DEAR EDITOR: I cannot help but recommend the Vision newspaper to parents, teachers and adults on the whole. It is a youth paper – that is, written by the youth, but it will help us adults to see the youth as children made by God. Jesus said, “if you have seen me you have seen the Father”.
As such we must respect the youth and by example, they will follow and respect us. Therefore we should always endeavour to give them the example of Jesus Christ who commanded, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Also, he said, “Love your enemies and pray for those who hate you.”
If we give the young ones bad example, then when we complain about them, we will only be complaining about ourselves. It is like looking in the mirror at ourselves. We give a smile in the mirror we will see a smile.
We say “sorry” when we do something wrong or hurt someone. We turn back to God when we are moving up the wrong street. We accept responsibility and or punishment or whatever the outcome of our actions. We confess our sins and repent. Then the young people will gradually do the same.
Many of us have seen public confessions in South Africa after apartheid was crushed. Bishop Tutu and Nelson Mandela (who spent about 27 years in prison) are examples that show us how to forgive. If we forgive, the young people will eventually do so.
There are several young leaders in our country as evidenced by the articles they write in the Vision supplement printed on the last Sunday of each month.
I give an overall compliment to all the writers, but I must give greater acknowledgement to some experienced writers with articles that seem very mature for their ages Marisha Darneaud and Vernette Superville allow much food for thought. By referring to their own experiences they witness to God’s glory. Their articles should surely affect the lives of others in a helpful way.
A brilliant article was done on Jason Daly (deceased) in the February 24 edition of Vision. In that same issue “A life with purpose” is one of the articles I would like to have distributed to patients at the hospital and youths at tertiary and secondary level, and other institutions.
I urge young adults and seniors to read the articles in Vision. These youths have been commissioned or sent as it were by God as a sign of hope for our nation.
It is not only youths who are committing crimes that appear in the news. However, the most emphasis is placed on them. Many are doing good work, and with God’s help are avoiding occasions of sin. For we are all sinners, all tempted.
All have fallen short of God’s glory. But with God’s help we can overcome or resist temptation especially by engaging in Church work, writing, service to others as these youths are doing, praying and participating in good useful hobbies like reading, sports and playing musical instruments.
Again, I congratulate all the young people involved in the production of the supplement. I ask others to pray for them as they pray for themselves so they do not become arrogant and miss their mission for God.
Satan has a plan for everyone just as God has a plan for all to be saved. We pray they and we too, do not give in to the plots and snares of the devil, no matter how prosperous they may seem. Satan always inveigles some man, woman and child to hinder or prevent those who work for God.
We have to always call on the help of Jesus and never think we can deal with that temptation on our own. So to the youths of Vision and the altar servers, I say “Go do your work in Jesus name”.
Patricia Phelps Scott, National Ave, Mt Hope
PS: I do give out the Catholic News and Vision, encouraging others to read. Here is a little advice. Please do not throw away your papers, pass it on to your work colleagues and relatives, office, hotel lobbies, institutions etc. especially where people have to wait and would like to browse through something.
Pass the good news on. Cut out interesting helpful articles and share. There is too much bad news in circulation, I compliment the teachers who have been passing on the Catholic News in schools, keep it up.
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