The Real Roots of This Nation

It is amazing to me how the family unit has changed over the last fifty years. As I sit and think about it I realize that a lot of our countries internal problems revolve around the structure of the family. It is the family unit(s) that form our communities, it is the communities that form the counties, it is the counties that form the states, and it is the states that form our Republic which is called THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Just like a tree that is rooted and grounded in fertile moist soil brings forth much fruit, so will a nation that is rooted and grounded in traditional family values bring forth much fruit. Now that I laid out the ground work for this article here is the rest of the story. Children can be trained in the home better than anywhere else. The church, schools and other organizations may have a supportive role in assisting, but not supplanting or superseding the family. The godly teachings of a mother and father are the most important because the children look to them for guidance. In the history of our country the family unit was and still is one of major importants because in that unit we were taught the ideas that would last a life time. We were taught to honor our mothers and fathers, to care for them in their old age, to respect the police officer, to respect adults, and to be obedient to our parents. We were taught to conserve, to be resourceful and to honor our country. We were taught at a early age how to work, how to save for the things that we wanted. We took care of our fathers, mothers, and grandparents. We gave them honor. We did for them and cared for them. We lived by a decent code of conduct that made America what it was and still can be. Most of the time there was a trade, a craft, or some type of working skill passed down to the children. What children learn in the family unit will last their life time. But most of all we were taught how to pray and to put our trust in God. Now we are told we are no longer a nation of Christians. In todays world we, for the most part, have no family structure or discipline in the family unit. Everybody does what he or she wants to with no respect for others. Now a lot of fathers, mothers and grandparents are put off into nursing homes and just forgot. For the most part there is no respect for our police officers, or the general public. We now live in a throw away society that for the most part wants someone else to keep them. Someone else to pick up the check and to pay the bill. This is what our society has come to. Those principles of hard work and honesty have fell by the way side. All because there is for the most part no family structure and no more family unit. We are even told by some of our government leaders that: "It takes a village to raise a child". My friend all it takes is a father and mother who will take the time to raise their kids the right way. One of the problems is that nearly half of the homes have no father in them. No roll model for kids to pattern their life by. No one is there to say this is wrong or this is right. There is no one in most homes anymore to tell their kids "GOOD JOB, GREAT REPORT CARD, GOOD GAME" or to give the encouraging words that most kids want to hear. when children are young they look for guidance from someone and if the parent does not give it then someone else will and most of the time it is not good, because it will come from the street and what they are getting from the streets will and is now destroying the future of this country. When you are not taught the very basic ideals of how to work, why you have to work, how to take care of yourself, the right way to do things, and to give honor were honor is due, you will always depend on other people and the government for your daily needs. This is not the Bible way and this was not the American way. There is only so much wealth that this country can spread around. Instead of spreading the wealth around lets start spreading the concept of good work habits and not getting our wants and needs mixed up. Let us teach the concepts of the traditional family as it was years ago. That will make for a better America and a safer America. What ever you are taught in the early stages of life will always be with you. If you are taught Christian principles, good work habits, good moral habit, and what responsibilities are then you will be better off in the later years of your life. You will not want hand outs when you can work because God will supply your needs. The "GREAT SOCIETY" that was started in the 1960's was and still is one the the biggest factors that is causing the family unit to crumble. Food stamp programs, government relief checks, free housing, and many other benefits that was put into place by the great society has caused people to grow up expecting the same hand outs with no thoughts of working and getting a job. Please do not get me wrong there should be help for the people that need it, but the problem is 90% of the people who get these benefits are capable of working and providing for their self. This is all they know because that is what was taught in the family home. If you are sick, elderly, or disabled then you should be helped. This program of a "GREAT SOCIETY" has caused undue hardships for the working Americans and caused a great amount of problems for the family and its structure. If we want to chance the direction that America is headed in and have a stronger America then the change must start at the roots of this nation and that is the family unit. A father and mother who teach their Children what is morally right, the concept of personal responsibility, a love of God, country, and a love for man kind will produce much fruit. This is what America needs and must have to stop the decay of our nation. We need to look no farther. We take care of this problem and all the other internal problems family of this country will take care of their self. The enemy from within will always be your greatest adversary.

When the family and this country as a whole realize that it is not the great society that is going to help them, but the great "I AM" is the one who will provide then we will see a turn around in this country that will shock the world. All of this starts with the right training in the home. Just like a family without Christ, a country without Christ will not stand. It will be like the house built on the sinking sand, it will not stand.

For one last thought before I end this article I would like to give you an example of what I'm writing about. I want to use my family as an example. Not to put them or myself on a pedestal but for only an example. My great grand mother and grand father instilled into my father how to work, and what was right, moral principles, and my grandmother taught him about the Lord. These principles were handed down to me and from me they were handed down to my children and now my grand kids are being taught the same thing, because for over four generations and even longer our family has been rooted and ground in values that make good and moral Christians with good work habits. For this country to be great we must train up a child in the way they should go and trust me if you do it will always be with them.