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Kristen Seidl – Living an Intentional Life

Kristen Seidl – Living an Intentional Life

Tag Archives: Claude Hamilton

Superheroes Don’t Wear Spandex

02 Thursday May 2013

Posted by Kristen Seidl in Inspirational, Relationships

≈ 12 Comments

Tags

Bill Lewis, Chris Brady, Claude Hamilton, Courageous, Dan Hawkins, fatherhood, fathers, George Guzzardo, Orrin Woodward, the-life-business.com, Tim Marks

“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection.” Sigmund Freud

According to 2011 U.S. Census Bureau data, over 24 million children live apart from their biological fathers. That is 1 out of every 3 (33%) children in America. Today nearly 4 out of 10 first marriages end in divorce, 60% of divorcing couples have children, and over one million children each year experience the divorce of their parents. About 40% of the children who live in absentee father households haven’t seen their fathers in at least a year while 50% of children who don’t live with their fathers have never stepped foot in their father’s home. These statistics are alarming, but aside from this, there are millions of families that have a father in the child’s life but that father is not really there. Many times, articles such as this are written by men but I am going to compose this article from the standpoint of a person who grew up in a father-less home.

Like many, I am a statistic. My parents divorced when my brother and I were 6 years old. Because I was so young, I didn’t know any different than what was a single parent household. It’s kind of like the old saying, a crooked line doesn’t know it’s crooked until it’s next to a straight line. Well, as I got older my crooked line was being revealed to me as I got to know more people who had straight lines. My mom did a great job raising my brother and I by herself, I can’t deny that. But when my dad re-married and my brother and I were forced to conform to someone else’s family (on a temporary basis), it became more obvious that we were being raised much different than the ‘average’ American family.

After the divorce, my brother and I didn’t have a close relationship with our dad. My daddy’s girl mentality as a toddler was crushed as I slowly lost respect for him. My dad re-married to a woman we did not like and who treated us much different than her own children. It would bring most people to tears to know how we were treated by this woman. My dad’s addictions consumed his life and quickly he had changed into a man I didn’t know. What’s worse is that the little time we did spend with our dad he was not around. This too is not uncommon in divorced families.

me and dad cabinHowever, the older I got, the more forgiving I got. Christ was truly working on my heart. I wanted that relationship with my dad that every girl wants, I just didn’t know how to get it. Eventually, our communication opened up as we made more of an effort to get to know each other. We discovered that we have common bonds such as fishing, lakefront property, basketball and reading that may have never been discovered had we both chosen to give up on the relationship. Today, I see my dad as a superhero. While our relationship isn’t perfect, it is precious in my eyes. And that’s what really matters. Whether we are man or woman, black, white, brown or green, mother, father or child, we have a responsibility to model superhero-like leadership for those around us.

There is a huge epidemic going on right now in society and it is affecting families everywhere. Over 50% of marriages are ending in divorce and it is drastically changing the dynamics of a child’s upbringing. Little girls need their daddy to protect them, nurture them and lead them and little boys need their daddy to mold them, build them up and teach them how to be men. I know the LIFE community has a calling to teach men how to be men, teach husband’s how to be husband’s and teach father’s how to be father’s. Leadershift is a great foundation and starting place for all of us who want to live up to the leadership potential God placed inside all of us. Orrin Woodward, Chris Brady, George Guzzardo and all the LIFE founders are examples of courageous men who are standing up and leading their families. They are men who exemplify heroism in the lives of not only their children, but other children’s children. And their impact is influencing thousands of other men to stand up and lead as well. Enjoy this video clip as it is a powerful message to not only men but all of us.

God Bless,

Kristen

The Story of Ian and Larissa

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by Kristen Seidl in Faith, Inspirational

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Bill Lewis, Chris Brady, Claude Hamilton, Dan Hawkins, Faith, family, George Guzzardo, marriage, Orrin Woodward, relationships, the-life-business, Tim Marks

Marriage is not necessarily a topic I can talk or write about. But it doesn’t mean I shouldn’t learn about it. Over the last few years I have studied a few foundational principles on the sacrament of marriage through the-life-business informational packs, audios and books. I have also been blessed to watch LIFE founders George and Jill Guzzardo, Orrin and Laurie Woodward, Chris and Terri Brady, Claude and Lana Hamilton, Dan and Lisa Hawkins and Bill and Jackie Lewis be true examples of what a relationship looks like when bonded through marriage.

I recently stumbled across this video and I knew God was telling me to share it. The story of Ian and Larissa absolutely gives the perfect example of unconditional love and commitment when it comes to marriage.

“Ian and I had planned to get married as soon as we graduated from college in December of 2006. But instead, everything was halted with his brain injury, which he received on September 30 of that year in a car accident. And so instead of getting married when we were young and healthy and naive, we waited four years and got married when he was sick and disabled and we were still grieving…” Please watch the 8 minute video to hear their story and be inspired – The Story of Ian and Larissa

“Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will cling to his wife: and they will be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24

I pray that God gives me the grace to love someone like Larissa loves Ian. Let Him be the author and the sustainer of our lives.

Blessings, Kristen

The Pit

13 Sunday May 2012

Posted by Kristen Seidl in Inspirational, LIFE Leadership

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

8 F's, Claude Hamilton, Orrin Woodward, Steve Leurquin, the-life-business, the-team.biz

Last night at the-life-business monthly seminar we had the honor of hearing from LIFE founders and the-team.biz policy council members Claude and Lana Hamilton! This couple is a true example of humility in the midst of excellence. They shared from their heart and gave three fantastic talks to the Southeast Wisconsin teams! At the seminar I was able to share a story that seemed to resonate with the crowd that I had many requests for. I heard this from a female pastor online but can’t remember her name so I wanted to share it with you:

A man fell into a pit and he couldn’t get himself out. A subjective came along and said, “I feel for you down there in the pit.” An objective person came and said, “its logical someone would fall down in that pit.” A Christian scientist came along and said, “you only think you are in a pit.” A Pharisee said, “only bad people fall into the pit.” A newspaper reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit. A fundamentalist said, “you deserve your pit.” Confucius said, “if you listened to me you wouldn’t be in a pit.” A realist said, “that’s a pit.” A scientist calculated the pressure necessary to get him out of the pit. A geologist told him to appreciate the rock strata in the pit. A tax man asked him if he was paying taxes on the pit. The council inspector asked him if he had a permit to dig a pit. An evasive person came along and avoided the subject of a pit altogether. A self-pitying person said, “you haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit.” A charismatic said, “just confess, you’re not in the pit.” An optimist said, “things could get worse.” A pessimist said, “things will get worse.” Jesus saw the man, nelt down and lifted him out of the pit.

One constant I know about life is that it is tough. People are struggling in their finances, their faith, maybe an addiction, relationships, health, purpose, the list could go on and on. And the issue with society is that people have no problem rationalizing, objecting, making excuses and pointing the finger. If you have fallen into a pit, you need to stop digging! What we as a community do is reach down and pull people out of the pit. We take responsibility and we do it. Will you be the hands and feet of Jesus and join the-life-business as we go out and help pull millions of people out of the pit?

Blessings, Kristen

Next month on June 9th we have the privilege of hearing from huge leaders and servants in the Wisconsin area Steve and Jaime Leurquin and #6 Leadership guru, LIFE founders Orrin and Laurie Woodward! How many people will you pull out of the pit and invite to next month’s meeting? 

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