As I greet another Friday morning readying myself for prayer, I was ruminating on why families are struggling so much these days. It seems that the change in our culture has been so insidious. What stands out front, but is still hard to see, is how we don’t value children any more. I know the knee-jerk response is to say, “Yes we do!”, but let’s stop and reflect on the culture as a whole.
Children Then and Now
Then: treasures, blessings, gifts from God, investment in the future
Now: inconveniences, financial burdens, possessions (gotta have one!)
Then: Children died because medical technology and resources were limited. Parents did whatever they could to protect their children’s health.
Now: We have advanced medical technology and more resources. We pay to have children aborted or prevented, because we have busy full lives and need to protect our financial resources. When we do have children, we are often not around, but rather building our wealth and enjoying our material possessions.
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4
We do have the power to change the culture. Children ARE our future. It all starts with the behavior of one. Pray and fast. Because although it’s the day of the crucifixion, we always have the resurrection to look forward to.
“Hope does not mean that we ignore or minimize the evils around us. It means, rather, that we see the whole picture, which is that evil is conquered because of what happened one Sunday morning. We are called to proclaim, celebrate, and serve that victory, waiting in joyful hope for Christ's return and the full flowering of the Culture of Life! Indeed, Sunday's comin'!” Fr. Frank Pavone
Peace, Joy, and Love,
Janet
