I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day on this beautiful Friday and that you have had a great week!
This week I would like to share two, what I would call, gentle reminders.
Earlier this week I was reading my Bible and two different times the word "patience" was listed. The word stood out to me like it was highlighted...more specifically, like it was meant for me. I kept reading and my eyes kept getting drawn back to these words - patience. I decided to look up the meaning of the word instead of just assuming I knew what it meant. If you Google the word "patience" here is what you will find:
pa·tience
noun
noun: patience
- 1.the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
Let's see...the capacity to accept (hard sometimes) or tolerate (sounds more like me!) delay (augh!), trouble (feel uncomfortable), or suffering (really don't want to!) without getting angry (clear throat) or upset (throw up arms in despair!). How can an 8 letter little word pack so much power?!?!
Try the beginning of this scripture out that has been bouncing around in my head all week; "Love is patient..." So, love is the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. Now that is powerful! Man I want to be patient with my Beautiful Bride, my Tender Warriors, with every person whose life I cross paths with every day. It is a task requiring strength far greater than I can ever muster in my own strength, courage, knowledge and/or wisdom. I will need to meet Him again tomorrow morning if there is the smallest of chance.
I have been rereading some of my leadership books each morning. Earlier this week I cracked open Wooden on Leadership by John Wooden and Steve Jamison. There were a few things that I read this week that were like water to my mouth when it is parched & dry. It was so refreshing! I was like, "how did I forget this?!" In the hustle of life, in the constant striving and fighting for whatever we are fighting for, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of some simple and yet incredibly profound thoughts. Let me share a few quick excerpts here with you:
- ...most of us have a potential far beyond what we think possible.
- Through it all he [Coach Wooden's Dad] made the best of what he had and was thankful for it.
- "Sons," he [Dad] would tell my three brothers and me, "don't worry about whether you're better than somebody else, but never cease trying to be the best you can become. You have control over that; the other you don't."
- Many cynics, then and now, dismiss what Dad taught me about success as being naïve or impractical. But I have yet to hear the cynics or skeptics describe what more you can give beyond your best. To my way of thinking, when you give your total effort - everything you have - the score can never make you a loser. And when you do less, it can't somehow magically turn you into a winner.
- Regardless of the situation you face as a leader, you must believe and teach those under your leadership that success is theirs when together you summon the will to put forth everything you have.
"I am just a common man who is true to his beliefs." - John Wooden
Most would not refer to Coach Wooden as "common." The term used to describe him would be "exceptional" or whatever is greater than "exceptional." And yet, Coach saw himself as a common man - and here is the nugget - who was simply true to his beliefs. The challenge to me, to you, is this - can we say the same thing? Can we truly stand tall and publicly state "I am true to my beliefs." I honestly can't think of a much greater epitaph.
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always be willing to help you any way I can.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
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