear as a father is that after my children leave home they will never see the inside of a church again except at their wedding and their funeral.
The Ten Suggestions.
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