– When my child was little, he went to church with pleasure. Now that he is older, he does not want to go to a service. Why?  

– Often it happens that we push and torture our children with our faith, while their faith has not taken place yet. It seems to us they go to church sincerely, but they do this because we make them. In fact, nothing has happened in their souls. So, when they grow up and have no fear of parents, they cease going to church.   

We need to have much patience, wisdom, and love, so that our children follow us. We should not bark at them all the time, but become an example for them. They need to see we have succeeded in our faith. As very often, they only hear our words, but do not see the results at all. That is why they do not believe in our faith. Often, we do not live up to the high words we tell our children. That is why they get disappointed in our faith.  

Archpriest Sergiy Baranov