Courage

C'mon PARENTS, GET OFF THE BENCH!!!

In the movie, Courageous, they call out absentee or lukewarm fathers, they call on them to GET IN THE GAME! While I agree that these men need to take responsibility, I feel that as women, we ALSO need to step up to the plate for our children (whether we are single or married) and instill in them the values we want them to mirror to the world. Regardless of whether we have a man who is willing to step up and be the father he needs to be for his kids or not, we still need to take a stand for them and point them toward the best choices possible. Parenting is no easy task, and I am by no means an expert. However, one of the most pogniant questions asked in the film is that if you knew today that your child wasn't going to be with you tomorrow, what would you change?

Would you color with her when all she really wants is time with you? Would you change the way you speak to your teenage daughter who gives you that smirk across the dinner table just to test you? Would you laugh more with the toddler who just wants to roll around on the carpet and be silly? Would you have that shoulder-to-shoulder friendship you know your college aged children are desperate for? Would you take the time to give him the one hug that you said you didn't have time for this morning? Would you listen more? What would you do?

Having two kids with recurrent medical issues, I have had a lot of time to think about this. To cry and think about what might be... and all I can say is that we must do the best we can, strive to be better parents than we know how to be, and savor the time we DO have. Live life fully today, and count your blessings one by one because TODAY, friends... TODAY may be all we've got.

In closing, I hope that for each and every one of you this causes you to take a moment and hug the ones you care about.

Dear God, Be with my friends who don't take the time to savor each moment with their children. Take their hearts and turn them towards You, so they might see grace and peace. It's in Your Son's precious name we pray, Amen.

Goodnight friends,
J