From a very early age my mother and father taught me to always do the right thing. Do right to others even if they don’t do right back, to be respectful, and numerous other things.

2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.”

Everyday we are at war. As Christians the devil is constantly tempting us with numerous things such as doubt, substance abuse, lust, and many other things. 

 Everyone loves when someone tells them they are proud of them. The last words my MiMi ever said to me were, “I’m so proud of you Mavo. I love you and I will see you soon.” I miss her everyday, and I know she is reading this now in Heaven.

A few months ago I went to my father’s company’s crawfish boil. As I was waiting in line a group of men walked up to me and introduced themselves and told me they worked with my dad. They proceeded to tell me that my dad talked about me all the time at his office and that he was so proud of me. It felt really good, and when I went back to sit down with my dad I almost brought it up but I decided not to. I thought back to the verse 2 Corinthians 7:4 which says, “Great is my confidence in you; great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort; I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”

When we bring glory to God He is proud of us. We should want to do the right thing and we should try every single day to be more like Jesus. We should want to surround ourselves with other Christians and try to bring people who aren’t Christians to God.

My parents did such an amazing job raising my sister Maggie and me. They each taught me certain things that will stick with me for as long as I live. My mom was the first woman I ever loved and whenever I was going down the wrong path she prayed every single day for me and still to this day she prays for me. I always watched my father and how he showed up for everything for us. He came to every game he possibly could come to, and if he couldn’t make it because of work he would call us after and listen to how it went.

They both prayed for my future spouse whenever I was just a kid. This past May I got engaged to my beautiful fiance Kelanie, and she brings out the best in me every single day. I know that God gave me them as my parents to prepare me for the real world. When I tell you I thank God for them I really do. They are hands down the best parents in the world. 

 I am about to move out of their house and into my own and start a new chapter in my life. Although I won’t see them everyday, the things they taught me will stay with me forever. My parents put God first in their marriage, and Kelanie and I will do the same. When we put God first He is proud of us.

Speaking to other people about Jesus makes Him so happy and proud and we should want that. My future father in law said, “You’re never too young for someone else to look up to you, so we should influence them with Jesus.” It is so true we should live for Jesus because someone will notice just like I did with my parents living for Jesus. As Christians we should all strive together to make God proud.