Hope for the Future
We all know that there are lots of problems in the world. In the past decade we've witnessed the shootings at Columbine, the tragedy of 9/11, the family structure breaking down, shootings at malls and college campuses, and the list goes on and on and on. Considering all of this, the future for our country and our children looks bleak.
But, we can take another look and see hope for the future.
We can see our young people striving to preserve our earth, becoming involved in political action, pursuing vocations that serve others, volunteering to help those less fortunate.
My husband and I are in agreement that the time has come that we are learning more from our own children than they are learning from us.
As a teacher, there are, of course, frustrations with young people that are seemingly going down the wrong path, and often taking others with them.
But, one of the rewards of working with young people is seeing those who are choosing the right path, making the right choices.
We go to a small country church. About five years ago, the future looked bleak for the church. The once healthy youth group and Sunday School had dwindled to two, and soon they left for college as well. We had no youth under the age of 18, and many of the congregation were senior citizens.
We had meetings about what our future plans should be, about how we could increase our congregation and membership.
Then, hope began to emerge.
First a young couple came "home", then a family moved "home" from Germany, then another church "son" came home with his family. We began to have baby showers, baby baptisms, and we even had to have a nursery shower to update our worn out toys and equipment.
Today we have hope for the future back in our small country church. We have eight children under the age of ten. We have programs and plans for the future. We have hope.
May all of our futures look as bright as the future of our country church.
But, we can take another look and see hope for the future.
We can see our young people striving to preserve our earth, becoming involved in political action, pursuing vocations that serve others, volunteering to help those less fortunate.
My husband and I are in agreement that the time has come that we are learning more from our own children than they are learning from us.
As a teacher, there are, of course, frustrations with young people that are seemingly going down the wrong path, and often taking others with them.
But, one of the rewards of working with young people is seeing those who are choosing the right path, making the right choices.
We go to a small country church. About five years ago, the future looked bleak for the church. The once healthy youth group and Sunday School had dwindled to two, and soon they left for college as well. We had no youth under the age of 18, and many of the congregation were senior citizens.
We had meetings about what our future plans should be, about how we could increase our congregation and membership.
Then, hope began to emerge.
First a young couple came "home", then a family moved "home" from Germany, then another church "son" came home with his family. We began to have baby showers, baby baptisms, and we even had to have a nursery shower to update our worn out toys and equipment.
Today we have hope for the future back in our small country church. We have eight children under the age of ten. We have programs and plans for the future. We have hope.
May all of our futures look as bright as the future of our country church.
posted by weso at 3:03 PM
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