As I get older, day after day I see people come and go in this lifetime. People say," We are not promised a tomorrow." Regrets lived for a lifetime, wishing they had just said that one thing. Parentless children, wishing for guidance as they hit their road bumps of life. So, this I write for my children. Not only my children of blood, but to my children by marriage, heart, and any in my path that I have influence over.
Let me start for the boys...
To my sweet precious boys.
I wish for you the world, but to live in your heart as if you live on the ground floor. Never looking past those who the world so easily overlook. There is no one better respected than the master who will serve his servants.
The world will tell you to, "Be a man." Well I agree..be a man...
Be a man of God. Be a man, a man that is in, and KNOWS His Word. Be a man to walk with integrity, to do what is right with no one watching. Even if it's not popular to do so. Be a man to lead for God, even if it looks as if none will follow. Be a man to avert your eyes when this world tries to tempt you to desire a woman's body before her heart.
Be a man that faces his fears, and steps out in faith. Be a man who forgives easy, and loves hard. Be a man that when he fails, doesn't sit shackled by those failures, but learns from them. One that walks away as a victor and overcommer, and can help those struggling the same way. Be a man who says he is sorry, and mean it with all your heart. Be a man who respects his woman, whether she respects herself or not. Show her her true worth, show her how God loves her.
Be a man who provides for his family, and still takes time to play. Be a man who chooses to desire God first, so that God can show you how to be the husband in love with his wife after 50 years. Be a man that after 20 years of marriage will still grab his wife by the hand and dance with her in the Livingroom, while telling her that you love her.
Be a man...a respectful man. Be a man, a man of action, who jumps to help without being asked. Be a man...a gentlemen. When compassion and tenderness is needed, don't fear to show it. Be a man, a warrior man. A man who will stand in the darkest time for the truth. Be a man as the world says, but be a man to lead the men of this world to what a man should be.
To my girls..my sweet, beautiful, diamonds in the rough. First and foremost, get to know your Father. Your Father who is unfailing, your Heavenly Father.
Love God with all your heart, and don't fear to give Him your heart. He will respect it. Know that your worth is more than any price in this world!
Know that you are beautiful, no matter your body shape or the worlds view on beauty. Be in your Word and know your Word. Be of integrity, and fearless in it. Be a role-model to those who struggle with self worth, and have fallen into the worlds lies, that their only worth is their body.
Be kind and compassionate. Respect yourself to live by standards, and know that you are worth those standards! Know that God beautifully made you the way you are, and has great plans for you! Be in prayer, so you know God's voice for when He guides you. When you find yourself "needing a guy," don't just give your heart to a guy who says he "likes"you. Know that his heart is with God, so you will know that he will know how to treat you.
Set standards, you are worth them. If you go to marry a man, marry a man you know will lead you how God intends him to lead. Be a voice of reason and compassion. Be tender with your heart, but strong with the truth. Be the woman who guides and encourages her husband to be the man God intends him to be. Be a teacher, and a mother to those around you. Listen, even when it's hard to hear. When you stumble and fall, stand up and look back to God to guide you. Be the woman to set a new standard for the women of the world.
My boys and girls...learn to laugh, even when it's hard...laughter can be so healing to the broken. There will be a time that you will find yourself lost, unsure of your outcome, and not knowing what to do. Feeling only lost and alone. No matter how lost you feel, you are Not alone...God is always with you! Go to Him, He will guide you home! He will love you more than I ever could! I know that no matter how lost you feel, the day I first looked in your eyes...I saw you "found", I saw you"whole", and I saw you"home." Just turn to Him. To live your life with God is to truly live. You will see the world in His eyes, find His compassion, His heart, truly see worth in each person. You will find your strength in Him, even in the hardest of times..giving you peace. You will find His grace, love, and mercy.
So in closing, know this...I am proud of you! I'm proud of who you are, and who you will be. I'm proud to be any part of helping you be the person God has planned for you to be, no matter how long or short that role may be. I'm proud of the stumbles that I know you will overcome and learn from. Just remember...keep God first in your life and He will guide you through the rest. I love you more than you could possibly ever know....and He loves you more!!
Loving you always!
Mom
<3 Cat
