Enter your Email to Sign up for Dr. Joey's Today's Story


Powered by FeedBlitz

Thursday, March 09, 2006

"Do you fall down?"


I was watching the Winter Olympics from Torino, Italy one evening. I was hoping curling wasn’t on the schedule—it’s just too exciting for me—when they announced the men’s cross-country skiing was next. I sat and watched eagerly as the race started—all of those men with those long skis and tall poles, pulling their way up hills and skiing down is a grueling event.

Well, as they started, one skier either fell down or was knocked down, I never learned which. Of course, a pile up happened. Once they sorted it all out, he got up and went on skiing.

Believe it or not, that skier finished second! It was an incredible run. After the race, he said in an interview, “When it happened, I thought, ‘What’s going on?’ I was disoriented, but then I got my focus back, settled down, and knew I had to run my best race ever. And I did.”

Today, something will come along to disorient you, knock you down. Like this skier, get up, get your focus back, settle down, and run the best life-race ever. Persevere as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

"Does God listen to you?"


A friend of mine’s mother died in the fall of 2004. He was kind of numb that holiday season. The real impact of his mother’s death hit him pretty hard last Christmas. He found himself missing his mother more and more as Christmas drew closer.

He kept thinking over and over, “All I want for Christmas is to be able to hug my mother again. You can keep the presents, the food, and all the other stuff, I just want to hug her again.”

Well, Christmas Eve came and as was their tradition, his family gathered at his home for dinner and presents. His sister, who handled his mother’s estate, handed him a small present, something she had found in their mother’s belongings. He opened it and discovered a small Bible he had received on his christening from his godfather. My friend knew that he had gotten his Christmas hug from his mother because she was the only person in the world who would have kept it that long.

Isn’t it great to know that while you listen to life, God listens to you?

"Does life always turn out like you hope?"

I was watching men’s downhill skiing last month during the Winter Olympics. (It’s just a little more exciting than curling, don’t you think?) A skier left the gate and looked like he was doing great to me. The announcers agreed, making comments like, “He’s hitting his marks just like he did in that record practice round.”

But then his first time flashed up on the screen and it was considerably slower than it had been in that practice round. The announcers couldn’t understand it, saying, “He’s using the same line as his practice run when he came close to setting a record.”

Then they started talking about how he changed skis just before he left the gate. He was going to use some new skis, but removed them and put back on his old skis. “It must be the old skis,” the announcers said.

You know, sometimes you do the best you can and it still doesn’t turn out like you hoped. That’s why it’s so important for you and me to listen to life and make a life, not just a living. We all need God to travel with us.


Monday, March 06, 2006

"Got love?"

I opened my email that morning as soon as I arrived in my office, just like I do each morning. I removed the spam—yes, I get it, too—and looked down through the list. I recognized our younger daughter’s email address on one of them so I scrolled down and opened hers first.

The message announced that I had an e-greeting card to open. So I clicked on the link and opened it. There was the cutest picture of a yellow Lab puppy like the ones we raise and a kitten, their noses touching. And someone had drawn in some hearts between them. The caption read, “Puppy Love.”

And our daughter wrote in, “Daddy, I know it’s not Valentine’s yet, but I couldn’t resist sending this to you. Love and kisses,” and her name.

I wrote her back and said, “Thank you, sweetheart! It’s never too early to send love. Love and kisses, Daddy.”

And it isn’t. Nor is it ever too late. Yea, I know Valentine’s is past for this year, but send someone love today. God gives it to you 365 days a year, so share it real often as you listen to life and make a life, not just a living.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

"Are you unselfish?"


Did you catch some of the Winter Olympics from Torino, Italy? I did, simply because I’m fascinated by people who ski 87 mph down a mountain in record time. Or, athletes who scrub centimeters ahead of a heavy weight sliding across the ice.

For me, the highlight came before the games even started. Michelle Kwan made the women’s figure skating team, but just barely due to a groin injury. She planned to compete, but after practicing in Torino, discovered that she couldn’t skate completely healthy. She resigned and her explanation at a press conference was poignant.

Basically, she said that she put her need to compete—her drive, passion for the sport, and courage—behind what was best for the U.S. team. She signed her petition, agreeing to skate if healthy, and she was keeping her word to that by resigning and making room for Emily Hughes to compete.

I found it really refreshing that Kwan put her own needs second to the team’s. May her unselfishness inspire us all to listen to life and make a life, not just a living.