Here’s something I wrote a while back.
Enjoy,
Lee
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Praying For Others
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Joining the heart of God
with the needs of man
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
Praying For Others
On Building Legacies…
©Lee Wise All rights reserved
We forge legacies one step at a time.
In and out of life’s muddier moments,
During days we call “sunshine days,”
And times when the beauty of sunlight
seems more of a dream than any shred of reality.
We make choices,
Share stories,
Enjoy laughter among friends,
Know the meaning of success,
And tolerate failure the best we can.
Traversing through these many, varied
and ever-changing mini seconds of our lives…
We call out to Jesus.
We cry out for strength, wisdom, health,
mercy, and grace to make it over the long haul.
We desire to leave legacies.
Good legacies.
Legacies of love, trust,
surrender, gratitude,
and faithfulness.
Why?
Because in serving the God of all grace,
we know that in the end only two things
really matter…
Really.
Loving God
And loving the people He created.
“Our loving Father… make us strong.
Strong in time until time ends for us.
In the timeless name of Jesus we pray.
Amen.”
____________________________
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. However, the copyright box in Signature One
must be used when you do so (See Signature Boxes page)
Encouragement
Encouragement…
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
Knowing I have been used by the Lord
to enrich the lives of those
He has entrusted to my care
“Oh, Lord, I know that encouragement can be such a simple thing – and yet so meaningful. Show me how. In my own way. When you want me to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
On Being A Father
On Being A Father
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
Having a child make make me a father,
but only by having a good heart
will I ever be the father I should be.
** Speaking Of Friendship **
Speaking Of Friendship
©Lee Wise All rights reserved
Friends are those special people who…
Listen when we need them
more than they need us,
Pick up where we left off
even though we’ve been more off than on,
Are brave enough to challenge us when needed
yet sensitive enough to reserve the hard stuff
for when it’s not so hard,
And don’t need us to say anything
when saying anything might be saying too much.
We laugh with them,
Cry with them,
Poke fun at them,
Talk politics with them
instead of at them,
Share about God
and who we think he is or isn’t,
Discuss the senseless acts of terrorism
and sigh at the fits of a “terrible two year old.”
We visit them in hospitals,
and reflect thanks when they visit us.
By their actions they reassure us
that all people aren’t jerks,
everybody doesn’t hate us,
And that it’s okay to be human
without letting being human get out of hand!
We love them, our friends.
And if we believe in God as I do…
We thank God for them.
____________________________
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. However, the copyright box in Signature Two
must be used when you do so (See Signature Boxes page)
Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Being An Insensitive Dad
Hi,
I wrote this a while back, had reason to review it today, and decided to share.
The best to you in all things,
Lee
Avoiding The Pitfalls Of Being An Insensitive Dad
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
I WAS AMAZED
I could hardly believe what I was hearing. A father and
his son had entered the men’s room. While I was washing my
hands, I listened as the father wielded a series of
demanding and demeaning statements at his son as if they
were swords in a battle for … who knows what?
And all about going to the bathroom quickly!
It was the perfect victory. The enemy (the son) had been
slain. The battle was won. The general had summoned his
one-man army to do his bidding.
It was also totally and completely ridiculous. There was
no consideration for the feelings or physical needs of
the young person.
The “bad boy” had won the day — and the bad boy was not
the son.
It was the son’s insensitive dad.
I WAS SADDENED AND ANGRY
This incident occurred while on vacation. I loved vacation
except for one aspect: watching fathers deal with their
children.
I was sad.
And I was angry.
The “interesting” thing was that when I related this
observation to my daughter and son-in-law, they proceeded
to share with me *their* same discouragement while they were
on a recent trip to a theme park.
Their message was the same:
“We had a great time.
The only discouraging thing was
seeing dads with their children.”
I AGREE: IT’S NOT EASY
I am a father and I would be among the first to declare that
raising children is not an easy task.
Parts of it are rough.
Real rough.
I would also be quick to admit the times I have failed as a
father.
But I do hope that no one has ever said this about me after
observing my relationship with either my children or grand-
children:
“We saw the most discouraging thing today.
This guy was a jerk. The way he treated those kids was
awful.
No respect. No honor.
Only demands and unrealistic expectations. I tell ya,
it was sad.”
WE KNOW THERE IS A BETTER WAY
Let me be quick to add: all is not bad. I have seen many
loving, caring fathers throughout the years. I *love*
watching those types of dads relate to their children. It
is one of my personal delights in life 
With that in mind, I am offering a few simple suggestions
for a better way: a better way for fathers to relate to
their children than the two negative examples I have shared
with you.
I will center my suggestions on five themes:
1. Consideration
2. Respect
3. Humility
4. Compassion
5. Love
Two comments as I transition into my suggestions:
*You will quickly discover that this will not be a long
and drawn out discussion of these themes. Enjoy.
*Many of the points will be shared through using simple
“affirmations” — or descriptive comments if you
please. These affirmations will help you personalize
what is said.
So…
We have discussed a few of the “bad boy” characteristics.
Let’s turn our attention to five characteristics of the
“good boys.” That is, men who are determined *not* to be
thought of as “one of those insensitive dads.”
CONSIDERATION
Consideration says…
“I adjust my expectations according to the needs, maturity
level and emotional capabilities of the child I am relating
to at the moment.”
Because of the important aspects of the statement you just
read, I’m going to repeat it and break it down for you.
That’s my part.
Yours will be to reflect on each aspect as you read it one
more time. Reflect on it through the lens of how you would
have liked to be treated as a young-person-in-the-making.
“I adjust
My expectations
According to
The needs,
Maturity level
And emotional capabilities
Of the child
I am relating to
At the moment.”
RESPECT
Respect says…
“I see this person entrusted to my care as one who is worthy
of my honor, approval and love.”
This mental stance provides for me a frame. A frame I wrap
around my child *to begin with.* The child is worthy of my
honor, approval and love — from the beginning.
It is a part of the package each child should *sense* in me
from “Day One” so-to-speak.
HUMILITY
Humility says…
“Because I am still learning, I give my child space and time
to learn.”
“Because I still fail, I forgive and support my child when
he or she fails.”
“Because I respond poorly when people are angry with me for
reasons I do not understand, I resist all uncontrolled and
self-centered anger when dealing with my child.”
COMPASSION
Compassion says…
“I am a ‘show and tell’ person.
*I show my child I care.
*I tell my child I care.”
“I strive to be gentle, not harsh.”
“I care and my child senses it.”
LOVE
Love says… all of the above.
A DISCLAIMER
Let me make something perfectly clear: children can — and
do — hurt their parents: good parents.
Parents who in a very real sense lay down their lives for
their kids and still get kicked in the guts while trying to
help their children be happy and succeed in life.
These parents know a special kind of pain. A pain that no
one really wants to understand. I salute those parents.
You may be one of them.
So my disclaimer is…
*I realize this is a two-sided fence
*My purpose is not to add guilt to a conscience
already plagued by the “Why’s” of their child’s
bad attitudes and behavior — in spite of hundreds
of hours of trying to do what’s right.
Rather, if you happen to be one of those parents –
and especially a dad since that is the topic of these
comments — I want you to hear these words:
“I thank you for trying.”
I thank you for trying and for the lonely hours
you have spent that only you, and possibly your
spouse — and God — knows about…
The tears. The heartache and the pain that goes
on and on as each new report surfaces about some
action or attitude your child has displayed.”
For those times, tears and heartache — I reflect
to you my appreciation. And I’m sure I
represent only one of many voices that would
echo the same to you if they could.
Therefore, review these comments and take note
of each positive thing you have done. Take a
bow. You deserve it.”
Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time,
Lee
___________________________
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. However, the copyright box in Signature Two
must be used when you do so (See Signature Boxes page)
On Being A Good Dad…
Hi,
Just posted this on my other blog about being a
a good father and thought I’d share it here.
Enjoy,
Lee
On Being A Good Dad…
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
It’s a lot about guts
And a lot less about glory.
It’s more about love
Than it is about getting loved in return.
It’s a lot about caring
Even when caring is way beyond cool.
And it’s a whole bunch about time:
Time, and time, and time again.
On Being A Dad
On Being A Dad
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
It’s not about always winning…
It’s all about fighting
to win at all that matters
each and every time I can.
At The End Of The Day…
At The End Of The Day
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
At the end of the day…
I want my family to say:
“We mattered most” instead of
“I wonder if we really mattered at all?”
I want my friends to say:
“He viewed life as people instead of
using people to live his life.”
I want to say:
“I set my heart on living for what lasts
instead of lasting without living at all.”
