Safety for Our Children in this Society / Lloyd

safety in a society unraveling

I began working with marginal groups in the early 70’s as a New York City methadone maintenance counselor -- and later during the 90’s in Maryland as an out-patient mental health worker and as a volunteer in state prison facilitating non-violence groups.

Currently I work in California as a licensed Senior Psychiatric Technician in a maximum security, state psychiatric hospital, and for a 5-year period I volunteered in state prison facilitating a pre-release group for inmates incarcerated for sexual offenses.

I’ve witnessed that those who violate fundamental moral and ethical principles defined within the Ten Commandments disproportionately find themselves working through episodes of intense unrest, contention, and anger.  Also, defeat, hopelessness, and despair. This observation is dramatic among the marginal groups but also holds within the general population.

A society unraveling morally demonstrates many unhealthy, emotional behaviors. We have all witnessed over-the-top rage and intense ridicule, sometimes with vengeful retaliation, whenever religious leaders publicly encourage adherence to the Ten Commandments and scriptural values. We ask ourselves, where is there safety in such a society, and how do we prepare our children and grandchildren?

principles of safety for our children & grandchildren

I believe we need to teach our children to fear God more than man and what society can do to us. They must experience early in life that their truest validation comes from God himself and that personal revelation from God is very real and open to them.

I believe it is essential that as parents we not only model in plain sight what we teach as our children walk with us, but also that we include them when we have course corrections to make in our own lives. Children need to behold the tenderness of a merciful God in action especially during the repentance process.

I believe that parents and others who honor their faith provide a natural, positive contrast in society when they live fundamental moral and ethical principles.

One of the most tragic lessons I learned as a drug addiction counselor in New York City was the destruction of hope and personal value among the children of hypocritical adults who publicly espoused one set of values and secretly lived -- but never secret enough to hide from their children -- the opposite lifestyle.

And most important perhaps for the blessing of those around us, I believe we need to teach our children to acknowledge virtue in others whatever their belief system and to thoughtfully validate that goodness. I am especially encouraged that our grandchildren are wonderfully inclusive at school.

not an academic exercise

This year Judy & I will have in our immediate family 20 adults and 40 grandchildren. The principles above have come hard learned and daily refined.