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Fr. Joseph L. Ziliak, Courier & Press article, Saturday, Feb.
26, 2005
"Thirty days have September, April, June and November.
All the rest have 31, except…" but you know the rest. Don't
you? If not, let me know and I'll send you the rhymes that provide
an easy way to remember which months have how many days.
I admit that I still use the rhymes to help me in time of doubt about
which month has how many days. While I'm on this topic, I ask this
question. Did you learn a saying that helped you to spell geography?
What sayings rattle around inside your brain that give you insights
into life, or provide handy little philosophies for understanding
the world around us? "Deaths come in threes." Have you heard
that? Does that really happen?
"Let sleeping dogs lie." "God loves a cheerful giver."
"What goes around comes around."
By reflecting on such little adages, we sometimes can hear the echo
of our parents, big brothers and sisters, teachers, religious leaders.
I hear every now and again, "Sister said" referring to a
teacher and mentor that someone may have had years ago.
The point is that we remember what people say. Even years later we
will pull out of our deep conscience some thought, practice or wisdom
that has had an impact on us. We live by what we've been told. We
follow the way that we have been led.
This is the glory of a teacher. Every now and then a teacher will
hear something or be told by someone what a difference he or she had
in a person's life. That doesn't happen every day, but it is the stuff
that keeps dedicated men and women going to school and giving their
all for their students.
Above all, parents, you have the greatest influence of all on your
children. Your children not only look like you, talk like you, walk
like you, but they also think like you, work like you, and look at
the world as you. Is it not an awesome task to bring a child into
this world? Is it not a major responsibility to guide them to maturity?
We pass on our faith in the same way we teach them to talk. It is
little by little. It is one day at a time. It is from morning until
night. It is in season and out. It is a never ending task. But it
is a joyful work of the Lord.
We are destined to be with our God forever, or to be forever separated
from God. Parents and other adults are asked to love and graciously
nurture our young people. We are reminded of the great scandal if
we are a hindrance to little ones. We are warned of the terrible justice
that awaits those who destroy and twist the minds and hearts of little,
innocent ones.
No doubt when these little ones reach their maturity, they will proceed
under their own power, so to speak. They will bear responsibility
for their own decisions, choices and actions. But they will reach
down inside themselves to find the strength and hear the words of
wisdom echoing. This happens especially when life gets difficult or
problematical for them.
If we have done our part, we will have provided them with the resources
necessary to make the right decisions and choices. We can't take away
their right to make choices, nor can we take on the responsibility
they now own. But we can share a life of faith and understanding of
human nature that includes a vision of God at work in our midst. We
can give them an example of people who find it important to worship
our God regularly - not just in private but also in public with others.
It has been so from the beginning.
Share your prayers and readings, so that they will say, "I remember
how I was taught to pray and seek God in Word and deed."
Rev. Joseph L. Ziliak is pastor of St. John the Baptist Catholic
Parish, Newburgh.
