Parents must be as one with kids
By LOLA SIMMONS

We're living in a fast world today where you can get things instantly when you have the money, but I come to tell you from experience that there is no instant family.

Parents whether single or married, we have to work hard at raising healthy children that will be able to stand their ground when the time comes.

When a man and woman marry, they are no longer separate, but become one. Amos 3:3 says: "Can two walk together unless they agree? Both parents need to have wisdom, but at least one.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of God. The man or woman can attempt to raise children by themselves, but something will be missing. If the woman tries to raise the girls and boys or vice versa, if the man tries, there will be some things that the mother has to teach the girls and the father must teach the boys.

In other words, when the two become one, order is established and the man takes his role as the head of the house. When my children were growing up, I accepted help from my neighbors who I knew I could trust, but these days, you sure have to be careful for nothing.

It is real bad business when two people are married and the wife or the husband needs help with the children or an emergency arises and the husband or wife can't be found. There should never be a time when one or the other parent doesn't know the whereabouts of the other one and there is no excuse for this.

Children usually imitate what they see, so they need to have good examples. If it hadn't been for the Lord on my side, what would I have done?

Let us pray: Lord we need wisdom as parents whether single or married to know that we must be there for our children when they need us. We ask for your help and guidance for the children of those parents that are married and one is trying to do it on their own and for the single parent that has no choice in the matter. For we know that there is no excuse in this matter not to have our house in order. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.