

Part of the Human Family
young people beat the odds when it comes to marriage
and family (they have one chance in two of making it)?
For starters, try for long courtships. Go through the
seasons with that person. Do your homework on him.
Is he mean, lazy, dishonest? He might have some -
weird mood swings when there is a full moon and the
hormones are at high tide. Study him.
After you pair off with the benefit of clergy, daily
reaffirm your personal values, firmly grasp what is
important in life. Daily choose a mutually enriching
environment for your mate, your children, and yourself.
Daily consider your family worth preserving and
enjoying. You'll have the power to say "Yes" to your
family and "No" to anyone or anything else.
Then, the person who marries our kids will be so
fortunate indeed-. So, will our grandchildren. And
perhaps their great-grandparents too -- four living
generations blessed with that one decision. Create a
strong, loyal family, bound together and deeply rooted
in faith and trust. Work with purpose. Take what
they've accomplished and build on it. You don't
conquer real families.
A century and a half ago, a young attorney, Daniel
Webster, in summing up the court case of Dartmouth
College vs. The State Board of Education (which was
trying to take over that private college) -- Webster said
this to the Judge: "It's a small school, sir -- But there
are those who love her."
Regarding your role as a member of this extended
·family called Christian Homes of Abilene -- if you
should ever question your role, remember this: There
is no greater gift than to have God's little ones
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