Show Up!

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

How in the heck is it already October?

 

I'm part of a mentoring program with our local high school called STRIVE – Students Take a Renewed Interest in the Value of Education. I love this program and interacting with the students. Each year starts with what they call “speed dating.” Mentors sit at tables, and students have two minutes with each mentor. They ask one question: “Why do you want to mentor me?” After they meet and visit with all the mentors, they list the 3-5 people they would like to have as their mentor. Late last week, I spoke with the person who oversees the program. He said, “I don’t know what you said to the students, but every single one of them chose you to be their mentor.” Oh, I know what I said, and I know why they chose me—I felt it as it was happening.

 

It was the first or second student who came to see me that day. She asked me the question, and I replied, “I want to encourage, empower, and equip you to become all you can become as you pursue your goals and dreams.” She then asked, “What does that look like?” And I said, “Always showing up for you – on the good days and the bad ones.” She had a visual reaction. Understanding how much that meant to her, and my vow to show up every day, I shared that same pledge with every other student. It's not hard to figure out why they all chose me as their mentor; don’t we all want someone who will always show up for us?

 

I remember when my Tender Warriors were young, I felt so inadequate as a dad. I got mad and irritated about things too easily. I was always in a hurry. I was trying to figure out how to be a godly man, husband, father, leader, and friend all at the same time, and I felt like a gerbil on a wheel! But the one thing I was completely committed to, good day or bad day, was showing up. And I did! It wasn't always convenient, it wasn’t always what I wanted to do, and sometimes I really didn't want to be where I was. However, I do want my Beautiful Bride and boys to know that if it is humanly possible, I will always be there for them.

 

And I have been blessed – yes, blessed, though some of this came during the most challenging times of my life – that life has allowed me to prove it to them. Kathy had a serious medical issue while I was at football practice – I was the Head Coach – and I sprinted out of practice to go home to my wife. Another time she needed me while I was sitting in a Board of Trustees meeting – the governing body of my institution – and I left to be with her. And while those are grander examples, and it was critically important to me that I showed up for her in those times because I do truly believe she is my greatest earthly calling and priority, I have found it is in the day-to-day, smaller moments that love is genuinely expressed, and those who need us most feel valued, appreciated, safe, and secure. I get that you would like to go play golf, sit around and watch football, sleep in, or whatever. I beg you, please show up for the people in your life – not based on your wants, needs, desires, etc., but based on theirs. Perhaps you have a tee time tomorrow morning, but your spouse or one of your children has something challenging happen this afternoon. Maybe the greatest thing you can do is cancel the tee time and just hang out with them. “But they don’t want to talk to me, Kevin.” So? It isn’t about you. It is about them. And it is about them knowing that you are there, that you will always be there, even if it means sitting in complete silence.

 

And please, don’t be one of those people who only shows up when things are good. You know the type? Me too. I don’t need you to show up and pat me on the back when things are going well – though we all enjoy appreciation too. I really need you to show up when I am grinding away, and nothing seems to be going my way. Show up then! Isn’t that what you want, too? We all do.

 

So that is it, Friends; I challenge us to always show up! Whether it's your spouse, children, friends, or co-workers – any people that you are blessed to have in your life. You don’t have to know it all, have all the answers, be able to fix anything, etc. You just have to show up and be fully present. That truly is the greatest gift we can give another.

 

“Sometimes, the most meaningful thing we can do is simply show up – to be present, to

listen, to offer a helping hand, or just to let someone know they aren’t alone.” - Unknown

 

“Your presence is a promise; it speaks louder than words ever could.” – Unknown

 

“Showing up isn’t about being perfect; it’s about being real.” – Unknown

 

Please feel free 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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well.

 

Kev

Don't Miss the Minutes

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

Last week was a big week for my institution and our town. There were big events on both Friday and Saturday night – truly historic in nature. As we approached these days that many thought would never happen, my spirit was really burdened – make sure you enjoy it all. That became my commitment, and the message I shared with everyone I could.

 

Here is the thing: whether we chose to live stressed or blessed, the events were going to happen on Friday and Saturday. Our attitudes wouldn't alter whether the events happened; however, they would determine how we experienced them and forever shape how they're remembered. As I said to a colleague in a text message last week, “You and all your beautiful women will have this memory for a lifetime. As a husband and dad, please make sure it is a great, treasured one.”

 

That is my encouragement and challenge for all of us this Friday: make sure the memories are great and cherished. Yes, there will be challenges; that’s o.k. With love, mercy, and grace, we can overcome them. However, harsh tones, bad attitudes, and boorish behavior can cause problems and leave scars that last a lifetime. Whether the event is historic or only important in the moment, that is a steep price to pay.

 

I am so grateful and happy to report that most, if not all, truly did enjoy the crazy, beautiful weekend we lived. I have so many fond memories that I will truly cherish for the rest of my life. And it all began with an intentional decision to enjoy it all. I wish the same for all of you in all the things that are important to you in your life.

 

There is a great song by Josh Wilson titled Dream Small. I would strongly encourage you to look it up and listen to it. One line pierces my heart every time:

 

“Just don't miss the minutes on your way to bigger things”

 

Please feel free to contact me anytime if there is 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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, please be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

When My Three-Year-Old Saw An Angel

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

Oh, what a day this will be!!! This will be an exceptional day that many will cherish in their hearts for a lifetime!

 

This morning's “Happy Friday” is a sweet message from my Beautiful Bride, Kathy. I hope you enjoy it and find significance in it.

 

I will never forget the moment my three-year-old looked up at a wedding picture of me.

He studied it for a moment, looking at the young woman in the white dress, surrounded by all the beauty. Then, with the sweetest innocence, he looked at me and said, “Mom, I didn’t know you were an angel.”

 

My heart melted.

 

To him, I wasn’t just his mom in that picture. I was an angel. Dressed in white, smiling, glowing in a way that only a child's eyes could see.

 

And isn’t that the beautiful thing about children? They see the world without all the filters we grow into. They don’t see the years that have passed, the changes that life brings, or the imperfections we sometimes see when we look in the mirror. They simply see beauty.

 

I smiled and held him close, but inside, my heart was overflowing.

 

Because one day- which is now- he isn’t three anymore. He doesn’t look at that picture with those innocent, big blue eyes and believes his mom was an angel. Just a woman who loved deeply, made mistakes, prayed often, laughed loudly, cried sometimes, and tried her best to be the mom he needed.

 

But through that little moment, through his eyes, I got to be something extraordinary.

An angel.

 

And maybe that is one of the greatest gifts a child can give a mother – not just seeing who she is but reminding her of who she always has been in their eyes.

 

I will never forget the way he said it. Touched my heart more than I can explain, and I carry these words with me always.

 

Three years old. So innocent.

 

And somehow, with just a few little words, he touched a place in my heart I didn’t even know needed touching.

 

Maybe that’s what our children do for us. They see things we are too busy, too tired, or too hard on ourselves to see. They don’t see all the ways we think we've fallen short. They simply see Mom.

 

But maybe our children aren’t looking for a perfect mom. They just need the mom who loves them unconditionally, shows up, and keeps trying.

 

I am perfectly imperfect – and I will be until the day I take my last breath.

 

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

The Root

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

I would be remiss if I did not start by acknowledging that today is the 25^th anniversary of 9/11. It is a day we will never forget. May we honor those we lost and continue to pray for and help those affected.

 

This is the 751^st Happy Friday I have written as a blog. I started about 6 months before with a weekly email. I thought this would be a good time to go back to the root of it all: What Will Your Influence Be…?

 

The “idea” was born one morning as I was driving down I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson. I was going down to meet with the University of Arizona baseball staff and team. As I drove, pouring out my heart to God, I thought about all the challenges they face. This was about 15 years ago; the challenges are much greater now. What I was pouring out my heart about that morning was that you didn’t have to go looking for trouble online; it would come looking for you. I was basically saying, “What are you going to do about this, God?” And God convicted my Spirit with, “What Will Your Influence Be…?” I felt the weight of that question and did everything I could to learn as much as I could about influence.

 

In one of his books, John C. Maxwell cited research showing that the most introverted person would influence more than 10,000 in their lifetime. Years later, I came across research showing that the average person influences more than 80,000 people during their lifetime. It was clear that it is not a matter of whether we will influence others; even the most introverted will influence 10,000! So, if it is not a matter of “if we will,” then it becomes a matter of “what will it be?”

 

I also feel compelled to share with you that my life purpose is to encourage, empower, and equip others to fulfill their potential. That’s it, the reason I exist.

 

So, I put the two together: I post quotes, write Happy Fridays, lead Bible Study, speak publicly, and carve wood to encourage, empower, and/or equip others to be an intentional, positive influence. A few notes:

1.      None of us can give what we do not have. I have shared this quote from Ken Whitten several times: What’s in the well always comes up in the bucket. What you and I allow to be poured into our hearts, minds, and spirits matters – greatly! The first ones we must intentionally influence positively are ourselves! If we don’t like the fruit, the greatest wisdom is to look at the root.

2.     Intentional is a great word that gives great power! Intentions, hopes, goals, and dreams don’t do a darn thing if we are not acting in an intentional manner. There is no "try," only "do"! Let’s quit talking about it and actually be about it!

3.     Again, it is not a question of whether or not we will influence others; it is simply a matter of whether we will be a positive or negative influence. Let me ask it this way: are your family and friends better because of your influence in their lives, or worse? Yeah, that one might sting a little bit! And if it stings, I want to encourage you to lean into the sting, not run from it. Own it! If we don’t own it, we forfeit the great power we have: the power to change it.

 

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, and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

 

Kev

Run Your Race & Encourage Others

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

This week’s Happy Friday is going to be short and sweet – one piece of encouragement and one friendly reminder.

 

The Encouragement

I simply want to encourage you, Friend, to run your race. Whatever the purpose is for your life, do that to the very best of your ability, and I pray you will do so in service of others. Your race is your race; run it boldly and confidently. Your race is your race; don’t wish you were someone else or that you had a different calling – honor your life, your calling. There is greatness within you, a purpose that is in desperate need of fulfilling, and it will only be accomplished by you running your race. Run, Friend, run!!!

 

Hebrews 12:1-3

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

“God gave you your own race to run; stop comparing yourself to other people. They have their race and you have yours. Run hard and don’t quit.” – LeCrae

 

The Reminder

Everyone needs encouragement! This one is easy for me as I was placed on this earth to encourage, empower, and equip all others to fulfill their potential. Even if it doesn’t come easy or natural to you, I want to assure you, everyone needs it.

 

This past weekend I had the privilege of meeting one of the greats in his field of endeavor. What was on my heart, though, was not to talk to him about what he does professionally. No, my heart was to tell him we shared a faith and values. And how much I appreciated what he stood for as a man, husband, and father, as evidenced by the fact that he was where he was to support his son, though he has big things happening in his own professional life. As I stated to him when I started, “You don’t need me to validate you.” However, my spirit was convicting me to share what I shared, so I did. And how did this giant respond? As my wife and I were walking away, after already saying our goodbyes, he said, “Hey!” I turned and looked. He said, “Thank you for the encouragement.” I was dumbfounded. It never crossed my mind that he needed to hear the words that my spirit convicted me to share with him. Everyone needs encouragement!

 

1 Thessalonians 5:11

11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

 

“How do you know if someone needs encouragement? If they are breathing!” - S. Truett Cathy

 

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 and a wonderful weekend! Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

A Few Things to Ponder

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

 

Let’s go!!! It is finally here!!! We have college football this weekend!!! Time to Raise the Roar!!!

 

This week I want to share a few things for you to think about. Two of them come from sermons at our church over the past couple of weeks, and the other comes from something I heard on Christian radio this week.

 

The first one I want to share is from 2 Corinthians 4:4. It says:

(New Living Translation)

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.”

 

Please read and think about that scripture. No, I am not talking about the “Satan, who is the God of this world” part, though that certainly could be a Happy Friday. It is the “blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see…” If we know they are unable, not unwilling, would we maybe think about them, talk to them, and treat them differently? I know for me, it makes me think very differently about it all. And right now, my Spirit reminds me that we are called to love all people, not just those who share our beliefs.

 

The second thing I want to offer this morning came from our sermon this past Sunday. Pastor Steve Huskey talked about “functional unbelievers,” whom he defined as those who talk about it but don’t do it. He went on to say that we are functional unbelievers until we put our full faith in God. Makes sense, right? He used the analogy of a suspension bridge. The difference between a talker and a doer: the talker will sit there and tell you all about the bridge. The doer will actually put their full weight on the bridge. Still make sense? Still feeling comfortable? So let me ask you a question I have asked myself several times in the past week: Are you putting your full weight on Jesus? Are you fully trusting Him with your life? Are you fully trusting Him with your marriage? Are you fully trusting Him with your kids? Are you fully trusting Him with your career? Ok, ok, I will stop. I am getting restless too! Something for us all to think about. And I must share the quote from Pastor Craig Groeschel, “the things we worry about the most are the hints we trust God with the least.”

 

Finally, I want to encourage us all to be a light. I was listening to the radio, and the speaker asked, "Have you ever been in a completely dark room?" He went on to say he once was; someone lit a match, and he was amazed by how much that little light lit up the whole room. He said the same is true of you and me as we move about this world. Yes, it can be dark, very dark. We, however, are called to be a light. And a reminder that a dear friend shared with me several years ago: light only shines in the darkness. Think about it…

 

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

 

Kev

Always Have a Quarter in Your Pocket

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in My Sweet Home, Alabama!

One week until the college football season is here! Let's go!!!

What a treat and blessing! Earlier this week, my Beautiful Bride, Kathy, walked up to me and said, "I have this week's Happy Friday." There was only one appropriate response: "Yes ma'am." You all are going to enjoy this great message and the wisdom within it.

Always Have a Quarter in Your Pocket

When my boys were little, I felt so overwhelmed at times, and most of the time my answer was “no.” Then one day I had a strong conviction. We were at one of our favorite Mexican restaurants, and there stood this gigantic bubblegum machine. As my youngest stood there, with his tender, big blue eyes dancing, he looked up to me, and of course, asked for a quarter. I had none, and at times I just said, "You don’t need one." His sweet face dropped, his smile faded, and he moved on to the next thing. At that moment, getting a piece of bubble gum was everything to him. Just like the things that are everything to me when my eyes would dance at new shoes, new clothes, new jewelry, etc. This is when I made a vow to always have a quarter for the bubble gum machine for any of my three boys. Even to this day, he is grown now, whenever we see a bubble gum machine, he looks at me and smiles. It has just become a great memory for both of us.

 

It is so easy, as moms, for “no” to become our default response instead of a thoughtful one. We carry the responsibility. At times, we say “no” for good reason: to protect, to guide, to teach. Or “no,” not now. No, that’s not good for you. At times, no’s are necessary, but don’t let them become a habit. Our children need joy, laughter, and reassurance, and to be seen and cherished, not just discipline and structure.

 

Sometimes the important things, the small things in life, are sometimes the biggest things in life. As a mom of young children, I sometimes found it easier to say no, but I want to encourage you to choose connection over convenience. To this day, my youngest and I are connected all because of a simple coin, a quarter.

 

Guess what? The requests for bubble gum are gone; my house is quiet; no more car rides. I do not remember every rule I enforced, but I sure do remember the times we laughed together, the lunch dates, getting bubble gum, and all the smiles it brought to his face. I miss those days.

 

There is something small about a quarter. It's just loose change, but in the eyes of a child, that quarter can feel like a treasure. It can mean a moment of joy as you look into a bubble gum machine at a bright blue piece of gum.

 

At times, I wish I had paused more while raising my boys and asked, “Is this a moment that really needs a no or a chance to say yes?”

 

A quarter for a piece of bubble gum isn’t about too much sugar or saying you don’t need that. It's about being present in the moment of what's important in your child's life. It shows us to slow down. It's about recognizing that my boy's childhood was made up of tiny, spontaneous moments. These moments may be insignificant to us as parents, but they become the stories our children carry with them for a lifetime.

 

Our Father in Heaven has the heart of a good, patient Father. He delights in giving His children good gifts. Not out of obligation, but out of love. As parents, we need to strive to reflect that same heart.

 

We get so busy raising our children, making sure homework is done, baths are taken, etc. I did this. God reminds me every day that love is often found in the small things, and the most meaningful lessons are wrapped in the simplest moments. Or a wrapped piece of bubble gum. A simple yes might just be the best yes, you can give to your child.

 

So, to wrap this up, always have a quarter ready. Not just in your pocket but in your heart. This taught me to have more patience, to have more grace, to take more time to know what's important to my child. Did I always get this right? Absolutely not. Choose the memory, not the no. It might just change your world.

 

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths that you take, but the moments that take your breath away.” – Maya Angelou

 

“It's not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

Kev

A Few Reminders

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! This day is going to be special; I can just feel it!

 

Only 2 more weeks until the college football season is here! Let’s go!!!

 

This week I simply want to share a few reminders. Nothing I will share will be new to you, nor do I think it will be overly thought-provoking. Appropriate and ironic; it is the little things, done with consistency, that lead to big things. And the most important word in the previous sentence was “done,” and the second most important word was “consistency.” Again, ironically, we like to focus on outcomes rather than the process that leads to them.

 

Reminder #1

I was reading something earlier this week that said a leader's first responsibility is to lead themselves. We know that. Here, however, is the question: what are you doing daily to lead yourself? What are the things you are listening to, reading, and watching? Who are the people you are allowing to speak into your life? And the really key question: is it producing the fruit that you want to produce? Bottom line: it is not mine or anyone else’s job to lead you to make sure that you become all that you are created to become. That responsibility, Friend, lies squarely on your shoulders. The same is true for each one of us.

 

Reminder #2

I was listening to a Jon Gordon podcast, and his guest was Chris Hodges, the founder of Church of the Highlands and current chancellor of Highlands College. During the interview, Chris said something like, “All of us are leaving a legacy, whether it is good or bad.” If you think about it, that is a true statement. Pick any person and think of them. What did you think? That is their legacy. So, and you knew this was coming, what legacy are you leaving? At home? At work? With your friends? At church? Some day when you are gone, what will you be remembered for? I remember Aeneas Williams' Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech several years ago, and his key point was, “begin with the end in mind.” I encourage us today, Friends, to think about what we want that end to be and then consistently do (those two words again!) the things that will lead to the legacy we want to leave.

 

Reminder #3

I had a situation this week that reminded me of Trey Smith's quote: “If your presence doesn't make an impact, your absence won't make a difference.” We aren’t here to be consumers or observers; we are here to be difference makers! Our lives have value, meaning, and a purpose. Let’s live each and every day as though that statement is true – to the depths of my soul I believe it is!!!

 

Finally, I want to share the lyrics to the song The Long Way by Natalie Layne. For the last few weeks, every time I hear this song, it is like it is the prayer of my Spirit. Hits me hard in a profoundly positive way. I thought you all might enjoy it. I would also encourage you to Google it and listen to it.

 

I'm the kind of heart that likes to know right where I'm going

I would take the highway over dirt roads any day

I would rather speed things up than learn to trust the process

Tell me yes or tell me no, just don't tell me to wait

 

But You see more than I can see

You've got good plans for me

So I'm surrendering

 

Take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

Take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

 

I have seen Your faithfulness in every mile so far

All that I have needed, You've provided from the start

Your voice is always gentle and Your love is evergreen

Leading me to a kindness that I never would have seen

 

So take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

Take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

If the long way leads to You

 

You see more than I can see

You've got good plans for me

They're better than I dreamed

So I'm Yours and I believe

 

You'll take me down the long way if that's where I'm meant to be

You'll take me down the back roads, God, You know what's best for me

You're with me every moment, even the ones I wouldn't choose

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

Take me down the long way if the long way leads to You

If the long way leads to You

 

Please feel free 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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev

Everybody Has a Story

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you having a great day as a glorious new dawn begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama!

Having been in higher education my entire career and speaking with thousands of men and women across generations, I have two deeply held beliefs.
1. Everybody has a story. All of us have had times of great joy and sadness; we all have great victories and heart-crushing defeats; and we all have hopes and dreams.
2. We can learn something from everyone.

Now, before diving into what I actually want to share with you briefly this morning, I want to make one key point: to know someone's story and learn from them, we have to listen to them. And when I say listen, I don’t mean hear. We can hear a voice and not listen to the person. To genuinely listen to someone is a great gift to them, and you will be blessed beyond measure yourself.

I was reminded of the importance of my first point this past week – everyone has a story. And they all matter, by the way! I serve at an institution that has existed since 1830, and the building where my office is located was a home that a family lived in during the Civil War. There was a little girl who lived in the house with her family during the Civil War, and she kept a diary. From that diary, we have learned so much about what was going on in our community and what was going on in and around the house I go to every day. It is incredible, cherished by our institution and her family alike. But here is the thing: as a 12-year-old girl living in this house and writing in her diary in the early 1860s, she did not think it would have historical significance, or that people would so deeply value and appreciate it 160+ years later.

I had a similar “ah ha” moment at a previous institution. This was an academic health center where I served. At that time, I met physicians who were the first to have specialties like pediatric cardiology – they literally developed the specialty. Please think about that for a moment. I remember speaking with one elderly physician, and I asked him about the early years when this idea of pediatric cardiology was born. You could still see the pain in his eyes of the precious souls lost in the early years that he stated could easily be saved today. These physicians, similar to a 12-year-old little girl, did not see the significance in their story, in their life journey. They were just living life, doing the very best they could, and trying to selflessly serve others.

It was at that same academic health center that I first learned of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. The course I cherished most was what they called “My Story.” The concept is for everyone to write out their life story so it can be passed down to their children, grandchildren, friends, etc. Many of those who participated in the course actually had the books bound. The books were priceless; they were the life journey of the one who had written it.

So where am I going with all this? I guess there are two things I really want us all to take away this morning.
1. As boring, routine, tiresome, or whatever adjective you might like to use to describe your life, I want to tell you it matters. You are so valuable, so precious, and you are irreplaceable. Sure, others can do some of the things you do; perhaps they can perform your work or whatever; however, nobody ever has been or ever will again be you. While I am sure that you have things you want to improve, change, etc. – we all do! – I simply hope you will be grateful for the life you have…I am! And please give some serious thought to writing your story…it matters!
2. I want to encourage you to take the time; actually, I want to encourage you to intentionally make the time, to listen to people’s stories. I’m telling you, having sat and listened to literally thousands of them, it will inspire and bless your soul! And in the process of having your own life blessed, you are offering another one of the greatest gifts we can give them; we are letting them know they matter.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if there is ever anything I can do for any of you. I will always help you any way I can. You can reach me at kevin@whatwillyourinfluencebe.com.

Have a great day and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, be kind, and stay well!

Kev

Why Not?

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope and trust this post finds you all having a great day as a glorious new day begins to dawn in my Sweet Home Alabama! How is it possible that this is the last day of July? Wasn’t it just Christmas?

 

This morning I want to share a couple of quick thoughts and a quote.

 

Earlier this week our church lost a giant – a great man who served as one of our Pastors. His sudden death reminded me once again of the brevity of life. I don’t mean that as a point of sadness but rather a moment of inspiration to genuinely value and appreciate each day and to live them, one at a time, to the fullest.

 

Also, this week, during my prayer time, I was thinking about the Serenity Prayer. Here is the prayer:

 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardship as a pathway to peace; taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that You will make all things right if I surrender to Your will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with You forever in the next. Amen."

 

The part that convicted my spirit powerfully was “to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can.” Maybe it is just me; however, I tend to spend a lot of time thinking and worrying about things I cannot change, and I forfeit the power I do have by not changing the things I can. Is it just me? I really have to get better at that!

 

Finally, I want to share this great quote from Steve Maraboli with you. It is titled, “Why Not You?” and it absolutely makes my spirit soar!

 

“Why Not You?

 

Today, many will awaken with a fresh sense of inspiration. Why not you?

 

Today, many will open their eyes to the beauty that surrounds them. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to leave the ghost of yesterday behind and seize the immeasurable power of today. Why not you?

 

Today, many will break through the barriers of the past by looking at the blessings of the present. Why not you?

 

Today, for many the burden of self-doubt and insecurity will be lifted by the security and confidence of empowerment. Why not you?

 

Today, many will rise above their believed limitations and make contact with their powerful innate strength. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live in such a manner that they will be a positive role model for their children. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to free themselves from the personal imprisonment of their bad habits. Why not you?

 

Today, many will choose to live free of conditions and rules governing their own happiness. Why not you?

 

Today, many will find abundance in simplicity. Why not you?

 

Today, many will be confronted by difficult moral choices and they will choose to do what is right instead of what is beneficial. Why not you?

 

Today, many will decide to no longer sit back with a victim mentality, but to take charge of their lives and make positive changes. Why not you?

 

Today, many will take the action necessary to make a difference. Why not you?

 

Today, many will make the commitment to be a better mother, father, son, daughter, student, teacher, worker, boss, brother, sister, and so much more. Why not you?

 

Today is a new day!

 

Many will seize this day.

 

Many will live it to the fullest.

 

Why not you?”

 

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 and a wonderful weekend. Please cherish your precious family, please be kind, and please stay well!

 

Kev