LETTERS: FUTURE OF THE WORLD DEPENDS ON FAMILIES

To the editor:

The more I try not to think about the problem we might face at the dawn of the new millennium, the more I find myself diverting from society. I cannot help but think the Y2K bug might destroy many things or even leave most of us miserable. But I am sure the Y2K bug will not be the end of the world as some would suggest. Definitely it is something to think about and prepare for.

While our families will not be launched into space to better diagnose their Y2K readiness, definitely we can seize this opportunity to take a good look at our families. It is disheartening to find that there is an incredible disintegration of families today. The divorce rate is skyrocketing. Marriages are no longer seen as a covenant but a contract. Children no longer become the focus of attention. Instead, careers are. We spend more time outside the home, and when we are at home, pray God that the television is working, because that is what the children need to be watching lest they lose touch with reality. We surely don't want that.

I am beginning to wonder if Y2K has not already affected most families today and if we should not pay closer attention to our families. While the Y2K bug may affect computers, it can also affect families of the new millennium.

What must we do to prevent this problem as we enter the new millennium? I am not here to provide a universally accepted solution, but to emphasize the fact that the family is a domestic church. It is the alpha and omega of what we do. Parents should make prayer an integral part of family life and see that children are taught and made to appreciate the power of prayer. As Pope John Paul II wrote: Prayer increases the strength and spiritual unit of the family, helping the family to partake of God's own strength. Parents should strive to devote time to their children, not just spending time, but spending quality time. For we can only come to a greater understanding of our kids when we spend time with them and establish a greater amount of dialogue that is based on a loving relationship. What we give to our children will, in turn, be what they will give to their future families. It then challenges us to work hard in fostering a home that is God-centered.

We must understand that our children need friends and guidance. Thus, we must not only be a parent, but also a friend and a guide for them. So that being in a relationship, we can better empathize with them on all levels. Families should be an expression of love and compassion. Parents should try to give, teach and show love, a love that is not selfish.

While I admit that parenting is not an easy task, it is not impossible to be a good parent. Although parents have difficult tasks in training and giving their kids a balanced life, society should also do its part in fostering a suitable environment. On the other hand, we should not blame society for every wrong, because we are part of society. For the society to change, we must also change. Remembering that parents are first and most importantly educators of their children, we should start the change within our homes in order to make a better new millennium with the Y2K bug in our families. We know so well that if we do not make that change within the family, there is no way we can expect the society to be OK, for the way the family goes, so goes the society.

I firmly believe that if we invest more time in our families, spend time listening, pay more attention to the struggles of our children, help them realize things will be OK and, above all, surrender our lives to God, things will work out well, and our society will be a peaceful one. The family will remain for me, and I hope for all something special where we can find God and serenity of hearts.

Let us approach the new millennium with a spirit of renewal and prayer that the family may be a place of peace and, more especially, a home. By working hard toward fostering a solid God-centered family, we may be free of the Y2K bug in our families. May the families of the new millennium be more peaceful and more compassionate.

DR. PATRICK IKE NWOKOYE

St. Mary Cathedral

Cape Girardeau