Three Key Elements

Today is Sunday June 3rd and this is Lance’s Weekly Walk! Today I’ll continue a series regarding the American Family and its role in developing the next generation, but first I’ve got a couple of quick announcements for you all. If you haven’t yet, be sure to follow me at: www.twitter.com/lancejponline. My Facebook page is also getting more attention as several of you have liked me there. You can find it at: www.facebook.com/lancepisowicz. Also a reminder for you to check out Lance Pisowicz Online (www.wix.com/lancejp/online). From there you can access my Facebook and Twitter page, my Youtube channel, and everything to do with my blogs. You can also fill out a prayer request there by clicking on the “Media” tab at the top of your page. One last reminder for today and it’s a special one for this summer. If you haven’t heard about the Ultimate Patriot competition and sweepstakes I encourage you to visit www.wix.com/lancejp/patriot for more details. There is a lot of great features and information about the event waiting for you there. I hope you enjoy Lance’s Weekly Walk and everything there for you at Lance Pisowicz Online. Although I did not have time to post a video for this Weekly Walk, I do have several key points I want to highlight since we took a break from this series last week to honor our heroes with a Memorial Day tribute. Today we’ll take a look at who the ideal American family is and analyze this proposal a bit more. The model American family has been portrayed throughout history in a relatively similar way. Whether one considers a mother’s role as described in the idea of Republican Motherhood or looks at the model suburban family in the 1950s, generally the same thing is portrayed. The family consists of a father who makes the living in one way or another, a mother who stays at home and maintains the household, and children who attend the local public school. While there is nothing wrong with this ideal American family, history has shown that families can come in all shapes and sizes and still be just as patriotic as a “model” family. In America today, there are more single parent homes, generally less children in each household, and millions of American women have jobs as well as their duties at home. The American family has experienced many changes in the last fifty years or so, but they don’t necessarily have to have negative outcomes. While divorce is not a desired experience, it is often present in the increasingly complicated world we live in. Fewer children are born to each family as households tend to be in suburbs as opposed to rural farms. In fact, the average number of children per married couple is just 1.96.1 With the rising costs of living and changing social landscape, millions of women have chosen to pursue opportunities outside of the home and begin working. But even with these changes, the American family has the potential to maintain its level of positive influence it has on the nation and the next generation. The keys to making a positive influence on the next generation are found in many different elements, but I would like to highlight three of the most important. Example is one of the greatest ways to be a positive influence in a young person’s life. When a teenager or adult chooses to be honest or to help someone in need, a child is then able to see exactly how it is done. Many children are visual learners and pick up best from example. Encouragement is another key element to the fight to create a better future. When a young person does something well, they should be praised and applauded for it. This is not done to make the child arrogant, but rather encourage the repetition and expansion of such positive behavior. The final element I want to recognize is the most important. Faith and trust in God to lead you as a parent or mentor is the greatest way to insure you are a positive influence. When you have a concern lift it up to the Lord in prayer and He will direct your path. Matthew 7:7 says: ”Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Regardless of what your concern is, the Lord is there to help you. Remember, you are one of the most important influences a young person will have. You hold the key to a better future. Genesis 22:18 tells us: “And in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.” Thank you for joining me again today. I hope you have enjoyed your time here, and I invite you to join me on Lance Pisowicz Online (www.wix.com/lancejp/online). Be sure to join me later on this week for “What’s Wrong With Washington” and next Sunday as we cover an another great topic. Thanks again. God bless you and have a great week! Sources: 1. http://ajw.asahi.com/article/behind_news/social_affairs/AJ2011102215449