Category Archives: encouragement

Mar 8 2012

Joseph Kony

Tonight daughter #2 asked me to spend 30 minutes with her (this is a rarity for the 14-year-old to want to spend time with her mother). She asked me to sit down and watch a 30 minute video on YouTube.  I frowned, but she said it was important.

And it was.

She couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard of this video.  Said it was all over Facebook. (Gave it up for Lent and other reasons). And she asked me to please post this on my blog.

I am happy to do this for her.

I only hope that you and your friends and families will watch it and then share it with others.  As a parent, I ache in my heart for these children.

 

 

Feb 27 2012

Monday Motivation

One of the first things I read this morning was a post over at Mark’s Blog entitled Monday Motivation: Challengers to Pursue.

I had never heard of Jim Rohn, but now I won’t forget him.

Mark said that he was one of the foremost business philosophers of our time, and because I value Mark’s opinion, I decided to watch the almost 15 minute video to see if I agreed or not.

I absolutely loved the way he communicates to his audience.  He captured my attention from the first moment and kept me focused throughout the entire 15 minutes (that is a hard task by the way).  He listed 16 challenges for us to pursue.  I love a good challenge, don’t you?  Although I truly want you to watch the video, I am going to list them here, realizing that you are missing out on the added commentary from Mr. Rohn.

  1. Always do more than you get paid for to make an investment in your future.
  2. Face you fears – don’t dismiss them.
  3. Exercise your willpower to change direction.  Pick a new destination and start going that way.  You don’t have to repeat the past.
  4. Admit your mistakes – TO YOURSELF FIRST.
  5. Refine your goals.
  6. Believe in yourself.
  7. Ask for wisdom that creates answers and deals with the daily challenges.
  8. Conserve your time.
  9. Invest your profits.
  10. Protect your family.
  11. Live with intensity.  Be a little stronger. Be a little wiser.
  12. Find your place.
  13. Demand integrity FROM YOURSELF.  You can’t demand loyalty from someone.
  14. Welcome the disciplines.
  15. Fight for what’s right.
  16. Keep faith.

Mark will be sharing some of Rohn’s wisdom each day this week, so make Mark’s Blog a daily stop.

Feb 21 2012

At Peace with Myself

Ever wanted to be someone else?

Thought I would share another excerpt from the devotional called Daily Gifts of Grace:

“I’m not defined by my family of origin, my background, my strengths, my weaknesses, my friendships, my work, my gifts, or my skills.  I am a child of God.  He loves me just as I am. God’s love is perfect.”

– Mary Graham

Trying to be someone else just doesn’t work. Be happy with who you are. Love yourself unconditionally and let God continue to mold you into His finished product.

Feb 15 2012

R.I.P. Mr. Black

Today I received a phone call that made me flash back to 1982.  I was in the sixth grade.  I had a new history teacher named Jack Black.  Mr. Black was a unique man.  I can’t remember him all that well, but I think he was a first year teacher that year.  He was very tall, with dark wavy hair.  Most of the kids made fun of him. He was a loner type, which made the mocking even more intense.

I happened to get along with him just fine.  And so did my dad.  As a matter of fact, my dad invited him over for dinner one evening.  Although I don’t remember many things about Mr. Black, I do remember that he requested that we serve Strawberry Quick with dinner for him.  I have no idea why I remember this so vividly, but I do.  My mom made spaghetti that night and I remember thinking that strawberry milk and spaghetti wouldn’t taste very good together.  But Mr. Black seemed to enjoy it.

My other memory of him was that he would call me his star student and I remember my dad taking me over to Mr. Black’s apartment for a visit one time.  He lived above the Homer Post Office.

Now back to today and the phone call.

I received a call that made me speechless.  It was from Mr. Black’s attorney.  Mr. Black had passed away two weeks ago and he left me a gift in his will (no, I am not getting a bunch of money, if that is what you are thinking).  Now I haven’t talked to Mr. Black for at least 20 years, so you can imagine my shock to hear this news.  His closest relative is a cousin who is 75 and in a nursing home. He never married and had no children.   And he was still living above the Homer Post Office when he passed away.  He was only 54 years old.

I only share this story because there is a lesson to be learned here.  The way you treat people and the way you make them feel is something they will never forget.  (And I’m not trying to say you should be nice to people so they will remember you in their will)  You never know what acts of kindness can do for someone.  All we did was have him over for dinner, but I guess that must not have happened to him too often.

I only wish I would have known he was sick or even that he had died.

Rest in peace, Mr. Black.