By Lyndon St Cyr.


It would be a tragedy if my children grew up knowing only that their dad was a good father, businessman, teacher, or husband. It would be remiss of me to portray a perfectionist attitude when, after all, they would find that it is not so in real life.

My children should know, not only my successes but also my times of failure and also the times when I made it only by the grace of God. As men, fathers or even husbands, we are obligated to be open and honest with the younger ones. We must tell about our mistakes so that they can avoid them and also that they wouldn’t believe that they are the first in the family to fail.

The time has come when, as adults, we must be congruent in character, we must correct in love and we must listen with care not just to what is being said but also to what is not said. Because of the changing times and deteriorating values, our youth today face challenges that can either make or break them. By the looks of things, more youth appear to be broken than made.

We then, the mature ones, are admonished to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled and sound in faith, love and endurance (Titus 2:1). When these qualities abound in our lives we are told that they qualify us to train the younger ones, even our own children.

The challenge to pass on values that make life meaningful is one great responsibility however there is no turning away from it. Today let us meet this challenge head on. God help us to develop positive character traits that will qualify us to effectively transmit to the next generation a set of values and attitudes that emulate faith, hope and love to the extent that life as we know it, amidst its ups and downs, should be meaningful and worthy of being lived.

The Bible offers the strongest incentive and foundation for establishing those values. Today if you hear HIS voice do not harden your heart.