Raising Men

Yesterday, Martin Luther King, Jr Day, I had been thinking a lot about what we are teaching our kids.  Are we teaching them to respect others for who those others are?  Are we teaching them to discriminate against certain colors, nationalities, beliefs.  It's a hard job that we as Christian parents (or just parents in general) have when teaching our children.

Our Country gives us the freedom to fight for our beliefs.  We earned that freedom from the many lives that have been shed for us.  But what has that freedom really given us?  We still fight amongst ourselves about those freedoms.  Our forefathers worked so hard to make sure everyone was equal regardless of race, nationality, belief, or sex.  Where has the respect gone that is due each person?  Where is the respect that is due to ourselves?  Do we respect ourselves enough to look past all the differences? 

God commands us to love each other regardless of our differences.  He says every man and woman is created equal in His image.  Why can't we seem to look past it?  Jesus fellowshiped with prostitutes, lepers, government officials, poor, rich, you name it.  He didn't discriminate, but was discriminated himself because of who he chose to be seen with, or who he talked to, or allowed to touch him. 

Honestly, if Christ didn't care why do we?  Aren't we called to forsake ourselves for the Kingdom?  So if that is our calling, why do we care what color someone is?  Or where they are from?  What others may think of us? 

I want to raise my boys to be MEN who are undiscriminating.  Who don't see color or social status.  I want to raise MEN who follow in our Lord's footsteps and witness to those who are less fortunate than themselves.  Who share Christ and His Salvation to those who believe otherwise.  Who respect others even when it's difficult. 

I want to raise MEN who are proud to fight for what is right regardless of how others will view them.  Whether it be for Christ or our Country.  And to ALL our men and women who have served or are serving our Country...these great kids salute you!