Friday, October 21, 2016

A Tale Of Two Men



Kim, the girls and I watch and enjoy football. Hannah is in a fantasy league and is doing pretty well. The four of us are pretty crazy when it comes to the Packers and Badgers.

Last week during the pregame show, there was a feature on Patrick Peterson, the cornerback for the Arizona Cardinals. He’s considered to be one of the premier players in the league. His father and Patrick were both interviewed for the piece, and for an observer of life, it was revealing.

The family didn’t have much money and were considered to be poor. Peterson played youth football and as a kid showed ability. Speed, size, skill- he had it. The real deal, as they say. Anyone watching him knew he was going to be good.

In high school as a freshman, he performed well on the field. He was noticed. Perhaps not an out and out star, but he was recognized as being very, very good. That was on the field. It was a different story in the classroom.

His father had a rule that Patrick had to have a 2.5 grade point average in order to play football. At the end of his freshman year, Patrick only had a 2.3. In his father’s eyes, it was not good enough, so he told Patrick that he couldn’t play football his sophomore year. Pretty harsh and I wonder how many parents out there might do or have done the same. Honestly, I wonder if I would have done the same.

But not only did his father take away football for the year, Patrick had to sit in the stands for every game and when asked, explain why he wasn’t on the field helping his team. Not sure which was tougher on Patrick- sitting out football, a game he loved and played well, or explaining to kids and parents why he wasn’t on the field in uniform. I don’t think it was too easy for his parents, either.

It ended well because his grades for his junior and senior year were above the 2.5 grade mark set by his parents.

But it didn’t end there . . .

He was invited to a combine, a showcase for football players in hopes of getting a college scholarship. His parents couldn’t afford the cost of the camp, so they had a decision to make. Patrick didn’t know, but his parents made the decision to send him to the camp and pay for it by having their electricity turned off for several weeks. That was the only way they could afford it.

The sacrifice parents make for their kids, right?

When Patrick found it, he made a promise to his parents that when he makes it- not if he makes it, but when he makes it- he would take care of his parents.

A father and a son. A Tale Of Two Men.

One sets the rules and sets the example, all done with love and with a higher purpose. The other, hopefully, follows the rules and follows the example, and has the respect and love for the other in doing so. A mutual love, a mutual respect, I think.

Relationships in a family can be strained. They can be uncomfortable. When you buy a refrigerator or lawn mower, you get an owner’s manual. Not so much when a baby is born. Many times, parents operate in the dark and hope for the best. We do the best we can. Most of the time, we rely on how we were raised, on what was said and done to us . . . for us. We do the best we can with the best of intentions. And hopefully, our kids recognize that. Maybe not right away, but at least in time. Makes me think of our own parents and how we view them today. Something to think about . . .

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!

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If you like Thriller/Mystery fiction, check out what other readers have said about my novels.
Stolen Lives
“Joseph Lewis has created a cast of characters that you grow to care about. Their story is filled with twists and turns that keep you reading. When the book ends you will be left anticipating the next one! This was a story I could not put down!”  “I am really glad I happened to see this Trilogy while looking through my Kindle unlimited series. Great strong characters, especially George and Brett. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Started Taking Lives and immediately turned the pages to get to Stolen lives.”
Two thirteen year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others- dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis   

Shattered Lives
“I couldn’t put it down, a really good book!” “Great book! I can't wait for next one!” “This book is excellent. The whole series is definitely worth your time.” “Expertly written. I ended up buying all the books in the series and am waiting eagerly for the final installment "Splintered Lives."
Six men escaped and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them.  http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis   

Splintered Lives
“Engaging characters you care about. A story that is fast-paced and holds your attention to the point you cannot put it down. Great finish to a great series.”
A 14 year old boy has a price on his head, but he and his family don’t know it. Their family vacation turns into a trip to hell. Out gunned and outnumbered, can this boy protect his father and brothers? Without knowing who these men are? Or how many there are? Or when they might come for him? http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis

Taking Lives
“Great book by Joseph Lewis. Many twists and turns. Fasted paced.”  “Couldn’t put the book down.”  “Great story can't wait to read the next one!” “Great book! I really enjoyed it. Good author!” “Each character is developed thoroughly, igniting the readers interest and stirring emotions. The frustration of the detective flows to the reader. The young boys are endearing.”
FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI Kelliher, 11 year old Brett McGovern, and 11 year old George Tokay are separate pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis

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