“No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children walk in the truth.” (3rd John 1:4)

“No greater joy can I have than this, to hear that my children walk in the truth.” (3rd John 1:4)

It certainly is a joy if your children continue to follow and practice the Christian Faith as they age, but sadly, not every child who starts out in the church stays in the church. In fact, many young people often fall away from their Faith and leave the church when they go and attend college. 

Obviously, there are many reasons for this, but our culture and society are mostly to blame. Parents can teach their children the Christian Faith as well as be upstanding examples of morality and righteousness, but when youth try and practice their faith on their own, it’s like swimming up-river in the middle of a monsoon. The current and influences of a nonbelieving nation sweeps them away with the flow.

There is, however, hope; and this hope comes in the form of prayer. All Christians need to pray for our youth and, also our society. Pray that we become the great nation we profess ourselves to be. Pray that we put our actual trust in God, and not only have it printed upon our money. Pray that we set better examples of Christian love, forgiveness, mercy, and compassion by practicing these virtues and not only giving them lip service. 

And above all, pray that God will protect our youth, as a mother hen protects her chicks under her wing. (Matt. 23:37)

Fr. John