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Thursday, February 07, 2008

"Do you ever get mad only to discover it’s because of something you didn’t do?"


A friend of mine, we’ll call him "John," recently replaced the cartridge in his printer at work because it had run out of ink. Some time later, he needed to print a color document. So, he hit "Print" and waited for his work to come out all nice and bright because of the new cartridge.

But it didn’t. In fact, none of the colors printed. Not a single one.

Well, of course, John thinks he’s got a defective cartridge and starts thinking bad things about the store where he bought it, what he’ll say to them when he takes it back; that kind of thing. So he pulls the cartridge out of the printer, shakes it, looks at it...

…and realizes that he forgot to take off the little strip of tape that keeps the ink from spilling out of the cartridge.

And how do you think he felt? Yep, about that big!

The next time something goes wrong, before you start assigning blame, take a step back, and just observe the situation. See it as happening and don’t take it personally. Then listen to life today for what God has to say and make a life, not just a living.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

"Grandparents are really special, aren’t they?"


I’ve made an important decision recently. I decided to let my daughters date before they’re 30. The reason is because dating is the pathway to marriage and their weddings are the pathway to my becoming a grandparent.
Some of the happiest people I know are grandparents. And kids all love their grandparents. Here are some ways children described their grandparents:

"Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It’s good if they drive us to the store and have lots of quarters for us.

"Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own. They like other people's kids.

"When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars. And they don't say, ‘Hurry up.’"

You see, I can do these things. And with grandchildren, I get to listen to life with them so I can make a life, not just a living. Now, I’ve just got to find a couple of guys who are good enough for my daughters…

Tuesday, February 05, 2008

"Do you want to take it all with you?"


There was a man who had worked all of his life and had saved all of his money. He loved money more than just about anything, and just before he died, he said to his wife, "Now listen, when I die, I want you to take all my money and place it in the casket with me. I want to take my money with me." And she promised.

Well, one day he died. When the funeral was finished, just before the undertakers closed the casket, the wife said, "Wait a minute!" She had a shoebox with her and came over and placed it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and rolled it away.

Her friend said, "I hope you weren't crazy enough to put all that money in the casket."

She said, "Yes, I promised. I told him that I was going to put the money in that casket with him. So I wrote him a check."

We can try, but we just can’t take it with us, can we? Do your best to listen to life and make a life, not just a living today.

Monday, February 04, 2008

"Who’s in your phonebook?"


If there are people in your life who continually disappoint you, break promises, stomp on your dreams, are too judgmental and critical of you, have really different values and don't have your back during difficult times, they are not your friends.

Friends want what’s best for you and keep their promises. They share your dreams and encourage you. Friends are people you share values with about what’s really important in life. They protect your back in the tough times.

Sometimes in life as you grow, your friends will either grow with you or go away from you. Over the years, my phone book has changed entries because I changed…and for the better. I made better and healthier choices that grew my spirit closer to God.

Now at first I was afraid I would be alone, without any friends, but after a while new people showed up in my life that made my life so much sweeter and easier to endure. God sends those angels to you.

So listen to your life today and as you make a life, choose good friends.

Sunday, February 03, 2008

"What are you worried about today?"


I want you to think really hard for a minute. What were you worried about two weeks ago? Can you remember?

To be truthful I can’t remember what it was that I was worried about either. Amazing, isn’t it? It seemed so real at the time, so life-threatening, so powerful and now you can’t even remember what it was.

Now if you’re listening to life and making a life, not just a living, what can you learn from not being able to remember what you were worried about two weeks ago? Maybe that there is no problem so great that it could stop life, the world or even you from seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, from hoping for the best even when things seem at their worst, from knowing that everything is gonna be all right one way or another.

What is your light at the end of your tunnel? Don't think too hard this time. Just listen to your life, focus on making a life, not just a living, and forget about worrying so much. You see, the light at the end of your tunnel isn’t a train. It’s God.