It was the 80's.
Cyndi Lauper was dominating the air waves.
I was in the backseat of the Cutlass Ciera, with my sister, rocking the tube socks.
Not just any tube socks -- the ones with the two stripes at the top. Colored stripes.
We were going over the bridge. Windows down. Breathing in the ocean's saltwater which was lingering in the air. It rushed through my body like the heavy dose of benadryl my mom used to give me to stop my crying. Ok, that last sentence was a joke, but you get where I'm coming from.
We were on the strip in PCB (that's Panama City Beach for all you non-southerners). I remember that night vividly. At every red light, my parents would lean into each other and sneak a kiss. At one particular red light, I remember the kiss lasting through the green, yellow AND red light. "Go!" I yelled as the light turned green (the second time). How disgusting it was as a kid to see my parents making out three feet from my face.
Fast forward twenty-something years. I now realize what it taught me. One word. Love.
You've probably heard the old adage that the best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother. Guys...write that down. It may sound cliche', but it's a true story. For all my divorced peeps (this one includes me), we have the same responsibility. I'm not saying that we should be snuggling up to an ex. I'm just saying that we are charged with being a good steward and teaching our children love through how we interact with those around us.
Will children always be exposed to the good and never the bad? Realistically, the answer is probably not. There are studies that suggest that some healthy conflict might actually be beneficial. IF, the disagreement is resolved the right way. In my personal opinion, I think that children can sometimes learn from our disagreements and use them as stepping stones to resolve conflicts in their own lives. This doesn't mean that mom & dad are screaming at each other and then hug and make up after they calm down.
Alas, I regress.
The moral of the story is this -- what are we showing our children? Are we loving each other the way God instructs us to? What actions are our children seeing? Are we showing love to our spouse, significant other, neighbor, random strangers, etc. in front of them? It's not always easy and it's not always natural for us to show constant love, especially if it isn't being shown to us. But, it's a goal we should always be striving towards.
After all, they are our future.
John 13:34-35 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
KC
Monday, July 9, 2012
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Keep Climbing...
It was 104° F. Sweltering heat. I took a day away from the office to clear my head, but I decided that I would at least make my time somewhat productive.
Hike.
That's what I'll do.
Well, it sounded like a good idea at the time. Of course, I hydrated myself with Starbucks beforehand. A Caffe' Americano. That's Italian for "don't drink before climbing a mountain". So, off I went on my little adventure, just me and my thoughts. Dangerous...I know.
As I started up the mountain, I thought it might be a good idea to jog it. After about a hundred feet of running uphill, I decided I better slow my roll and try a brisk walk instead.
As I continued on, I grew weary. I was tired. Exhausted. The heat seemed to overwhelm me. I had been hiking for a while and knew I couldn’t be far from this beautiful view that I had heard so much about. I forced myself to continue on. But, I didn’t feel like it. I didn’t want to continue. However, I pushed through the pain and continued forward with the understanding that something amazing was at the end of this journey.
As I rounded the last corner...there it was; a gorgeous view! I immediately forgot all about the effort it took to get there. I forgot all about the pain, the heat, the exhaustion. I was focused solely on what was at the end of the journey and it was simply beautiful. It made it all worthwhile.
One Sunday afternoon, I decided to take my son hiking on this same trail. At 12 years old, I figured he would enjoy the challenge and he is certainly more fit than I am. So, we loaded up our backpack with all the necessities...you know...chips, candy, beef jerky...and oh yeah, I think we had some water somewhere too. About half way through, my son was growing weary. He was tired. Exhausted. I knew the heat that day was working against us, but I also knew what was at the end of the journey. I wanted him to see what I had saw. Although the trail twisted and turned, became narrow at times, and seemed to get steeper the further we climbed, I knew what was at the top. I urged him to continue on and told him that it would all be worth it. He didn't feel like it. He didn't want to continue. But, we just pushed through the pain.
During the journey, I started talking to him about God. As we talked, he said, "But Dad, I don't ever feel God. I said, "Son, sure you do. We feel Him all the time. Sometimes you just have to be still and know He is there." Then, I reminded him that we feel the wind, but we can't see it. I continued..."You know...we can't necessarily see the wind, but we know it's there...don't we?" He quickly agreed. I left the conversation at that. My hope is that one day, when he's being 'still', that the wind will blow and he will be reminded of those simple words I told him that day.
In life, we ALL have mountains and valleys to travel. Sometimes it's hot. Sometimes it becomes exhausting. Sometimes we have rocks in our shoes and it hurts to continue on. Sometimes the climb seems so steep that we would rather turn around and go back. Sometimes we just don't feel like it.
What mountain are you climbing right now? Are you going through a divorce? A troubled relationship? Are you battling an addiction? Facing fears that seem immeasurable?
Keep climbing.
Push through the pain.
Even when the climb seems too steep, keep going.
When you finally make it through you will come out on top of the mountain.
And the view is out of this world.
Romans 8:18 - "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later."
James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29). ~ Jerry Bridges
KC
Hike.
That's what I'll do.
Well, it sounded like a good idea at the time. Of course, I hydrated myself with Starbucks beforehand. A Caffe' Americano. That's Italian for "don't drink before climbing a mountain". So, off I went on my little adventure, just me and my thoughts. Dangerous...I know.
As I started up the mountain, I thought it might be a good idea to jog it. After about a hundred feet of running uphill, I decided I better slow my roll and try a brisk walk instead.
As I continued on, I grew weary. I was tired. Exhausted. The heat seemed to overwhelm me. I had been hiking for a while and knew I couldn’t be far from this beautiful view that I had heard so much about. I forced myself to continue on. But, I didn’t feel like it. I didn’t want to continue. However, I pushed through the pain and continued forward with the understanding that something amazing was at the end of this journey.
As I rounded the last corner...there it was; a gorgeous view! I immediately forgot all about the effort it took to get there. I forgot all about the pain, the heat, the exhaustion. I was focused solely on what was at the end of the journey and it was simply beautiful. It made it all worthwhile.
One Sunday afternoon, I decided to take my son hiking on this same trail. At 12 years old, I figured he would enjoy the challenge and he is certainly more fit than I am. So, we loaded up our backpack with all the necessities...you know...chips, candy, beef jerky...and oh yeah, I think we had some water somewhere too. About half way through, my son was growing weary. He was tired. Exhausted. I knew the heat that day was working against us, but I also knew what was at the end of the journey. I wanted him to see what I had saw. Although the trail twisted and turned, became narrow at times, and seemed to get steeper the further we climbed, I knew what was at the top. I urged him to continue on and told him that it would all be worth it. He didn't feel like it. He didn't want to continue. But, we just pushed through the pain.
During the journey, I started talking to him about God. As we talked, he said, "But Dad, I don't ever feel God. I said, "Son, sure you do. We feel Him all the time. Sometimes you just have to be still and know He is there." Then, I reminded him that we feel the wind, but we can't see it. I continued..."You know...we can't necessarily see the wind, but we know it's there...don't we?" He quickly agreed. I left the conversation at that. My hope is that one day, when he's being 'still', that the wind will blow and he will be reminded of those simple words I told him that day.
In life, we ALL have mountains and valleys to travel. Sometimes it's hot. Sometimes it becomes exhausting. Sometimes we have rocks in our shoes and it hurts to continue on. Sometimes the climb seems so steep that we would rather turn around and go back. Sometimes we just don't feel like it.
What mountain are you climbing right now? Are you going through a divorce? A troubled relationship? Are you battling an addiction? Facing fears that seem immeasurable?
Keep climbing.
Push through the pain.
Even when the climb seems too steep, keep going.
When you finally make it through you will come out on top of the mountain.
And the view is out of this world.
Romans 8:18 - "Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later."
James 1:12 - "Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."
God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He never allows Satan, nor circumstances, nor any ill-intending person to afflict us unless He uses that affliction for our good. God never wastes pain. He always causes it to work together for our ultimate good, the good of conforming us more to the likeness of His Son (see Romans 8:28-29). ~ Jerry Bridges
KC
Friday, June 29, 2012
Don't Forget the Bread
Have you ever went to the grocery store for one important item, such as bread? And, before you know it your shopping cart is full, but you haven't even made it to the bread aisle? As soon as you walk through the doors, you are bombarded by all of the other things you find desirable, but don't need. Chips? Don't mind if I do! Brownies? I may need those in case of my low blood sugar. Ice cream? Of course...who can live without this stuff?! Maybe you were enticed by the price, maybe you were craving something that you thought would be sweeter, or maybe...it was to satisfy your hunger of 'more' even though the bread was all you really needed. It's the only thing you were lacking.
Often times, when we go to the grocery store for that one important item, we find ourselves picking up a lot of "junk" on the way to our destination. Sometimes we even get home to find that the one thing we needed was the very thing that we left behind. We forgot it in our search for other 'junk'. But, how did we forget that when it was the only thing we were there for?
We find this very scenario in our lives as well. We're here in this "big grocery store" called life and we're constantly enticed by everything else around us, rather than the one thing that we're here for. I'm guilty as charged. A new car? Man, that new Lexus is SICK! A bigger house? Our friends will really think we've 'made it' now! It's very easy for ALL of us to get off track and walk down every aisle except the one we should be walking down.
Now, don't miss my point here -- there's nothing inherently wrong with having a little 'junk'. But, at the end of the day, where is your heart? Are you working to guide your cart towards the bread or are you being distracted by the "junk" so much that you never even make it to the bread aisle?
What are you filling up your grocery cart with?
Keep your eyes on the prize. Don't forget the bread.
1 John 2:15 - "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
KC
Often times, when we go to the grocery store for that one important item, we find ourselves picking up a lot of "junk" on the way to our destination. Sometimes we even get home to find that the one thing we needed was the very thing that we left behind. We forgot it in our search for other 'junk'. But, how did we forget that when it was the only thing we were there for?
We find this very scenario in our lives as well. We're here in this "big grocery store" called life and we're constantly enticed by everything else around us, rather than the one thing that we're here for. I'm guilty as charged. A new car? Man, that new Lexus is SICK! A bigger house? Our friends will really think we've 'made it' now! It's very easy for ALL of us to get off track and walk down every aisle except the one we should be walking down.
Now, don't miss my point here -- there's nothing inherently wrong with having a little 'junk'. But, at the end of the day, where is your heart? Are you working to guide your cart towards the bread or are you being distracted by the "junk" so much that you never even make it to the bread aisle?
What are you filling up your grocery cart with?
Keep your eyes on the prize. Don't forget the bread.
1 John 2:15 - "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
KC
Welcome to my blog...
Hello Friends! I'm excited about starting this blog and I hope you find it somewhat interesting as you get a glimpse into my world, my random thoughts and various ramblings. My goal is to craft sentences that are inspiring, memorable and hopefully have an impact on someone along the way.
So...
Take it in. Drink it down. I hope you will come back thirsty for more.
Cheers,
Kevin
So...
Take it in. Drink it down. I hope you will come back thirsty for more.
Cheers,
Kevin
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