#TBT: Dear Parents

I am repeating these 2 articles based upon a conversation I had with my Sisters-in-Christ during our church village meeting this past week. In that conversation, we determined that King Solomon became a whore like his dad. King David, because that was what he saw growing up. God only intended it to only be one on one. The beauty of their flaws is a reminder we all can change and receive God’s grace and favor anyway, but our job is to raise children to become like God whether real parents or substitute aunties and mothers.
I included the screenshots in this version for 2 reasons: (1) they were removed from Twitter, and (2) I believe if you hide the wrong the lesson eventually is forgotten. Like removing Confederate statues to hide the truth about the United States’ hideous past with slavery, if the ugliness of misogyny is hidden the sports industry–athletes, personnel, and fans–will be doomed to repeat the painful horror.

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.~Proverbs 22:6 NIV

Dear Mothers,

Today is Mother’s Day. As a child who had phenomenal females–aunts, grandmothers, adopted mothers from college–and a mother who helped raise me to be the outspoken individual that I am now, I have a favor to ask.

God gave you the blessing of being a mother whether you gave birth or not which means He gave you a major responsibility. I always looked at it this way . . . no child asked to be born into this world. Therefore, you have the responsibility to care for that child. Caring for that child means making sure that child grows up healthy–emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. God honored you by trusting you with life besides your own.

I say all of that to ask you–at least some of you–to be the phenomenal women you can be and please start by making your sons respect women . . . period! Don’t make excuses for them like it’s just boys being boys or it’s locker room talk. Remember how you want a man to speak about you. That should be what you want your sons to say about another female.

If you don’t, there could be serious ramifications like Brendan Leipsic’s dismissal from the Washington Capitals for misogynistic comments about women. Or, it could be worse. He could end up being sued or put in jail because that “boys’ banter” took a turn for the worse like the boys in Steubenville, Ohio.

It doesn’t matter how talented he is or if he is a big shot at college or the NHL, NFL, MLS, MLB, NBA, or an Olympian. It just does not matter who he is but it does matter WHO he is as a human being. There is no reason for another human being to fat shame someone or call someone ugly. While in the former a person MAY be able to do something about it, a person’s looks like their race or gender are not under her control because that’s all genetics.

Better yet, teach your sons to look for inner beauty. Outer beauty dies in all of us, but the heart and soul’s beauty grows as we mature. Character and integrity should reign supreme over peer pressure and public approval. To borrow from the title of the late Kobe Bryant, the mountain doesn’t move for the storm.

If you want your son to bring home a character daughter-in-law for you, then teach him to be a genuine character guy. One who knows all the rules of being a gentleman. One who tries not to curse and is kind. One who is well-rounded and respects people of all backgrounds. Raise a son who has many friends of different socio-economic and racial backgrounds. Don’t teach your child to hate or let him be a bully. He’ll just grow up to be a bully or jerk . . . at least until he’s caught like Leipsic and his friends.

While I know this should not be just your issue to deal with, and trust me the dad’s turn is coming, please consider doing me and the millions of other women out here in the world this favor. We’d appreciate it.

I hope you enjoy the rest of your Mother’s Day and thank you for all you do.

God bless!

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.~Proverbs 22:6 KJV

Dear Fathers,

Today is Father’s Day. As a child and even now, I had and have extraordinary men–an adopted father, grandfathers, great grandfathers, uncles, great uncles–and role models known as brothers, professors, and pastors who have helped guide me from the shy, naive girl who thought the world revolved around men to the woman today. Those men have taught me my mission in life is not one of servitude but to dream and conquer those dreams. They have shown me there are no male roles and female roles. Men can cook and do dishes just like women can bring home the bacon.

It is with those beliefs in mind that I am now requesting fathers–current and future–to step up and show your sons, nephews, and pupils, whatever the difference between being a male and a man. God gave you the blessing of being a father. Therefore, you have the responsibility to care for that child. Caring for that child means making sure that child grows up healthy–emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. God honored you by trusting you with life besides your own. It is your responsibility to protect, provide and pilot that life.

I say all of that to ask you–at least some of you–to be the extraordinary men you can be and please start by making your sons respect women . . . period! Don’t make excuses for them like it’s just boys being boys or it’s locker room talk. Remember how you want a man to speak about your wife, mother, daughter, or niece. That should be what you should teach your sons to treat and communicate to and about young ladies and women.

It doesn’t matter how talented he is or if he is a talented athlete. It doesn’t matter if he’s an executive at college or a professional league or just an ordinary company. It just does not matter who he is but it does matter WHO he is as a human being. There is no reason for another human being to fat shame someone or call someone ugly. While in the former a person MAY be able to do something about it, a lady’s looks, her race, or her gender is not under her control. That’s all genetics.

Ridiculing a woman for that is just as unacceptable as beating a woman. Both are bullying. While it has been common practice in the past for men to catcall, name-calling, etc. to a woman, fathers should know better and do better! If you see it, call it out. Otherwise, you are letting the world know it’s okay to do the same to the women you love or worse.

 

If you don’t, there could be serious ramifications like Brendan Leipsic’s dismissal from the Washington Capitals for misogynistic comments about women. Or, it could be worse. He could end up being sued or put in jail because that “boys’ banter” took a turn for the worse like the boys in Steubenville, Ohio.

 

Source: Tony Evans

Better yet, teach your sons to look for inner beauty. Outer beauty dies in all of us, but the heart and soul’s beauty grows as we mature. Character and integrity should reign supreme over peer pressure and public approval.

If you want your son or nephew to bring home a lady of character, then teach him to be a genuine character guy. One who knows all the rules of being a gentleman. One who tries not to curse and is kind. One who is well-rounded and respects people of all backgrounds. Raise a son who has many friends of different socioeconomic and racial backgrounds. Don’t teach your child to hate or let him be a bully. He’ll just grow up to be a bully or jerk . . . at least until he’s caught like Leipsic and his friends.

Better yet, be one yourself. An example goes a long way in teaching young guys how to carry themselves, and I am sure your wives, daughters, and nieces would appreciate it. Please consider doing the millions of us women out here in the world this favor. We’d appreciate it.

Sincerely,

This Lady

Source: Sports Spectrum