Keeping families strong today is one of our chief concerns as a nation. Before we can have a world filled with people who genuinely care for one another, we must have countries, states, cities, and rural areas populated by caring folks. Where does this much- hoped for mushrooming effect begin? Why in the family of course.

When two people discover they love each other enough to marry and raise a family, the feeling of looking out for someone else and caring about their happiness is born. If they are lucky, they have grown up themselves feeling loved and appreciated. The individual may have been secure in the knowledge they were deeply cared for by their parents. They searched out a mate who felt the very same way about people.

Children born to this couple are fortunate since they also receive the goodness that comes from knowing folks who love you dearly protect you. Their childhood is happy. Kids feel secure as part of a strong family unit. This increases their self-esteem which enables them to grow into a well-adjusted human being. The feelings they grow up with are ready to share with others when they reach adulthood. It is easy seeing them become great spouses and parents.

In the community, these families are the guiding influence that promotes progress. They are the folks who tirelessly fight for people's rights. They volunteer to help those in need. This is the person who works toward positive changes for educational, spiritual and political issues. When this forward thinking family transfers its information and good deeds to many people and places, other families are inspired. Soon, this family is duplicated throughout the community. The effect of people who care about others and their family values spreads until it reaches outward and upward to the highest levels. People who arm themselves with good ideas can sit on committees and influence their representatives till their efforts result in appropriate change. This feeling of concern about how laws and events affect everyone can cross miles, cultures, and time. When we care about our fellow man, we see the embryonic beginning of world peace. In our mind is a place where the only race the population sees is the human race first. This utopia sees man helping man and a true love of thy neighbor.

Once this feeling overtakes people, the Family of God gains as much significance as our family of birth. It is a distant dream, but one that is possible if we preserve and promote the traditional family with two strong parents who feel raising their children is their most precious responsibility.

© Copyright 2000

Credits: Jo Ann Wentzel