Family Values. |
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Illawarra District, Australia, January 4, 2003 Machiventa Talks. Received by Sandy Montee Sandy: “Hello Machiventa. Are you here?” Machiventa: “Yes, Sandy, the connection is established. How have you been so far in the New Year?” Sandy: “I’ve been fine. I finally found a library, and I have been reading quite a bit. A library is always one of the first things I look for when I arrive in a new place. I also feel a lot more at home in Australia this time around. I am so fortunate to be able to even be here, and I do feel as if this, too, is my home, except that I miss my children and grandchildren.” Machiventa: “Let us talk about family today. At times it seems the family unit is missing some of the old-time values, and children are feeling lost without the boundaries as set for them by the parents of two or three generations ago. I am just talking in general about this, because by no means are all families suffering from this generation gap syndrome. “One thing that I see is often missing is the quality time parents might spend with their children. Generally, they are material accomplishments that are seen as a sign of success or failure by modern families. They must live in a big new home, and have a new car in the driveway, as well as every convenience one could think of. And in order to afford all this, both parents must work such long hours that evenings are spent doing the necessary chores, and they are happy to let the children watch a few hours of television, leaving but little time to talk about how life is treating their offspring. “Frequently, the parents have no notion of what their children’s problems may be in school, the slightest idea about peer pressure to use alcohol or drugs, and not an inkling about how their children fit into this society while holding onto acceptable moral values. “Some children get no instruction about work ethics, and when they become of age, they have no idea about how to take care of themselves. Life is so busy, and family members are going off in different directions regularly each day, that it comes as a shock to them when ‘suddenly’ their teenager gets picked up by the police for breaking the law. “I would advise that people stop and look at the way they are teaching the next generation. A few old-fashioned values could be easily taught if some families rethink their priorities.” Sandy: “I agree with you all the way. It seems to me that parents want their children to have more, and for their lives to be easier than they remember their youth, and I’m not too sure that that is always the right way.” Machiventa: “This conversation could truly go on for hours, but I must be on my way now. Remember that the next generation is your future. “This is Machiventa.” © 11:11 Progress Group. |