Got to Have Faith
Today, many children in the world are given little to no direction when it comes to faith and virtues. We are so busy with work and chores and activities that faith and family life suffer, sometimes without us even knowing it. There was a study done in 2009 that showed when a family was active in their faith and church’s parish life, around 78 percent of their children remained in the faith into their adult lives while 22 percent left the faith. For those who had little involvement and only went to church occasionally, those numbers were reversed (Barna Group, 2009, New Research Explores Long-Term Effect of Spiritual Activity among Children and Teens).
We have to realize that we are not just creatures of habit, but creations looking for the Creator. We long for truth and God to be a deep part of our life. We need to teach our kids AND model for them what it means to know and be followers of Christ. We need to show them how to give to others joyfully and generously, starting with them. If we neglect doing these things, then our children go hungry for that truth and will look elsewhere. They will grow weary of a church home that has no spiritual depth or parents who are very lukewarm about their faith. So as parents, it is necessary that we first and foremost KNOW, or are growing in knowing, our faith. Then we have to continually GROW our faith through a Sacramental and faith-centered life. We have to SHOW our faith daily through our actions and choices, because actions speak louder than words. Finally, we have to SOW it in the hearts of our children through traditions and ongoing teaching.
2 Timothy 4: 2-4 – Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
The more we infuse our family’s daily life with a focus on the Creator, who gave us EVERYTHING we have, our children will form a mindset around this for their own future. It is harder to let go of a way of life than it is to discard an unused or undervalued add-on in your life, especially when times get busy or tough.
ACTION STEP: This week, find a new way of making faith more central in your family’s life.