“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” – Luke 15:20

This line from the story of the prodigal son stuck out to me on a podcast I listened to recently.

The prodigal son had to take the first step – to admit he was better off in his father’s house and to head that way.

But his father saw him “while he was still a long way off” and went to him. The father met him more than halfway.

Our Father in heaven wants to do the same for us.

The first step is up to us. We must admit that we are better off in His house.

I believe this principle works in other areas too. Take the first step and you’ll be met more than halfway, most of the time.

Monday is a great day for first steps.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of the most powerful prayers in the midst of suffering I have read was uncovered from the horrors of Ravensbruck concentration camp. Ravensbruck was a concentration camp built in 1939 for women. Over 90,000 women and children perished in Ravensbruck, murdered by the Nazis. Corrie Ten Boom, who wrote The Hiding Place, was imprisoned there too. The prayer, found in the clothing of a dead child, says:

O Lord, remember not only the men and woman of good will, but also those of ill will. But do not remember all of the suffering they have inflicted upon us: Instead remember the fruits we have borne because of this suffering, our fellowship, our loyalty to one another, our humility, our courage, our generosity, the greatness of heart that has grown from this trouble. When our persecutors come to be judged by you, let all of these fruits that we have borne be their forgiveness.

– Jake can’t remember where he found this.

The Bible says that the meek shall inherit the Earth. That sure sounds like the right thing to do after reading something like this.

Wouldn’t you like people like this in charge?

Wouldn’t you like to have coworkers like this?

Wouldn’t you want to be married to someone like this?

Wouldn’t you like to have customers like this?

Of course, the secret is the other side of this coin. Don’t you want to be someone like this?

Life is full of difficulties and suffering (very few that compare to the Nazi concentration camps). Each one is an opportunity to be thankful for the fruit that grows out of the challenge and discomfort.

Jim Rohn says “Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better.” Our opportunity for a better life lies in our ability to become better.

Make it a great day.

Jake

https://youtu.be/xpYHgbjOIq0

Meaghan and I went to the Styx concert last week and this one stuck out to me. Before he began playing it Tommy Shaw said something like “I wrote this one when I needed to hear some truth”.

And you’re fooling yourself if you don’t believe it

You’re kidding yourself if you don’t believe it

Why must you be such an angry young man

When your future looks quite bright to me

How can there be such a sinister plan

That could hide such a lamb, such a caring young man

Get up, get back on your feet

You’re the one they can’t beat and you know it

Come on, let’s see what you’ve got

Just take your best shot and don’t blow it

Taking your shot it worth it. Don’t let yourself become so cynical you don’t even give it your best.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Resending this daily attitude email from a few years ago on my dad’s birthday….

What Is A Dad?

A dad is someone who

wants to catch you before you fall

but instead picks you up,

brushes you off,

and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who

wants to keep you from making mistakes

but instead lets you find your own way,

even though his heart breaks in silence

when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who

holds you when you cry,

scolds you when you break the rules,

shines with pride when you succeed,

and has faith in you even when you fail…

– Unknown

I found this short little bit about dad’s in my search of something to send out today for my dad’s birthday.

I have often wondered and thought about how it was that my dad had so much patience with me over the years. I imagine all the conversations and all of the dumb stuff I did and said (and still do and still say) that must have been hard to listen to without slapping me or something like that.

Now, with kids of my own, I can almost see it. But not completely. My kids are much better than I am sure I was.

So, Happy Birthday, Dad. Thanks for everything you have done and continue to do.

Make it a great day.

Jake

One of the most remarkable abilities that Steve Jobs had was his ability to focus on the “why” at Apple.

His almost single minded focus on simplicity and design truly revolutionized Apple (and several other industries along the way).

The stories of Steve reminded me of stories you would also hear about Edison, Ford or other great entrepreneur/inventors.

Stories of the owner of a large, dispersed organization going down to the design area and playing around with or spitballing ideas about a new product in the works. All the way down to the details. Worrying about the weight, shape or longevity of a particular part or product.

Seems like they each had a gift for visualizing the future and then making it happen. Bending their will and the will of others towards making their vision of the future come true.

Think about the single mindedness of these great inventors. Have one of them pictured in your mind? Good. Now think about your goals. Think about the flimsy excuses you let pass for not meeting them.

Now, attack your goals in the same way Steve Jobs or Thomas Edison might. Focus your mind and your will towards making them a reality. Then get to work.

Make it a great day.

Jake

PS – I should write a follow up email about using wisdom to count the cost and choosing wisely on what we focus on….all part of the maturing process.

Most people have the will to win, few have the will to prepare to win. – Bobby Knight

As we near the end of the basketball season for the college teams, this quote is a great reminder.

The work to get here began a long time ago. In order to be in a position to even have the opportunity to win – work had to be done.

What work or discipline could you be working on today to prepare for a future win?

What could be done today to set up a great relationship with your grandkids?

What needs to be said to make sure you make it to your 50th wedding anniversary?

What choice could you make today to survive that future health scare?

Make it a great day.

Jake

"Don’t find fault. Find a remedy." – Henry Ford

Finding faults in ourselves and others is the easy way out.

If you look for them, there will be plenty.

All of us are imperfect in our own ways. All of us fall short at one point or another.

What if we looked for the good in ourselves and others?

What if we looked for solutions instead of making excuses?

Focusing our efforts on improvement and progress instead of excuses and complaints will make us happier, healthier and more successful.

Take care today to focus on the positive.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Resending this toe tapper from last year….

https://youtu.be/PEAIJV6CmtA

This is an Irish tune that gets played a lot at our house.

Each time I hear it I am reminded of just how lucky I am (and believe all of us to be).

For some reason that I can’t completely fathom, God is working this wonderful plan for the world that He wants us to be a part of.

He has a special place in that plan for each and every one of us.

He wants us all to be a part of this wonderful dance. To lean into it and live it to our fullest.

St. Patrick’s Day not only celebrates Ireland and Irish culture, it also celebrates St. Patrick himself and the work he did to share God’s love.

Make it a great day.

Jake

St. Patrick’s Day is tomorrow.

Each year at some point for St. Patrick’s Day we attend a parade somewhere.

Every time I’m reminded of what a unique mix we’ve created here in America.

We’ve created a place where we can all get together and celebrate the culture of another country.

We can put our differences aside for a little bit and focus on something good.

That our country welcomed (mostly) a bunch of immigrants from a small island and those immigrants have impacted how we live together today.

We get to laugh and be together for a few moments.

We can make Irish food and drink Irish drinks.

We can poke fun at the silly parts of being Irish and remember the good.

Make it a great day.

Jake

Watching some YouTube of a golfer playing on Bay Hill (a famous Arnold Palmer course) and remembered this email I had sent a few years back when he passed away…

Arnold Palmer passed away on Sunday.

If you don’t know, he was a famous golfer and golf person in general.

Being a golf fan I have heard quite a few Arnold Palmer stories and with his passing they are being told again and again.

But in the interest of trying to help all of our attitudes and our chances of success at life, I noticed something that maybe we can all learn from (since we are unlikely to become professional golfers any time soon).

If you consistently make an effort to make the day of those around you, you will make the world a better place.

Arnold Palmer consistently took time to talk with someone or take a quick picture or sign a quick autograph.

He had a smile or a laugh to share with everyone.

And it made a difference. Everyone from the most famous golfers to the janitor have a story about how Arnold positively impacted them.

Maybe you don’t have quite the reach that Arnold had.

Maybe you don’t have as much money as he had.

But you can make an impact, one person at a time, just like he did.

Smile.

Talk to people.

Try to make their day.

Work to make the world a better place each day simply by interacting positively with those around you.

Make it a great day.

Jake