Tochni is a small village not far from Limassol with quaint architecture and beauty. I had not gone far into the village when I read the plaque on one of the doors:
"A beautiful little world, Our Family, created by love."
A precious reminder of the importance of the family unit. Marianne Neifert writes:
"The family is both the fundamental unit of society as well as the root of culture. It ... is a perpetual source of encouragement, advocacy, assurance, and emotional refueling that empowers a child to venture with confidence into the greater world and to become all that he can be." (Dr Mom's Parenting Guide)
With increasing attacks on family structure in our societies today, how important it is to have strong families nurtured in God's love and under His direction. A verse in Proverbs lends its wisdom to this subject:
Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6
Many of us are grateful for the values taught to us by our parents which have guided us through life. Many of us are what we are because of our parents!
Close by, another family was being cared for. The Bible mentions birds, particularly sparrows, several times:
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Matthew 6:26
Our heavenly Father will provide for our needs as we follow Him and His will in this world. The presence of the birds around us is a visible reminder of this principle.
Enjoy the rest of the pictures of one of the oldest villages in Cyprus, particularly the Church of St. Constantine and Helena. Constantine's mother, Helena, is said to have visited Cyprus on her return from Israel and allegedly founded this church. The current church was reconstructed on the original site. Bougainvillea of several shades can be seen throughout the village, adding colour and cheer to the surroundings.
The Lord bless those of you who are bringing up families in these uncertain times. May His love surround you and His grace provide for all your needs!