Author: Frances O'Dair
Located in: Cornwall
Submitted: February 22, 2020
Tell us a little about yourself. I am married to my husband of 56 years. I have 2 sons who have given us 6 wonderful grandchildren. I am a retired teacher for 25 years after spending most of my career teaching Junior and Senior Kindergarten children. I have supported my husband with his work in the Kinsmen-Kinette Clubs of Canada and the Canadian Legion, being a member in both myself. At present I'm very involved in the Catholic Women's League of Canada.
What was your motivation behind this project? I have always valued family. It is ironic that I am one of seven children raised by our wonderful mother who was widowed when our ages ranged from one to 13, and yet I am convinced of the importance of both the father's and mother's roles in the family.
Marriage breakups became more and more frequent during my teaching career. This was very unsettling for the young child who loved both parents equally. I found that a new subculture of unmarried mothers were not as responsible as needed to nurture the all-around development of their child(ren).
What do you hope folks will gain from this project? I hope that men and women who are aware that social fabric is deteriorating at a faster rate all the time. Change of hearts and minds are needed if we're ever to recover the sanctity of marriage and family as my generation remembers. Parents and grandparents need terms of reference to have the discussion with young people which will point out the folly of self-centered choices.
How were you personally impacted by working on this project? I became more and more convinced that the topic of my book would not be readily-accepted by younger generations who fail to see the consequences of sexual freedom. I realized the Holy Spirit was guiding me in a work that needs to be disseminated to all males and females from the adolescent years.
Who are your influences, sources of inspiration or favorite authors / artists? My personal understanding of Biblical teachings and my faith in an awesome God, who is revealed in Jesus, allows me to see there is a need for change. Many people don't see the need to change, possibility to bring about change, and how minds and hearts must be changed if we're to move beyond the darkness of the world today. Perhaps my to mother is the strongest influence in my faith and my interest in the circumstances of other people.
Anything else you'd like readers / listeners to know: When God first conceives of a human manner of being, He envisions all people, regardless of our differences in age, race, gender, status, wealth etc., learning to live among each other as He exists harmoniously in His Holy Trinity. The Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus is the manifestation of His ideal for all human beings. With the help of Jesus and Mary, the day will come when we're given the choice to live as they live or not.
