PM Sends Mothers Day Greetings from Kentucky

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Sunday, 13 May 2012 17:37

By press release

Antigua St John's - Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda who is today in Kentucky after receiving an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Mid-Continent University sent Mothers Day Greetings to mothers in Antigua and Barbuda and Officially opened Family Week 2012.

PM Spencer also took the time out today to attend a Church Service at Southland Baptist Temple during which he spoke of the importance of mothers to the development of families.  PM Spencer also expressed his sadness at the passing of a mother immediately following the graduation of her daughter yesterday.  He urged the family to hold firm to the memories of their mother.

We reproduce below, the Prime Minister's Mothers Day Message to Antigua and Barbuda.

Fellow Citizens, Residents and Friends of Antigua and Barbuda:
 
In Antigua and Barbuda and around the world we celebrate and honour the most precious of individuals in our lives – our mothers.

It is also the day when we commence celebrating National Family Week in Antigua and Barbuda under the theme, “A Strong Family, Root of a Progressive Society.”  National Family Week is designed to bring awareness to the importance of families and how building strong families make strong communities.

Today, my family and I extend best wishes to all mothers in Antigua and Barbuda and special wishes to those fathers who carry out the role of both mother and father.
 
I pray God’s richest blessings on all of our mothers.

I also pray for God’s blessings on all those who have lost their mothers during this year.  May the memories that you have of your mothers wipe away the sadness of her passing and bring you comfort and joy.

As we pray God’s continued blessings on all mothers we recall the various roles played by mothers in maintaining their families.  Many mothers are the breadwinners for their family or bear the roles of both mother and father.  Today we acknowledge and pay tribute to those mothers who are committed to strengthening their families in an effort to build a progressive and strong society.

As we celebrate National Family Week over the coming eight days, let us not only remember the roles played by our mothers but recognize the roles that are required to be played by our young people in ensuring that our families and communities remain strong.

Our young people must recognize that they too must ensure that they provide the support needed by mothers and fathers in keeping the family network strong.

You are called to be models in your communities and in your institutions of learning.  You are called to be young men and women who will say no to those practices and vices that destroy lives and communities.

Your resistance and objection to drugs, crime and violence must be sent out loud and clear for everyone to hear.  It is only through this that you can play a part in building a progressive society.



Be role models to your fellow peers and do positive things that will impact the lives of those around you. Develop a habit of cultivating peace at all times.

Remember at all times that if your family at home is strong our communities and by extension our nation will be progressive and strong.

Strong families are not born, they are built.  It takes the dedication, and great strength of character of members of the family to build strong families.  

Nineteenth century Spiritual Messenger Ellen G. White wrote in one of her books, and I quote:

“The restoration and uplifting of humanity begins in the home.  The work of parents underlies every other.  Society is composed of families, and is what the heads of families make it.  Out of the heart are “the issues of life”; and the heart of the community, of the church, and of the nation, is the household.  The well-being of society, the success of the church, the prosperity of the nation, depend upon home influences. “   

This quotation from Ellen G. White calls on all of us as members and leaders of families to recognize the importance of families in not only the nurturing of our children to become responsible adults and citizens but also in the building of strong progressive societies.

It is our Heavenly Father’s desire that the family should be the greatest of all educational agencies. It is in the home that the education of the child begins.  It is in the home that parents are called to be the instructors, and the child is to learn the lessons that are to guide him or her throughout life – lessons of respect, obedience, reverence, self-control – all important qualities that contribute to strong families and progressive communities.

As we celebrate National Family Week, I call upon all of us to commit to fostering in our nation the gifts of joy, peace, love, patience, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness and goodness and above all, Godliness.

I invite us all to support the family week of activities by participating in the various radio and television discussions and the National Family Week Service at the Holy Family Cathedral at 8 a.m. on the 20th May.

Let us all work together during National Family Week and afterwards, to strengthen our families.  Let us all dedicate ourselves to helping to reposition our families to play a meaningful role in building a strong and progressive society.

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As we celebrate Mother’s Day and National Family Week, it is my hope that both mothers and fathers will love their children more – use the discipline of love rather than the heartbreak of the discipline of terror that children might experience.

Lead your children in the way of truth.  Remind them that they are your most precious assets.  Nurture and love them dearly. And teach them always to pray in order to maintain a strong relationship with our Heavenly Father.

A happy mother’s day to all mothers and may we build strong families that rely on our Christian principles of love and respect for each other.

May God bless us all.  May God Bless our Nation as we work towards building a strong progressive society.
Thank You.

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