Youth week is an annual program in Nigeria Baptist calendar with the objective of celebrating her youths and exposing them to the doctrines of Christ as enunciated through Scriptures. Every year, for a whole week, the Pastor will hand over the reins of the church to the youth. Hence, within the period of 1st to 7th June, 2014, the youths in all Nigerian Baptist Churches are empowered to run all church activities. By this, they will be exposed to issues of leadership and opportunities of service to the Lord.
Introduction
In defining the terms used, challenges may mean situations that require efforts or decision; while Modern day parenting means the ways father and mothers in the present day are bringing up their children.
Paul in his letter to Timothy was appreciating and crediting the faith of Timothy to his mother and the grandmother. It shows that the two mothers joined hands together to train their son and grandson in God”s way. It also reflects that they both lived out their faith, commitment and truthfulness. They could be seen as good role models and they were able to influence their son and grandson positively because they were available to correct, would his life and show love to their son and at the end their efforts were fruitful and rewarded.
Modern day parenting is unlike the olden days, where upbringing of a child was communal efforts. This was because many mothers stayed at home doing their business, those who go to market go early and return home as early as noon while those who farm will return before noon. This gave the children opportunity to have quality time to meet their mothers at home after school. It also give the parent to have quality time with their children.
Behold this system of communal living is not available again in many places. Hence, being a parent in this modern day has become one of the most challenging task one can think of because a lot of some which include the following.
FACTORS AND EFFECTS OF MORDERN DAY PARENTING
1. Lack of quality time for children:
Some parent are not always at home with the children, leaving the children at the mercy hand of their neighbors, school nannies or lesson teachers who may later abuse them. Some parents may even be athome but not available for there children. They are either busy with their laptops or social media. There is need to strike a balance. Yes this economy is haerd and it takes Gods grace to meet the family needs of the family. Yet deliberate efforts must be made and taken to create time for the family and to know you children feelings.
Pop Francis says “ waste time with your children, so that they can realize that love is always free”
2. Loss of Focus :
Many modern day parents are self-focused rather than child –focused. They want to further their education, build their career, and also look attractive at the expense of their attention to their growing children. The case of a nursing mother caring a baby at hand on a stair way who fell as a result of wearing high heeled shoes whichled to the death of the baby was disheartening. There is nothing bad in looking good, but parents should put the care of their children first. Nursing mothers should put on dress that will be convenient in carrying their baby properly and shoes that will be convenient in carrying baby load should be considered, especially when you are not mobile.
3. Leaving Under-Age Children to go to School Alone:
This behavior is more common in the African country, mostly in Nigeria. Some modern day parent allow children of below ages five to board bike (motorcycle), tricycle or taxi alone while going to school. All because they are busy and could not spare twenty to thirty minutes of their time, else they would be late for work. Sometimes , about 4-5 children will be on one bike (motorcycle) moving with a great spead. This is a great risk. There are cases of kidnapping and reckless driving of drivers. Sometimes some childrens food may pour away on the road. To avoid this, enroll your children in schools closer to your house or office or personally take and pick them in their school
4. A Ridiculously High Bar:
What many parent expect from their children today may not be realistic most of time. This has made many children to struggle to get first position by all means, some parent pay for red made answer to exam question some hire people to sit in the exam hall, some buy admission. Madern day parent should be careful not to put a ridiculous high demand on their children, they should rather encourage them to always do their best w and work hard to to improve on their weaknesses. They should also learn to Glorify God in their successes and their failure because life may not be full of roses all the time.
5. Negligence of God Factor:
Some contemporary Christian homes do not have time for family devotion again because they rush out of the house every morning. Family devotion is a primary means of discipling your children and family. When this is not there, it poses danger to the spiritual up bringing of the such children. Due to the nature of the school schedule, sizeable number of children don’t have time to attend church exept on Sunday alone. Hence parent should deliberately work on their schedule to create time for family devotion and morning prayer which may be either in the morning or evening. And it must be consistent . Nigeria is in a situation where the enemies of Christian are ready to wipe it away. If we do not bring our children up properly spioritually, how will they be able to defend their faith and stand for Christ even in the face of death.
CONCLUSION
Challenge of the modern day parents would go back to God, the Author of our life and marriage. If parent would trust the Lord with all their heart and receive instruction from Him in the upbringing of their children, then they will experience His peace and success over the lives of their children as Timothy’s mother and grandma.
Stay tuned as I continue to update you on our youths week program.
Till next i write i'm sandrazeal11