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