Dear Shepherdess: The high light of 1975 for many was the General Conference session in Vienna, Austria. From time to time we will be sharing
with you the talks that were presented in the women's meetings there. Mrs. Robert H. Pierson was our keynote speaker. I believe you will enjoy reading
what she has to say concerning "God's Alternatives."
Coleen Townsend Evans concludes the book A New Joy with these words: "Happy is the woman who is used by the Lord to warm and enliven the human spirit and whose life becomes her daily witness to His immeasurable goodness."
Since time has come to make those New Year resolutions, let us resolve to read the Bible more. Two schoolgirls were discussing their families. "Why does your grandmother read the Bible so much?" asked one. "I think," said the other, "that she is cramming for her finals."
Another essential resolution is pray more. "Prayer is the key of the day and the lock of the night." We might also re solve to be kinder, more thoughtful of others. Let us let our light burn brightly to push back the darkness and gloom that is so prevalent in our world today. —With love, Kay.
SINCE a country is made up of homes, one of the greatest contributions that women can make is to preserve their homes and rear children to be loyal,
hard-working citizens. The future of our nations depends upon this. The family unit is God-given and God-blessed—He established it from the beginning.
Headlines of newspapers scream startling news of the breakdown of society, which really is the breakdown of the home. Many homes are in deep trouble! In the United States, mothers work away from the home while thousands of children roam the city streets. The youth of many countries are drinking heavily or are on mind-altering drugs. Divorce is rampant, increasing year by year. Too many Christian homes are in trouble with their members drifting toward the world and its customs.
We ministers' wives have a special work to do. Too many of our homes are also filled with heartaches and problems. God has given the answer to these problems, and we need to study His methods and put them into practice. With God's guidance we can help to change the situation. We must do it. We must not fail our Lord at this time.
For the past three years I have worked in the Temperance Department of the General Conference. My work has included research, and I have spent much time in reading books, magazines, medical journals and papers. I have noticed certain trends among the youth of today, and conditions of the homes from which they come. At the present time we are seeing an epidemic of drunkenness taking place in many countries. During the late 60's and early 70's there was an epidemic of drug abuse among the youth. It is still continuing to some extent, but we do not hear as much about it in the media. Thousands of youth have turned from LSD, uppers and downers, heroin, and other drugs to alcohol.
Educators met the drug abuse epidemic with great concern, and parents met it with hysteria. Most tried to show the youth the terrible results of taking
drugs. Yet many of the young people in schools did not believe their parents and teachers, and called the drug education programs "scare tactics," particularly since so many of these adults use both pills and alcohol freely. Now educators are promoting what they believe to be a better way to deal with drug addicts and young drug abusers. They call this method "alternatives." It consists of giving them alternative activities to keep them busy and interested.
Scientists recently did a study to determine whether low self-concept is a causative factor in drug abuse among young adolescents. It was concluded
from this study that boredom, curiosity, and low self-concept were significant causes of drug abuse in many adolescents. Now educators around the world have been promoting the idea of alternatives for young people to take away their boredom. They advocate giving the youth a sense of purpose and getting them involved in activities that will help them feel the joy of accomplishment.
Parents need to be with their children more. Husbands and wives need to be together more. One suggestion for doing this involves what is called a family night. One night a week is set aside for the family to be together—to do things together. This night should be guarded from any other outside activities and should be well planned and made interesting for everyone in the family. Some things to do together could be: nature studies; hobbies and crafts; gardening and flower culture; cooking and baking; sewing and upholstery; reading and discussing; singing and playing of instruments; swimming and boating; witnessing and sharing; woodworking and building; art and picture framing; mechanics and welding; writing and com
posing.
Many homes across the land are not really homes. They are merely stopping places for members of the families to sleep, eat, get clean clothes, and rush away to separate interests. Very little love and communication are shown here, and many of these homes eventually break up. God's alternative to a home like this is a happy family life, supported by a happy marriage.
This is fundamental in giving children the security they need. Happy marriages just do not happen without effort on the part of both husband and wife.
They come as a result of both husband's and wife's loving God more than they love themselves, and loving each other more than they love themselves.
What methods would God have us use to keep our homes together? I have discussed this subject with others who feel the burden for this as I do. They have suggested that greater care should be taken in preparing young people for marriage. Classes designed with this purpose in mind should be offered either in churches or schools. Ministers should then require attendance at these classes before performing the marriage ceremony.
In these classes young people planning marriage should be taught: (1) the sacredness of the marriage vows; (2) reasons why more mature young people are better able to choose a companion; (3) the role of the husband as the provider and priest of the home; (4) the role of the wife as the mother and homemaker; (5) the making of budgets, and training in dealing with finances and the keeping of a home.
Women occupy a very important position in God's plan. They are in a key position to teach His way of life. They have charge of the food for the family and the training of the children, and they organize much that goes on in the home. Women are under attack today! The world has made them sex objects. Millions of dollars are spent in clever ads to influence women to smoke and drink.
Women are also being barraged with propaganda designed to incite restlessness, rebellion, and even revolution. The media, TV and radio and newspapers, have taken the angry words of just a few women and exploited and expanded them to make it seem that all women are in agreement. But we need not be confused by the angry voices around us. The Lord has already liberated Christian women. He has provided alternatives for us. God has a definite role for us to play in the closing movements of this earth's history. If we will study the Bible carefully we will be directed and led to fulfill our part and to take our place in history along with the faithful women of the ages who have comforted the discouraged, nursed the sick, fed the hungry, and spread the gospel. God's alternative for us is happiness in service in this life and the fullness of joy in the eternal life soon to come.