MORE PARENTS are hauling their children before the court in an attempt to wrestle back control over them.
"More mothers are bringing their children on private matters, saying ’help me, this child is wandering, help me’," she said.
"They might be realising that they can’t assist them anymore so they are saying let the court deal with them and, maybe, that would have an effect on them," she said.
The magistrate laid blamed for deviant behaviour squarely on the drug culture and influences from North America.
But, in the majority of cases that had come before her, parental guidance was missing.
And it wasn’t restricted to young mothers, either, she said.
"You find some even in their 40s and 50s who can’t discipline their children right – who can’t control them."
This, Cooke-Alleyne said, was such a cause for concern that she felt there should be mandatory courses on parenting from the time a woman became pregnant.
"We’re living in different times," she said. "You need a license to operate a car. You can’t drive without one. But with parenting, you don’t have a test to go through and you have a life that can make a difference in the world in 18 years from now."
Adapted from Parents ’standing firm’
Published on: 2/19/06. Sunday Sun
Stories by Heather Lynn-Evanson
The picture painted by magistrate Cooke-Alleyne is one in which families are in disarray: A world where children have taken over and are holding parents hostage.
In other places we read of homosexual marriages being readily accepted and the adoption of children by these unions.
We read of spousal abuse and rises in divorces. Persons now prefer to live together outside of marriage;
We live in a world that impacts our families in a very negative way. A world full of drugs and sexual abuse.
Violence and crime.
Pornography and immorality
Where love is replaced by lust and fornication is the norm;
In the midst of all this, how can we realize the joy of serving Christ and pass it on to our children?
Brothers and sisters I have news for you!! The Israelites were brought out into such a world. A world full of immorality, lust and ungodliness but God had a remedy to keep them immune from the influences around them. This remedy is also available to us.
God does not leave us devoid of wisdom as to how to realize the Joy of serving Christ in our lives and how we can pass it on to our children? In fact we know that this is his desire and whatever God wants for us he provides directions on how to achieve it. He never leaves anything to chance. Let us turn in our bibles to Deut. 6:1-3
Prayer
Let us turn in our Bibles to the book of Deuteronomy
Deut: 6:1,2Now these are the commandments, the statues and the judgments which the Lord your God commanded to teach you that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statues and his commandments which I command thee, thou and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the day of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged
One of the first commands Moses spelled out is that they should fear the Lord their God. This command is reinforced throughout scripture The psalmist tells us in Ps.9:10
[Ps. 9:10 ] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
The angel in Revelation 14:7 declares to this generation-Fear God- and Jesus gives the command in Matt. 8:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
One of first steps in realizing the Joy of serving Christ is to stop fearing what man can do to you and fear God. Too many people rather than base their decisions on their Christian values and principles, make their decisions to favour spouses, employers, friends, or relatives. Their fear spouses displeasure, being fired, offending friends and relatives rather than offending God. If we are to experience the Joy of Serving Christ we must have a free conscience; A conscience void of any wrong doing. Too often people act out of fear of losing friendships, displeasing spouses, family members or relatives only to end up with the very same people doing things that offend them. The bible declares in psalms 146: 3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
We as men and women of God must fear offending God more than anything else!
We must fear losing His friendship, for he is the best friend we could ever want.
We must fear displeasing Him because he is an awesome God
We must fear breaking our relationship with Him, because without him we are lost.
Brothers and sisters to realize the Joy of serving Christ we must take God seriously and hold him in great reverence.
Moses continued in verses 3, to 5 to highlight some other steps the Israelites had to take if they were to realize the benefits of serving God.
3Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
4Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
One of these steps is to develop such a love for God that it permeates everything we do. Your work mates must be able to see it,
Your friends must be able to see it,
Your spouse must be able to see it but above all
Your children must be able to see it.
Many miss out on the joy of living for Christ because they miss out on this step. They serve the LORD but the love for God is missing.
He is not first place in their lives,
He is not given top priority.
Therefore it soon evident to those watching on, especially the children, that all that glitters is not gold. That you really do not have a loving relationship with God.
Brothers and sisters if we are to realize the joy of living the Christian life and impress our children with its benefits then we need to throw ourselves into it. Our most important concern must be for the glory of God and his kingdom.
Our marriage must work because God would be disgraced if it did not!
We must be honest in our dealing with others because God would be dishonoured if we did not!
We must set a good and godly example for our children to follow because God would be hurt if we did not!
We must be men and women of integrity because anything less would be disappointing to God!!
This is what Jesus meant when he said seek he first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. We must constantly seek the welfare of God’s Kingdom in every aspect of our lives and I assure you that you will realize the joy of serving Christ. Not only will you realize it but your children will realize it in you.(You cannot love the LORD with all your heart, soul and might and not love your family as well.) On your departure from this life they all would be able to confess, “My father, mother was a Godly person!” like Abraham your life will be a testimonial for your children.
6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
The King James Version, (Cambridge: Cambridge) 1769.
But for us to maintain this love his word must always be in our hearts. Thy word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against thee. How will a young man cleanse his ways by taking heed to the word of God. We must love to read and dwell on it. Not only will we want it for ourselves but we will want it for our children as well.
Consider the lives of two men. One of them Max Jukes, lived in New York. He did not believe in Christ or give Christian training to his children. He refused to take his children to church even when they asked to attend. He had 1,026 descendants- 300 of whom were sent to prison for an average term of thirteen years. Some 190 were public prostitutes and 680 were admitted alcoholics. His family members cost the state in excess of $420,000 –thus far- and they have made no known positive contributions to society.
Jonathan Edwards lived in the same state and at the same time. He loved the Lord and saw that his children were in church every weekend. He served the Lord to the best of his ability. Of his 929 descendants, 430 were ministers, 86 became university professors, 13 became university presidents, 75 wrote positive books, 7 were elected to the U.S. Congress, and one served as vice –president of the United States. His family never cost the state one cent but contributed immeasurably to the common good.
Ask yourself: if my family tree began with me, what fruit might it bear two hundred years from now? (extracted from God’s Little Devotional Book for Dads
(c)2002 Honor Books, Inc p. 90)
