Archive for category: Inspirational

This weekend we watched “Courageous”.

Since I was such a downer about Downton Abbey (Jenifer made an insightful comment that is worth reading, by the way), I thought I’d share a positive story about something produced in media recently.

I really enjoyed this movie. We have watched several of the Christian movies & they make me chuckle because they are a bit cheesy… but the message is positive & they always teach family values. During this one I cried (family members dying always makes me cry – always.) And Jimmy and I laughed (“What is your full name” scene. “Do you have kidney problems?”). It was goober funny.

The main message of this movie is about being a valiant and strong father and example. The dads/police officers in the movie all signed this resolution:

THE RESOLUTION
I DO solemnly resolve before God to take full responsibility for myself, my wife and my children.

I WILL love them, protect them, serve them and teach them the Word of God as the spiritual leader of my home.

I WILL be faithful to my wife, to love and honor her and be willing to lay down my life for her as Jesus Christ did for me.

I WILL bless my children and teach them to love God with all of their hearts, all of their minds and all of their strength.

I WILL train them to honor authority and live responsibly.

I WILL confront evil, pursue justice and love mercy.

I WILL pray for others and treat them with kindness, respect and compassion.

I WILL work diligently to provide for the needs of my family.

I WILL forgive those who have wronged me and reconcile with those I have wronged.

I WILL learn from my mistakes, repent of my sins and walk with integrity as a man answerable to God.

I WILL seek to honor God, be faithful to His church, obey His Word and do His will.

I WILL courageously work with the strength God provides to fulfill this resolution for the rest of my life and for His glory.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15

Anyhoo… I’m glad we watched it. I want to be a better & stronger parent because of it.  It was an uplifting feel-good movie.

My visiting teacher shared this part of the message with me this past week. I really appreciated the spirit of this quote. It was a good reminder to me that little acts of service can go a long way.

Last night I had a dream about Brady Howell. It wasn’t until I woke that I remembered that he was no longer on this earth. He was a victim of 9/11. He worked at the Pentagon. He was, in my dream, exactly the kind of person I remember him being… good, kind, & fun.

This morning when I remembered that I dreamt about Brady, I told the kids about it. I told them about the events of 9/11… the terrorists, the airplanes, the towers,the people who died being so courageous. I don’t think Hannah ever remembered hearing about it. She was a little shocked and saddened. 9/11/2001 happened a year before she was born.

To my children, 9/11 will be a part of American History, but to me it is very REAL because I remember the news… the emotions, the questions – wondering if life in America would be safe… or if this was a new type of war on American soil. This is how I feel about Desert Storm. It was my birthday & watching the news about this new war was very solemn…. we didn’t know how far-reaching or how life-changing it could be.

I guess when you live through something, you have a new perspective… this realization could help me try to better understand my grandparents who lived through the depression… those feelings & experiences were real to them. Those who lived through Vietnam… World War II, Pearl Harbor bombing … not just history … real moments & feelings.