Simple reminder for today.

Human beings can and do grow.

Change is inevitable – you get to pick the intensity and direction.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I am tired and sick of war. Its glory is all moonshine. It is only those who have neither fired a shot nor heard the shrieks and groans of the wounded who cry aloud for blood, for vengeance, for desolation. War is hell. – William Tecumseh Sherman

This quote reminds me to be praying for those in Ukraine right now.

I am so very thankful for those who fought for our freedoms and for the life I live which has so far has not required the same of me.

Make it a great day.

Jake

“God has not been trying an experiment on my faith or love in order to find out their quality. He knew it already. It was I who didn’t. In this trial He makes us occupy the dock, the witness box, and the bench all at once. He always knew that my temple was a house of cards. His only way of making me realize the fact was to knock it down.”

― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

What a powerful thought.

Regardless of where you stand on believing in God and whether or not God places trials in our lives to test us, life will test you at some point.

The older I get the more I wonder how many of my "temples" are really houses of cards.

We see others whose metaphorical card houses have been toppled and quickly jump to conclusions about what they may have done wrong, not noticing we are balancing precariously in a card house ourselves.

But where’s the positive spin, Jake?

First, showing empathy for the weaknesses and follies of others can help us from meeting that same fate.

Second, seeing our house of cards for what it is before it falls can save us a whole lot of heartache.

Take a look at what you are building your beliefs and habits from to make sure they are built on solid footing.

Make it a great day.

Jake ​

https://youtu.be/uq-gYOrU8bA

For some reason this song (and this video) always crack me up.

Find something that cheers you up and play it loud this morning

Make it a great day.

Jake

“Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.” —Barbara De Angelis

Since my grandfather passed away I’ve been thinking about what made him unique.

Something that stood out and was mentioned multiple times during the funeral yesterday was – kindness.

He was a genuinely kind man.

Kindness seems to me to be an underrated trait.

Kindness always makes a difference.

Both sides win when there is more kindness.

What would more kindness look like in your life?

What would change?

Make it a great day.

Jake

Today is my grandfather’s funeral. In thinking about him, I was reminded of this email I sent a few years ago when my grandmother passed (his wife). The same holds true for him in many ways.

“Carve your name on hearts, not tombstones. A legacy is etched into the minds of others and the stories they share about you.” —Shannon L. Alder

My grandmother passed away on Saturday and today is the funeral.

She was a very unassuming person to have left such a great legacy.

In one of Andy Stanley’s podcasts he says something like “Your legacy might not be what you do, but who you raise.”

My grandmother was a homemaker and never even got her driver’s license, but she left a tremendous legacy.

Not that we are perfect, but she helped create a family legacy that will endure and continue to grow.

Each new generation has been touched and influenced by her love and caring.

This is your opportunity as well.

To leave this world better than you found it.

You may not even be the one that accomplishes great things (although I certainly hope you do). Your legacy may be a subtler one, like that of my grandmother.

But it will be something. Each and every day is an opportunity to make an impact and grow your legacy, don’t let them slip past you.

Make it a great day.

Jake

2 22 22 on a Tuesday!

It’s always funny to me when things like this line up.

It makes an ordinary day into a special day.

The kids do something special at school.

Restaurants and stores have specials.

I’m not that great at celebrating so I can always use the reminder.

Make it a little extra today.

Jake

In honor of President’s Day, I thought I would resend this past daily attitude email:

Jim Rohn has a speech entitled “I am a wealthy man because….”

One of the reasons he considered himself wealthy was his heritage.

President’s Day is today and it reminded me of the wealthy heritage we enjoy.

We enjoy the fruits of hundreds of years of great men and women working on our behalf. They have put the infrastructure in place for us to live and enjoy our lives the way we do.

They fought wars we don’t have to fight.

They fought evil we don’t have to face.

They stood for something we now get to stand on.

We will also have our battles to fight, our evil to face and we must choose something to stand for. But we get to do so from a position of strength because of our past.

Today is a great day to be thankful for our heritage and our presidents.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/R4rpG-dipYA

For some reason this one has been stuck in my head all week.

It’s funny and sad at the same time.

Sometimes we get confused enough to believe it’s true – that being popular is what matters. That are lives should be set up to chase the trends and happenings of the day.

Don’t be fooled!

The real things that matter are timeless and true regardless of their popularity.

Make it a great day.

Jake

The law of harvest is to reap more than you sow. Sow an act, and you reap a habit. Sow a habit and you reap a character. Sow a character and you reap a destiny. – James Allen

The law of reaping and sowing actually means you reap more than you sow. Every time.

Maybe it is the overly analytical part of me, but I really like it when you can take a simple truth like this and dissect it more like James Allen did in the quote above.

In Earl Nightingale’s “Strangest Secret” he makes the point that our minds are built for growing thoughts so we must be careful what we plant. Our minds are like fertile soil that will grow a weed as readily as a beautiful flower.

Plant worries of ill health and your mind will build those up until you are actually ill.

Plant thoughts of wealth and happiness and your mind will build that reality around you.

Plant thoughts of want and need and before you know it you will be behind on your bills.

The law of the harvest works in all areas of our lives, but the starting point is usually in our own thoughts.

Make a conscious effort today to be careful of what you are planting.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Looking for something positive to plant today, here are a few of Jake’s suggestions, please feel free to share some of your own.

Norman Vincent Peale’s books – in particular “The Power of Positive Thinking”

Dale Carnegie’s “How to Stop Worrying” and “How to Win Friends and Influence People”

Listen to Jim Rohn’s “Art of Exceptional Living”

These are just a couple that have had a major impact on me, I would love to hear what has made an impact on you.