“No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good.” CS Lewis “Mere Christianity”

One of my favorite things about CS Lewis is ability to capture the ordinary struggle faced by all of us.

Writing these emails every day for so long has been an exercise in exactly this.

Each day is an exercise is illuminating one more thing that I could improve on.

Each day is a realization that I still have a long way to go.

But each day is also a reminder that it is worth it.

It’s worth it to work towards something meaningful.

It’s worth it to “try very hard to be good” (even when it seems a long way off).

We will all fall short of perfection in the end, but moving closer each day is the only way.

Make it a great day.

Jake

I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses. – Taylor Caldwell

This is a great reminder before Christmas comes and goes.

You are not alone.

You are loved.

You are special.

Not in a way that makes you better than everyone else.

Not in a way that makes you just like everyone else.

You are loved and special in your own way. The way only you can be.

In the Christian faith, this is the reason got sent his son on that first Christmas. For you.

If that explanation of it doesn’t work for you, I can assure you that you aren’t alone, you are loved and you are special to someone.

Merry Christmas.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/MyA1zKBUhxM

This song is on the short list of Christmas songs that get played a lot at our house.

Part of the fun of Christmas (or any holiday) is pulling out some of your favorite songs associated with that time and reliving memories.

Reply to this today with some that are on your Christmas playlist.

Let’s create some new memories to celebrate into the future.

Make it a great day.

Jake

We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. – Mother Teresa

This is a great reminder for the holiday season.

Smile.

A lot.

It really does make things better.

Seriously, try it already.

Make it a great day.

Jake

"God has infinite attention to spare for each one of us. You are as much alone with him as if you were the only being he had ever created." – CS Lewis – “Mere Christianity” (1952)

I liked this quote because it reminded me of what Rick Warren says.

He pictures God sitting at the end of our bed every morning saying “I can’t wait until he/she gets up. I can’t wait to see what they do today.”

To me, the best part of this is exactly what CS Lewis is talking about.

We are all equal.

We are all wonderfully and uniquely created.

Having this attitude frees us to be so much better to each other and ourselves.

To have more patience when things go wrong.

To expect the best from each and every one of us.

To not get so mad when the best doesn’t come.

When thinking about this I try to start at home. I imagine myself sitting on the end of the bed waiting for Meaghan to wake up, thinking that I can’t wait to see what she will do today. I imagine the same thing for the kids.

I try to expand that circle throughout the day. Co workers, customers, vendors, waiters, drivers, cashiers, anyone that comes across my path.

I fall far short of having this attitude all the time (like CS Lewis says….it requires infinite attention, which I don’t have), but the more I can do it, the better my day goes.

Try it out today. Even if just for one person.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Men are not against you, they are merely for themselves. – Gene Fowler

It’s easy to forget that most other people are thinking about themselves and what they have going on.

I think this can actually be quite freeing.

Once we realize that everyone else has their own thing going on, we can begin the process of focusing on them.

Figuring out what is going on and how we might help.

Figuring out how to be of service.

Because it is through this service that we find our purpose and peace.

When we give up our lives (and our frets and our fears) in exchange for a heart full of love and service for others, we end up with a life filled with joy and purpose.

Forget about yourself today.

Make it a great day.

Jakeu

https://youtu.be/kHnRIAVXTMQ

Thanks to Brian O for letting me know the original link didn’t work….

Merry Christmas.

Jake

From: Jake Davis
Sent: Monday, December 04, 2017 6:48 AM
To: Mavidea All <MavideaAll@mavidea.com>
Subject: Daily Attitude Email 12 04 17

Meaghan and I went to Jim Gaffigan last night and it reminded me of this email I sent out a couple of months ago.

Make it a point to laugh today.

Meaghan and I went to Jim Gaffigan last night and it reminded me of this email I sent out a couple of months ago.

Make it a point to laugh today.

https://youtu.be/hEvGKUXW0iI

This one seems appropriate given how warm it’s been this week here in Central IL.

I don’t know about you, but I really like the Christmas season.

Being married to Meaghan and then have the kids has really grown my appreciation for Christmas over the years.

Having someone around who is excited and happy about it pulls you along for the ride.

Not in the Christmas mood?

Find someone who is and hang around them. A lot.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Love is, above all, the gift of oneself. – Jean Anouilh

The Bible talks often of this idea – giving up your life for another.

This quotes says it well in my opinion.

Somehow we must give our life away.

The more completely the better.

What’s the next step for you on this path?

What little thing could you start or stop doing to give more of yourself today?

What could you be working on to make the gift of yourself even more valuable?

Make it a great day.

Jake