My PASSION Magazine

8
| My Passion - Issue 1 - April 2015
Family
to
Family
By Johnnie Gant
Families are very much a part of the divine creation
that has its origins from the Garden of Eden. It is also
from that origin that sin entered into to the human race
and caused all of creation to become fallen and endure
dysfunction. But, a perfect Creator and designer is not
without a perfect plan of reconciliation; therefore, restoring
humanity and bringing the family unit back into
harmony by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
It is a fair assumption that the human conditions of the
first couple influence the outcome of the first children,
and even initiated the behaviors of the ancient communities,
thereby resulting in the universal flood, that
warranted the total annihilation of the human race with
exception of Noah and his family.
It is with equal assessment that families influence culture,
history and community outcomes as did with
Noah’s family. Therefore, it should be within the best
interest of humanity to produce balanced competent individuals
because they will become the leaders of the social
structure of the world. They will become the political,
social, religious and economic powers of this world
in which we inhabit. Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in
the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not
depart from it (KJV).
In this postmodern society, it is necessary to embrace
the relevance of family, and realize that this era demands
each member of the family take initiative in shaping and
forming the family structure. Family is no longer defined
by adoption or bloodlines or marriage. Goldenberg &
Goldenberg noted, “It is no longer realistic to speak of a
typical American family, since contemporary life is filled
with families with differing living arrangements, styles
of living, and organizational patterns (Family Therapy,
2013, p.3).
The family unit offers a range of benefits: love, respect
and support. Love is the key component, everyone wants
to love and be loved. It produces encouragement, hope,
stability, friendship and truth. Respect is earned directly
or indirectly. Support a multidimensional element; emotionally,
spiritual, financially (when needed), and socially.
The importance of family goes beyond the home environment,
it stretches into the overall community which
includes religious organizations, social organizations, and
academia institutions. For example, what kind of family
does an environment of abuse produce? A family strongly
involve with abuse (physically, emotionally or sexually)
will most likely produce unstable, low-self-worth psychological
unhealthy individuals.
Research indicate that street gangs are often comprised
of individuals desiring love and acceptance that is usually
found within the confinement of a family. It is also
reported that there are somewhere near two million teens
homeless in the US alone. These young people are at high
risk for HIV, Hepatitis B, and for physical and sexual
violence. It is furthermore recognized that homelessness
among adolescents are runaways or have been kicked out
of their families by parents who have relinquish their parental
responsibilities of care, or those who have become
too old for foster care. Homelessness affects both gender
and all age groups; however, the most affected are families
headed by single mothers.