STAY MARRIED

Did you see the recent article in the Herald Sun which said:

….. “children appear most apt to succeed well as adults when they spend their entire childhood with their married mother and father, and especially when the parents remain married to the present day,”  a quote from a study in the Weekly Times.

This is not news to most of us. It has been oft said, as well as hotly debated these days.

You may have also read many reports that discuss the disadvantages for children growing up in single parent families. Bill Muehlenberg summarizes these problems for children where Dad is missing, or even where parents co-habit rather than marry: a greater probability of

• Poverty
• Drug involvement
• Criminal involvement
• Academic problems
• Mental health/stress/depression
• Problems with sexuality and out-of-wedlock pregnancy
• Suicide

Whatever side of the debate you fall on, any School Chaplain will tell you these studies are true

Rather a depressing situation for many of today’s children and a disaster for the future of our society.

So what do we do with this sort of bad news, especially as Christians? Surely there must be more we can do beside some occasional handwringing and eye-rolling.

If I as an individual truly believe that the health of today’s children and tomorrow’s world is dependent on strong, healthy, two parent families (and I do), then I have a mission in life….

To do everything I can

• to stay married by keeping my persistent selfishness in check
• to pass on my faith to my children and grand children
• to take every opportunity to help other couples stay married
• to pray for Aussie men to be the brave and noble protectors of their families, asking God for help and
• to pray for the women of Aus to use their ‘gentle power’ to  make their homes safe havens for all

The most powerful people today are not in politics, the media, the mining or the entertainment industries. The real people of influence are the faithful mums and dads raising secure daughters and confident sons to be the leaders of tomorrow.

Have a read of Glenn T. Stanton's book, "Secure Daughters, Confident Sons"