Rockey's Thoughts

I've lived my life with three priorities: God, family, and country. When I was young I believe I had these priorities because my parents modeled them for me. As I grew to adulthood, I took ownership of them. God is most important in my life. He has given me the three greatest gifts that I could ever receive. I've done nothing to deserve these gifts, but God has been very gracious and merciful to me. First He created me and gave me the gift of life. Then when I was spiritually dead in my sin He gave me the free gift of salvation. My spirit was born again. Next he gave me the gift of His Holy Spirit to live within me. He is a friend who is closer than a brother. God is my loving Father, Brother and Friend. He is the creator and sustainer of my life who just keeps on giving and blessing me abundantly. My second priority is family. My parents were God's physical agents who gave me life. They cared for me, provided for me, taught me and protected me. Like God, they loved me just because I was their child. Sometimes siblings are the best of friends and other times tormentors, but loved all the same. My wife and children are the family members that I've chosen. I love them like my own flesh. Like my parents, I have raised my children to the best of my ability in spite of my faults, always with my love. They are the best reflection there is of my wife and I. Then there are our grandchildren that are dear to our hearts. They are our reward for not killing our own children neither when they were toddlers nor when they were teenagers. This extends outward in lessening degree to the extended family. Good or bad, they will always be family. My third priority is my country the United States of America. It's not a priority because I think it is intrinsically better than other countries, though I do feel blessed to be an American. There are many counties that are worse to live in. The USA is a priority because it is where my family and I live. The country we live in effects our quality of life in so many ways. That is why I want my country to be the best country it can be. It is also why I took the oath to defend the Constitution and to protect my country from all enemies both foreign and domestic. Someday the time may come for global government. However, in my opinion, it is not God's time and the people of the world are not ready for that yet. So those are the reasons for my three priorities: God, family and country.