Bishop Kevin Farrell

The Chief Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Search

The school for teaching almost everything

July 1, 2010 By Bishop Kevin J. Farrell

Recently I read a description of family as “the school for teaching almost everything.” That got me to thinking about how our family determines who we are.

We do not normally think of a family as a school or members as teachers, but the analogy is a valid one. As children we learn in many ways, but one important way is by observation. A family teaches values by the way they live.

If a child grows up in a family where love, respect and trust are the norm, he or she will learn to love, to respect and to trust. If a child grows up in a family where forgiveness is the norm, he or she will learn to forgive.

If, on the other hand, a child grows up in a family where anger, fear and disrespect are the norm, he or she will learn anger, fear and disrespect.

A child discovers God in the family. If family life is not permeated by the love of Christ and the gospel it is not likely that it will be learned in a classroom.

The values of the family in which we grow up are the ones which we are likely to carry throughout our lives. The family truly is “the school for teaching almost everything.”

What are the values lived and learned in your family?

Filed Under: Being Catholic Tagged With: bishop kevin farrell, catholic blogs, catholic diocese of dallas, catholic values, dallas catholic blogs, dallas catholics, Faith, family values

Bishop Farrell on Twitter

Follow @Bishop_Farrell

About Bishop Farrell

Bishop Kevin Joseph Farrell was appointed Seventh Bishop of Dallas on March 6, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI.
   
MORE ON BISHOP FARRELL

Recent Posts

  • Bishop Farrell’s homily for Mass of Thanksgiving
  • Prefect of the new Dicastery for the Laity, Family and Life
  • Simple acts of kindness
  • Prayer does not need words, it only needs faith
  • Baton Rouge

Bishop's Favorite Sites

  • Bishop Farrell Invitational
  • Bishop's Annual Appeal
  • Catholic Charities of Dallas
  • Catholic Diocese of Dallas
  • Catholic News Service
  • Catholic Pro-Life Committee
  • Catholic Schools of Dallas
  • Our Faith Our Future
  • The Catholic Foundation
  • The Vatican
  • USCCB

Sitius favoritos del Obispo

  • Campaña Anual del Obispo
  • Comité Católico Pro-Vida
  • El Vaticano