Children’s Day celebration is an annual world event worthy of celebrating to corroborate an African adage that says “It is yearly we see bitter kola. It’s yearly we see walnut, and it is yearly that we see the kola nut in the marketplace.”
Children’s Day this year in this country is more unique than in the previous years because in just a few days to when a new government will be in power. I, therefore, wholeheartedly identify with all and sundry wishing all children over the globe “Happy Children’s Day.”
My chosen theme for Children’s Day this year is ‘Raising Respectful Children in a Disrespectful Nation’.
The degenerated world in which we are today did not just start yesterday; it has started since the creation of humankind. The challenge therefore is that it is left to every right-thinking individual to keep our nation going and relevant in a society that is growing godless, immoral, and wicked, more importantly where the rule of law has not been given the right place.
In the first garden, Adam and Eve succumbed to the serpent’s deceit that God was trying to deny them pleasures. The wind blew in the garden as the apple was eaten and we all know the consequence. The beginning of raising godly children was initiated by God Himself in Gen. 1:28. “And God blessed them and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”
Psychologically thinking, raising respectful and well-behaved children in a disrespectful nation seems like a contradiction in reality. It is like putting a round peg in a square hole, which seems inappropriate and unreasonable. The scripture is not also unaware or unmindful of the end-time lawlessness and predicaments. Little wonder, the scripture says, “In the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their selves, covetous, boasters, proud, disobedient to parents, unthankful, etc.”
The question, therefore is, how then would it be possible, feasible, and practicable to raise respectful children in a disrespectful nation full of wickedness and lack of rule of law? In the actual sense, raising respectful children in a disrespectful nation is not an easy duty; it is a herculean task. Parents should pray fervently and plan with other stakeholders to achieve this herculean task. The generation of Noah was polluted and corrupted; yet, God preserved the house of Noah. Therefore, the hope of raising respectful children, who are God-fearing, if we so desire, should not be lost in our generation.
What we must do to raise respectful and God-fearing children in the nation should include the following:
First of all, the parents have paramount roles to play in molding the lives of their children. Children come into the world needing guidance to become all they were created to be. They need corrections and directions from parents. They need good examples to follow. They need someone to nurture their souls and protect their hearts. They need someone to walk beside them every step of their way with encouragement. They need more than what the outside world has to offer them. They need parents who will in reality be parents. The sole anchor of all parents’ belief should be the declaration that nothing is more important than raising respectful and God-fearing children in our society.
Today, homes are being decimated. Lives are being destroyed for lack of adequate parenting. Children are suffering. Therefore, parents should rise to their parental responsibilities.
The goal of every parent must be to raise respectful children who will become respectable and responsible adults. It is the role of every parent to understand where the disrespectfulness in our culture comes from. It is then that they will know how to handle it and find lasting solutions.
In raising respectful and God-fearing children in a disrespectful nation, the role of the government cannot be over-emphasized because the government has a vital role to play in the right upbringing of children. The government should, therefore, provide a conducive environment, safe and secure for everyone in the society.
Government should make good policies to enhance the welfare of people particularly mothers who have vital roles to play in the right upbringing of their children.
It should aim at fulfilling electioneering campaign promises. This will register in the hearts of children with truthfulness, responsiveness, and accountability.
The Federal government should listen to the complaints made to the Federal Communications Commission as regard the subject matters projected on television and other social media, knowing fully well that these have great effects on the behaviours of the young ones in society.
In raising respectful, responsible, and reliable children, the role of society is also very important, and that reminds me of an African adage that says, “It takes a person to give birth to a child, but it takes two hundred persons to train, nurture and bring up the child.” People may not be perfect, yet society is certainly more civil. The line between right and wrong is clear.” There is a sense of law and order in the society when teachers were true teachers. That was when teachers taught with the fear of God and they also served as role models for children. Teaching manners and instilling good character were cornerstones of public education. All teachers from nursery to tertiary institutions should teach and practice enviable morals worthy of emulation from cradle to the grave. Today, we live in a society fraught with the “rich quick syndrome,” without hard work or sweat. This orientation must change if we truly want to raise and have respectful, responsible, and reliable children in our society.
In conclusion, preparing our children to be respectful, responsible, reliable, proactive and productive members of our society is not to be found in the electronic gadgets of the new millennium dispensation but in the simple way of living by a good example, therefore fulfilling the scripture allusion that “by their fruit, you shall know them”.
READ ALSO FROM NAIJAONPOINT.COM.NG