Good People

Yes, I would love to raise kids who are successful, healthy, full of all that life can offer...but more than anything, I want them to be good people. So how do we define a good person? To me, a good person is one who considers the feelings of others, who strives to make a difference in the lives of others, and who does all of this because it makes them feel good, makes them feel closer to God, makes them feel whole. Teaching this can only be done so much through talking, D and I must live like this so they can see this behavior, and while we are FAR from perfect, we do our best.

I like to have "dates" with each child by themselves, I enjoy spending the one-on-one time with each of them and they enjoy this special time with me too. All of the kids went with me to the Breakfast with Santa and Santa Shop activities that my dear hubbie helps put on at our church, so the morning was a bit hectic and full - talk of what to tell Santa they wanted for Christmas and lots of fun. Well, that afternoon, Meesta and I left the ladies with daddy and we went on a date. We ate at Cracker Barrel and I saw the nicest older gentleman who was eating by himself and just cheerful and relaxed. If I was not on a date with my little guy and wanted to focus my attention on him, I might have asked him to join us, but who knows, caution is always important these days...unfortunately.

So, as we receive our bill, I asked the waitress to please provide me with his bill too and to tell him Merry Christmas when it was time for him to receive his. This little tradition is something my hubby and I started on Valentine's Day several years ago. We decided that we didn't need anything from each other on the "commercial" day of love, rather we decided to share the love. We went to our small diner for supper and secretly arranged to pay for the meal of two ladies who were widows and dining together. These gestures are certainly not out of pity - these ladies could have bought and sold us in a minute, it was out of love, to share a nice surprise and gesture. Those widows went crazy trying to find out who had paid their bill, but we had sworn our waitress to secrecy. Since then, it is something we do from time to time and D has since taught his youth group this and they love to do it on Mission Trips when they all eat out.

So Saturday, as we left, I explained to Meesta what we had done on our way out. And while I am not sure he completely understood, I could see the wheels turning and could tell he liked the idea.

I hope that we do raise good people. Now, don't get me wrong, I hope they are financially successful, happily married and parents to amazing little grandkids - but more than anything, I hope they are good people.

Wish us luck!

CC