To all young people,starting out at university or in the work world
I am about to tell you something that goes against all that your education has taught you to think and do. Since preschool, adults have pushed you to excel, to rise above your peers. My generation has groomed you for success, to get into the best universities and snatch the most prized careers. Well, it is nice to have confidence, to fulfil your dreams and have a sense of satisfaction in your chosen field of work but that will not make you happy.
Just take a look at the generation that has gone before you. The all to common mid-life crisis is a testament to the failure of a life focused on career advancement to the exclusion of family. Men and women bemoan the fact that they did not have time for nurturing and loving their spouse or children. All to often family life crumbles to ashes, sacrificed on the altar of success. As for childcare, society relegates it to women who are often treated as second class citizens.
I want to yell out as loudly as I can that raising children is definitely not a default chore for women who were not successful in the world of business, power and wealth. Exactly how you, the next generation, love and train your children will directly influence the kind of society that they in turn create. Do you want a world focused only on the ruthless accumulation of wealth? Will you create a race of humans who are becoming increasingly shallow, cold and cynical about relationships, family and love? Do you want your offspring to be more comfortable texting you their parents than speaking with you face to face in a warm, loving way? Family is crucial; it is the foundation of society. I am pleased that my adult children, raised on a farm with little technology are completely modern. Yet they are open to life and family. They are beginning to grasp how important their own young families are.
Just after his daughter’s birth, my son turned to his dad and said,
”Dad, I think that this is the best thing that I have ever done in my life.”
And , a year later, as his little daughter lay sleeping on his chest, Daniel said,
”Now I know why you and Dad had so many kids.”
Can you imagine that if you put family first, your kids will be healed by love and set free to serve the world in and through Love? It would be heaven on earth. It would be the beginning of a revolution that would change the face of the earth. Only you, the next generation stepping into the world can reverse society’s trend and create a better world. In doing so, I assure you, you will be happier, more content and live longer if you treasure more than money and success.
joy of nine9 
What a brilliant post. Well done Melanie. This is excellent.
Sadly, too many people focus on materialistic ends and successful careers to the cost of family life.
God bless you and your family always.
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Excellent – thank you for putting this out there. 😀
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pass it on-
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Reblogged this on Midnight Lumen and commented:
As a father of six and growing, I heartily endorse this…
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thank-ypu for the reblog
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”Now I know why you and Dad had so many kids.”
Love it.
Actually, this post is a part of the article that came out two months ago in the magz I mentioned. A Biblical Perspective of Achievement.
I’ve been meaning to post it…
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I am starting to read it now…
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Beautiful article.
Love your header. I would love to be sitting in that wicker chair!
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thank-you
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Now I know why God gave ME so many kids! Thanks for the insight. I certainly needed His lesson. Funny, I didn’t even see it as teaching until now. 😉
\o/
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🙂
On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 1:11 PM, joy of nine9
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Melanie, the world of family you describe is the exact opposite of the one (or I should say “ones”) I grew up in. I think this is why I am so prolife and a volunteer for Change Point, my local crisis pregnancy center! God is so good
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I once asked a priest what my life would have been like if I had married a rich dentist and had 1.75 kids, He answered, in a high, fake sweet voice, with his hands together in prayer and his eyes rolled up looking at heaven.
“You’d be a nice Christian lady, praising the Lord”
Meaning a shallow, self-righteous Pharisee, When we suffer and need a saviour all false pride shatters and God has a chance to love and heal us
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yes! I love it ! reminds me of Pope Francis’ comment about polite, starched Christians 🙂
…to share in His glory, I must share in His suffering…:)
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HEY you are right..yup this is a future post!!
On Thu, Aug 15, 2013 at 10:22 PM, joy of nine9
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