Guest Author - Marie Stroughter

As we move into a new year, there are some things I hope for:

• World peace would be nice, but what I really hope for is that the humanity in each of us would rise to the surface on a continual basis. When things like Hurricane Katrina happen...the tsunami…9/11….the good in everyone comes out. People are nicer to each other, more tolerant, more forgiving and willing to “turn the other cheek.” And yes, I quoted the Bible….I’d like to see the religion-bashing stop. When religion is twisted into some unrecognizable form, as we see from some of the terrorist things done in the name of a supreme being, it’s a bad thing. But when normal people who believe in something beyond themselves pray, live, love and go about their daily lives, the world is a better place. Having God’s name on a piece of paper in your wallet (i.e. currency), won’t kill anyone, nor will the kid next to yours die at school if someone bows their head in a silent prayer. The deeply personal beliefs that each of us hold mold us, and thereby the little corner of space each of us inhabit is just a little better for it.

• Having a child with a special health concern, I often think about advances in technology that make the quality of life we all enjoy that much better. My hope is that we will continue to see advances that benefit the lives of others, yet not at the expense of other human life. There are clinical studies that languish in favor of others that seem on the “fast track” but at what cost? Yet, in that, I also see how technological advances tear us away from each other as well. When everyone has their own computer in every corner of the house, and we communicate by cell phone, tune each other out to listen to our MP3 players, then we’ve lost that human connection that is the foundation that happy, loving families build upon.

• I want to instill in my son a sense of volunteerism and helping others. Right now, as part of our homeschool curriculum, he writes letters just about every week to the older women in the church congregation we worship with. He’s also started knitting, so there are a few opportunities for making animal blankets through the ASPCA. Helping others feels so good, builds self-esteem, empathy and character, while also making others feel good. My son often gets a lot of positive feedback on how happy his letters make the recipients feel!

• I want my son to enjoy life-long learning. There are things he does for school that he doesn’t always enjoy. From that he learns that not everything is entertaining and fun. There are things in life we must do regardless of how we feel about them (folding laundry is my personal crucible...ugh!). However, not all learning occurs in school. We learn something every single day. I want my son to be curious. I want him to be a critical thinker and examine everything that comes his way and not just accept it at face value. He reads for pleasure as well as things required of him for school. He writes stories of his own making. He creates robots and villages and many other creative things “just because”. I hope this continues throughout his life.

• I want him to find love. I pray for the woman he eventually marries, even though she is only a child now and someone we may not even know. I want her to love my son for all the unique qualities he has, as well as his idiosyncrasies. I want her to bring out the best in him, and encourage him to grow every day. I want him to be a father, and experience the joy that is parenting.

• I want my son to continue on his spiritual path. Never in my life have I encountered anyone who loves God as much as my child does. Whenever an ambulance passes by, no matter where we are, my son immediately petitions God in prayer to “help if anyone is hurt”. When he expresses that something is his favorite or something is really great, he immediately tacks on, “but not better than Jesus!” Before my miscarriage last year, my son rattled off a list of things he should do as a big brother, not the least of which was, “teach the baby about Jesus!” His belief in Someone outside of himself makes him strive harder. It makes him not take himself so seriously and keeps him humble. It’s also the framework on which his character development hangs upon. He filters the world though a spiritual lens that already helps him make critical choices on his own.

Stay tuned for part 2 next week!