Tag: Thoughts

Adventure, Life, Stories

A Manifesto of Fatherhood – Revisited

Mark Wayne

Happy Day after Fathers Day to Everyone!

A little different post for Motivation Monday this week. I want to encourage parents, both fathers and mothers. This post is written from my perspective as a father, but it can apply to those moms who are parenting alone and filling both roles.

I hope every father had a great Fathers day. Now that the day set aside to be all about you is over, it’s time to get back to being the father your children need. Your influence and impact will either set them up for success or failure in life. You are their protector, comfort, soft place to land, compass, rock and shelter from the storm.

February 2020

For fathers of daughters, as I am, who you are as a man will influence how they view other men. How you love and treat them, how you love and treat their mother will impact their belief and trust in other men.

Fathers, show your daughters what a real man is, and how a real man treats a lady. #MotivationMonday #FathersDay #EverydayYouAreADad #HappyDayAfterFathersDay

“Think of the impact we would have if came alive as fathers. Your children will grow up and affect the lives of countless others and their children will go on and do the same. This ripple effect – this opportunity of compounding influence – has got to overwhelmingly dwarf whatever the majority of us may hope to accomplish at our jobs. Love your kids, men. Teach them to be strong, dedicated, focused, gentle, fierce, loyal.” ​​​​​​​- John Lovell, Warrior Poet Society

Love your kids, men. Teach them to be strong, dedicated, focused, gentle, fierce, loyal.” ​​​​​​​- John Lovell, Warrior Poet Society @johnlovell275

February 2017

The original post below was written back in 2013 when my daughter was 7 1/2 years old. She is now 15 1/2 and the words are as true today as they were then.

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"Father / Daughter Dance - February 2013"
February 2013

Knowing that, God willing, no matter the circumstances, I will always be a daddy to my little girl;

Knowing that, God willing, my daughter will one day be an adult and leave to follow her own path;

  • I will love my daughter for the gift that she is, not what she does
  • I will cherish every moment we spend together
  • I will strive to give her whatever wisdom I might possess
  • I will teach her the value of relationships & honoring promises
  • I will allow my daughter to soar upon her own wings
  • I will let her go to travel the path God has laid before her

“May the Lord give me the wisdom to parent with love, humility and strength, to give my daughter only and always the best that I can offer.”   ~M

Summer 2010

“Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.” ~C. Everett Koop

I encourage you to now write your own manifesto!

God, Life, Stories

Belief and Death – are the words so difficult to learn?

Mark Wayne

“Well, we have nothing if not belief.”

~Reepicheep

“The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” (CS Lewis)

A Grief Observed, as well as other books and writings, by CS Lewis have comforted, challenged and confirmed many of my own feelings at different times with their stark emotion and startling honesty. Almost thirty-five years and a vast ocean between two continents separated the experiences of Mr. Lewis and my own. We were at very different points on life’s continuum; Mr. Lewis was in his early sixties when his wife, Joy, died and me in my late twenties when my wife died.

However, the experiences of Mr. Lewis I read about are eerily similar to my own experiences. The feelings of pain, sorrow, guilt and eventually a measure of acceptance and healing that followed. Grief is a solitary road we must walk alone, however the words Mr. Lewis shared have always made me feel not quite so alone, especially during my own time of anguish and the dark night of my soul.

My hope is that my words, the things I share and put into the world can do the same for someone else. We are all sojourners here on earth and sorrow at one time or another will wrap its cold arms around us all and hold us close. In those moments, we need grace and mercy, for if my own experience is any indication in those dark times of guilt and pain there often vows and promises made that we are never meant to keep.

Poetry

Replacing your lies

Mark Wayne

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This is the first poem I wrote for the ‘New Beginnings’ poetry challenge sponsored by 451 Press Poets during the month of January from the prompt Breaking the Habits. The challenge was to write a poem a day inspired by the posted prompt.

Do we not all have habits we wish we could break? To truly break a habit we much replace it with something better. This poem speaks of the lies that we are told and how we need to replace them with truth. Remember that you matter, just believe that grace wins and hope lives!

Art, Poetry

Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Mark Wayne

Santa - postcard work in progress, pastels on grey paper, 4x6 inches
Santa – work in progress, pastels on grey paper, 4×6 inches postcard

I believed in you
In hope and wishes
In dreams come true

I wandered for years
My faith did wane
Until seeing it clear

Searching the sky above
I once again believe
The greatest gift is love

~Mark Schutter ©2015

I am not talking about the jolly fat man in the red suit who slides down chimney’s on Christmas Eve. I am searching for the true meaning of Christmas. What it means to be selfless and giving, humble and kind. The world would be such a better place if only we could make this Christmas thing last all year-long and not just for a few weeks in December. We so easily put everything back into boxes on December 26th and go back to our selfish self-righteous ways. When love, grace, mercy and hope are needed everyday of the year. I wish every one of my readers a very Merry Christmas and may you be blessed each day. ~M

Poetry

The Undiscovered

Mark Wayne

image

He dreamed of the undiscovered,
of a place that might lay beyond the distant hills.

Longing for mystery and adventure,
promised by a voice that beckoned from beyond.

She in stoic beauty stood silently by,
watching him as he quickly turned to go.

He took nothing with him and yet,
not knowing he was leaving everything behind.

He failed to count the cost of his quest,
  a far too high of price that he ultimately would pay.

For he believed there were battles to fight,
and it was adventure his heart sought to find.

He did not see her as she stepped aside,
letting him go for his eyes were on his believed destiny.

Blind to the true battle before him,
for he would never discover the mysteries of her heart.

Her heart beat madly within her chest,
for it was he that could have saved her from the dark.

~Mark Schutter ©2015

Where does your true adventure lie, are you missing the truth for want of something else? Lord, help us to truly see the beauty and glory in front of us. May you see the adventure that waits for you and pursue with all your heart.