“PRAY FOR FAMILIES”

Does a sign on the side of the road really have a voice?

For many, many months, possibly a year or more, I have noticed a small sign that stands upright on an isolated spot on an extremely busy six-lane highway in a commercial area. Despite the hustle and bustle of every type of vehicle imaginable passing by morning, noon, and night, I have noticed that the sign has stood as strong as and as stately as a mighty tree throughout the passing of each season. Neither wind, rain, ice, snow, nor the sun have prevented the message on the sign from reaching the eyes of those who quickly drive by.

As I drive past the sign almost everyday, I look at it and often allow myself to wonder who placed it there as I consider their motivation for doing so. Sometimes I silently applaud that person who had the boldness to walk on a hilly part of the very busy highway, which is not pedestrian friendly, to firmly anchor the sign into the ground so that a clear directive is given to each reader. Other times, I take the sign for granted because it has just become a permanent fixture that sits on the side of the road. However, as I quickly drove past by the sign today, something within me felt very different. I felt inspired to dig a little deeper to find meaning and purpose behind the sign.

The words “PRAY FOR FAMILIES” are unapologetically printed on the sign on the side of the road. To me, these words represent a call to action exclusively directed at me. As of today, I feel as though a command was being given, literally spoken to me, to follow the instructions on the sign. I now realize that must become personally commitment to praying for families.

I have known for a long while that my professional mission for the rest of my life is to promote family engagement in education so that children and young people have the greatest opportunity to experience academic and developmental achievement and success. I now have a spiritual mission as well. I must pray for families. More specifically, I must link and intertwine my professional and spiritual efforts by praying that parents and families would become more deeply engaged in all educational and developmental efforts involving their children.

I believe in prayer and in the power of prayer. I believe that when I pray to the Lord about situations and circumstances that my prayers reach the heart of God. I also believe that the Lord will answer my prayers.

So, here is my unique prayer tailored to my uniquely individualized professional and spiritual mission.

1. I pray that educators, school leaders, and educational policy makers would unite their efforts to open the door to increased levels of family engagement through the establishment of positive relationships with them by growing to have more respect, empathy, and compassion for the families that they serve as their acceptance of each parent expands.
2. I pray that parents would become actively involved in the education of their children at school and at home in a balanced manner so that they work with educators within respectful boundaries for the benefit of the children they serve.
3. I pray that family engagement would increase within schools and developmental programs so that children and young people have a chance to grow and develop so that they experience success at the highest levels possible.

Perhaps I was the person who was really meant to not only see the sign on the side of the road but to take action…finally.

Here’s my golden ticket that helps me accomplish my mission.

Dr. Deborah M. Vereen is a retired Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher, Principal, Director of Pupil Personnel Services, Assistant to the Superintendent for Family and Community Engagement, and Professor of Multicultural Education. Her e-learning course and social media platforms can be accessed on her website at www.Drdeborahmvereen.com and she is dedicating the rest of her life to serving as a Global Family Engagement Influencer.