Parental Love and Affection, its role in the Church and Society.

Titus 2:4 (KJV)  That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children.

Looking at the situation globally, there is a gross rise in crime rate, departure from the Faith and waning level of societal decency.

Take a look at this businessinsider.com's report, 

 A 26-year-old former airman for the US Air Force killed at least 26 people and injured several more in a church shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, on Sunday.

 Over the last 10 years, men in their mid- to late 20s and early 30s have committed the majority of US terrorist attacks and mass shootings.

  Psychiatrists say the issue could be partly developmental, as brain regions governing risky behavior aren't fully formed until age 25.

Taking a careful look at this reports, confirms why this topic was chosen for discussion today. 

Paul in his writing to Titus exhorts him to Affirm sound Doctrine, of which one of his  point of emphasis was on this subject of Parent loving their Children. 

 The reason why many children turn out to be hooligans invthe society is primaryly because they have not enjoyed an affectionate love, when they were hurt, they bore the pain themselves, when they not needed a confidant, they took tovthe street, as that was where they were welcomed.

 Parents today dont have the time to Observe changes in their Children, they are busy with Business, while the TV, Internet and uncensored Movies, are the ones doing the modeling of the Children's life.

 Over here in our nation, the culture of modesty, humility, integrity and respect amidst many others, have been fast eroded by the social vices that the World Wide Web present, because, parents failed to implant this in their Children. 

Proverbs 22:6 says "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." But today, what do we see? We see a gross departure from the Truth which parent have taught, but why?

-They were not Actually taught: many a time parent assume their Children should know some things, or that some things are not for them, such as Sex education, some parent count it absurd teaching such, and this is why their Children fall victim of wrong tutors among, thier friends, and since their parent were afriad of teaching them, Children also become shy, discussing their opinion about the subject with their parent.

-They were wrongly taught: Some parent believe in protecting their Children, by preventing them from association with people they identify as wrong, however, they fail ti realise that as social being, they cannot continue to prevent these children forever, and as soon as the children gets a little liberty, such as High schools hostels, higher institution admission, etc. They try to explore all that they've been prevented from.

Some parent believe when they purnish their Children for wrong doing they have instructed the child, but the truth is far from this, because, until you have instructed a child, punishment will only harden his heart.

What then should be done?

-Correction in Love: Because of the failure of the past, some children now are growing lopsided, but if we will rise in the power of love, and affectionately endare these Children, we will win their heart,

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at First, they will take it with shock, when they see a change of reaction, but when they observe that the Love and affection grows by the day, they will be broken, by our deeds of love. 

For these to be effective, we may need to work on our ego, hot temper, and become longsuffering, patient, temprate and Crucified with Christ, Hence their is a need for genuine Salvation that will bring about the fruits of the Spirit in us.

-Guidance with Example: Action speaks louder than voice, is a common saying among us, but many people don't practice what they really teach, they tell their children to go to Church, while they are busy with other things, they fight amidst themselves as Couple, but instruct their children of the contrary. They lie, while they taught their Children not to give false information.

All these actions speaks louder to the Children than those dos and don't.

-Instruction with affection: When we give instructions it must be done with affection, let them know why they should not do contrary, Children are inquisitive, they want to know Why they should do as you have instructed, let them see that the instruction as coming out of a heart of love.

-Mentoring by Monitoring: Parenting demands Observation, proper monitoring of your Child's change of friends, action, mood, physique etc.  are going to give you clue, when they seriously need your attention, sometimes they don't want to talk immediately, give them the privacy, breaking into their privacy may cause them to feel insecure, but when you maintain the affectionate relationship, they will find nothing too private to discuss with you.

   

-Pray: Your child needs your prayer, your prayer will go long way to:

*Guide them in decision making

*See your Love for them

*Order their step in life

*Lead them to salvation, and in all areas of their life

Finally, Avoid provocative Actions or words and say the right words at the right time, know when to rebuke firmly, meekly and when to be silent.

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!

(Colossians 4:6; Proverbs 15:23)