Tuesday, April 9, 2013

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

I have a framed copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World hanging in the front room of our home.
 
Because seriously, what is more important in life than FAMILY?
 
When I reflect about the things I've learned in my life or studied about home and family but especially from my experiences with foster care, the warning in the second to last paragraph of the proclamation echoes loudly in my mind:
 
"WE WARN that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God."
 
How much suffering could be avoided in life and how vastly different would our world be if everyone came from a loving, righteous family?  
 
No family is perfect and all families have different dynamics, but whether you're single, married, divorced, widowed, have a house full of children or have no children one thing is for certain:
 
"Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities."
 
I also feel very strongly about the CALL TO ACTION in the very last paragraph of the Proclamation:
 
"WE CALL UPON responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society."
 
Whether you are focusing your efforts on building your family, helping to preserve someone else's family (because it really does take a village to raise a child!)  or overcoming the effects of being raised in a less than ideal family environment, there is hope for our world when there is hope in our families.
 
To read The Family: A Proclamation to the World click here.
 
To download a free copy of The Family courtesy lollyjane.com (like the one pictured below) click here.
 

2 comments:

Julie said...

Thank you for writting your blog. My husband and I (empty nesters) have been toying with the idea of fostering, but are not sure where to start ..or even if we are elegible due to a health issue he has. If you can direct me - I would so appreciate it. God Bless You.

Julie
juliesize at yahoo

Mary said...

Just e-mailed you, Julie!