June 2010

With Mother’s Day behind us, and Father Day’s ahead of us, I thought of the difficulty of being parents in this 21^st century. The pressure of putting food on the table in this depressed economy is overwhelming. Fathers are too busy tending to their own busyness, and often ignore the role of a teaching father. Our children need more than the motherly tenderness; they also need the stern teachings of a loving and caring father, so that they may grow healthily in this confusing culture.

A few years ago, I came across a prayer written by the late General Douglas MacArthur. I printed it out and gave it to my children. I echoed with the General of my hope for my children. I would like to share the prayer with you:

“Build me a son, O Lord, who will be strong enough to know when he is weak, and brave enough to face himself when he is afraid; one who will be proud and unbending in honest defeat, and humble and gentle in victory. Build me a son whose wishbone will not be where his backbone should be; a son who will know Thee—and that to know himself is the foundation stone of knowledge. Lead him, I pray, not in the path of ease and comfort, but under the stress and spur of difficulties and challenge. Here, let him learn to stand up in the storm; here, let him learn compassion for those who fall. Build me a son whose heart will be clear, whose goals will be high; a son who will master himself before he seeks to master other men; one who will learn to laugh, yet never forget how to weep; one who will reach into the future, yet never forget the past. And after all these things are his, add, I pray, enough of a sense of humor, so that he may always be serious, yet never take himself too seriously. Give him humility, so that he may always remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open mind of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength.”

Praying for our children is important, yet it doesn’t replace spending quality time with them. It is during the casual time that important life-lessons are taught. The younger your children are, the more important it is to give them the time. Soon enough, even if you wanted to give them time, they won’t have time for you! Opportunity doesn’t hang around forever. Therefore, capture the moment to make healthy impressions on their minds while you still have a chance.

Before I sign off, I encourage you to pray without ceasing for your children. Praying isn’t the last resort. It should be your first step. But then again, you must know who God is before you can truly pray to Him in faith. Think about it!

Pastor Larry

　　母親節過後，父親節將接踵而來，令我想到在廿一世紀做父母的難處。在經濟蕭條的時刻要養活一家，其壓力真的夠大。父親忙得不可開交，因而經常忽視了作教導的角色。我們的孩子需要不只是柔情母愛，同時也需要一位親切關愛他們的父親諄諄教誨，致令他們在這混亂世代的文化中能夠健康地成長。

數年前，我讀到已故麥克阿瑟將軍的一個禱文。我將它編印出來給了我的孩子們。我深深認同這位將軍對自已兒女們的期望。我想與你分享這禱文：

『主啊！求祢使我的兒子堅強到一個地步以致能知道自己的軟弱；勇敢到一個地步以致在恐懼中能面對自己。使他成為一個敗而不餒、勝而不驕的人。求祢使我的兒子  不作一個只有幻想而無行動的人，使他認識祢的同時也知道認識自己是知識的基石。我懇求祢，不要讓他走上安逸舒適的路，而是要面對壓力、苦難與挑戰。讓他學習在風暴中站起身來，讓他學習對於失敗的人有切身的同情。主，求祢使我的兒子心地明朗、目標遠大；使他在指揮別人之前先會駕馭自己、使他成為一個遠瞻未來但不忘記過去的人。如果他能作到這一切，主啊！我還要求祢，賜給他足夠的幽默感，使他在嚴肅中不為己甚；賜給他謙卑的心，使他時刻緊記偉大不一定要轟轟烈烈，智慧必須加上開明、以及勇力必須帶有謙和。』

　　為孩子禱告是重要的，但斷不能代替與他們共處的保貴時間。我們常常在那些不經意的時候，教導了他們生命中重要的教訓。孩子越年少，就越需要付出時間。因為很快，即使你願意付出，他們也沒有時間給你了！機會不會永遠待著等你。因此，趁你仍然有機會，抓緊塑造他們心靈康健的時機。

　　收筆以先，我鼓勵你不間斷的為你的孩子祈禱。祈禱不應是最後的一步而該是首步。但話又說回來，你必須先認識神始能以信心來向祂禱告。好好思量一下！

唐若愚牧師