Think for a moment, what are you do-ing to preserve the most valuable asset you have – your family? Are we allowing all the forces of influence “out there” to destroy the happiness and security of the family “in here?”

 

I remember when I was eight years old my parents told my brother, who was six-teen, and me that they were going to take us  on  a  very  special  riverboat  ride.    They said  we  could  each  take  along  one  of  our friends.  When the day arrived we excitedly clambered  aboard  the  huge  double-decker paddle-boat.  Like boys will do we headed for the top deck while Dad and Mom chose seats on the lower deck.

 

We   hadn’t   even   started   having   fun when  two  very  rough-looking  teenagers aggressively  approached  my  friend  and me, looking at me and saying in a very angry tone, “Why did you drop that cup down on me?”  I didn’t know what he was talking about – I didn’t even have a cup, let alone drop it on him.  Then he said, “We’re going to get our friends and throw you overboard.”  I was terrified!  My heart racing, I ran to the other end of the upper deck where my older brother was with his friend and told him what happened.  That’s when I found out my brother had dropped the cup.  He said, “We’d better get down with Dad.”

 

We  raced  down  the  stairs  and  found Dad  and  Mom  and  told  them  what  hap-pened.  Dad said very calmly, “It’ll be okay, just stay here.”  So we all sat together in a  semicircle  next  to  the  railing  facing  the river, me right next to Dad.  He was right, nothing  happened.    After  twenty  to  thirty minutes I was relaxing and starting to enjoy the ride when all of a sudden I had a strange feeling  that  someone  was  looking  at  the back of my head.  I was sure that if I turned around I would see somebody looking at me. Hesitatingly I turned around and-sure enough-there was not just someone, but ten sets of eyes looking at me! 

 

Just  then  the  biggest  one bigger than my dad said to me, “We’re going to throw you overboard.”  My heart starting racing again as terror  struck. I  knew  he  meant  it.  Right then my dad stood up, turned and faced all ten of those ruffians and said calmly but firmly, “You’ll have to go through me first.”  I will never forget those words and his  look. It  was  an  electric  moment my dad’s eyes locked with the eyes of the challenger. 

 

For  a  long,  tense  moment  they  just stared  at  each  other.    Then  my  big  brother stood up and said, “Yeah, and me too!”  Then his friend stood up.  I sat gripping the arms of the chair, paralyzed.  After a long silence the group started to leave one by one without saying another word.

 

I  share  this  incredible  experience  with you because my Dad was my hero.  He taught me what it means to preserve the family, not just physically, but in every way.  You see, dads should be the heroes, and our homes should be a refuge in a harsh world. (If you are a single mom you can be a hero, too.)  The essence of the words my dad spoke that day is, everything must go through Dad first before it affects the family.  Think about it!  What are the influences that are affecting the happiness, peace and security of your family?

 

Television:  What about the TV shows?  Are  they  building  strong  moral  traits  in your  family  or  tearing  them  down?  Are they determining the values, attitudes and vocabulary in your family?  

 

Peer Associations:  Are they influencing the respect between you and your kids?  Are they  strengthening  family  commitments  or undermining the unity of your family?  Are they  leading  your  kids  into  life-destroying habits?

Internet/Web surfing: Is this creating unity between you and your family or mak- ing everyone an island unto themselves? Is it controlling your time as a family?

These are just a few thought questions that we need to be answering honestly, or by default we will find the heartbreaking consequences of these “ruffians” destroying our families and throwing the peace, happiness and security of our homes overboard.

Let’s be heroes in our families and make home a refuge. Let’s not just go with the flow of a collapsing society. Instead, let’s begin at once to make a difference one day at a time. Here are a few simple ways to get   started.

• Take family fun time two to three times a week.
  
• Eat at least one meal together every day, having family talk time about your real lives.
• Take interest in their interests.
• Do work projects together.

You may need to redirect your plans to preserve your family, but the investment will yield the greatest dividends. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:20 that we are to “keep that which is committed to thy trust.” It is our privilege and responsibility as dads and moms to preserve our families. It won’t happen by accident!

A one-question Gallop Survey was given to a group of young people asking: “What is the most important gift you could receive?” The overwhelming and shocking response was “more time with Mom and Dad.” Let’s take it to heart and begin at once to preserve our families.