The Way I See It #198

“You can shower a child with presents or money, but what do they really mean, compared to the most valuable gift of all-your time?  Vacations and special events are nice, but so often the best moments are the spontaneous ones.  Being there.  Every moment you spend with your child could be the one that really matters.”  -Tim Russert

Nothing really profound, but for something so simple and obvious why do we seem to miss it?  There is no substitute for our time as parents. 

As you may know, my family is very important to me, and I go to great lengths to spend time with them and be there for them in a way that is meaningful.  I know that as a dad I only get one chance, I can never go back and change the past.  I want to get it right while they are young, and NOT be that parent that lives wishing I would have given them more time…I have never met a parent that says, “I wish I would have spent less time with my kids.”

High Low for the Week

The Winner is…

Baseball playoffs are here!  I love the post-season, have since I was a kid.  In fact, it was not uncommon for me to develop a random sickness so I could stay home from school to watch the afternoon games.  Also, the Red Sox are in again, and almost as good, the Yankees are OUT!!!

The Loser is…

A nice little sinus infection…and no, this is not a “random sickness”…or is it!?!?!  Seriosuly, I hate getting sick, I get nose bleeds easily, and so I try to avoid blowing my nose, because when I do it starts bleeding…oh, and I am quite the baby when I am sick too.  The family is taking good care of me though.

The Way I See It #280

“You can learn a lot more from listening than you can from talking. Find someone with whom you don’t agree in the slightest and ask them to explain themselves at length. Then take a seat, shut your mouth, and don’t argue back. It’s physically impossible to listen with your mouth open.”  –John Moe, Radio Host

This is a quote that really hit home for me.  I like to talk, I like to be heard, I like to be right.  Because of that I tend to talk when I should be listening.  I am finding as I continue to “grow-up” that there are many people with valuable things to say, if I will just stop talking and start listening.  Many times the people with the most wisdom are the quiet ones, maybe they are so wise because they spend more time listening than talking…  I am even finding wisdom in listening to people I disagree with, could it be that I disagree with them because I have never let my mind be open to their opinion?

How could our relationships be different if we stopped to listen?  How much could we grow in life if we stopped to listen?

High Low for the Week

The winner is…

The Sox are back in the playoffs!!!  I would prefer the division, but I will take the Wild Card…

The loser is…

I am getting old.  Went to the Dr. this week with back spasms.  I hurt my back a few years ago and it gives me problems every once in a while, but usually goes away on its own.  Not this time however, I finally decided to see the doc when I went 2 nights with little sleep…  Although I do like the muscle relaxers!

Have a great weekend everyone, see you Monday.

Where have the altars gone?

I have been thinking recently about how in the Old Testament of the Bible people and groups would build altars as monuments to God.  They would experience something they did not want to forget or that God did not want them to forget and they built an altar, offered a sacrifice, and it became a monument of remembrance to God.  Where have the altars gone?

In life we have tough times, we have times where we feel God is distant or unresponsive, we may know He is there, but it feels like He is a million miles away.  What navigates you and I through the “valleys” or the tough times?  To me it happens when we “build an altar”; next time God does something unforgettable in your life, “build an altar” as a monument to God.  I am not talking about stacking rocks, or heading to Home Depot to get a building plan, I am talking something much more simple.  Like take a picture that captures the miracle or the moment, frame that sucker, and every time you look at it you will remember what God has done.  Or maybe journal miracles in your life, and keep that journal close by when you are in a rough patch.  Just build an altar…

I have taken a picture of the house where Affinity started, I am putting that picture in a frame, it will become “an altar” that sits on my desk.  During the difficult times I will look at that picture and remember the miracle of Affinity that God began, and take strength from what He has done, as I accept what He is doing, and hold on until He does it again.

What about your life?  Where are your altars?  Where are your reminders of the power of the God you serve?

The Way I See It #217

The Starbucks quotes have fascinated me for a long time and I have occasionally commented about them.  For the next several Monday’s I want to high-light different ones for you to consider and if you desire to comment on.  I even intend to post quotes I disagree with.  Here is the one for today, which I happen to agree with.

“The day my son was born, I simultaneously died and was reborn. Every day before that day, my life had been about me and what I wanted the world to give me. Every day since, my life necessarily has been about what I can give to someone else. And that, I think, is why the world needs more children – and more parents.”   -Kevin Streit, Attorney, Richmond, VA

I think the world would be a better place if we could embrace the idea that we are not living for ourselves.  If we would learn to think of others more than we think of ourselves what could be accomplished?  Think about all that could and would change: homelessness, hunger, violence, maybe even environmental needs?

As a Christian I believe that I am living for Jesus Christ, that I am not my own, I am His.  The Bible also teaches that we are to not look at our needs, but rather at the needs of others.  You would not have to worry about whether or not your own needs were taken care of because other people would be thinking about them for you.  What a powerful concept!

High Low for the Week

The Winner is…

I spent the week at Durham Christian High School and had a great time.  I spoke for their “Faith on Fire” week, and then spent each day in the classes and hanging out with the kids and staff.  It was an awesome week and I hated to say good-bye…thanks guys!

The Loser is…

Those pesky Rays.  Tampa took 2 of 3 from the Sox again and really took away any chance the Sox had of winning the division.

The Way I see it #253

“A mature person is one who can say: My parents may have made some mistakes raising me, but they did the best they could: now it’s up to me.”  -Shannon Fry, Starbucks Customer

This is a great quote, how many of us have ever criticized the parenting we received?  I think it’s safe to say all of us have.  And it’s probably also safe to say our kids will do the same about our parenting. :)  The reality is that none of us are perfect.

What I love about this quote is the responsibility.  Whether right or wrong, it’s up to me now.  My parents made mistakes, but they did their best, and now I have to take “the baton” and run from here.  So many times we want to use our parents as a “crutch” or an excuse to be a certain way.  If I only heard more words of affirmation, if only my parents were there for me more…I would be better.  I have heard people say they are not there for their kids like they should be because their parents were not there for them. 

This quote is about leaving the past in the past, moving into the present and now doing the best we can as parents, and teaching our kids that there will come a day when they have to take responsibility.  Our parents did their best, and now it’s up to us.

High Low for the Week

The winner is…

Breaking out the brooms on Courtice in our softball tournament!  Their coach made a huge issue because 2 of our guys were not wearing their jerseys…it was kind of embarrassing.  Anyway, we beat them 3 straight games, including last night where we came back from a 9 run defecit and won by one. 

The loser is…

Jenn’s apparant “No shampoo” infatuation, and now a cult following is beginning to form among her friends…I am scared of that.  And my sister-in-law Amanda who I thought was my friend has shared that she has been doing the same thing for a long time now.  I feel betrayed…

Have a great weekend, see you Monday.

TEAM Parenting (Part 10)

#10.  Hold each other accountable (be positive)

One of the most important elements of any team is accountability.  As imperfect people we need it, in fact I think most of us even appreciate it.  When it’s done with the right spirit it can be a healthy and helpful part of your parenting team.  There are times where Jenn will say, “hey, you messed up on that one” or “you told them you would do that”, and I am always appreciative to have her there for that kind of support.  I like knowing IF I slip up, she is there to help me get back on track.  I hope I am as good at doing that for her as she is for me.

It’s important that you find the way to be that accountability your partner needs…and do your best to be positive with it.