Today I watched one of my favorite movies, "Antoine Fisher". For those of you who have never watched it; the movie details the life of a young Navyman.  He was a troubled sailor, full of anger and resentment because he had been abandoned by his mother and friends.  As a matter of fact he had never even met his mother or father. In an effort to prevent himself from being discharged from the Navy, Antoine submits to couseling from a Navy psyshiatrist (Denzel Washington). Antoine and the doctor develop a close relationship. Antoine turns his life around and is promoted. One loose string remains; however:  the psychiatrist tells Antoine he needs to find his biological family and get closure, so he can let go of the hurt, anger, and pain once and for all.  Antoine finds his mother. She is an impovershied drug abuser, who doesn't care that her son has tracked her down.  On the other hand, he discovers his father's family as well. His father is dead. But, his father's family welcomes him with open arms. The welcome that he recieved from them moved me to tears. At one point, his grandmother (his Dad's mother) caresses him on the cheeks, with tears in her eyes and says, "Welcome baby". Surely, for that mother, her son is at that moment living again through Antoine. The acceptance and love Antoine had searched his entire life for is now, finally realized.

In this world, we live in the media and the press promote violence, sex, and materialism. Yet, as parents, our influence is more precious and priceless than ever. All our kids need/want  is us. They are searching for us. Behind every teenage pregnancy is a young girl or young boy looking for Mom and Dad in the wrong place. Behind prison bars, where sadly so many of our teenagers end up are lonely boys and girls who found accepatnce in a gang; self esteem in a loaded gun.  Thirty,forty,fifty;  the age really does not matter, children never stop needing parents.  Thanks be to God, who has been and continues to be a father and a mother to so many.  I need the love and the acceptance of Jesus. I need him friends! I need him . And so does our children,  They need us (parents in the natural sense), but they also need you and I to showcase the same grace and love  that Jesus extended to us when we needed it most.

Thank God for Joseph, who went on to be an awesome Dad, because he knew how to forgive. Thank God for Naomi, who pressed on and showed her daugther-in-law love; who later was blessed to hold the grandfather of a king and a savior in her arms. Thank God for a loving, compassionate father, who was the prototype of our heavenly father; a forgiver and  a restorer.