Accomplishments

Marilyn and I had the privilege of traveling to California to attend the 8th-grade graduation of our granddaughter, Caitlin, and the high school graduation of our grandson, Donovan. Both graduated with honors and were featured in additional ways. Caitlin played the National Anthem on her saxophone, and Donovan gave a speech at his graduation. Both did an excellent job. We are so proud of both of them and of their accomplishments. It was a special blessing for us to be able to attend both of these events. We also participated in a party for family and friends to celebrate these accomplishments.

We were also privileged to attend the graduation of our Missouri granddaughter, Eliana, who graduated from the eighth grade with honors. We attended her graduation before we left for California. We have a lot to be grateful for, including seven wonderful grandchildren. These grandchildren would not be who they are and where they are without the diligence and encouragement of their parents.

We also had the opportunity to visit our families in California, including Marilyn’s mother, who is 91 and still lives alone. We got to see some of Marilyn’s sisters and a brother. I was able to see my sister and brother-in-law. Of course, visiting our daughter and son-in-law was a special time.

We drove to California, crossing Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. The Lord protected us during our journey of many miles, and we are grateful for a safe trip. 

The success of a student in school, both academically and socially, is absolutely relative to the stability and encouragement of the parents. It is not easy to raise children in this world full of challenges; however, when parents are consistent, the rewards are great.

As you navigate the journey of raising your family, I urge you to stay the course. Every step you take in motivating and guiding your children is an investment that will yield dividends in the long run.

Over the years, we have worked hard with our family, but we are now receiving some gratifying dividends.

 

 

Family First

 

Keeping first things first is a challenge for most of us. It can be one of the most significant challenges we face. Our work, families, and devotion to God compete for our attention. Our priorities can get mixed up, and we must realign them. We should honor God first and then our family above all other interests. That means we try to put our family above our work.

John B. Watson is an example of someone very successful in his career. He is one of the most famous psychologists in the history of psychology. Watson appeared to have talent, good looks, a charismatic personality, and a successful career. However, his life is a study of personal disaster. Nowhere is the tragedy more evident than in Watson’s life.

He wrote many widely received books, but his book on parenting was a real success. What an enigma that Watson authored a book on parenting while he was a failed parent. He had multiple affairs. One was a notoriously public affair that ultimately led to his divorce and termination from John Hopkins University. However, the most deficient part of his credentials was his parenting skills. Both his sons suffered severe depression. One son committed suicide, and the other mentally collapsed after fighting suicidal impulses. Watson’s daughter suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. She attributed her depression to have begun around the same time as her father’s scandal.

Two of Watson’s granddaughters had problems. One committed suicide, and the other suffered from depression, alcoholism, and suicidal thoughts. Although Watson was a brilliant scientist and made an enormous contribution to psychology, he was, at the same time, an abject failure as a husband, father, and grandfather. Watson is the ultimate example of wasted talent and mixed-up priorities. Next to God, our families are the most critical endeavor in our lives. Priorities never stay arranged for very long. However, when God is the main priority of our life, it is amazing how everything else works for the better.

Finding Enjoyment in a Broken World

 

My memories of working with my father are some of the most pleasant remembrances of my childhood. My father loved to teach his children whatever he was doing. It might have been milking a cow, feeding calves, pigs, chickens, or even driving a tractor. When my father gave me a task, he explained it, showed me how to do it, and let me try. If I failed, he showed no disappointment and only insisted that I keep trying until I could do it. That was a winning strategy because it usually did not take long to master the skill with that approach. Now that I look back on those days, I see enormous value in what my father did. He taught me valuable skills, but most importantly, he spent time with me.

I remember once when I was planting cotton—it was one of the first times I drove a tractor by myself; it made me feel very important. My father laid out the rows with white paper bags at the end of the field, so I could keep the rows straight. I thought I was doing pretty good until the cotton came up and all the wiggles and crooks became visible. My dad said it doesn’t matter; it will grow the same in a crooked row as well as in a straight row. That patience had an impact on my life in so many ways. It helped me to enjoy the relationship with my sons and daughter and teach them skills that would help them in life. It gave me the desire to want to be with them.

My wife is the greatest blessing outside of my relationship with Christ that I have received in life. I have now been married to her for 50 years, and it doesn’t seem possible. Her servant’s heart has made my life so much richer. She is a sensitive person, and she picks up on things that I miss. She was intuitive about the kids and helped me see their needs that never crossed my radar. Now that I have lived much of my life and observed how other people live, I know I am rich in my heritage and the family I enjoy.

It helps to look around and evaluate life to appreciate what you have. It is possible to enjoy life in this broken world. God wants us to, and he makes it possible if we desire it.