Parents Should First Practice Accordingly

The parents should be a model of loyalty to God’s will.

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1894

    There is a gorgeous fish called the striped bass. This fish is more delicious than tuna. It is very sweet when served as raw fish. The meat has resilience and a sweet taste. Japanese people say that toro the part of a tuna’s stomach where most of the fat is found) is the best. However, once they taste the striped bass, they will all rush to it. Even so, True Mother does not like sushi. At first, it feels as if you are chewing snake meat. It also slides out of your mouth when you are chewing. It is the same as snake meat. However, after having tasted the striped bass, True Mother has been saying, “Sashimi! Sashimi! Striped bass sashimi…” When I tell True Mother to get ready for fishing, she says, “Oh, really?” and she follows me, knowing that we are going to fish for striped bass. This is why it is so interesting. This is the reason why fishing is exciting and sensational. (192-152, 1989.7.3)

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1410   

    The 120 followers of Jesus represent the number twelve. The 124 Couples were blessed in order to organize and establish a model of tribal and national leadership worldwide. In actuality, 124 couples were blessed, four being extra. These four were already married couples. Why were they included in the Blessing? Had they not, there would have been no way to save other already married couples from that time on This number four represents gates facing the four cardinal directions of north, south, east, and west. Based on the four couples, therefore, the way must be opened through which all already married couples can be resurrected. Hence, I blessed 124 couples. (158-170, 1967.12.27)

Cheon Seong Gyeong
Selections from the Speeches of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

Book 7
Etiquette and Ceremonies
Chapter 4
Tradition and Daily Etiquette of Blessed Families

Summary

To pass down the heavenly tradition, parents must lead by example and live a dedicated public life, as children naturally discover their values and copy their parents rather than relying on school education. Blessed families need to create their own strict rules and educational standards so they can guide their household properly, but parents must first practice what they preach before they can expect their children to follow. If children see their parents ignoring church responsibilities or failing to follow headquarters’ directions, they will notice the hypocrisy and reject their parents’ guidance. Ultimately, everything parents do must model absolute loyalty to God’s will and the ways of the Unification Church, mirroring how True Father only teaches what he has already practiced and successfully established.

Section 6. Raising Children in Faith
6.1. Parents are to teach their children heavenly law

    What will you teach your children? In order for your children to inherit the tradition, you must educate them and lead an exemplary public life. People were originally made to be educated by their parents; they are not to receive education just from school. Especially, education in order to inherit the tradition cannot be taught in school. (111-256, 1981.2.22)

    Children discover all their values through the parents. Who do the children resemble when they grow up in a family? They resemble their parents. Who will they follow? They will follow their parents. That’s how it is. (24-133, 1969.7.20)

    Blessed families should establish a family tradition and create a family code of conduct. You should also create a standard of education for children and rules of conduct for the family. If the parents have not done so, they will have nothing to say when they commit an error and their children press them hard. (21-87, 1968.11.3)

    In order to educate children, parents should first practice accordingly. The parents should be a model of loyalty to God’s will. They should stand in the position where the children regard them with such awe so that they would not utter a word against whatever the parents say. If not, the children will not follow them.
    In regard to church life, children will observe their parents and compare their actions with what they understand of God’s will and the Principle. When children see that their parents neglect church responsibilities and do not live according to headquarters’ directions, while at the same time expecting their children to live in a principled way, then they will surely sneer at their parents. (31- 268, 1970.6.4)

    Everything that parents do should encourage their children to follow the correct way of the Unification Church. This is how it should be. Parents must also follow this path. They should first go through that course and only then can they teach and educate their children. If parents try to educate their children in something they have not done, this will go against the heavenly way.
    I teach you about what I have first practiced and established as a victorious foundation. If you cannot believe it, pray to God to see if I am telling the truth or not. (23-322, 1969.6.8)
p. 1073

Daily Inspiration Discussion Forum

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