Stepping Up Quotes

“A careful man I must always be; A little fellow follows me. I know I dare not go astray For fear he’ll go the self-same way. I cannot once escape his eyes; Whate’er he sees me do, he tries, Like me, he says, he’s going to be, This little chap who follows me. He thinks that I am good and fine; Believes in every word of mine. The base in me he must not see, This little chap who follows me. I must be careful as I go Through summer’s sun and winter’s snow, Because I am building for the years to be This little chap who follows me.3”
― Dennis Rainey, Stepping Up

“Male passivity is a disease that robs a man of his purpose while it destroys marriages, ruins families, and spoils legacies. A passive man doesn’t engage; he retreats. He neglects personal responsibility. At its core, passivity is cowardice.”
― Dennis Rainey, Stepping Up

“We cannot, Lord, Thy purpose see But all is well that’s done by Thee.”
― Dennis Rainey, Stepping Up

“I spent a long time trying to come to grips with my doubts, when suddenly I realized that I had better come to grips with what I believe. I have since moved from the agony of questions that I cannot answer to the reality of answers that I cannot escape . . . and it’s a great relief!”
― Dennis Rainey, Stepping Up

“Like a young eaglet that gets pushed out of the nest at the appropriate time, a young man must learn to fly on his own. If the nest is too cushy, if all of his creature comforts are there for his enjoyment, then he may set up his high-definition television and perch for a while.”
― Dennis Rainey, Stepping Up

“A GENERATIONAL CONNECTOR Patriarchs understand the power of love and relationships. True patriarchs are humble men of grace and forgiveness. They deliberately build relationships with their families. The patriarchs I’ve interviewed were proactive in loving imperfect family members. They built relationships through organizing family reunions, keeping key family traditions alive, and encouraging communication between family members. Despite the challenges of being separated by hundreds of miles, they refused to allow relationships to grow cold. Becoming a generational connector requires determination and perseverance. Yet the opportunities are endless:”
― Dennis Rainey, Stepping Up