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.
Monday, June 25, 2012
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!
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Don't Know What You Have 'Til It's Gone
"Hold on to all loose articles and enjoy your ride..." Those were the last words my family and I heard as our roller coaster, appropriately named "Goliath", exited the loading station and began to creep up the bohemoth hill that we were about to descend. Our family had decided to go to Six Flags for the day and made it our goal to climb aboard every scary, fast, and white knuckle ride we could find. "Goliath" fit those adjectives and then some. As we plummeted 170 feet down the hill at 70 mph, for some reason I happened to look over at my teenage son. Teenagers sometimes try to hide their inner emotions. However, the enormous smile on my adrenaline filled son's filled face told me that he was overflowing with happiness and that we had made a memory at this park on this day that was truly priceless.
As we pulled back into the loading station and I checked to see if "Goliath" had blown my few remaining hairs off my head, I had nothing but gratitude in my heart and mind. Several years ago, as I sat in a hospital room for 7 days receiving chemotherapy, being in an amusement park and exposing my feeble immune system to so many people was only a distant thought. With basically no immune system, I had to limit my exposure to anyone and anyplace for several days. I remember thinking to myself that the old saying, "don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone," was definitely appropriate for me in that moment.
As I exited the roller coaster, I was so happy that I was able to experience this day with my family. I did not want to take this moment for granted. Because of my past health problems, I was able to appreciate that moment. But, you don't have to be a cancer survivor to appreciate the blessings in your life. All you really need to do is slow down and realize how quickly our lives pass. James 4:14 (NIV) illustrates this point perfectly, it says: "14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. " We are not promised tomorrow in this life. So, while we are here, take a moment to appreciate the things that you take for granted in YOUR life.
What if you lost a family member, your health, or even your job? How would your life be different without these blessings? Take a moment to realize what you have and appreciate your blessings because you truly don't know what you have 'til it's gone!
As we pulled back into the loading station and I checked to see if "Goliath" had blown my few remaining hairs off my head, I had nothing but gratitude in my heart and mind. Several years ago, as I sat in a hospital room for 7 days receiving chemotherapy, being in an amusement park and exposing my feeble immune system to so many people was only a distant thought. With basically no immune system, I had to limit my exposure to anyone and anyplace for several days. I remember thinking to myself that the old saying, "don't know what you've got, 'til it's gone," was definitely appropriate for me in that moment.
As I exited the roller coaster, I was so happy that I was able to experience this day with my family. I did not want to take this moment for granted. Because of my past health problems, I was able to appreciate that moment. But, you don't have to be a cancer survivor to appreciate the blessings in your life. All you really need to do is slow down and realize how quickly our lives pass. James 4:14 (NIV) illustrates this point perfectly, it says: "14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. " We are not promised tomorrow in this life. So, while we are here, take a moment to appreciate the things that you take for granted in YOUR life.
What if you lost a family member, your health, or even your job? How would your life be different without these blessings? Take a moment to realize what you have and appreciate your blessings because you truly don't know what you have 'til it's gone!
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