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Inspiration For You

    by Randy Mitchell

Our Children Are Our Future
Date Posted: May 14, 2022

I’m the proud uncle of two outstanding teenage boys. Both are heavily involved in sports, school activities, church groups, and scholastic organizations. They’ve been raised well, and are both on their way to positive futures with nothing but full lives ahead. One recently achieved the rank of Eagle Scout, an honor within the Boy Scouts of America organization carrying with it a super-high level of honor and achievement. It’s something that only a small percentage of young people ever reach within that establishment, and it required a huge dedication of time, energy, study, and likeability among his peers to acquire. It also represented an investment of money and devotion from his parents; a willingness to see their boy learn what it takes to become successful in today’s ultra competitive society.

I attended my nephew’s ceremony when he received his Eagle Scout medal. The Boy Scouts give each recipient a terrific service filled with its adult leaders and other scouts who make speeches pointing out the efforts involved in achieving such a wonderful honor. While attending, the scout master who resided over the ceremony pointed out that many of our countries leaders were also Eagle Scouts: Texas Governor Rick Perry, business legend Ross Perot, TV journalist Walter Cronkite, mega movie director Steven Spielberg, and many of our nations astronauts and high ranking military to name a few. It placed my young relative in a small grouping of high achievers, cementing his place in Boy Scouts alumni forever. And I can venture to say it’s laid a certain foundation for him to succeed in.

I know, I ‘m going on and on about my family member. But, here’s the point I’m leaning toward: When our nations youth are given the opportunity, and encouraged to become involved in activities which help them grow, teach them responsibility, become a leader, and get their hands dirty, honorable adults become the result. They’re more than likely to stay out of trouble, and learn the value of studying, teaching, and enjoying a cherished camaraderie with others who are working toward the same goals. From making fires among frigid cold to studying endless rules and lore passed down through the decades, a well-rounded youth becomes tomorrow’s successful adults.

The Boy Scouts are just one avenue for our youth to explore. Sports, school, and church organizations are others. But, no matter which ones our kids are drawn to, an involved youth is a productive youth; traits which colleges and employers will always be hunting for while looking to add to student bodies and lists of new employees.

There are so many destructive avenues for kids to turn down these days. Temptations are everywhere, and can cause big time damage if explored: teenage pregnancies, drugs, alcohol, cults, street crimes, and gangs as examples. And then there are parents who are non-existent, or spend very little time with their children. The results of all of these are youth who simply don’t feel validated, loved, appreciated, wanted, and oftentimes becoming mentally out-of-balance as they age. And it doesn’t matter what economic or racial status they belong to, the foundations and morals our children are raised with inside their homes directly affect what pathways they take into adulthood.

My last article was a tribute to my father, and father’s day in general. And I can’t help but overemphasize what a positive effect my dad’s, and mother’s actions had on me as I grew up. No, I wasn’t a perfect kid and aren’t as an adult, but I’ve always managed to know my rights from wrongs and distinguish which temptations and actions will lead me into trouble. I’ve avoided a lot in my life thanks to the love of my parents’ upbringing, and it’s my wish for children everywhere to have the same advantage.

If you have children, love them hard from the day of their birth. Teach them well, give them a religious upbringing, get their hands dirty planting a garden, changing the oil in a car, mowing a yard, or swinging a hammer among your home teaching them valuable, basic work skills. Give them something to reach for: a college degree, winning sports trophy, straight-A report card, good job, good home, and good spouse to share their life with. School them about treating others with kindness, generosity, and respect. Help them explore a belief in God, and how that injects morality in a world where the devil resides around every corner.

Like it’s been said so many times before, our children are our future.

To read more of Randy Mitchell's writing, visit his website @ www.theinspirationalwriter.com

Check out his inspirational novel, SONS IN THE CLOUDS on Amazon

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Biography Information:
Randy Mitchell

Inspirational Writer and Author of

"Sons In The Clouds"

As a writer and avid movie fan, I love the powerful energy behind words. Words capture and cling to people in a dramatic, poignant way - and live deep inside us all. It doesn't matter if those words are written or spoken; all of us have tales yearning to be shared with each other.

A few years ago, I drove past my childhood home in Texas: a nostalgic place where tender childhood memories still reside deep inside me. I remember those hot Texas summer nights hanging out with my sister, friends, spirited pets and my girlfriend who lived across the street. This happy snapshot transported me back in time to endless, steamy nights as we watched July 4th fireworks, ate homemade ice cream on the front porch, and cooled off at the local lake.

My childhood feels like it happened just yesterday -- innocent moments taken from my carefree youth. These memories comforted me and carried me to a place where I longed to stay – a peaceful haven where I could escape my hectic ‘adult’ life. These idyllic, cherished memories were the inspiration for my first novel, "Sons In The Clouds". My long-time career as a pilot and love of aviation are seen through my main characters, Andy and Wade, who serve as Navy pilots in the Vietnam War.

"Sons In The Clouds" exposes emotional drama that showcases the vulnerable fragility of human nature. The belief in God serves as the problem-solver -- a pathway to the truth -- a light to be used when the problems of man cannot be solved, and becomes a way to expose weaknesses in those appearing to be strong.  I breathe life into my characters in believable, exceptionally REAL ways. A strong theme interwoven throughout the pages is that “love conquers all” – as seen through the unfaltering, devoted commitment between my male characters and the women they leave behind.

My female characters show courage and strength in the face of adversity. Despite the fact that she doesn’t know whether her husband is alive or dead behind enemy lines, Rebecca (Andy’s wife) remains strong and never falters in her devotion to Andy.

Rebecca’s character represents war-time brides (both past and present). I wanted to show the strength, love and courage of these brave women whose loved ones were sent off to the Vietnam War. They faced harrowing fear on a daily basis, and relied on their faith and love to get them through their darkest days–- hoping and praying that their husbands returned home safely.

Most inspirational fiction readers today aren’t interested in G-rated books. "Sons In The Clouds" is a modern inspirational story that encompass spiritual themes where faith and love triumph over the brutal ugliness of war. My characters instill a hope-filled message to my readers long after the last page is read.

To purchase your copy, go to Amazon

For media inquiries about Randy Mitchell and "Sons In The Clouds", please visit www.theinspirationalwriter.com or email Mitchellrandy1@msn.com.

Book video available here: www.youtube.com/watch
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