"Keep me away from the wisdom which does not cry, the philosophy which does not laugh and the greatness which does not bow before children." ---Khalil Gibran
I remember the day with alarming clarity. It is as vivid and powerful today as it was almost thirteen years ago. The day I speak of is the day I became a father. I cannot remember ever really wanting to be or having an enormous desire to be a father. If I am honest, I never really gave it great thought when I was younger. I occasionally wondered what it would be like, but I was perfectly satisfied with life if it never happened.
That November day a decade plus nearly three years ago would change my life like no other before or after. The person that never gave being a father much thought did in fact become a father. It rocked my world and has every day since. I became the father of a gorgeous little baby girl that day.
Being a father is a complicated issue. I am blessed to actually be the father of two, a young boy about to become seven. I know that I would willingly give my life for either of my children without hesitation if it would preserve theirs. If you want to see the ugliest side of my character, hurt one of my children. I deeply love my children, oddly I never really felt loved by my own father.
Saturday evening I had the displeasure of catching my son in a lie. A continuing lie and events have been very troubling to me. I know, he is only six plus years old. However, there comes a time as a parent that one must get through to a child. Exactly how does a father do this? I know that if I look back to my own childhood, the thought of doing it the way my father did it leaves me filled with sorrow. I love my son and cannot bring myself to do those types of things to him. Sure, there were plenty of great memories of my childhood with my father, but the harsh ones stand out among the memories for some reason.
My beautiful, handsome son, if you ever read this and look back on this night; I hope you do so with a smile and a fondness. There was no yelling, no hitting, no swearing, and no spanking. It was a talk. Yes, the talk was firm and I explained the consequences of privileges that could be lost if this behavior continues. I hope you learn that honesty is always the best avenue to take. Hold yourself to a higher standard. In your life, when you have made a mistake or have done something wrong, stand a little taller. Speak the truth and be quick to apologize and hold yourself accountable. I know your explanation was, you did not want to get in trouble. I can only offer this advice. Lying compounds the problem and gets you in deeper trouble.
"If you raise your children to feel that they can accomplish any goal or task they decide upon, you will have succeeded as a parent and you will have given your children the greatest of all blessings." ---Brian Tracy
People the world over have yet to learn this. Politicians and famous people have never lived up to this and in the end lying always brings you down. Son, when in life you have done something wrong and it finds its way back to you, take pause. Stand tall, look them in the eyes and apologize. Be quick to accept responsibility and offer a solution to make things right again. It is without a doubt the more difficult and less traveled path. It is also the path to respect and forgiveness. I love you and I stand by you. As long as I walk upon this Earth, I will always love you and be proud of you. Especially, in those difficult times in life if you stand a little taller and always take a higher road.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Freedom is so Easy to Overlook
“Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.” ---Optimus Prime
The weekend of July 4 2011, will be an American Independence Day that I will not soon forget, if ever. I live in a state where aerial fireworks have been illegal my entire life. This year our state legislature decided to allow certain types of these high-flying, colorful explosives. Personally, I have no opinion on either side of the argument for or against these marvelous explosives. In addition, my state decided to allow them for almost the entire month as we celebrate our State Heritage at the end of July and it is a state holiday.
"Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer." ---Ronald Reagan
One evening during Independence weekend, I sat in the dark in my kitchen looking to the darkened skies of the East. I could hear the continuous thunder of explosives going off in the sky. I scanned the skies and an amazing, color crowded, somewhat chaotic scene filled my eyes. I was witnessing more than a dozen different fireworks shows, with intermittent occasional blasts from those less aggressive. I will never forget a spectacle like the one I witnessed.
People were so thrilled to have the freedom to purchase these fireworks, light and blast into the skies their own colorful explosives. It was as if every neighborhood screamed from the skies the joy and delight of having freedom, fun and the right to party as they saw fit. I could hear the screams of joy and approval late into the night and early morning hours.
"Within each of us lies the power of our consent to health and sickness, to riches and poverty, to freedom and to slavery. It is we who control these, and not another." ---Richard Bach
When I went to bed and attempted to drift off to sleep, I remember hearing the continuous blasts and thought of others less fortunate. It sounded as though bombs were going off in the near and far distance. I wondered if this is what it sounds to those whose cities get bombed while they sleep at night. I am sure that would be a very frightening experience. Sounds of bombs landing and exploding all over your city, not knowing where the next one will land and explode. I thought of children in their beds hearing such explosions of destruction. Like the spectacle I experienced of joy and celebration, I am sure many have the like spectacle of horror of a city bombed.
The freedoms we celebrate in this country (USA) are really like no other. Tied to that independence is the freedom to dream, but more appropriately the right to act and follow those dreams. Actually, we are shaming our independence and freedom when we do not dream and act upon those dreams. Countless men and women have paid with their lives to allow us that privilege.
In this country (USA) we have the freedom to dream a business or career and then have the right to pursue it with no interference. Yes, those that steal and destroy dreams litter the path, but only you and I will determine the outcome. The road is difficult and filled with challenges. This road to our dreams is a road that you can choose to take or decline. There is nothing wrong with declining the road so much as you are content and living a joyful life. However, a life of passion and accomplishment awaits those that accept the challenge and fight through the difficulties.
Freedom is something we take for granted every day and we forget exactly what responsibility that entails.
"If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho' we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny." ---Martin Luther King
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." ---Abraham Lincoln
"I have crossed over on the backs of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman and Fannie Lou Hamer and Madame C.J. Walker. Because of them I can now live the dream. I am the seed of the free, and I know it. I intend to bear great fruit." ---Oprah Winfrey
Shared from Stacy:
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." ---Henry David Thoreau
The weekend of July 4 2011, will be an American Independence Day that I will not soon forget, if ever. I live in a state where aerial fireworks have been illegal my entire life. This year our state legislature decided to allow certain types of these high-flying, colorful explosives. Personally, I have no opinion on either side of the argument for or against these marvelous explosives. In addition, my state decided to allow them for almost the entire month as we celebrate our State Heritage at the end of July and it is a state holiday.
"Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority or government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put in this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer." ---Ronald Reagan
One evening during Independence weekend, I sat in the dark in my kitchen looking to the darkened skies of the East. I could hear the continuous thunder of explosives going off in the sky. I scanned the skies and an amazing, color crowded, somewhat chaotic scene filled my eyes. I was witnessing more than a dozen different fireworks shows, with intermittent occasional blasts from those less aggressive. I will never forget a spectacle like the one I witnessed.
People were so thrilled to have the freedom to purchase these fireworks, light and blast into the skies their own colorful explosives. It was as if every neighborhood screamed from the skies the joy and delight of having freedom, fun and the right to party as they saw fit. I could hear the screams of joy and approval late into the night and early morning hours.
"Within each of us lies the power of our consent to health and sickness, to riches and poverty, to freedom and to slavery. It is we who control these, and not another." ---Richard Bach
When I went to bed and attempted to drift off to sleep, I remember hearing the continuous blasts and thought of others less fortunate. It sounded as though bombs were going off in the near and far distance. I wondered if this is what it sounds to those whose cities get bombed while they sleep at night. I am sure that would be a very frightening experience. Sounds of bombs landing and exploding all over your city, not knowing where the next one will land and explode. I thought of children in their beds hearing such explosions of destruction. Like the spectacle I experienced of joy and celebration, I am sure many have the like spectacle of horror of a city bombed.
The freedoms we celebrate in this country (USA) are really like no other. Tied to that independence is the freedom to dream, but more appropriately the right to act and follow those dreams. Actually, we are shaming our independence and freedom when we do not dream and act upon those dreams. Countless men and women have paid with their lives to allow us that privilege.
In this country (USA) we have the freedom to dream a business or career and then have the right to pursue it with no interference. Yes, those that steal and destroy dreams litter the path, but only you and I will determine the outcome. The road is difficult and filled with challenges. This road to our dreams is a road that you can choose to take or decline. There is nothing wrong with declining the road so much as you are content and living a joyful life. However, a life of passion and accomplishment awaits those that accept the challenge and fight through the difficulties.
Freedom is something we take for granted every day and we forget exactly what responsibility that entails.
"If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho' we may be, our destiny is tied up with America's destiny." ---Martin Luther King
"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves." ---Abraham Lincoln
"I have crossed over on the backs of Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman and Fannie Lou Hamer and Madame C.J. Walker. Because of them I can now live the dream. I am the seed of the free, and I know it. I intend to bear great fruit." ---Oprah Winfrey
Shared from Stacy:
"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler." ---Henry David Thoreau
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