Protecting your family in hard times

05 Jun, 2016 - 00:06 0 Views

The Sunday News

Successful Solutions Kilton Moyo
We are living in perilous times full of hardships, desperation, disappointments, anger and violence. We are living in times where economically, we are all stressed and wondering what the future holds. It is like we are at crossroads and we do not know which way to take. In times such as these children and

women and the weak get sacrificed. When this happens the family which is supposed to be the hiding place for these is also vulnerable and exposed. All over the world, the family is under pressure from many things. It is under pressure from political movements that seek to defile its nature and purpose. It is under pressure from economic hardships which have seen many breadwinners unemployed and distressed. It is under pressure from a spirit of rebellion among the youths who choose gangsterism as an alternative. It is under pressure from reckless and passive parenting. It is under pressure from divorce and many other social ills. Despite all these, I still believe in the family and believe in its sanctity and purpose. I still believe in men and women who protect their families no matter what. Today I write to encourage such in our society to continue the fight.

Let every father; everywhere in Zimbabwe make it a priority, a top priority to protect his family in these hard times. Your family needs you and needs your presence more than anything else. Your family is your number one responsibility and you cannot delegate that duty.

Things are hard, we all agree but that will not be an excuse for neglecting your family. Let me suggest a few things today to fathers and mothers out there.

Keep at home more than you have been doing

I do understand the need to be away from home, making ends meet but I want to ask you to revise your schedule and keep at home more often. Your presence is an assurance to your family of their safety. Sometimes our presence as fathers or parents is more valuable than food on the table. I am asking you to maintain the balance. If you love partying, please do it indoors.

Reduce your alcohol intake

If you are that father or mother who takes alcohol and loves the bottle, these are times of reducing your intake. The truth of the matter is that there are more pressing issues needing your scarce dollar than your appetite for a drink.

I know that many of us think that when things are hard, taking several bottles drowns your problems. This is a deception. You do not need to drown your sorrows. You need to solve your challenges. This is not a period of temporary measures. By the way, it is not a good fatherly thing to drink in front of your kids. It sends a wrong impartation unless you want to raise up drunkards too.

Have an increased interest on the safety of your children

It is every parent’s duty to make sure children are safe. It helps in hard times to know where they are and to encourage them on safety precautions. It is time for our children to learn to reduce their outings and time outs with friends. It helps to stay at home together and think together as a family. In hard times the enemy deceives the young people with simple things. When people are hungry or stressed for money they fall for anything. To protect your children, particularly teenagers, it is best they try to keep at home than loiter on the streets. Loitering becomes bait for the enemy. Infact even in stable times loitering on the streets is a hazard to your own character and purpose. In times such as these promote good and effective communication.

Budget together as a family

Beloved, these are not times for selfishness. These are times for cooperation and unity. If you are that type that runs away with money at pay day, you are in more trouble now. The best way out is to bring home whatever you have and together plan on how to spend it. Involve your children so they can understand the financial situation at home. It is important. You do not want them to think you are stingy. This also helps in fostering in them a sense of stewardship and responsibility. This is time for transparency and genuineness. Your unity will see you plan and make better priorities and I can assure you it will work well for such.

Avoid stressing yourselves as a family

The last thing you want in such times is picking up unnecessary quarrels at home or even on the streets. Your family has not done anything wrong here concerning the situation. Appreciate each other’s efforts and work as a team. Remove stressors and stop talking too much on such things. Focus on what brings you together. Praying together, praising God together, crying together as a family is a great therapy in such times. Become the best of friends.

The last thing you want in a crisis is to unnecessarily lose your family. I am just giving you these freely. There is a time for everything in this life. This is not time for exposing your family. This is time for being responsible and for strengthening the family. Hear me well beloved. National rebuilding starts at the family level. National rebuilding flows from strong and united families. Community transformation comes through transformed families and it is the role of parents to bring about that transformation. If you want to see your nation well, look at your family first. The family is the tap root that feeds the nation. My appeal to fellow fathers out there is to protect our families. Protect and defend our families. Rebuild from the family. We all have a great responsibility beloved.

By the way, the GOD of Heaven is your hiding place with your family. Take refuge and you will prosper there. For more on these visit our [email protected] or follow us on our Facebook page; Fruitfulmarriages or on twitter @fmarriages. You can attend our seminars on family matters or invite us to your place.

Kilton Moyo is creator of Fruitful Marriages, a renewal and enrichment program and is a pastor, counsellor and author of The Sex Trap. Call or WhatsApp on +263 775337207, +263 772610103 or [email protected]

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