Thinking about the preacher's message, however, let me do a take-off of it about families. Our educators point to our homes as the genesis of our problems at school. Law enforcement people decry the decaying of our families as the seed beds of lawlessness, drug abuse and a general break down of authority. Laying our social ills upon the disintegration of the family certainly has a ring of truth to it, but what can be done? It occurs to me (in the words of my radio preacher) that, if not the best thing, certainly the first thing you and I can do for the troubled, dysfunctional families is "not to be one of them."

Doesn't that make sense? Isn't the place to begin neighborhood beautification with your own property?

So where do you start to make sure that your family is not one of the troubled families of our world? If you are a two parent family, you can do what my friend, Dr. Wayne Grant, a pediatrician from San Antonio, says: "The best thing parents can do for their children is to give them a model of a good marriage relationship." When you work on your marriage you are not only giving gifts to your children, you are working to make sure our world’s problem-family population is not increased by one.

Whether you are two parent family or a single parent family, it is crucial that you encourage the expression of feelings---all feelings. In some families, pleasant, warm feelings are allowed, but rugged, angry feelings are not to be expressed. Families that function well encourage the expression of all feelings. Teach your family to appropriately express their feelings and to receive the feelings shared by other members. The sharing of feelings will result in your family's moving in the opposite direction of those families on our casualty list.

But what if your family is already in trouble? What if prevention is a moot question? The answer is to seek help. Many pastors are skilled in helping families through troubled times. I have referred several families to MH-MR Counseling Services (there is one such agency in each county in Texas) where they have found hope and help. You can call this number in Austin to find the nearest MH-MR counseling agency near you - 512-454-3761.

If your family is troubled, it does not have to remain so. Change is possible. I have staked my life on it. Act today! There is hope! Get in touch with your pastor or call local MH-MR Counseling Service.

Certainly the first thing, and perhaps THE BEST THING you and I can do for the for the disintegrated families of Marshall is to not be one of them.