THINK+++

I have a vision and wish today; I want that when my hair is white and my house is empty of children then I want my wife by my side and I want my children to come home and have and make fond memories. It is a goal to work towards and it will take diligent patience and understanding for me as a father.

I am thankful today that I was healthy in my childhood. Many children battle diseases or hunger. I was never good enough to play competitive sports but I could play sports and spent many happy hours doing so.

One of my friends recently said that they had a rule between them as spouses that only one of them would yell at one time; the other spouse needed to listen. If they both yelled then nobody was listening; and they had to have a way of communicating. I am thankful for the times when I could lay my ideas down and just listen to my wife even when I thought she was wrong. Listening is one of those things that sets apart fathers from men and boys.

There is one tidbit that I recently came across when it comes to relating socially with others.         If you want to collect honey don’t kick over the bee hive.         I want to have positive, gracious thoughts of others so that I can collect lots of honey, I would rather encourage and complement my friends then set them straight with words of criticism when they do things wrong.

Remember today to look for the silver lining in each cloud you see. The cloud that is black with horror is big with mercy. See the positive in the depressing. I want to help you win the thoughts of darkness with positive ones with this blog; it is a fight that I know about.

God has promised that He will never leave us, He will never leave me. We have the choice to turn our backs on God but as long as time continues God continues to be with us and love us even when we make wrong choices. What a truly great God!

My Saviour is merciful and kind. I came to Him repenting of my selfishness, frustration and anger I had felt toward my children today. He simply forgave me and gave me peace. I will need to make it up to my children but it is so much easier with Christ on my side.

Recently we stayed at a motel for night and needed to get up early to start the day of travel. Our children were still sleeping but as my wife switched on the light our 1-year-old instantly woke up. Then she followed her mother around and copied her when she gently shook and rubbed the backs and called the names of our other children. So cute. It is amazing how toddlers can grasp our hearts with the simplest of things.

I had so many advantages growing up. My parents were not rich but they were not poor. We had bikes and toys. My parents loved each other and they are still together and happy. This is just a start of the valuables I had growing up but I will stop for today and dwell on these because I realize that they are important.

My day is not mine but the Lords. He may have things for me to do. My time is for others, my family and neighbors. When I can lay day my selfishness then good things come. Joy and peace are mine. Today I choose to lay down my life and time and think of what others want. It helps me to be joyful.

Have you noticed the effort that is put into Easter? Have you noticed the effort that is put into Christmas? How many people go to church and are Christians? The Bible says that God has highly exalted Jesus. There is much to celebrate when we think of Jesus because of the deep, unfathomable love that is in the story. Thank you Jesus for loving me.

Do you ever feel that you don’t have enough? Enough of whatever it is you think you need? Maybe you don’t have enough of the things you don’t really want. So many times this world is wanting, wanting, wanting but when they get it they are still unhappy. Let me tell you a secret; it is hard work and takes denying self to learn contentment but you it can be done. Start by being thankful today for what you have.

A Hopeful Easter to you! There is one thought that needs to ring clear this Easter Season. Jesus was not put to death. Pilate was not so powerful that he could sentence Jesus to death, the Roman soldiers were not so strong that they could collectively nail Jesus to the cross. Jesus held the power, He could have called ten thousand angels to help Him, He had more strength in His connection with the Father then the whole Roman army collectively.          Jesus was not put to death, He lay down His life as a sacrifice for your sins and mine.

I noticed a neighbor helping his neighbor and I breathed a prayer of thanks for the angels among us in the form of humans. Then I began to wonder when will it be my turn to be an angel? Can I lay aside my selfishness, plans, dark thoughts and cheerfully help those around me? I want to practice this art.

They say you can tell what a man values by what makes him cry. Today I know of one thing I value; my family. The responsibility I bear as a father and a husband brought me to tears and brought me to my knees. I want to give my all. I want my children to catch on to what is valuable.