Hello again friends!
I have been wanting to write a new blog for a while but life has a way of getting away from me. Not only that but I am having a hard time focusing my thoughts long enough to get them written down. So forgive me if this post bounces around a bit. That being said lets get some thoughts out there for everyone to ponder... Its time for some raw confessions....
*** WARNING *** THIS MAY OFFEND SOME PEOPLE, BUT I WON'T SAY SORRY FOR IT!
There is a popular saying all of us have heard and that is "If we are not careful history will repeat itself" and I believe there have also been many great debates on this very topic. I have a tendency to believe that it is a true statement. However, I also believe its never too late to break the chains!
A while back I had a conversation with one of my really good friends that went something like this... Hey you know what bothers me about taking the kids some place by yourself? I said no what? People will comment about how nice it is that I have the kids by myself.... Think about that for a minute... We both came to the conclusion that there is something seriously wrong about that. My response to him was its because for far too long guys have not taken responsibility for their families. We have failed to recognize the very well being of our wife and children rests on our shoulders. We failed to recognize the responsibility we willingly accepted when we said I do to our wife. The covenant to which we agreed to uphold in front of God and our families. We have a God given responsibility to lead our families and protect our homes. To model for our children what it means to treat our wives with respect and dignity. To show our daughters what it means to be loved unconditionally by loving their mom unconditionally. To show our sons what it means to be a man of God and how treat a woman as a gift from God. To walk hand-in-hand together in this journey we call life as best friends who were wonderfully created for each other.
Just as Jesus is head of the Church so too we are head of our marriage and families. It is that very example to which we need to follow. We need to love them unconditionally and be a servant to their needs. We need to have both kind words and loving actions! Many people have tried to blame our failures on the generations that came before us. I believe it plays a part of it however I also believe we are responsible for our own actions! We can be sure the devil is against us and will do anything to make us fail. Selfishness is our own worst enemy and can consume us at anytime. However, God has already won the battle and if He is for us then who can stand against us!!!
*** My Confessions***
Now, having said all that some maybe thinking wow he must really have it figured out. OR who is he telling us how to live our life? He is no better then any of us. My response is no I don't have it all figured out and yes I have failed my family many times. I don't always love Nichole the way God wants me too... I don't always speak words of encouragement and I take her for granted. I am not always loving and patient with my children... I can be selfish and to put it plainly I come up short often. However, like I said before, I believe its never too late to break these chains! I am not always proud of who I am, but I am glad God has abundant love and grace for me. I believe with Gods help I can live into the plans he has for me and honor the responsibilities he has given me. I believe I can show my children how to love God and our family. I believe I need to demonstrate this with not just words but also with actions because it requires both not just one or the other. It is my prayer that there are men like me who also desire to do better not only for our families but for society in general. I hope together we can show the world we are not willing to repeat history and fail but to separate ourselves and make a real difference. To restore some hope in this generation that seems to be hopeless. I know I can't do it alone and will need a lot of help. I know I will stumble and fall. However, I also know I need to get back up again and press on because my family is depending on me!
So to all the men out there it is also our responsibility to do the laundry, dishes, vacuum, dust, bathe our children, tuck them in bed, work hard and provide, love and encourage our wives, as well as pray often and lead by service! All with the help of the one who created us and can do immeasurably more then we could ask or imagine!
Blessings to you and your families!
~Nick
