Like most guys in America, I’m a football fan.  And like most people, I’m appalled at the lawlessness of many of its players.  Whether they want to be or not, professional athletes are role models.  When they sign the big contract and, more importantly, when they sign an autograph for a young fan they are role models.  If they don’t want the responsibility of being a role model, all they have to do is walk away from the money and walk away from the fame.  And if they don’t want to be famous for all the wrong reasons all they have to do is live a principle centered life.

As much as many of us would like to blame our nation’s woes on the NFL, they’re not the problem.  Violence and drug abuse are much more prevalent in the general public than the NFL.  When a professional athlete commits a violent act against a woman or spanks a child it makes headlines.  When over 3,000 innocent children are killed every day in America’s abortion mills the news media remains silent.  Like it or not, we are all role models. Children who grow up in a society that allows its unborn children to be killed for money will become adults who think abortion is an innocuous procedure where no one gets hurt.  As role models to our children it is our responsibility to teach them the value of every human life.  As role models we have a responsibility to expose the horrors of abortion and to shine the light of truth on those in the business of killing children for money.

I can only imagine the role models that inspire an abortionist at Planned Parenthood to make his or her living by killing innocent children.  No child grows up wanting to kill other human beings for a living.  The natural inclination of all human beings from the moment of conception is toward life.  As role models, we have the opportunity to guide our children to a life of honor and integrity.  Our children and grandchildren are watching all the time.  Our actions and inactions speak volumes to them.   When they see us stand on principle and when they see us do the wrong things, they’re learning and their lives are being shaped.

None of us know how many lives we can change with a simple act of kindness or a selfless sacrifice when we think no one is watching. Teaching kindness to a child can touch countless other lives as the child models its life on your teachings.  Teaching kindness to a child begins with the ultimate act of kindness; allowing it to be born.  Respecting the sanctity of life doesn’t have to be taught; it only needs to be nurtured.  Teaching kindness isn’t difficult.  Just be kind.