Temptation

Its basic human nature to be tempted to do things we know is against our better judgment after all we are imperfect. Being able to resist temptation and do what is right in spite of pressure from others and our own imperfection is the key. What we do when we believe nobody else is looking is what defines us, and shapes our character. Character is what determines our responses to adverse situations and advantageous ones as well. We have to train ourselves to resist temptation by using sound judgment at all times. Keep our guard up and do not participate in things that we know is wrong.  Temptation is around us at all times and sometimes we may want to give into that temptations.  However we must realize that temptation will always be around and the only way to beat it is to not give in to it.

Protect our kids

Why is it that certain people feel they can treat someone the way they want by insulting them, picking fights with them or sometimes worst?  It's an epidemic that sweeping the country at an alarming rate.  Bullies could be the reason why your son or daughter doesn’t want to go to school.  They could be causing our children to not want to be at school forcing them to cut school or worst.  Bullies were the cause of the Columbine shooters one of the worst American Tragedies in recent years.  How do we defeat Bullies in our children's schools?  We don't need our children to have tough times with learning as well as dealing with a person making their days miserable.  It's up to us as parents to figure out a way to get our children past this.  I've heard in some cases that teachers try to approach parents about their kids being a bully, and the parent acts as if it's impossible.  Just because you’re in denial doesn't mean you should allow your kid to be treating other people in that way.  What about other people that believe that their kids will be treated kindly when they're left at school.  We have an obligation to our kids and to everybody else that our kids don't bully or treat anyone with disrespect.  Not only could this lead to diminishing the mentality of some kids, but they may bully, but could also lead your child to a life of crime when they seek to bully people at an older age.  Let's keep our kids from falling victims to bullies, since we all know or have seen what damage they can do.  It starts with us remember that. 

Decisions and Repercussions

"Four Steps to achievement: Plan purposefully, Prepare prayerfully, Proceed positively, Pursue persistently"
-William A. Ward

There are so many decisions in life that shape the people we become. The decisions we make as young people starting out our lives as adults can have repercussions that last a lifetime. While we all have the possibility of redemption, coming out the gate using practical wisdom is definitely the way to go. I have seen in my lifetime examples of people making one mistake as an eighteen year old man that cost him not only his future but his parents future as well. A very close family member of mine whom I tried to mold into a outstanding member of society has just spent his 19th birthday in jail for making poor decisions. Our young people must learn to make rational decisions, and be strong enough to stand by those decisions in the face of adversity. As parents we must prepare our children to make quality decisions and that will give them the tools to succeed.

Family

What is Family to you?  Family is more than just those who share the same DNA makeup as you.  Family is everybody that cares about your well being and will be there no matter what.  It's important that we recognize who has our best interest at heart and treat them as family.  Those are the people that will provide motivation when your down and Inspiration when your low.  Sometimes we need to make decisions in our life that may compromise the security of our family unit.  However it's up to us to keep them close to our hearts so to not let negative influences break that bond.  Remember our family bond is only as tight as we make it and we need to remember to let each other know that.  As a minority I understand the value of family and want to tell any other minorities to make sure that your family bond is as strong as possible.  Having a strong family makes for strong family values that we can pass on to our kids.  Let's make sure that we are instilling in our kids the importance of family.  Whether its immediate family, family by marriage or just friends that you call your family remember to love them all the same because sometimes they are all you get.  What does family mean to you?  Below is a video of some examples of how other people felt about family.

Music Matters

Music stimulates the brain, the emotions, and the body simultaneously. Auditory responses structure the way we learn to communicate. It's a known fact that infants still in the womb can have their senses stimulated by hearing certain sounds. Music can have a profound affect on how we communicate with others and how we view life. It is very important to remember that music is for entertainment purposes and not to be used as a guideline for life. Scottish philosopher Andrew Fletcher said "Give me the making of the songs of a nation and I do not care who writes the laws." His insight into the power of music is astonishly valid. Music plays a huge role in all of our lives, and there is no more musically impressionable generation than our adolescents. As parents we must know what our children are listening to, children should not listen to explicit and sexually charged lyrics. We should use music as it was intended as entertainment, to be enjoyed and uplifting.

Dreams

As people we tend to lose focus on our dreams because we lose confidence that it could be done. We all have dreams when we grow up to be famous or successful it's all how we go about it.  It’s about focusing on your goal and going to get it by hard work and determination. Sometimes you are surrounded by negative influences, but you can't let these influences persuade you to fall away from your path. It’s important to focus on the important things, surround yourself with positive influences and you will stay focused. Zadoc Rabinowitz once said, “a mans dreams are an index to his greatness.” How can we achieve greatness if we are not following our dreams? Let’s make sure that we do not forget to let our children dream while pushing them follows their own dreams. We all want what’s best for our children, but ultimately they will have to live that life not us. Give them a chance to understand who they want to be so that they don’t lose sight of their dreams. Do you think that it’s important for Children to be able to grow up and live their dreams? Let’s take time as people to recognize our dreams so that we can help our younger generations recognize theirs.

Listening

All too often, when people say they cant communicate with their kids what they really mean is that they don't know how to talk so that their kids will listen. What they forget is that their own listening habits are probably more important than anything they might say. One of the most loving and personality-shaping things a parent can do for a child is to simply listen to them! Kids have questions, thoughts, observations, and feelings, which can be very enlightening for parents that learn to listen. The behavior of listening starts at the beginning of parenting. When your children cannot talk and can only cry, you can still listen to the crying and try and discover what is discomforting your child. Children use crying as a way of telling their parent that something is wrong. Kids so often give us lots of information about how they are feeling and thinking, if we will just stop talking, telling, and explaining and listen with all our intellect and understanding.

Respect

We as men always assume that just because we are over 18 we should be treated and respected as a man.  Well I'm here to tell all of our young readers that it just isn't so.     Respect is earned not given out to be used as you see fit.  To get respect a lot of the time you have to give respect, you can't feel like you’re entitled to it.  Make sure that when you ask someone to respect you that you’re giving it back in return.  I hear a lot of men saying that they left there woman because she didn't respect him as a man.  I find myself asking the question, why would she say that?  It all comes back to the way he went about his life, How could she respect someone that doesn't respect her?  How could she respect a man that couldn't maintain a job?  How could she respect a man that didn't treat his parents with the Respect they deserve?  How does he not want to be a father and take care of his kids?  But most of all, How could she respects someone that didn't respect themselves?  That's the biggest obstacle when trying to earn respect, and that's respecting yourself.  As men it's important we respect ourselves before we can expect anyone else to do so.  Put focus on making you better, and remember that criticism isn't always bad it helps us become better people.  If she told you that she couldn’t respect you then that is probably more criticism then anything.  The best thing you can do is prove then wrong, step your game up and be that person that everyone knows you can be.  Don’t waste your time worrying about the dude at the gas station mugging you, or the dude at the club that tried to talk to your woman at the bar.  Respect is given to the man that doesn’t let the petty things bother him and continue to carry himself as a respectful person.

Thankful

There are many many things to be thankful for. Just waking up each day is a blessing from God and we should all be thankful for that. More often than not we do not appreciate the small blessings that we receive each day. I try to make a point to take a second and just appreciate having a home to go to and food on the table. There are so many children that are hungry and have no idea where their next meal will come from. My heart hurts for each and every one of those kids who have not asked to be put in this terrible predicament. I was lucky to have a grandmother to step in and raise me when my parents could not and saved me from a life of foster homes. I am so very thankful for that blessing. Lets all remember to be thankful. Take a second and look at these inspiring videos.

We can all learn a lesson from both of these stories. Please take the time to be Thankful.

Legacy

What type of legacy will you leave when you're gone?  Is it one that people can model themselves after and possibly look up to?  However, is it one where people are telling people how not to be like you?  We as people need to make sure that the legacy we leave behind is built with strong fundamentals, positive outlooks, and motivation that could spark generations to come.  It is said in the bible  "The memory of the righteous is blessed, but the name of the wicked will rot".  Proverbs 10:7
Whether you believe in the bible or not it's hard not to allow this to touch you.  We should all be trying to paint a legacy of ourselves in a positive light so that younger generations will have something to build upon with their morals.  We should be trying to feed their brains so that they inherit great ideals who can spark other young minds when they are able to.  Your legacy can touch many for so long if you allow it to.  It's time for us to paint a picture of the legacy we want to leave hanging on our children's wall.  The only way this could be done is to focus on bettering yourself in ways that influence other people, that's what leaders are made of.  When it's all over you want people to remembered as that leader who lead by building his legacy.  Everyday you are here gives you another chance to better yourself and to make right on the responsibility you have as a Man, a Father, and a good Person.  How will your legacy paint itself out, is up to you.