Daily Stop & Thinks

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. (Margaret Mead, 20th century cultural anthropologist)

Here are two important principles. First, each person is different from every other person. He or she is, indeed, unique. Even twins or triplets have their differences in personality and capabilities. Second, we must recognize that everyone is unique. We are not alone in our uniqueness. So, don’t try to fit everybody into a single mold. Value the unique differences.

Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else (1 Thessalonians 5:15).

I never dreamed about success; I worked for it. (Estée Lauder, late cosmetic leader)

Athletes dream of being inducted into their sports hall of fame. Actors covet an Oscar or Emmy. Business people fantasize about earning their first million. Authors are hoping for a Bestseller. No one who aspires to greatness, however, achieves his goals by just day-dreaming. Reaching those goals takes determination and persistent hard work.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23).

[There] is but one just use of power, and it is to serve people. (George H. W. Bush, 41st U.S. president)

English writer Lord Acton famously said, “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” But William Gaddis wrote, “Power doesn’t corrupt people, people corrupt power.” Serving people is the antidote. Bush also said, “For we are given power not to advance our own purposes, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name.”

Wisdom makes one wise person more powerful than ten rulers in a city (Ecclesiastes 7:19).

You learn something every day you pay attention. (Ray LeBlond, author and communicator)

It is often said that you learn something new every day. But LeBlond is probably more accurate; you learn only if you’re paying attention. Any student recognizes that truth. We have all sat in classes, heard lectures, read assignments, and gone away having learned little or nothing. Why? Because we weren’t really paying attention. We have to be alert to learn.

Be alert and of sober mind. (1 Peter 4:7-8).

What a grand world this would be if we all did as well today as we expect to do tomorrow! (Anon.)

Like the song in the play Annie, tomorrow is always the hope for better things no matter how bad everything might seem today. Some of us put off working at a difficult task, thinking we will be able to do it better tomorrow. But if we would just do the best we can today, the tomorrows would take care of themselves, and today would go much better.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring (Proverbs 27:1).

The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. (George Bernhard Shaw, 19th-20th centuries Irish playwright)

It happens way too often, doesn’t it? We leave someone, thinking we have communicated our expectations clearly, only to find out later that we weren’t understood at all. We must really make sure that what we want someone to remember is actually heard and understood. Repetition and follow-up questions might ensure that we have been heard aright.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up . . . that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

Do not depend upon teachers to educate you … follow your own bent, pursue your curiosity bravely. . . (Will Durant, 20th century American historian and philosopher)

Durant goes on to say, “In the end, education, like happiness, is individual, and must come to us from life and from ourselves.” Durant certainly was not disregarding the value of teachers, but he makes an important observation. To learn effectively with long-lasting value, students must experience life and gain from the pursuit of personal learning.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning. . . . Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9).

Much wants more and loses all. (Aesop’s Fables)

How much is enough? For a lot of people it seems that there is never enough—enough money to buy what we want; enough time to do all we want. Aesop is telling us that when we continue to want more (when nothing is ever enough), we will lose the ability to appreciate the value of what we already have.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. . . . I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:11-12).

If a man wants to read good books, he must make a point of avoiding bad ones. (Arthur Schopenhauer, 18th century German philosopher)

His reason: “Life is short, and time and energy limited,” he said. That’s good advice for more than just the reading of books. To save time and energy we would all do well to avoid bad movies, bad TV shows, and any activity that doesn’t add anything positive to our lives. Follow worthy pursuits to learn, advance, and make worthy contributions to others.

See then that you walk circumspectly . . . redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).

The act of self-giving is a personal power-releasing factor. (Chelle Thompson, editor and publisher)

Thompson continues: “When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with your own more effectively.” Many have found this counsel to be true. When we put others first, helping them cope with life, we discover that we are better able to handle our own troubles.

Praise be to . . . the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

What you believe must determine how you behave. (Warren Wiersbe, preacher and author)

Why do we do the things we do? What determines our actions and behavior? There may be different influences that cause us to do this or that, but in the end we most often act on the basis of what we believe. When we think something is true, we’ll move in light of that truth. If, on the other hand, we doubt it, we most likely will not act on it.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

There is a language in actions. And in some cases the language of action is much more clear and convincing than words. (Jonathan Edwards, 18th century Puritan theologian)

Perhaps Edwards’ words are the basis for the more modern expression, “Actions speak louder than words.” In spite of what someone might say, the evidence of his activity will usually reveal the true intent of his heart and mind. We might well tell him, “What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” Work hard to make your deeds and words match.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).