Daily Stop & Thinks

Kindness

Choose to be kind over being right, and you’ll be right every time because kindness is a sign of strength. (Richard Carlson, film director and screenwriter)

Despite disagreements on what is right or wrong, we should always do what’s right, as we understand it. Even when you are absolutely right about something, it’s possible to be very unkind in your rightness. How you treat those that disagree with you and promote what you understand to be right and true may be the real key to mutual understanding and cooperation.

Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12)

Olympics II

Hope in the future takes the sting out of the present. Phil. 3:20-21 (Charles Swindoll, author)

In the recent Olympics, we saw a lot of jubilation as medalists crossed the finish line or achieved a victory. Had we watched those athletes during the months and years of training and practice, we would have seen a lot of “stings”—the pain, isolation, and long hours—that brought the final win. When we face difficulties, focusing on our goal will keep us going.

All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. (1 Corinthians 9:25)

Olympics I

Never give up on something that you can’t go a day without thinking about. (Winston Churchill, late British prime minister) 

Many of the recent Olympic medalists achieved what they said was their life-long ambition. They always wanted to compete in the Olympics. They thought, dreamed, and worked for it nearly every day since they first had the idea. For many, it was an obsession that shaped their entire life. We might well ask ourselves, “What kind of commitment am I making for my life?”

I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on . . . (Philippians 3:12).

Expectations

High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation. (Charles Kettering, late American inventor)

On the other hand, psychologist Barry Schwartz says, “The secret of happiness is low expectations.” That doesn’t sound too encouraging, does it? Author Choco de Jesús offers another view: “Misplaced expectations inevitably lead to inadequate responses.”  It is best, no doubt, to plan carefully, project our plans realistically, and give it our very best effort.

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved [perfection], but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. (Philippians 3:13)

Conflict

The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. (Thomas Paine, 18^th century political activist)

Maybe it’s just a more sophisticated way of saying, “No pain, no gain.” Surely the revolutionaries who succeeded in bringing the United States into existence were well aware of the terrible conflict to come in their fight for independence. But they considered it a worthy project, and certainly gloried in the ultimate triumph, which we continue to celebrate today. 

Yes, the Lord is for me; he will help me. I will look in triumph at those who hate me. (Psalm 118:7)

Get Up!

Stumblers who give up are a dime a dozen . . . Stumblers who get up are as rare as rubies (Charles Swindoll, Christian author)

About the first, Swindoll says, “In fact, they’re useless.” Regarding the second, “In fact, they’re priceless.” We’ve known many who’ve stumbled and just given up. “Why, try again,” they might say. But the few who fall and get right back up and move on are “priceless,” indeed. Have you ever stumbled? What did you do next? Never give up; instead get up on move on.

The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again. But one disaster is enough to overthrow the wicked. (Proverbs 24:16)

Excuses

It is better to offer no excuse than a bad one. (George Washington)

It just seems so natural to offer an excuse as soon as we’re caught in a misstep or mistake. Whether we blame our error on someone else, the circumstances, or our faulty equipment, we somehow just don’t want to admit, “Yes, I did it; it’s my mistake.” Others can usually see through the poor excuse; it’s just our pride that blinds us to the truth. 

Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses. (Romans 3:19)

Seasons

Summer ends, and Autumn comes, and he who would have it otherwise would have high tide always and a full moon every night. (Hal Borland, late naturalist and author)

Seasons change, and most of us are really glad they do. The changes often bring new beauty, refreshing changes in the weather, and new opportunities. Surely, we would tire of the same ole, same ole, day after day and month after month. Even the storms end and winds die down, bringing a refreshing calm. Enjoy what God has given—even the changes!

Then God said, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate the day from the night. Let them be signs to mark the seasons, days, and years.” (Genesis 1:14)

Preparation

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.  (Seneca, 1^st century philosopher)

“Good luck” is what we say to someone who’s beginning a competition or starting a new venture. We mean well, of course, and we recognize that the person we’re wishing to have success has spent a lot of time in preparation and practice. And now, the right time has come about, and they’re ready to go. The key is not luck but careful planning and preparing.

Do your planning and prepare your fields before building your house. (Proverbs 24:27)

Comparing

Comparison is the thief of joy. (Attributed to many authors)

Most of us have fallen into the trap of comparing ourselves with others—either thinking we are not as good or maybe that we’re even better. In either case, the comparison really does us no good. A lower self-image is the result of the one view and pride of the other. Better to compare our present condition with what we used to be. Have we grown? If not, how can we learn to grow?

Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. (Galatians 6:4)

Learning

The important thing is not to stop questioning. (Albert Einstein, late scientist)

They say that curiosity killed the cat, but, as Einstein suggests, an enquiring mind is one of the key factors in learning and growing. Our children began to learn life’s lessons with their continual “Whys.” When we stop wondering and asking, we will stop learning and begin to lose not only useful information but also our usefulness as well. 

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. (Proverbs 18:15)

The Future

Go for it now. The future is promised to no one. (Wayne Dyer, self-help, best-selling author)

Some people rush from one thing to the next, while others seem reluctant to get started. They’re waiting for just the right moment, or they’re letting circumstances keep them from moving on. After the loss of her husband, a friend said that, though he was very ill, they kept doing things together. She said,” I didn’t want him to die without living.” What a positive way to face life’s difficulties

No one really knows what is going to happen; no one can predict the future (Ecclesiastes 10:14).

To God: My future is in your hands (Psalm 31:15).