"Everyone Should Have Someone To Look Up To."
When we enter this world called earth, we are sent down by God, to be raised and nurtured, by a couple, who we learn to call father and mother. At the very first of our measured time ,here in this beautiful place that we will call home, we are destined to live, and we are destined to die. So during the time spent here ,we should make it a well spent duration, that will leave a mark, that others might follow or use as a guide, to make the life they spend on this earth a worthwhile one. That brings us to what I call being a role model. A role model is one that can influence our youngsters, as to what they aspire to be when they grow up. Many of our young people have the perfect guidance from that twosome, we call father and mother, and they use good judgement, in picking out someone to help them reach a goal, or a spot in life where they will be able to make thier mark in society. Many will pick Mom or Dad as the person who they want to be like when they grow up. Many will pick another member of the family to copy and go forth with success, and prosperity. But sometimes when they can't get it at home, they look elsewhere, and many times it will be someone whose only goal in life, is to do the opposite of what is good. That takes me to the point that I want to make to our young children of today. To bow to pressure from others, who have taken the road to distruction, will only bring hardship to you and to your family. To let someone persuade you to drink, take drugs, to steal, and to lie, is wrong. Only you can stop yourself from total distruction, by using the moral values set forth by those who really love you. The ones ,that will guide you into problems that will torment you for the rest of your life, are only there as long as you let them be there. The people who talk you into using drugs, are only there as long as you take them., and are able to either pay for it or to entice one of your friends to start. Money is what keeps this scum on our doorsteps, and when it is gone, they will leave you hurting with the worst pain in the world. The use of drugs today has gotten so far out of sight , that the pushers are getting rich. Now you ask me , how do I keep from this happening to me, and I will tell you to do several things. Listen to mom and dad. Let them do the job that they were assigned to do by God. To raise you ,so that when it comes your time to have that assignment from the great one, you will be ready to raise your own. Another way to make sure that you won't be enticed by the bad people, is to join a program such as "Dare", which will not only lead you, but will help you lead others. Maybe you then can be a role model for one that has fallen to the lowest depth of his life. Sometimes a sports hero , can be a good choice, although in recent times the sports hero is one that is walking the road to distruction with his usage of drugs. You would think that these sports heros would use thier good fortune to help guide others , but maybe they didn't get the proper guidance as children, and so they still need someone to wake them up too. All of us have a road to follow, and sometimes the road will have some detours, or there will be very deep holes , that if we don't watch for, will cause us to fall into them, never to get out. There will be something there to trip us up, or to go another way. So what you have to do ,is to follow someone who has walked the road, and can help you avoid all of these objects designed to make you go the wrong way. Before you walk the road, step back and take a long look at it and make your decision, to walk it as straight as possible, and yet avoid all the blockades. In my early years , I knew many great people, male and female, who helped me on the road of life, and were there for me, when I needed them. I don't have to mention names, because they know who they are and what they did for me. I had many role models that I wanted to follow, but most of them were the people that we went to see in the movies, or some that we listened to on the radio. People like Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Lewis, to name a few, were great people who have made thier mark in history , and great people to want to be like. Many of our presidents have been great role models, as have thier wives. Sometimes a teacher in school, or that policeman or fireman, all of who are very valuable parts of our nurturing, as we grow up are great role models. But you know what? From the very first day of your life, you probaly have the best role models that will give you the best opportunties to be someone. I will tell you that Mom and Dad are the ones to follow. But what if Mom and Dad are not around or if one of them grew up wrong and they are not proper to follow? I say this because sometimes the problems do start at home, and you need someone else to follow. Take a good look at what is available out there, and ask that person to help you. I have to say that my role models were my mother and father, and I think that they did a pretty good job of taking care of a large family, and still instill in them the need for goodness to one another. Many people who knew my dad and mom tell me that I act like them. Well if that is true, than evidently they did one great job of being role models. They taught us that stealing was wrong and also that lies were the work of the devil. We were taught to treat everyone with respect regardless of thier faith or thier heritage. To this day, I carry the words of my father in my heart. He would say that it is better to be one hour early than one minute late. He and mom would say that you treat the living and the dead with respect, and you show them the honor that they deserve. They taught me that to be an American is one of the greatest gifts ever given to you and that you honor this great country, and it's beautiful flag. They taught us to make our own decisions as to our faith and how we would follow it. We were taught that you don't devide people as to race, creed or color. Dad always said that as he grew up, he had lots of help from his friends and not once did the issue of who they were, make a difference in thier friendship. Oh sure there were others that I looked up to including my oldest brother, who was just about the nicest guy around. He and my other brother, both of whom have passed away, were people who knew no enemies. They were loved by all that crossed thier paths. So it looks like Mom and Dad did ok. And I know that when each of them went home to be with God, he told them that they did thier job well. Recently we had a little reunion of the rest of my family and it was great to sit and talk and remember the past. And the thoughts of Mom and Dad were in our hearts. So I want to make this point to all the young people out there. Make something count while you are here on earth, and make us all proud of you. Go and talk to someone, whether it is your parents,teachers, or a policeman or fireman, or one of the great ministers we have to guide you. Don't let pressure from the bad people dictate your path of life. There are great places that you can go to get someone to listen. And if you can't find someone that will listen, then this is my word to you. Come talk to me about it. They call me "Uncle Ray" because I care about you. And if someday ,when I have gone home,and some youngster says that they want to grow up like me, then just maybe the great father will tell me "Job well done" "Uncle Ray" Day
"Many Of our Children Look The Wrong Way For a Role Model."
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