The best people I have ever met in my life are those who know how do deal with adversity and persevere through it because they have personal integrity. They know who they are and they know what they are about. They understand their "mission" in life in whatever form that may take. That doesn't mean necessarily being a billionaire businessman, stellar athlete or word-famous musician, but it does mean that when troubles come (and they always do) these successful men and women stay focused on the goal.
This is a lesson in resilience and dignity--for the two go together. When one is aware of his or her personal dignity and self-worth as a child of God, then one can surmount any hurdle. But when one's self-image is formed--or deformed--by bullying and peer pressure, then one never really knows how to be resilient until one learns how to ignore and transcend the bullies and peer pressure and remain focused.
Bullying and peer pressure don't end in childhood, but they continue throughout adult life with more and more sophisticated pressures: adult relationships, media indoctrination, social class comparisons, and unethical career climbing, to name just a few.
One of the developmental goals for the boys and girls at Kurn Hattin is to learn how to cope with bullying and peer pressure, not just to survive middle school and high school, but to survive life as an adult.
I hope for all of our St. Nicholas Project donors, that you are holding your head up high today for all the good works of charity that you perform for the Kurn Hattin Homes for Children and that the bullies of your childhood or adulthood will flee before the integrity and sense of purpose that your life demonstrates. Thank you for being special guardian angels for the boys and girls at Kurn Hattin with your material and financial donations. God bless you!
I always love to here your inspirations Father. You have a way of putting into words what needs to be said. Thank you for being you. God Bless you too.