“The woman then left her water pot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, Come, see a Man who told me all things that I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:28-29). The conversation Jesus Christ had with the Samarian woman in Sychar birthed her newness and redefined her reputation. She instantly became a change agent of eternal dimension in her community and city. This shows very vividly what happens when we face the person in the mirror and speak the truth to him or her. No doubt, the woman had a not-too-glorious past. However, her past was not enough to stop the making of the new person who could be of great influence.
The world today is hungry for change agents and paradigm shifters whose emergence should start from the family, being the basic unit of society. ‘Charity begins at home’ is a popular wise saying. In other words, the home front plays a significant role in building change agents. Unfortunately, a lot of things happening today in many homes do not mirror the ideal as seen through the word of God. There is dire need of parents who would rise up in raising their children line by line and precept by precept in accordance with the word of God. I mean parents whose core values are in alignment with God’s heartbeat. The noise and sources of distraction from purpose has never been more pronounced in human history. Several families are disjointed and not in the least functional, some are either torn apart by failed marriages or economic pressures. Yet, some others that manage to keep their families work long hours and often return home famished. Thus, they hardly have any time to pray, fellowship and even discuss together. Technology, leisure and new conveniences have heavily impacted on the lifestyle of many families that some can very well qualify as ‘co-tenants’.
We must take our stand courageously and determine to make our seemingly small contributions in making the family unit work. Fathers and mothers must take responsibility for building their homes as defined by the One who instituted family. Parents owe the duty of nurturing, instructing, and correcting their children in love. To be able to discharge these responsibilities, parents must be above board in their daily lives. They must be role models of the Christian life in word and deed. Children must willingly obey and honour their parents as a divine instruction for living long. Be a change agent in your home, family and the society at large. (To be contd.) SHALOM
