Welcome to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta!
His Eminence Metropolitan Alexios
SUMMER MESSAGE FROM HIS EMINENCE METROPOLITAN ALEXIOS
"Now to
Him Who by the power at work within us is able to do far more abundantly
than all that we can ask or think, to Him be glory in the Church and in
Christ Jesus to all generations, for ever and ever. Amen" (Eph.
3:20-21).
Summer is the season for vacations and relaxation;
however, we should not forget our responsibilities and the role we play,
both in our families and in the larger society. For example, a priest is
always a priest, a teacher always a teacher, a doctor always a doctor,
and so on, whether in the church, in the classroom, the hospital, or
elsewhere. This applies not only to professionals, but also to parents
and children. We cannot, and indeed should not, ignore our
responsibilities because a parent is always a parent, even when the
children are quite grown-up. They will always be our sons and daughters, no
matter what.
Indeed, while a family is on vacation, it could be
the best time to have conversations and discussions about issues or concerns which have not been addressed during the busy school year.
Also, during this time, parents and children could work together on
projects, which could strengthen their relationship, assist in
developing understanding, and open lines of communication. In this way,
parents can fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to them by Almighty
God.
In today's society, we are often so busy that we don't take
the time to express our feelings, our beliefs, and our values or discuss
our dreams with each other, much less with our children. Unfortunately, many busy parents, tired, stressed and overwhelmed by responsibility,
raise their children by either giving orders in a dictatorship, or by
not providing guidance and setting boundaries at all. They take the easy
way out.
Opening a dialogue with our children takes time,
dedication, and patience, not only to explain our thoughts, but also to
truly listen to our children and allow them to express themselves.
Communication is the beginning of understanding, and if we truly hear
what our children are saying, we will better understand them.
Finally,
we must consider how important it is to nurture and cultivate our
unique Hellenic Orthodox Christian values, heritage, and culture in our
children. If we teach our children when they are young, they will become
deeply rooted in our faith and culture, and will feel a connection to
our Holy Orthodox Church, not only because it is the faith of their
parents, but also because it will become a part of them—a living,
vital relationship with Christ and His Holy Church.
My dear
friends, I encourage you to enjoy your summer leisure, but also not to
forget to invest your time wisely, so that you are blessed with a happy
and wholesome family life.
With fervent prayers for a safe and
happy summer,
+ALEXIOS
Metropolitan of Atlanta
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