Several years ago, I asked a class of 8th graders which would they choose if offered; to be the richest person in the world or to have a happy marriage. Every girl took the marriage. The few males who would even offer an opinion? Well, I don't have to tell you their response, which has to be viewed through 13 year old boy colored glasses. The following is from February 11, 2007.
Yesterday, I saw a tent erected in a strip mall behind my apartment and then another one popped up today. I thought it was the wrong time of the year for fireworks but then it hit me. Valentine's Day is this week! The tents are makeshift markets to sell roses to those inclined to impress their love interests. Love is big business, even at school. Our upperclassmen sell flowers, balloons, and singing telegrams as fund raisers. It makes for great fun as well as interruptions during quizzes but we'll survive. Tests and memory verses have been decorated with tiny hearts in recent days. I've noticed some of the girls on my middle school basketball team have begun wearing finger nail polish and earrings to school. Another player has seen a jump in her Bible grade, mysteriously coinciding with her coming into possession of a new boyfriend. Anything to get them to study!
I usually dust off a few love stories from Steve's Files of Romance this time of year. Actually, I bring up some of the times I have been a jerk to the fairer gender. I hope the young men will learn from my missteps and I hope the girls take warning that guys can be rockheads. Once, I quit dating a girl because I couldn't stand her perfume. On another occasion, I switched the female I was pursuing because of a car. I broke up with a girl through the United States Postal System because I didn't have the guts to look her in the eyes and tell her the truth. Then, there was the time when I used one sister to pass the word to her sibling that it was over. That was probably the low point of my dating integrity. I could have been a test case for Dr. Phil. Then again, most of us of the male persuasion will do an injustice at least once to someone who cares for us deeply. Many of us need to repent.
With an eye toward the calendar, the memory verse I assigned this week is 1st John 4:10-11. The world tosses love around with incredible carelessness but the apostle defines the term from a spiritual perspective:
"This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
We would not know what love is without God, the creator and sustainer of life. His love for us is the flawless example of how we should treat each other, romantically, platonically, and within our families. When we love as God does, we don't concoct lame excuses or avoid the truth. We treat the other party with the gentleness we would hope for ourselves. Perfume and cars don't become obstacles. Sisters and letters don't take the responsibility for being honest with another child of God. Maybe I could have been happy with any of those young ladies but I'm not sure if they could have been content with me. I'm sorry and I feel better now. I just hope I'm forgiven!
Applicable quote of the day:
"No man is rich enough to buy back his past."
Oscar Wilde
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
Yesterday, I saw a tent erected in a strip mall behind my apartment and then another one popped up today. I thought it was the wrong time of the year for fireworks but then it hit me. Valentine's Day is this week! The tents are makeshift markets to sell roses to those inclined to impress their love interests. Love is big business, even at school. Our upperclassmen sell flowers, balloons, and singing telegrams as fund raisers. It makes for great fun as well as interruptions during quizzes but we'll survive. Tests and memory verses have been decorated with tiny hearts in recent days. I've noticed some of the girls on my middle school basketball team have begun wearing finger nail polish and earrings to school. Another player has seen a jump in her Bible grade, mysteriously coinciding with her coming into possession of a new boyfriend. Anything to get them to study!
I usually dust off a few love stories from Steve's Files of Romance this time of year. Actually, I bring up some of the times I have been a jerk to the fairer gender. I hope the young men will learn from my missteps and I hope the girls take warning that guys can be rockheads. Once, I quit dating a girl because I couldn't stand her perfume. On another occasion, I switched the female I was pursuing because of a car. I broke up with a girl through the United States Postal System because I didn't have the guts to look her in the eyes and tell her the truth. Then, there was the time when I used one sister to pass the word to her sibling that it was over. That was probably the low point of my dating integrity. I could have been a test case for Dr. Phil. Then again, most of us of the male persuasion will do an injustice at least once to someone who cares for us deeply. Many of us need to repent.
With an eye toward the calendar, the memory verse I assigned this week is 1st John 4:10-11. The world tosses love around with incredible carelessness but the apostle defines the term from a spiritual perspective:
"This is love: not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another."
We would not know what love is without God, the creator and sustainer of life. His love for us is the flawless example of how we should treat each other, romantically, platonically, and within our families. When we love as God does, we don't concoct lame excuses or avoid the truth. We treat the other party with the gentleness we would hope for ourselves. Perfume and cars don't become obstacles. Sisters and letters don't take the responsibility for being honest with another child of God. Maybe I could have been happy with any of those young ladies but I'm not sure if they could have been content with me. I'm sorry and I feel better now. I just hope I'm forgiven!
Applicable quote of the day:
"No man is rich enough to buy back his past."
Oscar Wilde
God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com
4 comments:
Hey coach! I just wanted to say thanks. For what? you might ask well you finally said what no other man can say, that men slip up too! All the guys at my school think that they are superior just because their "Men"! You also encoureged me to talk to my boyfriend and tell him that he can tell me anything. ( Even if it is just to break up with me) I would rather him be honest with me than anything else. He is really focused on school, what I'm doing in every class, and on what is the beat series of books to read. I wish every girl could just have their "man" be totally and completely honest with their girl. I mean if they want us to be with them they SHOULD be honest with us.
Okay now that I poured out my heart out I am going to post this comment and move on with my life. ( I need to get to bed because of church tomarrow moring, I mean considering I have to sing at 8:30 A.M.; hehe I have to sing with Laryngitis, poor people who have to hear it!)
Yep, the sister thing is the worst. I am glad you can admit your faults & learn from your experiences. Good luck in the future.
I feel blessed that these things never happened to me when I was still dating. At least as far as I know, I always initiated the 'break up'. That is heart breaking let alone the guy would send me a break up mail?
Im sure you have learnt your lessons Coach. The next lady you will woo with im sure will be very blessed! :)
Thak you, I'm fine!
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