Black and Red Beads

I wanted to show you something that sits on the shelf behind my desk.

 

 

This was an idea given to me by a very dear friend.  Her husband uses this analogy with their son all the time.  It's a jar full of black beads with one red bead dropped in.

 

This is what I tell my children; "Be a red bead in a black bead world."

 

If you read my self-discipline that I posted on FaceBook, you will see this statement.

 

My friend's husband always uses this in the context of work ethic.  He wants his son to stand out, to be noticed for being a good worker.  That's a good thing, and I'm not criticizing it at all.  I think that this world as a whole has become complacent.  We only do what we are told, when we are told, and only as much as we are told.  No one has initiative.

 

I want my children to learn to take that initiative.  I want them to see a job that needs to be done and do it.  I want them to understand that, if the world says do 2, they should do 4.  Go above and beyond.  Do your best.  Please God in all you do.

 

I've been thinking about my jar.  I don't think that it applies just to a job.  I think it is a far-reaching concept.

 

I want my children to realize that they must be a red bead when everyone else is drinking, or smoking, or cheating, or living a promiscuous lifestyle.

 

I want my children to know that they have to be a red bead when no one likes them for it.

 

They must understand that standing firm on convictions and principles will make them red - and not liked by black beads.

 

A red bead will be unfriended on FaceBook and in real life.

 

Being a red bead is hard - especially when you're the only one.

 

A red bead concept is totally Bible-approved, and we all know how popular Jesus was with the Pharisees. 

 

Red beads need tough skins.

 

Red beads can be lonely.

 

The good news is, though, red beads tend to gravitate toward each other ~ seek each other out ~ hold fast to one another.

 

I want my red beads to find other red beads, hang out with them, date them, marry them, and raise a new generation of them.

 

If more parents made red beads, black beads would become red beads, too.  They wouldn't have a choice.  They would be outnumbered.

 

I can't change the world, but I can affect my world.  I am responsible for everything that goes in these two children, and everything that comes out.  These two red beads-in-training are my job, and I intend to do that job to the best of MY red bead ability.  You see ~~ my parents raised a pretty good red bead, too ~ if I do say so myself.