Family education is an involved issue because it means serving life in others. The foremost approach for parents towards their children should be respect – respecting who they are and their originality.

Life is God-given and – at the end of the day – everyone’s life includes a deep mystery. When we look at another person, we should be filled with a real gratitude, because God has instilled something in them that he hasn’t given to anyone else.

Respect is essential for any good communication. The key to opening up the door to a human soul is when they feel respected for who they are. Respect allows us to be enriched by others and it helps us to notice the presence of God in people’s lives. Every life is a gift.

Respect helps us to become more and more aware of our children’s talents and abilities, and of their limitations and where there is still room to grow. Respecting them and learning to see them as God sees them helps parents not to project their own needs and wishes onto their children. Respect is an attitude that brings with it many benefits: it helps us overcome selfish ideas about our children and stops us going down the road of fears and obsessions.

Without doubt, the best prayer for parents is the “Our Father...” where we express our longing to do what God wants in everything. “Thy will be done” is at the heart of the Lord’s Prayer. Family education means working with God so that his Plan of Love is realised in our children’s lives. We only want, as parents, what God has intended for our children – nothing more and nothing less. This will bring them happy and fulfilled lives.

When we pray the prayer of Jesus, we ask for the gift of a deep and sincere respect for the unique “treasure” that lies hidden in each of them.