Protect Your Children From Destructive Influences

"Without question, protecting your family from the world's destructive influences requires much hard work.  But there is one thing that, more than any other, will make success possible.  It is love! Close, loving family bonds will make your home a safe haven and will promote communication,which is a great protection from bad influences. Further, cultivating another kind of love is even more important-love of Jehovah.  When such love permeates the family, the children are more likely to grow up hating the very idea of displeasing God by succumbing to worldly influences. And parents who love Jehovah from the heart will seek to imitate his loving, reasonable, balanced personality. (Ephesians 5:1; James 3:17)   If parents do that, their children will have no reason to view worship of Jehovah as just a list of things they are not allowed to do or as a way of life devoid of fun or laughter, from which they want to run away as soon as possible. Rather, they will see that worshiping God is the happiest, fullest way of life possible. 

Families that stay united in happy, balanced service to God, endeavoring  wholeheartedly to remain "spotless and unblemished" from the corrupting influences of this world, are a source of joy to Jehovah.  (2 Peter 3:14; Proverbs 27:11) Such families follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, who resisted every effort of Satan's world to defile him. Near the end of his human life, Jesus was able to say:  "I have conquered the world."  (John 16:33)  May your family also conquer the world and enjoy life forever!

Next time: CHAPTER NINE: Single Parent Families Can Succeed!

From the book: The Secret of FAMILY HAPPINESS