March is National Problem Gambling Awareness Month. In 1996 less than 1% of Wisconsin citizens, or about 32,425 residents were problem gamblers. The social costs related to those problem gamblers was over $300 million, or $9,469 per problem gambler. Those numbers clearly should have told us something. But sadly we failed to learn from our history.
In Joshua 4:1-9 we read that after Israel had crossed the Jordan river, a member from each tribe was to take a stone and erect a memorial of their crossing. The stone memorial was to be a generational reminder of God’s miraculous parting of the river so that the people might cross over. The expectation was that children would ask their fathers about the memorial and that fathers would explain what God had done for them as a people.
It is right and good for us to remember the sacrifice of so many that made our country possible and that has preserved us as a nation. It is even better to remember with eternal gratitude the sacrifice that made our redemption possible.
It comes around once each year, and moms and kids start scrambling for gift ideas for dear old Dad. Dads can be notoriously challenging when it comes to giving them gifts. But we suspect that the majority of dads are most grateful not for the gift but for the gift-givers, those wives and children who make their lives complete and bring joy and purpose to their days.
Our mission is to advance Judeo-Christian principles and values in Wisconsin by strengthening, preserving, and promoting marriage, family, life and liberty.
© 2021 Wisconsin Family Council
