Del Rosario: God’s beloved. Broken but beautiful.

IN A world that highly values popularity, power and beauty, there doesn't seem to be much room for the unknown, the weak and the unattractive.

It is no wonder that many young people do their best to fit into the “in” crowd. The prominent. The confident. The fashionable. Many young people hide their feelings of insecurities, even from their parents. Thus, we hear news of increased cases of bullying in school, of depression and even suicide among teens. While there could be many other causes for this reality, I believe that the “environment” we live in is one of the major culprits.

How do we counter this trend? As parents, how do we help our children face and combat this culture of superficiality and materialism?

My dearest fellow parents,

Mother Teresa said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” Sounds very simplistic, but the message is true. We have to start within our families. The best thing we can do to show our love for our children is to be the best role models we can be for them.

I have to confess that when I was much younger, I too, was attracted to some of the wrong things in life. The lure of the material world is still very strong now, and I know that children learn what they live. I just pray that my children are wise enough to distinguish the right from the wrong signals or examples I may have shown them in the past. Thankfully, I have time to make amends and as much as possible become a better role model for them now.

How do we become better role models? We need to show our children that indeed, “Character makes a man.” What are the values that we live by? The values that form our character? Are they the values of the world or the values of God?

Our children ought to see that we value persons over things. People are more important than possessions. They need to see us treating all people equally, and with respect. They need to see us mentored by persons of good character; people we admire who are not necessarily rich, famous and beautiful, because doing God’s purpose is more important to us than becoming popular or powerful.

Our children need to hear us say words that build, praise and encourage, instead of words that wound, criticize and condemn. They need to see us use to its fullest potential, our God-given talents, not for the pleasure and satisfaction it gives us, but for the service of God. Purpose is more important than pleasure. They need to see us humble enough to admit and apologize when we make mistakes. They need to see us pray and honor God in all our endeavors. They need to see us love and respect our spouses.

“The best thing a parent can do for his/her children is to love their mother/father.”

Most of all, they need to have us loving and accepting them as they are. They do not have to be the first in class, the favorite of the teacher or the most popular in school. They simply have to be the best that they can be. They simply have to value people, hard work, integrity and all the character traits that Jesus himself embodies – love joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. Tall order? Indeed. But with God, nothing is impossible.

Let us help change the world, and make the environment we live in a better place. Let’s start by working with ourselves. I believe that the first step towards achieving this is by accepting our true identity. We are God’s beloved, created in His image and likeness.

In spite of our many sins, our weaknesses, our brokenness, we are still beautiful in God’s eyes. He loves us, no matter what. Because we recognize and accept our brokenness, we can be more compassionate with everyone else, for we are all broken people, and all in need of a Savior.

If we all look at everyone else as God’s beloved, then what a beautiful world it will be. Let us all accept God in our lives, live loved, and leave a legacy of love to our children.

“I’ll call nobodies and make them somebodies; I’ll call the unloved and make them beloved.” Romans 9:25 MSG

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