I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day! A beautiful Friday morning is dawning. This day has not yet been lived...it is completely new, with no victories or successes, losses or failures. It is a blank page waiting to be written. You and I are the authors of our day. There is so much hope, opportunity and promise in this day. It is up to us to seize it! O.K., I guess I am a little fired up this morning. :)
The little things...Most of us don't focus on the little things. We talk about accomplishing really big things, wanting to do things that will change the whole world. Ironically, it is in the little things that the big things are accomplished. Just as you don't build the cathedral by focusing on the cathedral but rather by first preparing the ground, digging the footings, taking care of the plumbing & pipes, laying the foundation...and on and on it goes until the cathedral is built, you don't build the person by focusing on being this great, perfect person who performs amazing feats. The person, the person's influence, is built one tiny part at a time. Sadly, because we can't build our cathedral in a day, many bump along day after day doing nothing because, well the cathedral can't be built in a day!
While you and I might not be able to change the whole world at once today, we can in fact be an intentional, positive influence in our world today. Have you ever thought about the true power you do in fact carry into each day? Say "hi" to someone, smile, hold a door open, help someone carry something, stop by someone's desk and ask them how they are doing - and really care and listen to the answer, call a friend just to see how they are doing. These are all little things...probably won't get you on the news tonight or mentioned in the newspaper tomorrow. They might however change someone's entire day. In some cases, these small, seemingly meaningless acts have saved lives or completely altered the trajectory of another's life. You see, you and I have great power...we just don't always see it and we very seldom understand it.
Being a great husband to my Beautiful Bride and a great Dad to my Tender Warriors is of the most importance to me. I have said it a thousand times and I believe it to the depths of my soul; I can be successful in all other areas of my life however if I fail as a husband or as a Dad, I have failed. Study after study has shown that what our spouses/significant others, our children want more than anything else is us. You and me, our complete, undivided attention. Maybe you, like me, have tried to do the grandeous things...this trip will make them happy, if I can buy them this or that, if I can give them [fill in the blank], then they will be happy. In reality what they want is a little thing, so simple for me to give...me. My full undivided attention, just being with them. It is amazing, eye-opening to realize that the greatness of a husband or Dad is found in a thousand small conversations & acts. It all starts with genuinely loving & carrying and it ends with being fully present. We are all capable of accomplishing amazing things...if only we will do the little things.
Here are a few of quotes for you:
Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things. - Robert Brault
It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen. - John Wooden
God tests and proves us by the common occurrences of life. It is the little things which reveal the chapters of the heart. - Ellen G. White
Life is made up, not of great sacrifices and duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserve the heart and secure comfort. - Humphrey Davy
O.K., I have another Landry-ism to put a smile on your face as I send you off on this Friday morning. So this week is a huge week in the life of my precious 8-year old - Little League play-off time! On Wednesday night they had their 1st round play-off game and...they lost. As my Beautiful Bride, Landry and I are walking to the car he says, "I even wore my good luck charm." I asked him what his good luck charm is and he proudly showed me his Marine dog tags...always dreaming of being a great warrior. I took this moment to talk to Landry about preparing, doing his best, there is really no such thing as "luck", it is what we do on a daily basis, etc. Yes, I was fairly certain I was on the way to Dad of the Year. Yesterday they had their 2nd round play-off game. Landry played really well, as did all the kids, and they won. As we are walking to the car I look at the back of his little neck...no chain. I am thinking to myself "I am the man. He got it. Dad of the Year for sure." I say to Landry, "you guys played great didn't you." He says, "yep." This is so awesome, I am going to prove my point! With all my fatherly wisdom I say, "and you didn't wear your necklace did you?" What a proud moment this is for me! He looks up at me and says, "nope, I put it in my shoe!" Ironically the first thing that flew out of my mouth was, "that is so awesome!" Oh well...
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 those precious families!
Kev
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