My husband and I have been involved mentoring and ministering to youth kidlets (Jr. High through College) for many years. We love it because we love the "kids". We hate it because there are too many of them that are hurt and lash out. This is a very quick note to let you all know that too little, too late is a very real thing when it comes to our children.
There are many people out there who believe that when their children are older, that is the time to pay attention to what is going on. I am here to provide a very BIG wake-up call. Too little (time) when they are small is too late! The Nebraska shooting victims were affected by such an example. This young man had a bad upbringing. Does that mean that we are justified in our poor behaviors? Most definitely not! It does shed light, though, as to why things happen and how things happen. I realize that I cannot save all of the youth of today from being hurt any more than those who have gone before me. However, I do hope to encourage you to spend time with your kids. Invest in them now, while they are willing. I promise you that if you do that, teenage days will not be quite as hard. They will still want to be with you, to make you proud, and to succeed. Oh for sure, they will still make their fair share of mistakes, but they will come back to you! That is all a parent can pray and hope for, after all!
Not that I am perfect at this parenting gig, but I thought I could show a few photos of thigs we do now while the kids are young. If you have any ideas, please feel free to share those here. I want the best for all children all throughout this country, this continent, and the world! Go have fun. Go spend time. Before it is too late!
I will be watching, reading, and writing about my kiddos and yours! :)
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Hi Sarah: You have some really cute kids. My "baby" is thirty-five years old. It's funny, but so many of the pictures of Robin I have all over my home are from her childhood. I am not sure which I wish for more... for her to be that age again, or for me to be that age again. Sarah, thanks for sharing your family. Take care...
Karen ~ Thanks for all of your kindness. Being young is good for sure, but being older gives a whole new set of perks...wisdom and the like! Thanks for stopping by. It is always good to hear from you! :)
Sarah - God bless you and your husband. It's so tragic to see so many of today's children being brought up with so little guidance.
Tom ~ Thank you for your kindness ad encouragement. Thanks, too, for the blessing. We receive it. And yo are right that it is a tragedy. My heart breaks for these kids who are so lost and alone. So, thank you for your compassion. Many blessings to you! :)
Sarah. You're awesome!! Keep up the good work.
And to all the people of Oregon, Please use Sarah for all your lending needs. She is a pure angel among us with a heart of 24 karat gold. Like a shining diamond in a coal mine, or as Jesus Said... "The salt of the earth".
Randy ~ Thank you so much for your kind words. They mean a lot to me. As for people using me for lending needs, I will be more than happy to help anyone I can! Thanks much, again, Randy. Have a blessed day...
Sarah- I learned this truth the hard way! I spent most of my kids younger years going after the goal of success. I have had to work very hard to reconnect with them, but you know something? LOVE NEVER FAILS. They have responded beautifully, and I am so grateful for that!
Absolutely right, Alecia. Love never fails and neither does God's grace! Thank you for commenting and sharing your story! :)
Really wonderful blog Sarah. Makes you really feel connected. As for me, I have a wonderful relationship with my son who is now 19. I got married at 24. My wife was very good to me. Unfortunately her mother was a violent alcoholic, and her father did some drugs. Somehow, someway (although they didn't live far away), my wife felt really seperated from her mother. She started doing drugs in some type of mental effort to be closer to her mother. I think the same way some youth get into trouble and go to prison when there father is in prison. I think it is a longing so strong, most people simply can't comprehend the power of it. My wifes mother moved to Wisconsin to live with some rich guy, and soon my wife seperated from me and moved there as well. She met another man and had a baby girl. Then when this girl was 3, my ex-wife broke into a pharmacy and stole a lot of pills. She drove to her mothers house and shared them. Later that night her mother overdosed and did not wake in the morning. My wife felt responsible and killed herself. They found her dead in her bed from an overdose. I was called to pick up my son (9 years old) or the state would have to take him. Of course I went for him immediately. I have since raised him by myself in California. We have done a lot of camping and fishing together, including a week in the backwoods of the Colorado Rockies. I'll write about that AMAZING TRIP another time. We came across moose and all kinds of stuff. I think a father in a childs life is very important. I think that my spending a lot of time with him and getting him out into nature helped shape him. He is a great kid now (19 yrs old), no problems, no drugs, and he is making A's and B's at UCLA. 97% of all kids who go to UCLA graduated the top ten in their high school class. I'm glad about this because UCLA means wonderful associations for him. In the end, I guess I did okay. BTW, we are leaving together to go to Idaho December 15th thru January 2nd for an amazing vacation. We are driving my jeep, and we are going to visit ZION National park and canyons in Utah, and then are travelling a little through the Montano Rockies, and on to a ski resort in Northern Idaho 1.5 hours south of the Canadian border. Of course I haven't told Tyler about the email I recieved last week because I don't want him to be all freaked out. The email read that my brother in law was found dead November 28th in Canada (where he lives). He was mauled to death by a Grizzly bear while out with an axe trying to find the right Christmas tree. He leaves behind my sister and two little girls (Amy & Jessica).
Sarah, I feel so fortunate that my husband and I somehow "got it" when we started having children, and though we are not perfect, we have committed to family first...to always loving, always supporting, always training. I've spent the whole day choking back tears thinking of the beautiful ring my husband will be giving our daughter tonight, on her 16th birthday, as a reminder of his love, committment and care for her.
Joddie ~ That is an awesome testament to parenting. While I agree with you regarding your lack of perfection, I also encourage you that our shortcomings are overlooked when we spend both quality and quantity time with our children. Congratulations on a success story thus far! Let me know how their date went. I am looking forward to hearing about it! :)
Sarah-What adorable children you have and what a beautiful person you are. You have and still continue to make such an incredible difference in so many lives. I do love to be with my children and savor those moments, each and every one of them. This past weekend we went sledding and what a blast that was. Our children remind us that it's OK to play, giggle, relax, and just simply be. As adults I think we are all going to quickly in the motions of life, that we need and have to make them our priority. Thank you for such an inspiring post.
Julie ~ Thank you! You are just a sweet girl yourself! I hope to make a difference in the lives of others. if I do not, then what would my purpose be here on Earth, right?? Good to hear from you! :)
Wow, Randy! You sure have had a tough time of it with those you love. I am sorry to hear of your losses. I am also happy to see that you are still standing and succeeding. Not having given up. Your family (every last one of them) is blessed! You are a good friend, Randy. Enjoy your evening! :)