Happy Friday Friends!
I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day and a very successful week coming to a close for you!
Yesterday I had a conversation with a gentleman who said, "the decision you have made for your family is honorable, it's not the decision I would have made but it is very honorable that you would take that stand for your family." He was not happy and his tone was not pleasant. In that moment I was keenly aware of the unintentional testimony I had just given - praise the Lord! - and I was more sure than ever before that the decision I had made was the right one for me. Since that conversation yesterday morning I have not been able to get that thought, that idea - what do you stand for? - out of my mind.
Life is funny, it is in the moments of our greatest trials & tribulations that we are often given the opportunity to take our strongest stand. I have been through trials where I had to take a stand for believing in student-athletes, the greatness that is within them, to accept the responsibility that comes along with the honor of being called Coach to help them become the best they are capable of becoming or did I care more about making sure the scoreboard said my team had more points at the end of the game than the other team? I have taken a stand on racism; do I really believe that every life has meaning, value and purpose or do I see people simply by the color of their skin? I have taken a stand on truth - complete honesty without deception. Do I really believe that it is the foundation of every relationship, that it is to be fought for, honored and protected or do I believe in situational honesty, white lies, stretching the truth or deception?
While family, valuing people, racism and honesty are big platforms and easy to see, I am mindful that we make many small stands every single day. The words we speak, the things we do...these are all platforms. When a woman walks by with a skirt that is too short and/or a shirt that is cut too low, I am going to take a stand for my wife. I am either going to honor her by intentionally choosing to bounce my eyes away or I am going to dishonor her by allowing my gaze to linger. When opportunities to speak negatively about others present themselves I am going to take a stand. I am going to actively engage this type of conversation - gossip - or I am going to acknowledge that every life has value, meaning and purpose, that we are all trying to figure this life out and do the best we can and keep my mouth shut if I cannot say anything nice about that person. I am going to take a stand when I could stay at the office and do a little more work or I could leave and surprise one of my sons at one of their practices. Please understand, I am not talking about being irresponsible; I am talking about letting my sons know that they really, truly are the priority in my life when I can do so even if that means I might have to stay up a little later - after I tuck them in - to send that email, get up a little earlier or work with a little more focus and purpose tomorrow. The list goes on and on.
It is not my intent at all to tell you what you should stand for in your life. These are things that you have to determine on your own...I would strongly encourage you to seek God's counsel in doing so! My sole intent with this "Happy Friday" is for all of us to be aware that we are taking a stand every day. I hope and I pray that we will think these things through and choose wisely for we all, individually, will have to live with the result of these stands within our own hearts - whether that be peace or regret.
My heart is also screaming at me to share with you that taking a stand does not come without cost. Sometimes the cost is walking a lonely road...by yourself with a peace in your heart that goes beyond understanding. Sometimes the cost is financial insecurity...not knowing exactly how it will all work out, just that it will. And regardless of the cost, the bold confidence that God is with you, He loves you, He has a plan for your life, that He will never leave you nor forsake you and - so long as you truly listen to your heart...that is how God speaks to us - everything will be just fine.
A few quick quotes for you:
"It's not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are." - Roy Disney
"Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." - Alexander Hamilton
"Give us clear vision, that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless
we stand for something, we shall fall for anything." - Peter Marshall
Please let me know if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please enjoy and cherish your precious families.
Kev
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