Kim, the girls and
I watch and enjoy football. Hannah is in a fantasy league and is doing pretty
well. The four of us are pretty crazy when it comes to the Packers and Badgers.
Last week during
the pregame show, there was a feature on Patrick Peterson, the cornerback for
the Arizona Cardinals. He’s considered to be one of the premier players in the
league. His father and Patrick were both interviewed for the piece, and for an
observer of life, it was revealing.
The family didn’t
have much money and were considered to be poor. Peterson played youth football
and as a kid showed ability. Speed, size, skill- he had it. The real deal, as
they say. Anyone watching him knew he was going to be good.
In high school
as a freshman, he performed well on the field. He was noticed. Perhaps not an
out and out star, but he was recognized as being very, very good. That was on
the field. It was a different story in the classroom.
His father had a
rule that Patrick had to have a 2.5 grade point average in order to play
football. At the end of his freshman year, Patrick only had a 2.3. In his
father’s eyes, it was not good enough, so he told Patrick that he couldn’t play
football his sophomore year. Pretty harsh and I wonder how many parents out
there might do or have done the same. Honestly, I wonder if I would have done
the same.
But not only did
his father take away football for the year, Patrick had to sit in the stands for
every game and when asked, explain why he wasn’t on the field helping his team.
Not sure which was tougher on Patrick- sitting out football, a game he loved
and played well, or explaining to kids and parents why he wasn’t on the field
in uniform. I don’t think it was too easy for his parents, either.
It ended well
because his grades for his junior and senior year were above the 2.5 grade mark
set by his parents.
But it didn’t
end there . . .
He was invited
to a combine, a showcase for football players in hopes of getting a college
scholarship. His parents couldn’t afford the cost of the camp, so they had a decision
to make. Patrick didn’t know, but his parents made the decision to send him to
the camp and pay for it by having their electricity turned off for several
weeks. That was the only way they could afford it.
The sacrifice
parents make for their kids, right?
When Patrick
found it, he made a promise to his parents that when he makes it- not if
he makes it, but when he makes it- he would take care of his parents.
A father and a
son. A Tale Of Two Men.
One sets the
rules and sets the example, all done with love and with a higher purpose. The
other, hopefully, follows the rules and follows the example, and has the
respect and love for the other in doing so. A mutual love, a mutual respect, I
think.
Relationships in
a family can be strained. They can be uncomfortable. When you buy a
refrigerator or lawn mower, you get an owner’s manual. Not so much when a baby
is born. Many times, parents operate in the dark and hope for the best. We do
the best we can. Most of the time, we rely on how we were raised, on what was
said and done to us . . . for us. We do the best we can with the best of
intentions. And hopefully, our kids recognize that. Maybe not right away, but
at least in time. Makes me think of our own parents and how we view them today.
Something to think about . . .
Live Your Life,
and Make A Difference!
To My Reader:
Please feel free
to connect with me at:
Twitter
at @jrlewisauthor
Facebook at:
https://www.facebook.com/Joseph.Lewis.Author
If you like
Thriller/Mystery fiction, check out what other readers have said about my
novels.
Stolen Lives
“Joseph Lewis
has created a cast of characters that you grow to care about. Their story is
filled with twists and turns that keep you reading. When the book ends you will
be left anticipating the next one! This was a story I could not put down!” “I am really glad I happened to see this
Trilogy while looking through my Kindle unlimited series. Great strong characters,
especially George and Brett. Looking forward to reading more from this author.
Started Taking Lives and
immediately turned the pages to get to Stolen
lives.”
Two thirteen
year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of
FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others-
dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility
exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis
Shattered Lives
“I couldn’t put
it down, a really good book!” “Great book! I can't wait for next one!” “This
book is excellent. The whole series is definitely worth your time.” “Expertly
written. I ended up buying all the books in the series and am waiting eagerly
for the final installment "Splintered
Lives."
Six men escaped
and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger
and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no
leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them. http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis
Splintered Lives
“Engaging
characters you care about. A story that is fast-paced and holds your attention
to the point you cannot put it down. Great finish to a great series.”
A 14 year old
boy has a price on his head, but he and his family don’t know it. Their family
vacation turns into a trip to hell. Out gunned and outnumbered, can this boy
protect his father and brothers? Without knowing who these men are? Or how many
there are? Or when they might come for him? http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis
Taking Lives
“Great book by
Joseph Lewis. Many twists and turns. Fasted paced.” “Couldn’t put the book down.” “Great story can't wait to read the next
one!” “Great book! I really enjoyed it. Good author!” “Each character is
developed thoroughly, igniting the readers interest and stirring emotions. The
frustration of the detective flows to the reader. The young boys are
endearing.”
FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search
for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of
the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI
Kelliher, 11 year old Brett McGovern, and 11 year old George Tokay are separate
pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that
Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course
and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way
out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis
