Billy Ray Cyrus' Regret

Billy Ray Cyrus' Regret
Posted by Jim_Daly on Feb 16, 2011 3:02:42 PM
Even
if you don’t follow pop culture, you’ve inevitably read or heard of the
teen actress Miley Cyrus. Playing the wholesome character “Hannah
Montana” on her popular Disney television show of the same name several
years ago, Miss Cyrus was catapulted into entertainment’s stratosphere.
She quickly became a marketer’s dream and was earning millions of
dollars in TV, music and feature films. In the midst of her rapid
ascent, though, she also found herself wrapped up in controversy, from
being caught posing for provocative photographs to smoking a bong and
taking hallucinogenic drugs.

Just another child actress given too much too soon?

Miss Cyrus, now 18, is the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, perhaps best known for his hit, “Achy Breaky Heart.”

Ironically,
and sadly, that’s exactly what Billy Ray is suffering from these days.
He told GQ Magazine that he now wishes his daughter never went to
Hollywood and found fame and fortune.

"The [expletive] show
destroyed my family," he told the reporter. "I'd take it back in a
second. For my family to be here and just everybody be okay, safe and
sound and happy and normal would have been fantastic. Heck, yeah. I'd
erase it all in a second if I could."

Billy Ray and his wife, Miley’s mother, Tish, filed for divorce this past fall.

As
you would expect, back in 1992 when Miley was born, neither Tish nor
Billy Ray thought things would take such a sad turn. In fact, when their
daughter was born they named her “Destiny Hope” because they were so
confident in the brightness of her future. Those early years were,
indeed, happy. As a little baby they nicknamed her “Smiley” – later
shorted to Miley – because she always had such a wide and carefree grin.

But
those days are long gone, and her father is not only grieving their
passage but regretting his actions (or lack thereof) as a father. Again,
from the GQ interview:

"How many interviews did I give and say,
'You know what's important between me and Miley is I try to be a friend
to my kids'? I said it a lot. And sometimes I would even read other
parents might say, 'You don't need to be a friend, you need to be a
parent.' Well, I'm the first guy to say to them right now: You were
right. I should have been a better parent. I should have said, 'Enough
is enough--it's getting dangerous and somebody's going to get hurt.' I
should have, but I didn't. Honestly, I didn't know the ball was out of
bounds until it was way up in the stands somewhere."

Very few
parents are faced with the challenge of parenting a teen idol, a tough
assignment to be sure. But what about the rest of us? Although we might
not be trying to navigate stardom, we do have to navigate and manage
human nature. Mark my words. Our kids will inevitably push the envelope
and test the waters. It’s normal and natural to do so. Subconsciously
many of us are wondering just how far we’ll allow them to go. Despite
what they might say or how they might act, they want leadership.

Now
a reality check. We all like to be liked. If it’s human nature for a
kid to push, it’s human nature for a mom or dad to want to be favorably
viewed by our kids. But here is the big question: Do we want to be their
best pal – or their parent who often has to hold firm and say “no” when
they desperately want us to say “yes”?

Here is your charge. Here
is your challenge. Your kids have plenty of friends, maybe too many.
But only two people in the world can really be their parents. Step up.
Be parents today and the friendship with your children - a real
friendship - will grow into adulthood and likely last throughout your
lives.
__________________







As I read this particular blog, some Scriptures came to my mind:



Proverbs 22:6- "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."



I Timothy 6:9- "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a
snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
destruction and perdition."



I Timothy 6:10- "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which
while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced
themselves through with many sorrows."



Hebrews 11:25- the pleasures of sin are only for a season



Psalm 127:4 states that children are arrows in the hands of their
parents. Parents help determine the destination of their children. I
sympathize and feel sorry for the country singer, but he "shot" Miley
into this direction. It was the wrong bullseye.



Children are an heritage of the Lord. We have one chance to raise them
and raise them right. We have one chance to teach them and teach them
right. God help us to raise our children in a way that's pleasing to
you.



I want to live a life of no regrets!