"May I Be a Sacrifice" from Ben Abu Saada on Vimeo.
| |
|
Just returned from a four day trip to Orlando, Fl for the Star Wars Celebration VI experience. It was an amazing time with thousands of fellow fans from around the world. Here's a video documenting my first day there.
| |
|
Recently my oldest daughter auditioned for the Olathe, KS Youth Symphony. She did amazingly well and we are all anxious to find out if she made the team, but really in my mind she already passed the test. The story isn't about making the symphony, but her accomplishment of overcoming fear.
Maelee wasn't interested in being a part of the audition process. In fact, she expressed zero desire to be a part of the symphony at all. Not because she really doubted her skill, but because she didn't feel like going through the process. What it boiled down to was simple: Fear of rejection.
During the car ride to the audition, I asked her if she was nervous. Her response was, "yeah...a little". I prayed with her as we drove to the audition and she seemed to be a little less anxious. We arrived at the audition 40 minutes early, plenty of time for her to play through the song and scales before her appointment. Initially, it was us and two other students in a large orchestra room warming up. She played her violin over and over while more students began piling into the room with cellos, clarinets, bassoons and other violinists. I watched as she realized she wasn't the only violinist auditioning. Then it hit her...she pulled her violin from her chin and walked over to me with panic in her eyes...she whispered, "Dad, these kids are better than me." It was what I was waiting for during this whole ordeal. The moment she was faced with the possibility of rejection.
There were a couple of options I could take at this moment.
Parents, it's ok to allow your kids to get their feelings hurt when they are rejected. It's ok to push them
to try things that stir up fear within them. What's not ok is how we sometimes let what WE want best for them to get in the way of what is TRULY best for them. Our kids don't need to be lied to, but rather taught through these opportunities. The first two weeks of American Idol are filled with people auditioning for the show who never had an honest parent or friend tell them the truth.
What I discovered this past week was how rewarding it is as a parent to see my kids attempting to soar.
I couldn't be prouder of my Maelee!
Now go conquer your fears and let the Lord direct your path!
| |
|
I'm sitting in a St. Louis hospital while my Dad undergoes the knife to eliminate a LONG time literal pain in the back. I've always loved how my Dad has handled stress. Let's be honest, when you've seen and done the things he's experienced in his life, a little spine surgery is nothing. He's got enough spine to share with the whole world. Not sure what I'm referring to? Check out his book "Once an Arafat Man".
I captured this little video of my pops while he waited for the nurse to take him to prep for surgery. He loves listening to his music on his iPad. Specifically he loves his worship music, his arabic tunes...and of course his Muddy Waters. Enjoy:
| |
|
Tonight I changed the world with Pastor Phil Kelley. I assumed his argyle and neck tie uniform to do it!
| |
|
This week we celebrated the birthdays of my two youngest girls. I can't believe it's been a year since this post...and I can't believe it's been 8 years since Carys was born. In my early days in fatherhood I always heard "enjoy your kids while they're young...you'll blink and one day they'll be adults." I'm so proud to be their daddy and humbled that God allowed me to be their Father. Praying I can instill the qualities of a good Dad that will ultimately lead both of my baby girls to a relationship with THE Father.
In honor of their birthdays this week...a trip down memory lane circa 2007. Enjoy this video their mommy took:
| |
|
Recent Comments