Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. – Proverbs 27:1 (NRSV)
What does it mean to “boast about tomorrow”? Why do you think it is wise not to boast about tomorrow? If tomorrow is not something you should give much worry to, what does that mean for today? How does someone who lives this way act?
The story was e-mailed to me awhile back with no attributed author.
While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. "That's my son over there," she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide.
"He's a fine looking boy," the man said. "That's my son on the swing in the blue sweater." Then, looking at his watch, he called to his son. "What do you say we go, Todd?"
Todd pleaded, "Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes." The man nodded and Todd continued to swing to his heart's content.
Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his son. "Time to go now?"
Again Todd pleaded, "Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes." The man smiled and said, "Okay."
"My, you certainly are a patient father," the woman responded.
The man smiled and then said, "My older son Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now I'd give anything for just five more minutes with him. I've vowed not to make the same mistake with Todd.
"He thinks he has five more minutes to swing. The truth is . . . I get five more minutes to watch him play."
You do not know what a day may bring, so enjoy the day you have with all your heart! Much of what may seem like a waste of time may be the best memories, and much of what seems so important will be a waste. Take five minutes enjoying it all!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Living In Love
“I loved you as the Father loved me. Now remain in my love. I have obeyed my Father's commands, and I remain in his love. In the same way, if you obey my commands, you will remain in my love. I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have and so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.” – John 15:9-11 (NCV)
How does love provide joy? Have you seen joy while witnessing love? What did it look like? What does it mean to remain in the love of Jesus? What is the commandment to love mean to you? What does it mean for the world?
The following story found at: http://www.inspirationalnursing.com/inspiration/butterfly.courage.htm
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, I saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water and mud. As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet, I did nothing, for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail. For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack. Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again. I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly.
This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he landed. Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large.
He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. Now I knew why and what he was fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.
His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety justified it. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car.
Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me. I use that butterfly's courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.
Love is worth fighting for! In this fight Jesus sacrificed himself, and we who otherwise would be dead can laugh that God would die for us and thereby give us life. Let us remain in love and therefore fight for love, in those moments we fight others will see joy where before there was none!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How does love provide joy? Have you seen joy while witnessing love? What did it look like? What does it mean to remain in the love of Jesus? What is the commandment to love mean to you? What does it mean for the world?
The following story found at: http://www.inspirationalnursing.com/inspiration/butterfly.courage.htm
Walking down a path through some woods in Georgia in 1977, I saw a water puddle ahead on the path. I angled my direction to go around it on the part of the path that wasn't covered by water and mud. As I reached the puddle, I was suddenly attacked!
Yet, I did nothing, for the attack was so unpredictable and from a source so totally unexpected. I was startled as well as unhurt, despite having been struck four or five times already. I backed up a foot and my attacker stopped attacking me. Instead of attacking more, he hovered in the air on graceful butterfly wings in front of me. Had I been hurt I wouldn't have found it amusing, but I was unhurt, it was funny, and I was laughing. After all, I was being attacked by a butterfly!
Having stopped laughing, I took a step forward. My attacker rushed me again. He rammed me in the chest with his head and body, striking me over and over again with all his might, still to no avail. For a second time, I retreated a step while my attacker relented in his attack. Yet again, I tried moving forward. My attacker charged me again. I was rammed in the chest over and over again. I wasn't sure what to do, other than to retreat a third time. After all, it's just not everyday that one is attacked by a butterfly.
This time, though, I stepped back several paces to look the situation over. My attacker moved back as well to land on the ground. That's when I discovered why my attacker was charging me only moments earlier. He had a mate and she was dying. She was beside the puddle where he landed. Sitting close beside her, he opened and closed his wings as if to fan her. I could only admire the love and courage of that butterfly in his concern for his mate. He had taken it upon himself to attack me for his mate's sake, even though she was clearly dying and I was so large.
He did so just to give her those extra few precious moments of life, should I have been careless enough to step on her. Now I knew why and what he was fighting for. There was really only one option left for me. I carefully made my way around the puddle to the other side of the path, though it was only inches wide and extremely muddy.
His courage in attacking something thousands of times larger and heavier than himself just for his mate's safety justified it. I couldn't do anything other than reward him by walking on the more difficult side of the puddle. He had truly earned those moments to be with her, undisturbed. I left them in peace for those last few moments, cleaning the mud from my boots when I later reached my car.
Since then, I've always tried to remember the courage of that butterfly whenever I see huge obstacles facing me. I use that butterfly's courage as an inspiration and to remind myself that good things are worth fighting for.
Love is worth fighting for! In this fight Jesus sacrificed himself, and we who otherwise would be dead can laugh that God would die for us and thereby give us life. Let us remain in love and therefore fight for love, in those moments we fight others will see joy where before there was none!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Monday, March 16, 2009
Where the Angels Are
“Be careful. Don’t think these little children are worth nothing. I tell you they have angels in heaven who are always with my Father in heaven.” – Matthew 18:10 (NCV)
If these children have angels do you? What does it mean to you to have an angel who is always with God? How important is each child to God? What are they worth? How do you treat people who are worth so much to God?
The following story found at:
http://www.inspirationalnursing.com/inspiration/are.you.gods.wife.htm
It was a cold day in December. A little boy about 10-year-old was standing before a shoe store on Broadway in New York City. He was barefoot, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.
A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"
"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.
The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.
By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, and tying up the remaining pairs of socks, gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's wife?"
Sometimes when we realize people have angels who are with God, we can become angels to them! Be careful how you treat everyone you encounter, because they are worth everything to God. Today go become an angel to a child who has an angel so that at least one child may know angels are for real!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
If these children have angels do you? What does it mean to you to have an angel who is always with God? How important is each child to God? What are they worth? How do you treat people who are worth so much to God?
The following story found at:
http://www.inspirationalnursing.com/inspiration/are.you.gods.wife.htm
It was a cold day in December. A little boy about 10-year-old was standing before a shoe store on Broadway in New York City. He was barefoot, peering through the window, and shivering with cold.
A lady approached the boy and said, "My little fellow, why are you looking so earnestly in that window?"
"I was asking God to give me a pair of shoes," was the boy's reply.
The lady took him by the hand and went into the store, and asked the clerk to get a half dozen pairs of socks for the boy. She then asked if he could give her a basin of water and a towel. He quickly brought them to her. She took the little fellow to the back part of the store and, removing her gloves, knelt down, washed his little feet, and dried them with a towel.
By this time the clerk had returned with the socks. Placing a pair upon the boy's feet, she then purchased him a pair of shoes, and tying up the remaining pairs of socks, gave them to him. She patted him on the head and said, "No doubt, my little fellow, you feel more comfortable now?"
As she turned to go, the astonished lad caught her by the hand, and looking up in her face, with tears in his eyes, answered the question with these words: "Are you God's wife?"
Sometimes when we realize people have angels who are with God, we can become angels to them! Be careful how you treat everyone you encounter, because they are worth everything to God. Today go become an angel to a child who has an angel so that at least one child may know angels are for real!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Taking Interest
Do not just be interested in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. – Philippians 2:4 (NCV)
What is going on in your life? What is going on in the life of someone you care about? Who do you care about and show interest in? Do they know you care about them? Who has shown interest in you, and what has that done for you?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words:
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.
We never know how taking an interest in the life of someone else can change the world! There are many people we encounter everyday who believe no one cares about them. Today become the person who cares, the person who shows interest, the person who has the love of Christ inside and lets it outside so that people can see God at work!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
What is going on in your life? What is going on in the life of someone you care about? Who do you care about and show interest in? Do they know you care about them? Who has shown interest in you, and what has that done for you?
The following story was e-mailed to me:
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water. She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?" "You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said, "Then I thank you from my heart."
As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She began to read the following words:
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.
We never know how taking an interest in the life of someone else can change the world! There are many people we encounter everyday who believe no one cares about them. Today become the person who cares, the person who shows interest, the person who has the love of Christ inside and lets it outside so that people can see God at work!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Bringing Others To Christ
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. – Romans 14:13 (NIV)
How often do you pass judgments on others? When have you seen yourself as a stumbling block to others discovering God? What about how you are might help people discover Christ? How have you witnessed others act as obstacles?
I heard a story one time of a woman whose son was not a Christian. She was deeply concerned for him and let him know it, and convinced herself that he would become a Christian at any cost. In an effort to ensure that her son would accept Christ she purchased him books, made him listen to sermons, sent him cards with bible verses, but nothing seemed to work.
As time went on she grew incredibly frustrated and decided to go to God in prayer. She got on her knees and explained to God how hard she had been trying, and finally in a moment of sincere distress begged God saying, “Lord completely remove whatever obstacle is keeping my son from converting.”
There was a bright flash, and suddenly she disappeared!
Mahatma Gandhi was asked what he thought about Christians and replied, “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” It is time to begin acting like followers of Jesus, by loving the hurt, going to the needy, being good and caring, and inviting everyone to a better way of life. When we look more like Christ, people who need Jesus will find him in us. Today decide to stop being a stumbling block to any, by becoming a loving neighbor to all!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
How often do you pass judgments on others? When have you seen yourself as a stumbling block to others discovering God? What about how you are might help people discover Christ? How have you witnessed others act as obstacles?
I heard a story one time of a woman whose son was not a Christian. She was deeply concerned for him and let him know it, and convinced herself that he would become a Christian at any cost. In an effort to ensure that her son would accept Christ she purchased him books, made him listen to sermons, sent him cards with bible verses, but nothing seemed to work.
As time went on she grew incredibly frustrated and decided to go to God in prayer. She got on her knees and explained to God how hard she had been trying, and finally in a moment of sincere distress begged God saying, “Lord completely remove whatever obstacle is keeping my son from converting.”
There was a bright flash, and suddenly she disappeared!
Mahatma Gandhi was asked what he thought about Christians and replied, “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” It is time to begin acting like followers of Jesus, by loving the hurt, going to the needy, being good and caring, and inviting everyone to a better way of life. When we look more like Christ, people who need Jesus will find him in us. Today decide to stop being a stumbling block to any, by becoming a loving neighbor to all!
With hope and joy,
Garrett
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