Moments that changed my life, part 2

My parents have been married for 49 years.  Not once have I ever questioned their love for each other or their love for me.

The older I get, the more I realize that this is a significant part to who I am as a person.  I work with students who range from 6th grade to college age.  I have seen so many kids who deal with stuff they shouldn't have to, and one of those is parents who either fight all of the time or who are divorced/separated and put the child in the middle.  Instead of home being a place for fond memories, home is sometimes where a child least wants to be.

I understand that sometimes divorce is inevitable.  I know from experience that you can't control what the other person in the marriage does.  I understand that step-parents can be a blessing.  I truly believe that God gives us second chances in every area of our lives.

But I also understand that there are a lot of hurting children because their parents choose to make selfish decisions.  When a girl I know doesn't want to go home because mom is drunk and dad doesn't want to come get her, my heart breaks. I have had numerous conversations with students whose dads promised to be there for something special, only to bail at the last minute.

Being a parent is easy.  Being a GOOD parent is not.

By no means am I an awesome parent every day.  And I am the first one sometimes to point out my parents' flaws (too much, actually), but the more I spend time with students who don't have the home life they need, I am more and more thankful that I never had to experience that in my family.  And the more and more determined I am to show students the love and encouragement they need that they might not be getting from home.