I hope & trust this post finds you having had a great day as the day, the work week, comes to an end.
So how does it happen that it is 11:02 p.m. on a Friday night and I am writing Happy Friday? Well, I have worked hard all day to fulfill my responsibilities as a man, husband & Dad, and...this is the real key, tomorrow is my Beautiful Bride & I's 28th wedding anniversary! I don't want to do anything, including write Happy Friday, but be with her! :) So here I am...
Well Friends, this was a week were I knew most of the week what this Happy Friday was going to be about. Did you see what I did there? "Was"... Yeah, my world got rocked this morning during my time of reading & posting quotes/thoughts on Facebook. When I went to post on Facebook I had a notification that one of the young men I was blessed to coach, a person who I have not seen in person or spoken to in more than 17 years, had tagged me in a post. When I went to look at the post it said, "Top 5 non family members that have influenced where I am in my life, probably without realizing"... and there, my name appeared on the list. I was awed, truly humbled. I just kept saying "wow" over and over again.
Two thoughts immediately came to mind. This is what I want to share with you on this Friday.
1. We never know the lives we are influencing however we are influencing the people around us all the time. I had absolutely no idea that I had influenced, or was influencing, this young man's life to the point that more than 17 years later he would mention me. I pray Friends that we will be mindful, so very mindful, that we are touching lives all the time - not just on our good days, not just when we want to be influencing them...all the time!
Look, we are human. We are going to stumble, fall & have bad days. I get that & you get that. However if we will determine in our minds to be intentional & positive, if we will be aware of the thoughts we think, the words we speak and the actions we take, we will more positively impact the precious souls whose paths we cross on any given day. You just never know...
2. To be honest, I was tired, knowing that my day would end late and while I wouldn't say I was dreading the day, I certainly wasn't spunky. The moment I read those words and saw my name, everything changed. My soul felt on fire. Suddenly I wasn't feeling tired. I was genuinely excited for my day. What looked like a long day 19 hours ago was now a ton of opportunities to make a difference in someone's life. All because someone took the time to let me know that I mattered to them.
You see, our words - even the written one's - are oh so powerful. Please realize, I truly beg you, the positive impact you can have in the life of another by simply offering them a word of affirmation or encouragement. Take the time today - o.k., I will give you tomorrow as it is pretty late! :) - to tell someone you believe in them or to tell them thank you for their part in your life journey. Tell someone you really appreciate them and value them as a person. We get so caught up in our grind that sometimes, perhaps too many times, we don't pause for a second, take our eyes off ourselves, and just pour into someone else. Let today be the day we do those things.
I want to end by sharing a couple of quotes with you that are on point.
"You don't have to be a 'person of influence' to be influential. In fact, the most influential people in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me."
- Scott Adams
"Because everything we say and do is the length and shadow of our own souls, our influence is determined by the quality of our being."
- Dale E. Turner
By the way, did I tell you that Kathy & I's 28th wedding anniversary is tomorrow?!?! :) I can say without the slightest bit of hesitation or reservation that I am more in love with her today than I have ever been in my life, including yesterday! She is more beautiful to me today than she was on our wedding night. I truly cherish every moment with her and I am completely content as long as I am with her. I am absolutely crazy about My Girl! Are we perfect? Did I "get lucky"? While I fully recognize that I am blessed beyond measure, and thank God every day for my greatest earthly blessing, the answer to both questions is "no." I believe there are two reasons. 1) I intentionally choose to love, value, cherish & adore her every day. I am terrified to think what a day would be like if I didn't start it by choosing to do these things. 2) Probably the real turning point occurred in our marriage when instead of trying to get her to be everything I wanted & needed her to be I decided that it was me that needed to change. I needed to be everything that she needed me to be, everything that God called me to be. Things haven't been much the same since those two things...
Please don't hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for you or your family. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.
Have a great day, a wonderful weekend and please cherish your precious families.
Kev
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