Samuel Taylor Coleridge had a dinner guest over who was a free thinker of the late 18th century. Throughout dinner he expounded on the virtues of freedom of choice, how religion prevented people from being truly free, and the evils of training children in the faith, saying no one should have external structure imposed on them. Coleridge, who'd been quiet during the tirade, ushered his guest toward the back door, opened it and said to the man, "Here, let me show you my garden. I'm sure you'll agree that it’s one of the best in the world." There were no rows of bushes, no succulent smells, no organized beauty. There were only weeds and vines, an absence of artistry or botany. The man looked puzzled, and said, "Oh... so this is your garden? Coleridge, the sage poet, replied, "Yes. I have followed your advice. Just as you said, I wouldn't want to impose in any way on this nature. Especially the young vines, I want them to grow as they will. It would be like imposing religion. Isn't this a beautiful garden?"
A tag phrase over the last few years has been "family values". Let me just say this: no real progress will be made in “family values” until real emphasis is placed on the “value of the family”. The family that God Himself has created and we help to grow! Remember that feeling you had when bringing your little baby home from the hospital? Well, maybe not the first day, because your mother (or mother-in-law) was still around, later on when you and your spouse were alone with your little one. Remember the feeling of helplessness, like the responsibility of their whole life was right before your eyes! That’s the feeling I hope to rekindle over the next few posts as we review our responsibilities about the family. As parents our job is to grow a healthy, weed-free family! If you are a part of such a family, give God praise! If you do not have a family yet, tuck these things away and pull them out later when you need them! From today on, help cultivate a family so it can thrive!
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