Values

I'm taking a humanities course through Liberty University online. One of the topics we discussed was our values. Our values our those things that we would die for. It's something I have thought and discussed before with my friends, but I really enjoyed the idea that I would hear some feedback from those in different areas of the United States.
There wasn't really any earth shattering news to report. Most people agree that your values change as you grow older and as you grow in the Lord.
When we are young, we value what is on our level. I was fortunate to be raised in a Christian home where my parents taught and lived good moral Christian values. I thank God that I wasn't abused or neglected as some children are today. We were poor, but I didn't even know that until I was in my 30's. We had plenty to eat and a roof over our head. We never went hungry and always had a roof over our head. For that, I am truly grateful.
As we get older, our values change. I would like to believe that our values get more refined. We have life experience so we know and learn what is really important. Hopefully, we have and will train our children with the same strong, good values that we were raised with. I believe we have.
Our oldest son is an officer in the Army and he has gone to Iraq two times. Our second son was in the Army and went to Kosovo. He is now a firefighter and is training to be an EMT. Our next son is a financial manager for an IT corporation. The next son is a marketing representative and mascot for San Antonio Spurs. Our youngest son will be a senior in high school and has plans to attend college because he wants to be a police officer. Our daughter is 10, and has lots of plans for the future. But right now she volunteers at church in the nursery and at her dance studio with younger classes.
I think we are going in the right direction. That's important isn't it?

God, do we make you proud?

If you are on face book, then you know that my youngest daughter Kady is dancing in a recital tonight. Last night at dress rehearsal, from 5 to 10pm, I made an observation. There is about 150 girls that dance this year. There are little girls that haven't been walking very long all the way up to the teachers dancing. I have noticed it before, but never quite so obvious, that each parent believes their child is the "BEST" dancer ever. Of course, I think that about Kady too! Some girls, immediately look to their parent(s) to see if they are doing well, or not.
So, my thought was... as we go through our day. Sometimes stressful, sometimes not, God looks at us and loves us as if we were "only" children. Kady isn't an "only" child, but because she is so much younger than her older siblings, she is raised pretty close to that stigma.
Some days our "performance" may not be that great. We might slip and fall (tap shoes are slippery.) Our hair bows may fall out, our shoe might fall off, and we might forget all the right moves. But, because we want our Father to be pleased, we are striving to make Him proud. Or are we?
Whatever we do, in word or deed, may we only do what pleases Him and brings glory to His name.