This is something that has been really upsetting me lately…of those in the media, who do our children have to look up to anymore? Where are all the teenage role models…youngsters, teenagers and young adults that we are proud to have our children admire? Well, my son now has one and his name is Zac Sunderland. Zac is a California native who fiercely loves the Lord, was homeschooled most of his life and went on to set two world records at the age of 17 for being the youngest person to sail around the world solo and for being the first person under the age of 18 to do so.

Let me go back and say that again. He left at age 16…to sail…completely around the world…alone. That is over 27,000 nautical miles and since he was gone for 13 months, he celebrated his 17th birthday on his sailboat in the Indian Ocean.

Zac, who is now 21, is the eldest son of my friend Marianne Sunderland and is one of those strong-minded role models that us parents need for our sons.

“Don’t just sit around thinking about your dreams…do something about them. Live your life everyday to your full potential.”

Zac Sunderland

The Sunderland family created an amazing 2-part documentary of Zac’s remarkable adventure. The main thought always at the forefront of my mind while watching these DVDs was:  his trip was no doubt in God’s hands. God had something special in mind when He sent Zac around the world.

Through encounters with pirates, failed engines, being forced to stop in one of the most dangerous port cities in the world, nightmare storms, a tiller that snapped in half, a broken boom and more, Zac never considered giving up and his family never once questioned his ability to succeed. Upon his return home, Zac stood before a mass of national and international media and told those gathered that there is a God who answers prayers.

My son is still at the age where girls are yucky and, in his mind, absolutely not as tough as boys. I am so thankful for Zac’s younger sister Abby as well. When Abby was 16, she bravely set off from her California home on a solo sea voyage around the world. Abby also has a DVD of her voyage, which became even more perilous than her brother’s. Abby’s long time dream had been to not only solo circumnavigate the world, but to do it non-stop and unassisted. She was halfway through her adventure when utter disaster struck her boat  in the middle of the vicious Indian Ocean and she was dramatically rescued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. It was the largest story around the world for three days.

I think Abby’s perseverance and determination have changed my son’s mind about girls not being as tough as boys. See, Abby had a goal and a record to break – to complete the solo journey with no stops. However, she was forced to stop in Cape Town when her auto-pilot failed, and that unplanned detour put an end to the non-stop part of her goal. Abby could have went home after that, and given up because at the time there was no way to meet her original goal.

“I know what I am capable of and I’d like to continue.”

Abby Sunderland to her father

I asked earlier if our kids actually had a good choice of role models these day, and for that matter, do WE as moms even have role models anymore?

I only met Marianne last year, so did not have the privilege of knowing her during these two amazing experiences in her life. After watching the interviews and DVD commentary that she gave before, during and after the sailing voyages of Zac and Abby, I am absolutely in awe of her. SHE is MY role model.

Marianne and her husband went through a lot of media scrutiny for allowing their two teenagers to sail around the world alone. Many parents and non-parents alike looked at that as being remiss but the unwavering faith and confidence they have in their children is like nothing I have ever seen before and greatly inspires me.

“With prayer, there is confidence. There is a deep understanding of a the strength of God that is ever present in our lives and the lives of our families. If you look back through your life, the same pattern is there. God has been gently leading you from one experience to the other. He uses the one experience to grow you so that you are prepared for the next. He is faithful and leads our children through experiences they need to form their character. Even {and especially} the hardships that our children face are surely there for their benefit.”

Marianne Sunderland

Marianne is graciously giving away a set of all 3 DVDs to one of my readers and she has also set up a whopping 40% off code for anyone who wants to purchase them immediately. Just use the code HAPPY2013 at checkout. I truly hope that you will give your children, and yourself, the privilege of getting to know the Sunderland family through their documentaries.

If you would like to enter to win the set (Abby’s adventure and the two-part set of Zac’s adventure) simply enter below using the Rafflecopter. I am going to give you lots and lots of ways to enter, which you may do as many or as few as you’d like.

a Rafflecopter giveaway