As I thought and prayed about what I could say to motivate our young men on this Monday.  I want you to share with your sons that they can be a trailblazer at any age.  Sixty years ago, on November 14th, at the age of 6, a first grader by the name of Ruby Bridges became a trailblazer when she became the first African American to attend William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana in 1960.   Bridges carried integration on her small shoulders.  Ruby lived during a day and time when African American children were not allowed to attend school with white children.  U. S. Marshals had to escort Ruby to school every day because her young life was in danger.  Can you imagine being in the first grade, just six years old being threatened everyday when she went to school.           As Ruby would enter the school every day, crowds would be outside yelling negative names at her and one day someone had made a box like a coffin and put a black doll in the box.  Ruby said that she would have nightmares of seeing that black doll in the coffin like box.  Bridges’ family experienced retaliation because of her going to this school.  Grocery stores refused to sell to her mother whose name was Lucille and her father, Abon, lost his job according to the National Park Service.  All the students who were in Ruby’s first grade class withdrew from the school and she ended up being the only student in her classroom for the rest of the school year.  It was just Ruby and her teacher.       Ruby Bridges is a trailblazer, one who is a pioneer and somebody who is willing to take risks and do something that no one has ever done.  This 6-year-old little girl who is now 66 years old has a place in American History because she was willing to take a risk and her parents wanted her to have the best education.  Parents, when you and I look at your son, who knows we maybe seeing the next trailblazer, the first BMW to be the mayor of Lexington, or governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, or even President of the United States, the one who will come up with a cure for cancer, own his own business, be an engineer, an architect, doctor, lawyer, have a construction company, in other words our BMWA young men are CANDIDATES FOR GREATNESS WHO CAN BE A TRAILBLAZER AND EVEN NOW AT THIS VERY AGE!

As I thought and prayed about what I would say as a means of encouragement to you for this week, I want you to stress to your sons the word perseverance.  The word perseverance means that they should never give up no matter how hard things get in life.  I know things maybe difficult for some of them not being able to attend school in person everyday and having to do school virtually, but they must persevere during these tough times.  They must continue to stay faithful in doing their assignments everyday and giving their very best.         I read the life story of the new President-elect Joe Biden and he is a real example of perseverance.  Joe Biden’s wife and baby daughter were both killed in a car accident when he first became a senator from Delaware many years ago.  His two young sons were hurt very bad in the accident.   He had to take the oath of office as a senator while looking after his two young sons in the hospital.   After his boys got out of the hospital, he traveled by train to and from Delaware to Washington, D. C. so he could be at home at night to put his young sons to bed because they no longer had a mom.   Joe Biden did not give up but persevered during this tragedy.           He later remarried to the wife he has now who was a teacher who helped him to raise his two young sons.  He and his new wife had a daughter.  The first time Joe Biden ran for president he was not chosen by the Democratic party as the candidate.  He remained in the Senate and kept working for the people.  He was selected by President Obama to be his Vice-president when he ran for president.  He served with President Obama for 8 years as Vice-president.  When it was time for President Obama to leave as president of the United States, many people wanted Joe Biden to run for president.  Joe Biden had another tragedy to take place in his family, his son Beau died of brain cancer.  Joe decided not to run for president because he wanted to help take care of his grandchildren because of the death of their father.          Joe Biden decided to run for president in 2020 at the age of 77.  Many people said he was too old, some said you have already lost twice just forget it, and others said you cannot win.  Joe Biden preserved past his age, his past failures and what others said about him to run for the job of president of the United States.  On Saturday, November 7th, his perseverance paid off when he became the President-elect of the United States of America.          Parents, please stress to your sons never to throw in the towel no matter what others say that they cannot do in life.  The All-purpose cleaner that I have under my kitchen sink called formula 409 got the name 409 because the man who made it said he did not get the formula right until the 409th time.   Just think if he would have given up at 209, he would not become a millionaire!   He persevered until he got the formula right and I am glad he did because it helps me to keep my house clean!  DO NOT LET YOUR SON GIVE UP!!  Have a great week.