Recently, with all of the news coming out regarding the scandal at Penn State University and in particular, Joe Paterno’s involvement, it made me stop and think about the impact of our decision making. Joe Paterno was a highly revered coach by millions and no doubt has made a positive impact on various people at different points in his life. For all the right decisions he has made and all the awards he had previously received, he will now be remembered most for the big decision regarding an awful situation that he got terribly wrong. He will now always be remembered for his last decision.
If you think about it, in the world’s eyes, we are only as good as our last decision. Each day, we make hundreds, if not thousands of decisions. What to wear, what to eat, what to say, to lie or cheat. We decide if we’ll be mad, we decide if we’ll be glad. We choose to say it is not fair, we choose to love and we choose to care.
We never know which decision will be our last. God is the only one who knows that answer. How do you want to be remembered? If you’re fighting cancer, do you want to be an inspiration to others and seen as a fighter? If your co-workers are complaining, do you want to join in or stand up and remind them to be grateful for what they do have? So many decisions, so little time. Remember WWJD (what would Jesus do) and make your last decision your best decision. Now, it’s up to you. It’s cliché, but it’s so true because ultimately, ….. IT IS YOUR DECISION.
God Bless!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Be Kinder Than Necessary
Oh gross, that is so disgusting! As I sat in the lane trying to enter the airport parking garage, the car in front of me was stopped while the lady in front had her door open tossing her cookies. Couldn’t she have waited until she got inside and not made the rest of us nauseated, I thought to myself? Thanks lady, thanks a lot. That’s just what I wanted to see this morning.
My morning continued. I’m almost to the TSA security podium and I can’t locate my boarding pass. “Next,” calls the TSA agent whose name tag read TED. I’m frantically searching through my briefcase, my pockets, the ground…. “NEXT,” he calls again a little more emphatically! Finally, I find it and step to the podium. The agent gives me this look that says,…. you, mr. business, are what’s wrong with this world. In fact, he gave me a lecture on being prepared and how my actions have delayed the entire process. I walk away thinking, “what a jerk.” I pitied the poor family that had to live with a crusty sack like that. After the scanner gave the green light that I had not ingested a bomb device, I picked up my belongings. As I did so, I overheard one TSA agent asking the other if they had heard about Ted’s house being foreclosed. The other agent commented that he had and that Ted’s entire family was now having to live with relatives. I thought to myself, that could explain Ted’s scowl this morning and that maybe, just maybe, I should cut him some slack.
My day continues. Finally, I’m boarding the plane and guess who I get to sit beside… you guessed it,.. “The Cookie Tosser” from earlier this morning. The gaunt and frail lady and her husband were seated in the center and window seats and I was on the aisle. I sat down , thinking that I had the worst luck in the world b/c I had to sit beside her and expose myself to a potential virus. If that weren’t bad enough, the flight attendant announced that we would be delayed leaving the gate as some guests needed some extra time boarding the plane. Great, I thought, just great, more bad luck for me. When it rains it pours I guess. Not only do I have to sit by virus lady, now I’m going to be late for my meeting because of someone else’s procrastination. Good grief.
As I sat there thinking how bad my day was going, I glanced over to see what virus lady was reading. It was a pamphlet from MD Andersen Cancer Center in Houston titled, “Coping With Chemotherapy.” Suddenly, I realized what was going on. She had cancer and was headed for cancer treatment in Houston. Well, don’t I feel like the biggest jerk for having bad thoughts about her. Almost at the same moment, another announcement blared from the flight attendant, “ Ladies and gentlemen, our last guests are now boarding, please give these wounded gulf war veterans a round of applause as they board.” I looked down the aisle to see two young soldiers dressed in their military best, who were missing their legs, being assisted onto the plane as the entire cabin was filled with clapping and whistling of thankfulness. Okay, now I’m wondering if there is a rock someplace that I could crawl under. It hit me and it hit me hard. How selfish I had been to only think of myself. These people had a lot more difficulties than me, yet I had only been concerned about myself and my inconvenience. I remembered a quote that a close friend of mine puts at the end of his emails and it took on new meaning for me today. “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” That day taught me a lesson that I won’t soon forget. Until we spend time in someone else’s shoes, we really have no idea what they are facing. So, the next time your day is made a little harder because of someone else, give them a pass because you never know the battle they are facing.
My morning continued. I’m almost to the TSA security podium and I can’t locate my boarding pass. “Next,” calls the TSA agent whose name tag read TED. I’m frantically searching through my briefcase, my pockets, the ground…. “NEXT,” he calls again a little more emphatically! Finally, I find it and step to the podium. The agent gives me this look that says,…. you, mr. business, are what’s wrong with this world. In fact, he gave me a lecture on being prepared and how my actions have delayed the entire process. I walk away thinking, “what a jerk.” I pitied the poor family that had to live with a crusty sack like that. After the scanner gave the green light that I had not ingested a bomb device, I picked up my belongings. As I did so, I overheard one TSA agent asking the other if they had heard about Ted’s house being foreclosed. The other agent commented that he had and that Ted’s entire family was now having to live with relatives. I thought to myself, that could explain Ted’s scowl this morning and that maybe, just maybe, I should cut him some slack.
My day continues. Finally, I’m boarding the plane and guess who I get to sit beside… you guessed it,.. “The Cookie Tosser” from earlier this morning. The gaunt and frail lady and her husband were seated in the center and window seats and I was on the aisle. I sat down , thinking that I had the worst luck in the world b/c I had to sit beside her and expose myself to a potential virus. If that weren’t bad enough, the flight attendant announced that we would be delayed leaving the gate as some guests needed some extra time boarding the plane. Great, I thought, just great, more bad luck for me. When it rains it pours I guess. Not only do I have to sit by virus lady, now I’m going to be late for my meeting because of someone else’s procrastination. Good grief.
As I sat there thinking how bad my day was going, I glanced over to see what virus lady was reading. It was a pamphlet from MD Andersen Cancer Center in Houston titled, “Coping With Chemotherapy.” Suddenly, I realized what was going on. She had cancer and was headed for cancer treatment in Houston. Well, don’t I feel like the biggest jerk for having bad thoughts about her. Almost at the same moment, another announcement blared from the flight attendant, “ Ladies and gentlemen, our last guests are now boarding, please give these wounded gulf war veterans a round of applause as they board.” I looked down the aisle to see two young soldiers dressed in their military best, who were missing their legs, being assisted onto the plane as the entire cabin was filled with clapping and whistling of thankfulness. Okay, now I’m wondering if there is a rock someplace that I could crawl under. It hit me and it hit me hard. How selfish I had been to only think of myself. These people had a lot more difficulties than me, yet I had only been concerned about myself and my inconvenience. I remembered a quote that a close friend of mine puts at the end of his emails and it took on new meaning for me today. “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” That day taught me a lesson that I won’t soon forget. Until we spend time in someone else’s shoes, we really have no idea what they are facing. So, the next time your day is made a little harder because of someone else, give them a pass because you never know the battle they are facing.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
It Really Is A Wonderful Life
I WISH I WERE NEVER BORN! Have you ever heard someone say this? I’m sure all of us as children have said this when we didn’t get our favorite candy or other trivial desire that seemed crucial at the time. But, this statement reminds me of George Bailey in my favorite Christmas movie, “It’s A Wonderful Life.” During a big ole pity party of feeling sorry for himself, our buddy George wished he had never been born. His wish was granted and an angel named “Clarence” showed George what life would have been like if he were never in this world. A surprised George saw that without his presence on this Earth, many bad things would have occurred.
• His beloved brother Harry would have drowned
• A pharmacist’s career would have been ruined b/c he gave the wrong medicine
• The town he grew up in and loved would be a sinful city full of bars and night clubs
• His friends were out of work and miserable b/c George wasn’t there to loan them money to build their businesses and their dreams.
George had undervalued his importance in the world and the impact he had on the lives of others.
I think many of us do the same thing today during our own pity parties. No doubt, this life can be difficult. Sicknesses, loss of jobs, loss of loved ones, etc. cause us to become bitter and blind us to the impact we have in the lives of others. Like George Bailey, we don’t see that we’ve made a difference at all in this life. It is often true that the fruits of our labor go unknown by us and aids this bitterness. However, be assured God put you on this Earth for a purpose and He has a plan for you whether you realize it or not. No one else in the entire world knows the exact circle of people as you. You have an opportunity each day to make a difference in someone’s life for the good or the bad. You may be the only example of God’s love in someone else’s life that they can see. So, no matter how tough your life may be, remember someone is depending on you , remember someone needs you, and remember God has given YOU a Wonderful Life to work for Him, make him proud!
Galatians 6:9 “ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
God Bless!
• His beloved brother Harry would have drowned
• A pharmacist’s career would have been ruined b/c he gave the wrong medicine
• The town he grew up in and loved would be a sinful city full of bars and night clubs
• His friends were out of work and miserable b/c George wasn’t there to loan them money to build their businesses and their dreams.
George had undervalued his importance in the world and the impact he had on the lives of others.
I think many of us do the same thing today during our own pity parties. No doubt, this life can be difficult. Sicknesses, loss of jobs, loss of loved ones, etc. cause us to become bitter and blind us to the impact we have in the lives of others. Like George Bailey, we don’t see that we’ve made a difference at all in this life. It is often true that the fruits of our labor go unknown by us and aids this bitterness. However, be assured God put you on this Earth for a purpose and He has a plan for you whether you realize it or not. No one else in the entire world knows the exact circle of people as you. You have an opportunity each day to make a difference in someone’s life for the good or the bad. You may be the only example of God’s love in someone else’s life that they can see. So, no matter how tough your life may be, remember someone is depending on you , remember someone needs you, and remember God has given YOU a Wonderful Life to work for Him, make him proud!
Galatians 6:9 “ And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
God Bless!
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