A Smile If you have only one smile in you, give it to the people you love. (Maya Angelou, late US Poet Laureate) “Roses are Red, Violets are Blue . . .” is the way our childish Valentine cards often began. It’s Valentine’s Day, and we’re expected to card and gift...
Coincidence Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous. (Albert Einstein, late noted scientist) When certain circumstances of life seem to converge in an unexpected, “accidental” sort of way, we often wonder why and how. Although Einstein would probably not be...
Love II When we give love away, it always comes back to us. Love is a verb… it is an action… it is THE action. (Dan O’Deens, author) Many people mistakenly think of love as just an interaction between two bodies that may or may not convey any true sentiment of caring....
Love I Life’s greatest happiness is to be convinced we are loved. (Victor Hugo, 19th century French dramatist) “What the world needs now is love, sweet love; that’s the only thing there’s too little of.” So go the words of a popular 1965 song. It could be...
Opportunity Success is when preparation and opportunity meet. (Bobby Unser, automobile racer) We’ve heard it said that opportunity knocks only once, so we’re always to be ready for that “knock.” Agreeing with Unser, Chris Grosser wrote, “Opportunities don’t happen,...
Pleasure Most men pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it. (Søren Kierkegaard, 19th century Danish philosopher) 2020 has begun like every other year—people seem to be rushing here and there to fill their unquenchable thirst for pleasure....
Friends Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver and the other gold. (Girl Scout song) Meeting new people and becoming friends is a joyful experience of life for those who want to make new connections. Both short-term and long-term relationships are of value,...
Change If a person sees no benefit to change, they will not change. (Byron Pulsifer, writer) He continues, “Each person has a choice; the choice to do as one may wish and as one wants remains with the individual.” Choices and change are two ever-present realities of...
Leaders A leader that cannot be trusted or respected is not a leader—he is an office holder. (Jeff Bogue, pastor) It’s a tragedy when we discover that someone in a government or community position of influence cannot be trusted. He or she may still hold the office and...
Teaching We cannot teach what we do not know, and we cannot lead where we do not go. (Hirsch and Catchim, authors) Have you ever been asked to lead a discussion on a topic you really didn’t understand? If you have, you know that’s a really tough situation. What may...
Attitude Greatness is revealed mainly in our attitude. (Chuck Swindoll, pastor, author) What sets apart men and women who succeed in their chosen fields but are honored more than some others who have also achieved a lot? The accomplishments may be of equal value and...
Legacy Legacy isn’t leaving something for people; it’s leaving something in people. (Greg Groeschel, leadership speaker) When we begin to consider what we might leave our children, we’re usually thinking of estate issues: houses, personal property, and finances....