The Solution
As individuals, we have the power to change our life and influence those around us in a
positive way. We have the ability to choose freely. This is what freedom and
responsibility are all about. We can't have one without the other. Without
responsibility there is no freedom. Freedom does not mean “doing your own
thing” at the expense of someone else. It means taking our responsibilities,
and not ourselves, seriously. Freedom allows us the opportunity to fulfill
our potential, make our dreams come true, and live a life filled with meaning and
purpose. Once we are able to make a difference in our own lives, we can then make
a difference in the lives of others.
Often, it's only when something tragic happens to us that we wake up to
reality. Suddenly, it's no longer someone else who's affected. It's us. Hopefully,
we're wise enough to realize how precious and fragile life is. That which is given
can be taken away just as fast. We begin to develop an attitude of gratitude, and learn to
appreciate everything more. Instead of seeing the glass half-empty, we'll see it
half-full . Instead of focusing on what we lack, we'll focus on what we have.
We take stock and begin to live, rather than just exist. This leads us to change
our priorities, and separate what is significant from what is not. Our youth are the victims
of our moral decay. Their's is a crisis situation and it requires the intervention of caring adults.
The only way to help them and turn this nation around is to use a preventative approach.
In other words, we must treat the whole problem instead of the symptom.
The following principles can be taught by adults to children, and can go a
long way toward building character and rebuilding society.
1. Love Has Power
So often the word “love” is used these days to the point of sounding like
a tired, worn-out cliché.
It loses all of its importance and meaning. But Goshen's motto, “Love One
Another”, is no cliché.
It's the real thing. True love applies to all relationships - family,
romance, friendship, acquaintances, neighbors, and business. It puts us in
a state of
grace and teaches us patience, endurance, calmness, gentleness, humility,
respect,
politeness, trust, fairness, commitment, and communication. True love is unselfish
and requires self-denial and self-sacrifice. It's not about what's in it
for me, but what's in it for we. It's all about loving and serving
others as we would
love and serve ourselves.
Love isn't just about receiving, but about giving, too. To give is to receive.
The effort we put forth comes back to us ten-fold. You can't measure
the worth of love by attaching a price tag to it. That's because
it's priceless. So, when we give love, we should do so willingly
and unconditionally. “How will this benefit me?”
is the wrong question to ask. Instead it should be, “How will
this benefit us?”
We adults must be teachers of love to our children. The way for us to do this is
to be positive role models and lead by example. We can't preach it, we must teach it.
We shouldn't just say it, we have to show it, too. We must walk the walk as well as talk
the talk.
These words from 1 Corinthian 13:13 say it all: “There are three things
that will endure - faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love.”
2. The Golden Rule
This principle has been passed on since the beginning of time. It says,
“Do unto others as they would do unto you.” This is really
our conscience speaking to us. These words provide a framework for
living a more productive and peaceful life. They allow us to live
in harmony with ourselves and with others.
It begins with you and me!!! The Golden Rule has the power to unite people.
3. Happiness is Free
Money buys a lot of things, but not happiness. It's free. It isn't based
on outer appearance but on inner peace. Happiness has nothing to
do with what we have, but who we are. Legendary UCLA basketball
coach John Wooden defined it this way, “Happiness doesn't come
from material things. Happiness comes from the things that can't
be taken away from you.” One of those things are relationships.
Fame, fortune, and honors are fleeting, but relationships are long-lasting.
4. Caring About Others
When we care about others, we develop a fellow feeling for them. Particularly,
if we've undergone similar hardship. Once we have been through what
someone else has been through, we can know what it is like to walk
in their shoes. Caring about others teaches us not to be so quick
to judge them. First, because we may make a hasty conclusion without
knowing the facts and circumstances. Second, we should never play
God, judge and jury to begin with. And third, we may find ourselves
in the same predicament as the next person. These often-repeated
words serve as a good reminder: “There but for the grace of
God go I.”
5. Power in Purity
Children have a youthful innocence and a pure heart. It's an innocence and purity
that hasn't yet been contaminated by the outside world's negativity. Kids today have
more pressures to deal with at an earlier age than ever before. They have a right to
their innocence. They shouldn't be forced to grow up too soon. Unlike previous
generations, too much is thrown at them too quickly. This robs them of a normal
childhood, and prematurely forces them to experience adult stress. They miss out on
the opportunity to learn and grow. They can't say “no”because “yes”
has already been answered for them.
We adults need to do all that we can to protect our kids from negative influences.
We should let them be kids. This way, they'll be better equipped to learn to make positive
choices. They'll learn to think for themselves and use their common
sense.
They won't be programmed like robots and brainwashed. They'll see the light,
know the truth, and do the right thing.
6. Open Wide One's Heart
Our children need to know that they are valued and that they count.
We must lift them up every day in every way.
We must fill their lives with hope and not fear. If we fail to do this, then we're
contributing further to their anxiety and discontent. We need to help them to focus
on their strengths, not their weaknesses. We must fire up their imagination so they can strive to make their dreams come true.
A child deprived of nurturing and love will wither up on the
inside and die, just like an unwatered plant. The breakdown
of family and community has fueled such insecurity in our kids.
We need to open their hearts wide and let the love come
shining through.
7. Through Faith All Things are Possible
If you were to ask most people to define the meaning of the word “faith”, they would
most likely say that it's a belief in someone or something. They think in terms of what
they can only see. But, faith is more than that. It's also the confident assurance
that what we hope for is going to happen. It's the evidence of things we cannot see.
Throughout history and even today, there have been many doers who pursued their
dreams just out of a hunch. They learn to trust their gut instincts. When first
starting out, they don't have any available evidence to assure them of eventual success.
Yet, they remain confident in the belief that one day they will succeed.
An inner voice keeps prodding them along and says, “Keep going. Don't
give up. You're going to make it.” And do you know what? Eventually they
do make it. Because they believe.
Risk takers know that it's important to have faith. But, they also know
that unless they take action, their dreams will never come true.
There is truth to the old saying, “Faith without works is dead.”
In his autobiography, They Call Me Coach, John Wooden touched
upon this point. He observed: “Faith is not just waiting, hoping
and wanting things to happen. Rather it working hard to make things
happen and realizing that there are no failures - just disappointments
- when you have done your best. As someone once said , 'If you do
your best, angels can do no better'.”
