There is certainly no human person without a family! Every human being is born, raised, and accompanied by relatives in a family.
It may not necessarily have to be a biological relation. It spans from mere ties at work, in school, in Church, secular societies, etc that have a clearly set-out purpose, goals, and mission.
Sometimes, one hears some people say: “Adamfo) bi sene nua”
(Which friends are more than siblings?) It may be true all the time or not true at all. They say so because some friends are very supportive and make them feel loved and belong.
However, as modernity takes over our world, it is unfortunate that a lot of our families are gradually breaking apart. When was the last time as a family you all enjoyed one meal from one earthenware dish? People do not have time to even eat with their families, blaming it on a tight work schedule, not to mention holding periodic or annual family meetings together, doing morning devotions, and Bible Sharing together.
How can such a family, which has no time for itself, grow when it has no direction, no conscious formation of the conscience and character of its members?
Most often, we quickly blame some corrupt politicians, thinking they learnt corruption overnight! It started from the family when some were selfish and always cheated the younger ones anytime they had to share the meat equally after eating. Every future in the world begins with the family. Children learn to be loving, honest, serviceable, and diligent when they follow their parents and grandparents to the farm and share their meals and talents with other friends.
Sociologists say that the family is the basic unit of life and is the basis and foundation for human formation and all the other agents of human formation.
Unfortunately, these days, social media, among others, seems to gradually replace the family.
Children and even elders spend most of their time on social media and with friends more than with the family at home, all because of our jobs and neglect of full responsibility as parents.
A good number of families have no peace and happiness conducive to training children. Some fathers go to the extent of wanting to sleep with their own kids and maltreating them as well. A lot of innocent mothers are being abused and emotionally and physically tortured, all because they want to be in a family.
Where is the place of Jesus, the Prince of Peace, in the family?
Where are our moral values and our respect for the human dignity of our family?
Some supportive fathers, too, have been left unsupported by their wives and left to bear all the heavy financial burdens of the family, making them sleepless and developing all kinds of heart-related illnesses.
It’s unfortunate how some men, too, are really suffering and dying quietly in their homes!.
It’s not that the family of Nazareth had no conflict. Humanly speaking, they might have had their own challenges, but it was one where communication was paramount, openness to dialogue, and reconciliation were present. Let’s make the building of our homes our priority, making a huge investment in that, for God wills that we model our human families after that of Nazareth.
Mother Teresa says, “The family that prays together, lives together.
As the year gradually gets to an end, fathers, call an end of year family meeting to pray together, share your successes and failures by way of evaluation and strategizing for the upcoming year, laying down clear goals and practical methods to journey together as a family of Nazareth here on earth where peace, love, respect, joy, unity and reconciliation reigns.
We may not have a perfect family, but let’s do our best and make our homes one where Christ truly reigns and perfects all our human fragility and inconsistencies.
God richly bless you all.
Happy Holy Family Day!
By Rev. Fr. Albert Kyei DansoÂ
Chaplain,
Holy Family Ghanaian Catholic Community Church,
Italy
