First Things First

Growing up with an older brother, I was forced to watch (and even play) football. He taught me a lot about the game, and now it’s my favorite sport. I’m a die-hard Pittsburgh Steelers fan, but last year’s Super Bowl put me in a dilemma. I admire Arizona’s quarterback, Kurt Warner, and I wanted to see him do well. The Steelers were victorious, but Warner is still a winner.

Warner has been very open about his Christianity. He displays great character in a world where professional athletes are in the news for their antics just as often (if not more) than they are for their accomplishments. He’s a man among men.

First Things First: The Rules of Being a Warner was born out of a newspaper article where the Warner children (all 7 of them) revealed some of the family rules: (1) Everyone has to agree on which stranger’s meal to pay for when dining at a restaurant. (2) At dinner, share the favorite part of your day. (3) Hold hands and pray before every meal. (4) After ordering at a restaurant, be able to tell mom they server’s eye color. (5) Throw away your trash at the movie theater and stack plates for the server at restaurants. (6) Spend one hour at an art museum when on the road. (7) Hold hands with a sibling for ten minutes if you can’t get along. (8) If you can’t get along holding hands, sit cheek to cheek. (If you can’t get along cheek to cheek, then it’s lips to lips!)

The positive response the family received surprised Kurt and Brenda. They decided to write the book to explain these (and other) rules of their family, and how they want to raise their children. The result is an unusual autobiography. The couple shares how they met and married, introduces the rules, and explains how and why they implement them.

In a day and age where many children (let alone children of celebrities) believe the world revolves around them, First Things First is a refreshing glimpse into the lives of a family that is breaking that mold. Kurt and Brenda are teaching their children to serve God and others, and they are doing it by example. Despite his celebrity status, Kurt Warner knows that fame is fleeting, but family is forever.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia and blogs at Breath of Life.