However, if in their house no excitements are given to our children, certainly some profit will come. Let no moral scandals of others be discussed at home. Let’s not have in our homes newspapers and magazines which openly describe, on a daily basis, moral scandals. All these irritate and excite the imagination of children and if our children are demanding to read such kind of magazines and newspapers, we as parents should always prohibit them in the best way possible. Perhaps someone may say “Yes, but if they don’t find all these in our home they will find them in other houses they go to, therefore the harm will happen”. So what could we do to stop children from being curious? All you can do is to save what you can, my dear parents. 

We have to be careful as parents to limit interaction between young boys and girls. Our kids should avoid mixed entertainment and dances especially when alcohol is present, because the moral resistance of the youth is demoted or rather neutralized. Therefore, when resistance is neutralized they give in, into any kind of sinful demands. It is imperative for the youth to hold on into a life of purity and morality and the Divine Grace must intervene. Each man, mainly parents and their children must come in close interaction with the Grace of God. For this an earnest prayer is needed. Earnest and persistent prayer from children, and from parents for their children as well. This matter, my dear goneis, is not insignificant, but immense and of greatest importance that only with the help of God will have a good guidance and outcome. Goneis should advise, and in parallel pray, for their children. They will pray to God, so He will give them enlightenment and strength and help them resist the temptations that surround them. Prayer will help to push away any cause that slyly tries to soil the purity of their heart. “The Power of Prayer is Great” says Holy Chrisostom and this power cannot be measured. For example, when an army is fighting in danger and some reinforcement arrives, it gives courage and confidence; similarly it is so in spiritual strives. The soul does not feel alone, but it feels the presence of God close to it and we feel stronger. This strong feeling wins over temptation, therefore goneis and children must pray. 

The Grace of God comes to our youth through the Sacrament of Holy Confession. When young people have a relation with this Sacrament in front of the spiritual father they open up their hearts and unfold feelings of uneasiness and fear that possess them. Also, when they sincerely deposit their carelessness to the spiritual father they accept his directions and are literally bathed with the Grace of God. Then they depart the Sacrament of Confession not simply glad and renewed, but with a firm decision to resist the power of sin. With the spiritual father’s approval when children come to Holy Communion their soul becomes heaven and accepts Christ to live in it. Therefore, parents and children must maintain a close connection with the holy Sacrament of our Church. Sacraments renew and regenerate us and in this way we shall win victories against sin; and those responsible for sinning Devil will be shamed completely. With the Grace of our God parents and children shall reach the finish line as victors. We will continue in the next issue…

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