This morning I met with one of my mentors. As usual, he kicked my butt. I mean, he asked me the questions I feared he would ask me and he gave me the answers I feared he would give me… I feel like a chump during our conversation sometimes but in the end — every time — I love him for kicking my butt.

After my conversations with my mentors — some of which are face to face and others of which are over the phone — I am so thankful that there are some people in my life that care enough about me and my family to push me to be a better husband, father, employer, youth worker, etc.

This morning my mentor left me to ponder this… “When was the last time you told your wife you were thankful for all she does? I confess I couldn’t really remember the last time. Obviously that means it has been a while and that my appreciative comments need to be more frequent.

So when was the last time you said ‘thank you’ to your spouse or loved ones?

I have a friend in the Kansas City area named Alan Mercer. Alan is a middle school pastor who I have a deep amount of respect for. He is recommending Mark Oestreicher’s and Kurt Johnston’s new books for middle school students called My Faith and My Family. I have heard that these books are the first two in a series of seven…

I have not yet read the books (although I have ordered them!) but as I said– I really respect Alan’s opinion and his recommendations and I have been around Marko enough to know that there is a really good chance these books will be very helpful. Check them out…