Karisa Rivera

Photo by PieterMusterd.

For many years I witnessed <and still do> the wonderful marriage of my parents. Although they are not perfect, they did make specific choices when they exchanged vows at the altar. Their choices included making God the center of their relationship and letting God guide their family. That is why I now stand and consider myself blessed for having such parents.

Today, although a few months short of my fifth anniversary, I am very happy and grateful for the marriage God has given me. With my husband, we have learned and grown in ways we could not even imagine. I am very blessed.

Here is a continuation of the letter a wise man wrote to his two sons regarding women (a future wife):

First, know that the woman you marry will be the lifelong mother of your children. All that she is in the accumulation of her past experiences will be present as the mother of your children. There is not a more major decision affecting the future of your children than the choice of your life’s partner… Treat your wife as a delicate flower, and she will “bloom” with energy to be a more giving mother.
Be sure to cultivate your relationship with your wife. Meet her needs. Make her happy. Enjoy her thoroughly … If you love and cherish your wife, the children will love and cherish her also.

Here are basic qualities you need to look for when choosing your wife:
That she loves the Lord and is his true disciple
Cheerfulness
Thankfulness
That she is a creative and hard worker
Love for children

Never marry a girl who feels she is not getting the best man in the world when she gets you. A girl who enters marriage thinking she could have done better will never be satisfied for wondering what it might have been like if…

Avoid like a plague the girl who will pursue her own career outside the home. A wife must be your “help-meet.”

Photo by zaza_bj.

I am very grateful that my dad chose to take upon him the responsibility of rearing and training his children in the way of the Lord. It is because of my dad’s and mom’s commitment to honor God as parents is that my five siblings and I honor and worship one God. I remember spending a lot of time, as a little girl, with my father and mother. It is from them that I learned almost everything I now know.

And now, I am extremely blessed to be married to someone who has chosen to step up to the call and be the father that God wants him to be. He has turned his back to society’s ideals for young men about ‘success.’ He has chosen his family over what the world wants from him. He has accommodated his work so that he can spend all day at home. I am so happy he is looking forward to the day our children can help him. THANK YOU ABE!

Here is an excerpt of a letter one wise man wrote to his two young sons:
Now I want to speak to you about being good fathers. While you are still young and unmarried, with no children, do what all of God’s creatures do – prepare the nest for their arrival. DON’T PUT YOURSELF IN AN OCCUPATIONAL POSITION THAT WILL LEAVE YOU OUT OF POSITION TO BE A GOOD FATHER. Plan your life’s trade so as to maximize your role as a father. Fathers who become absorbed in their success in business will make lousy fathers. If you gain the whole world and lose your child’s soul, what profit it is? Some workaholics will say they are doing it for their children – providing security, a good education, etc. Why is it that children of hardworking, absent fathers never appreciate their sacrifice, and even show disdain and contempt to their father’s success? The reason is that children are not fooled. They understand their father’s absence to be selfishness on his part and lack of lack of interest in them. They see their father get more satisfaction from his job that from their presence. Whether this be true or not, the results are the same. Business success always passes away; time spent with your children becomes permanent, eternal part of them. The education your child will need cannot be purchased at a university. It is purchased by the father in the many hours spent doing things with his children.

Photo by carlosm76.

This was originally posted at SilverKey by one of my sisters.
She is currently living and working in Bolivia.

Last night I came home with a huge grin on my face

I couldnt believe my life

I was blessed

Last night I saw tears on my friend’s face

I heard about her life

and I felt blessed

Words fail me to truly expressed how grateful and blessed I feel right now. It’s like a light bulb has gone on inside my head or a veil has been lifted from my eyes … yesterday I stopped midday and realized I AM TRULY BLESSED. While others feel lonely, Ive never felt more loved. While others struggle financially, Ive never felt that I lack because God provides. While others are losing their faith, mine has never been stronger. And God has been soo good to me that he gave me amazing parents, the best brothers and sisters anyone can ask for – and though, I am away from them, He has made sure that I have the same support (emotionally and spiritually) in Bolivia. He has allowed my eyes to see His amazing creation. He has let me meet interesting and wonderful people from all over the world. I know that I am loved. I know that I am forgiven. I know that I am blessed. And its the most wonderful feeling in the world!

Photo by carf.

• You know what he likes and dislikes.
• You know what he is passionate about.
• You know what attracts him to certain friends.
• You know why his friends are attracted to him.
• You know what bad habits he struggles with.
• You know what strengths he is aware he has.
• You know what he would choose to do if he had all the money and time in the world.
• You know what music he listens to, and why he likes it.
• You know what type of people disgusts him.
• You know what type of people he admires.
• You tell him God is directing you to help him/her make changes in his behavior and he humbly and readily accepts it.

Photo by Brian Auer.

Be their friend. A real friend knows true feelings and passions. Determine to know your child’s.

Be part of their lives. It’s not just about knowing what they like. It’s about sharing the passion alonside them.

Be the one who teaches them about important things in life. Relationships. Career. Sex. Politics. Controversial issues, etc.

Share YOUR life with them. Involve them in everything that interests you.

Guide them. Without them even realizing it, children always need consistent guidance. A parent who has already traveled a road should take iniciative to lead and guide. Note: beware of becoming controlling.

Help them make God the only god in their lives. There is a need to continually help your children intentify and radically eliminate any idols in their lives.

Require a more disciplined lifestyle. When they are very young. When they are teenagers. When they are young adults. And as long as they live under your roof.