Enjoy,
Lee
21 Reasons I Love Being A Dad
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
What you will read in the next five to eight minutes will
not qualify as one of the top ten professionally written
articles of the year: guaranteed.
But you will read this, guaranteed: thoughts created on
Father's Day from a guy who loves being a dad.
21 REASONS I LOVE BEING A DAD... AND AN OLDER ONE AT THAT
I love the privilege of seeking to inspire, encourage and
help my children.
I love loving their mother.
I love the home movies I experience. The live ones. The in
house "reality shows" if you please. Kids raggin' on each
other, telling mom and dad stories one more time, hugs at
the door, serious discussions begun spontaneously, phone
calls to say "Hi, I love you," and small hands pressed on a
glass door to see the wonder of all wonders: the neighbor's
black cat.
I love happy birthday songs: songs sung in love and received
the same way -- in love.
I love watching my kids with their kids.
I love the smiles of children and grandchildren.
I love good memories, family pictures on the walls, and
cards from "Father's Days past."
I love the journey of growing with my children.
I love helping when I can and hurting when I can't. No, I
don't enjoy the pain. It's the honor of trying to help
because "I'm a dad" that I enjoy.
I love the privilege of praying for my children. I have the
distinct honor of joining the heart of God with the needs,
desires and dreams of my children.
I love being able to say, "Forgive me" when needed.
I love hearing "Mammaw" sing songs to her grandchildren.
I love being called "Pap."
I love sharing the lives of the kids with their mother.
I love watching the joy in the eyes of my wife as she talks
on the phone with her children. (A *very* frequent event in
our home I might add!)
I love giving the grandkids back to my kids just about the
moment I think I'm going under (or moments thereafter!).
I love hearing the laughter of family in the other room.
I love being a friend as well as being a dad.
I love being a father-in-law.
I love memories of my dad loving me.
I love being challenged by my wife's love for each child,
grandchild, and son-in-law.
DID I MENTION...
I love being a dad?!
Yours for a day filled with beautiful moments in time,
Lee
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. The copyright and this resource box must be
included.
Avoid pain/create pleasure. For A Beautiful Moment In Time
go here --> http://www.motivation-for-daily-living.net
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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Friday, June 20, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
On Being A Father
Just wrote this... enjoy.
Lee
Lee
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.
© 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.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
25 Things That Matter When Relating To Our Children
Hi,
I may comment on this more later, but I thought it would be good to post this at the present time. Also, it's just a good reminder!
Enjoy,
Lee
25 THINGS THAT MATTER WHEN RELATING TO OUR CHILDREN
(Short Shots On Leaving A Legacy Of Love To Those We Love)
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
In my opinion, these things matter...
1. Enjoying childlike delights before the child no longer
delights in being one.
2. Paying attention long enough to understand yet caring
enough to make a necessary correction once it's all
understood.
3. Responding to immaturity in a mature way.
4. Being silly when I can,
5. And fun when it's not cool to be silly.
6. Making time to listen when it's their time -- not just
"my time."
7. Being big enough to say "I was wrong,"
8. Sensitive enough to ask, "Will you forgive me?"
9. And courageous enough to correct my ways in the process.
10. Teaching by my actions that additional freedom is earned
by being responsible and not an automatic right acquired on
the date of the next birthday.
11. Sharing laughter for no other reason than laughter is
being shared with me.
12. Complimenting like crazy,
13. Avoiding foolish demands like the plague,
14. And hugging whether they are huggable or not.
15. Remembering that little people are no more -- but no
less than -- just that: little people.
16. Looking in the mirror and realizing "I'm one of the
little people who got older."
17. Making sure that "You've done well" doesn't always carry
with it "But you *should have* done better."
18. Knowing when to truthfully say "For this I am not
responsible: you are." (And living with myself once I've
said it.)
19. Knowing the importance of releasing without
disconnecting,
20. Being a friend while being a parent,
21. Listening to learn instead of waiting to tell,
22. And giving space without giving up.
23. Knowing the immense value of being able to say in the
end "I have done all I could reasonably do -- and then
some."
24. Taking time to show up when I can as opposed to wishing
I could when showing up is not possible (or even worse: not
wanted).
25. Loving with all my heart because in the end it's worth
it all.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. The copyright and this resource box must be
included.
Couldn't you use A Beautiful Moment In Time about now?
Go here --> http://www.motivation-for-daily-living.net
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
I may comment on this more later, but I thought it would be good to post this at the present time. Also, it's just a good reminder!
Enjoy,
Lee
25 THINGS THAT MATTER WHEN RELATING TO OUR CHILDREN
(Short Shots On Leaving A Legacy Of Love To Those We Love)
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
In my opinion, these things matter...
1. Enjoying childlike delights before the child no longer
delights in being one.
2. Paying attention long enough to understand yet caring
enough to make a necessary correction once it's all
understood.
3. Responding to immaturity in a mature way.
4. Being silly when I can,
5. And fun when it's not cool to be silly.
6. Making time to listen when it's their time -- not just
"my time."
7. Being big enough to say "I was wrong,"
8. Sensitive enough to ask, "Will you forgive me?"
9. And courageous enough to correct my ways in the process.
10. Teaching by my actions that additional freedom is earned
by being responsible and not an automatic right acquired on
the date of the next birthday.
11. Sharing laughter for no other reason than laughter is
being shared with me.
12. Complimenting like crazy,
13. Avoiding foolish demands like the plague,
14. And hugging whether they are huggable or not.
15. Remembering that little people are no more -- but no
less than -- just that: little people.
16. Looking in the mirror and realizing "I'm one of the
little people who got older."
17. Making sure that "You've done well" doesn't always carry
with it "But you *should have* done better."
18. Knowing when to truthfully say "For this I am not
responsible: you are." (And living with myself once I've
said it.)
19. Knowing the importance of releasing without
disconnecting,
20. Being a friend while being a parent,
21. Listening to learn instead of waiting to tell,
22. And giving space without giving up.
23. Knowing the immense value of being able to say in the
end "I have done all I could reasonably do -- and then
some."
24. Taking time to show up when I can as opposed to wishing
I could when showing up is not possible (or even worse: not
wanted).
25. Loving with all my heart because in the end it's worth
it all.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this article. The copyright and this resource box must be
included.
Couldn't you use A Beautiful Moment In Time about now?
Go here --> http://www.motivation-for-daily-living.net
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Just thinking once again...
I know I've shared these basic ideas before, but while sitting here at my desk (at home) and reflecting a bit, I'm continually "amazed" at these basics in relationship to our efforts to build and maintain strong family relationships:
The best to you and those you love in all things,
Lee
- Careful, determined, heart felt listening.
- Sharing that builds the other person up through things such as affirmation and encouragement.
- Not giving up. Trying hard, failing, and making the decision to keep on moving as best as we can throughout a variety of situations and stages in life.
- Enjoying what you, when you can, relative to each family member in terms of who they are... from the little ones to the big ones.
- If married, constantly loving your wife. I really believe one of the greatest gifts a dad can give his kids is loving and cherishing his wife.
- Working at enjoying life in general. In my case, that would include asking the Lord to give me his joy in daily live.
- Related to the above (and in relationship to myself coming from faith-based perspective), striving to stay "connected" with the Lord whenever and however I can.
The best to you and those you love in all things,
Lee
Thursday, November 22, 2007
On Being Grateful ... One More Time
On Being Grateful... One More Time
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
I'm thankful for...
People loving people when they don't need to or would rather
not... but they do so anyway.
The ability to see colors and the on-going ability to see things I
never realized or comprehended previously.
Fighting that ends -- whether it's between countries, in
marriages, or between little friends or big kids who should
no better in the first place.
The beauty, simplicity and healing power of laughs of all kinds...
Weird ones,
Louder than you'd like ones,
Barely above the sound threshold ones,
And ones that make your stomach ache despite any feeble
attempts to stop the process.
Dreams that create ways to help, heal, motivate, inspire,
and conceive dreamers who repeat the process.
Teachers who give more than they receive and know more than
they share because they they'd rather build up than tear down, see
eyes brighten with every new discovery, and design for others
ways to enjoy and improve the one life they've been given.
Soldiers who defend for all the right reasons instead of
maiming and destroying for every wrong one in the book.
Moms who love their kids, kids who love their moms, and
dads who love them both.
Butterfly Kisses that mean so much more than the song ever could
because of lyrics played during the ever changing rhythms of daily
life.
Those who really do help little old ladies across the street, and little
old ladies and gentlemen who preserve the art of caring by
living and loving in ways that leave legacies of hope for each of
their watching worlds.
Dogs at the neighbors that don't bark and barking neighbors who
don't live near me.
Cars that run,
Empty bathrooms during times of ultimate crisis,
Spyware that works,
And cats that quickly leave my back door.
Minds that remember what they should while forgetting what
is brought to mind because they love people more than they do
grudges that don't matter anyway.
Addicts who win,
And athletes who know and show the difference between winning
at life and simply taking a win to the next game.
In short, I'm grateful for my life
And the God who entrusted me with the same.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this writing. The copyright and this resource box must be
included.
Avoid pain/create pleasure. For A Beautiful Moment In Time
go here --> http://www.motivation-for-daily-living.net"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
© Lee Wise All rights reserved
I'm thankful for...
People loving people when they don't need to or would rather
not... but they do so anyway.
The ability to see colors and the on-going ability to see things I
never realized or comprehended previously.
Fighting that ends -- whether it's between countries, in
marriages, or between little friends or big kids who should
no better in the first place.
The beauty, simplicity and healing power of laughs of all kinds...
Weird ones,
Louder than you'd like ones,
Barely above the sound threshold ones,
And ones that make your stomach ache despite any feeble
attempts to stop the process.
Dreams that create ways to help, heal, motivate, inspire,
and conceive dreamers who repeat the process.
Teachers who give more than they receive and know more than
they share because they they'd rather build up than tear down, see
eyes brighten with every new discovery, and design for others
ways to enjoy and improve the one life they've been given.
Soldiers who defend for all the right reasons instead of
maiming and destroying for every wrong one in the book.
Moms who love their kids, kids who love their moms, and
dads who love them both.
Butterfly Kisses that mean so much more than the song ever could
because of lyrics played during the ever changing rhythms of daily
life.
Those who really do help little old ladies across the street, and little
old ladies and gentlemen who preserve the art of caring by
living and loving in ways that leave legacies of hope for each of
their watching worlds.
Dogs at the neighbors that don't bark and barking neighbors who
don't live near me.
Cars that run,
Empty bathrooms during times of ultimate crisis,
Spyware that works,
And cats that quickly leave my back door.
Minds that remember what they should while forgetting what
is brought to mind because they love people more than they do
grudges that don't matter anyway.
Addicts who win,
And athletes who know and show the difference between winning
at life and simply taking a win to the next game.
In short, I'm grateful for my life
And the God who entrusted me with the same.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
© Lee Wise All rights reserved. You may freely distribute
this writing. The copyright and this resource box must be
included.
Avoid pain/create pleasure. For A Beautiful Moment In Time
go here --> http://www.motivation-for-daily-living.net"
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Monday, November 19, 2007
"Listen when the guy's been a jerk, and don't jerk her bruised emotional chain while she's down. Care, listen, and care yet more."
"Listen when the guy's been a jerk, and don't jerk her bruised emotional chain while she's down. Care, listen, and care yet more."
As I continue to make comments on my previous article (Daughters, Dads and Listening), here are today's brief reflections on the point referred to above:
You notice the emphasis on care and I personally can't emphasize this enough.
As she grows older and matures this never -- ever -- changes.
You will hurt as a dad listening during this process: but keep on listening.
Two words you will need to comprehend (at least in this dad's opinion: listen and release.
Listen.
Allow words and feelings to flow at will.
Reflect caring and concern any way possible.
Control anger if the guy's really been a jerk.
Share insights and advice if and when appropriate.
Don't damage already damaged emotions.
Reinforce love and acceptance every step of the way.
Operate as a team with your wife if married. "Bring each other in" on the everything as teammates in the healing process, and keep demonstrating love to your wife through it all.
Pray like crazy throughout the emotionally battle scarred journey.
And "release" your daughter to God and herself so she reflect, emote, and make her own choices.
Then...
Be ready to repeat the process again.
My guess is you will need to.
Lee
As I continue to make comments on my previous article (Daughters, Dads and Listening), here are today's brief reflections on the point referred to above:
You notice the emphasis on care and I personally can't emphasize this enough.
As she grows older and matures this never -- ever -- changes.
You will hurt as a dad listening during this process: but keep on listening.
Two words you will need to comprehend (at least in this dad's opinion: listen and release.
Listen.
Allow words and feelings to flow at will.
Reflect caring and concern any way possible.
Control anger if the guy's really been a jerk.
Share insights and advice if and when appropriate.
Don't damage already damaged emotions.
Reinforce love and acceptance every step of the way.
Operate as a team with your wife if married. "Bring each other in" on the everything as teammates in the healing process, and keep demonstrating love to your wife through it all.
Pray like crazy throughout the emotionally battle scarred journey.
And "release" your daughter to God and herself so she reflect, emote, and make her own choices.
Then...
Be ready to repeat the process again.
My guess is you will need to.
Lee
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Notes on trust to a friend
Hi,
A friend stopped in to my world for a few moments recently,
we interacted for a while, and then both of us stepped back
into the demands of our everyday worlds.
Reflecting on our conversation, I decided to write him a
short note (which follows).
I include it here because of the subject: trust. It seems to
come back again and again in my life -- and, because I
believe the process I've described is so important for me
as a dad. Obviously, my perspective is faith-based so it
would not apply to everyone.
But it certainly does to me.
May this brief post be encouraging to you, dad. Ours is
a high privilege, high honor, and high responsibility role.
Lee
*** Notes On Trust To A Friend ***
"Thanks for stopping in to chat. I thoroughly enjoyed our
time together and appreciate the desire of your heart to
serve the Lord in all areas of your life.
At times I feel that our lives with Jesus can be reduced to
what might be termed "drastically simple."
Simple,
But not simplistic.
I look back on our walk with Jesus and so much of it seems
to be...
1. Dedicating ourselves and to the Lord.
2. Trusting God for some aspect of our lives -- including
those reoccurring failed expectations.
4. Releasing people and situations into His hands.
5. Continuing our faith walk as best as possible.
And then the cycle repeats itself again.
The cycle molds us, shapes us for future life and ministry,
and sometimes just helps us get through the day.
At least that's how we have experienced it in our own lives.
May the Lord continue to bless,
Lee"
A friend stopped in to my world for a few moments recently,
we interacted for a while, and then both of us stepped back
into the demands of our everyday worlds.
Reflecting on our conversation, I decided to write him a
short note (which follows).
I include it here because of the subject: trust. It seems to
come back again and again in my life -- and, because I
believe the process I've described is so important for me
as a dad. Obviously, my perspective is faith-based so it
would not apply to everyone.
But it certainly does to me.
May this brief post be encouraging to you, dad. Ours is
a high privilege, high honor, and high responsibility role.
Lee
*** Notes On Trust To A Friend ***
"Thanks for stopping in to chat. I thoroughly enjoyed our
time together and appreciate the desire of your heart to
serve the Lord in all areas of your life.
At times I feel that our lives with Jesus can be reduced to
what might be termed "drastically simple."
Simple,
But not simplistic.
I look back on our walk with Jesus and so much of it seems
to be...
1. Dedicating ourselves and to the Lord.
2. Trusting God for some aspect of our lives -- including
those reoccurring failed expectations.
4. Releasing people and situations into His hands.
5. Continuing our faith walk as best as possible.
And then the cycle repeats itself again.
The cycle molds us, shapes us for future life and ministry,
and sometimes just helps us get through the day.
At least that's how we have experienced it in our own lives.
May the Lord continue to bless,
Lee"
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