In our days we go to a family reality where we find children and adolescents who do not want to know anything about God, spiritually empty and full of consumerism and self-absorption that can produce excessive time with the television, electronic games and social networks, that is why, when we are fathers and mothers we can ask ourselves what is really important to teach our children for their formation in the faith ?.
Well, delve into some realities that can help us understand and improve how is the story of God with our children ?. I will share with you 7 interesting keys to enjoy as a family:
- 1 Overcome the rites to enjoy the practice of faith: The experience of God should lead us as a family to experience Christian values, that is, to reach a deep relationship with spiritual and corporal works of mercy. This is: to correct the one who is wrong, to teach the one who does not know, to forgive the one who offends us, to give good advice to those who need it, to suffer with patience the defects of others, to pray to God for the living and the dead, to console the sad . Similarly, living as a family a faith that is practiced in corporal works such as: provide shelter to those who do not have it, visit the sick and prisoners, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, bury the dead.
Let's not forget that we also go to times of great uncertainty because of the immense information we have, that is why I can speak of faith to my children, but it is not enough because faith must be accompanied by works, that is, by concrete practice with people and specific realities. We can say that we are people of faith but our children need to live this experience and accompany it with solidarity to the most needy.
- 2 The family is a school of forgiveness: We all make mistakes, sometimes there are fathers and mothers who do not recognize their mistakes before their children and excuse themselves in their role assuming that they are NEVER wrong. There is nothing more formative than recognizing, asking for forgiveness, offering an apology. Well says the Our Father: "Forgive our offenses as we forgive those who offend us". It is up to us to teach forgiveness and that is done by forgiving as many times as necessary. The family is a cluster of daily situations that demand the constant experience of love and forgiveness. I live forgiveness as a sign of love.
"I forgive
You forgive
He forgives
We forgive
You forgive
They forgive. "
3 Jesus is alive: This reality is fundamental for our times. It is incumbent on believing fathers and mothers to witness that Jesus is alive and our faith must witness him at all times, especially in difficult situations. Children need to see and live with parents who come to the God of life to solve every difficult situation. We trust our forces in God, not in human capacities.
4 Faith in God leads us to be resilient people: Children need to know that life takes us through difficult times and corresponds to a training to face, overcome and learn from problems. In this aspect prayer allows an intimate encounter with Jesus and will allow the family a special discernment of daily life that represents a permanent effort for all.
5 Jesus is the friend of nature: Fathers and mothers are the closest example to follow our children have, therefore, we are responsible for caring for nature, the environment, the environment and thus we are consistent with the creation of God for human beings. Caring for the planet goes through a faith that expresses itself in the care and preservation of life. Actions such as saving water, not using light unnecessarily, learning to recycle, throwing away garbage in appropriate places are actions of family responsibility with the work created by God for our happiness.
6 Living faith in community: Looking for community experiences is to meet other fathers and mothers who also live the faith through spiritual experiences. When faith is shared and lived with others, it is also possible for children to share and grow with other children in a personal encounter with Jesus. There are wonderful experiences that we can not stop living knowing that they exist around us. To know Jesus from childhood is to write in the heart to be children and adolescents of peace.
7 Teach dialogue before violence: Parents are called to build homes in peace and this implies regulating every attitude that generates violence in any of its expressions. Teaching dialogue to children is a fabulous tool that is expressed in an experience and exercise with others. Our faith should lead us to be peace educators, sowers of peace and above all mothers and fathers of peace. Every child by imitation and identification repeats what he sees and becomes necessary in our times the presence of significant adults who speak not only with the speech "or therapy" as the children say, but also with the testimony of life, so they will learn to behave in the same way There is no other way more educator than the example.
At the end, I want to remember a fundamental and radical aspect: if the parents are not evangelized or interested in their spiritual formation, they will not be able to evangelize their children.
Dear parents and mothers, today is a good day to see life in a different way and by living these seven keys we will experience the reality of God in family life and build a more spiritual society where the blessed family It is the nucleus of society with its sons and daughters.
We want to invite you to give your children a space of evangelization designed especially for them, with their tastes, with their needs. Give quality time, give love ...
Deuteronomy 6: 6-7
Record in your heart these words that I am commanding you today. Inculcase them continuously to your children. Tell them about them when you are at home and when you go along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Acts 16:31
Believe in the Lord Jesus; so you and your family will be saved, "they replied.
Acts 16:31
Psalm 133: 1
How good and how nice it is
that the brothers live in harmony!
Lucas 11:13
If you, even though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!