By José Chinchilla
FLM National Director, Honduras

En Español

These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 

~ Deuteronomy 6:6-7 NIV

When Marlon was just a toddler, his parents migrated to the United States of America in search of a better life. Marlon was left in the care of his paternal grandparents. His grandparents had the option of passing him between his maternal grandparents, but they knew that it was not the best environment for Marlon to develop and be raised; therefore, they made the decision and took the responsibility to raise him. Over the years, Marlon grew in stature and knowledge and became a youth of 18-year-old with his grandparents as his parent figures. Today, Marlon is living with a woman and is expecting a son or daughter. Thank God Marlon had the love and care of his grandparents, even though he did not have that from his parents.

This true story is a reality for many children who are abandoned by their parents for different reasons in Honduras because of poverty, domestic violence, lack of work, or denigrating living conditions. It is mostly the grandparents who decide to take responsibility for the care of their grandchildren, and sometimes the uncles and aunts are the ones taking care of them. Thank God we have our grandparents, but it is not their duty to raise their grandchildren, but it is the duty of the parents. Grandparents are a blessing and have a very important role in the lives of their grandchildren and children; they help us take care of our children when we want to go out with our wife or husband, or when we want a quiet time or when we are on an anniversary trip. Grandparents are perfect for these occasions, but we shouldn’t give them the role of parenting.

It is God's wish, and his original design for the family, to have two parents in charge of their children. Of course, in His divine grace, love, and mercy, we have father and mother figures who help us grow and develop in this society and who stand in the gap when parents are not available. Thank God for these parent figures who God supplies for us. Ultimately, God wants each person to fulfill the role he has given them.

I firmly believe that Marlon needed the instruction, limits, love, affection, time, respect, and discipline of his parents to have better opportunities in this society. Parents are the ones in charge of such actions. God has entrusted parents with such honor and privilege.

At Family Life Missions we firmly believe in God's divine purpose, which is why we are working hard to keep families together, keep God's original design, and keep parents together. Transforming lives is the program that fills us with hope so that children can have bonds and a safe attachment with their parents so that they can be resilient children and be prepared for this world.