Freedom

 

As we celebrate Independence Day this Friday, take a moment to reflect on the power and responsibility that comes with our freedoms.

We are truly blessed to live in a country that offers us incredible freedoms. Unfortunately, we often take these freedoms for granted. We shouldn't. Many countries do not share these privileges. What we choose to do with our freedom defines who we are.

• The freedom to live fully, love deeply, and laugh often

• The freedom to work hard and chase success

• The freedom to challenge ourselves mentally and physically

• The freedom to fail and recover

• The freedom to choose our own path, even if we sometimes get it wrong

• The freedom to educate ourselves

• The freedom to make mistakes and grow from them

• The freedom to honor and remember those who protect these freedoms

• The freedom to be a force for good in the lives of others

• The freedom to say “I love you” to those who matter most

• The freedom to worship as we please

Happy 4^th of July and be blessed my friends…

Who am I?

 

I lost my dad way too early,

Who am I to doubt it was part of God’s plan?

 

His mother lived to age 98, why couldn’t he?

Who am I to question God’s timing?

 

He loved my mom and all of us so dearly,

Who am I to ask God why we don’t have him anymore?

 

He was married for 50 years, had nine grandchildren and a great grandchild,

Who am I to not thank God for the time we did have?

 

He had wood to carve, golf to play and trips to take,

Who am I to ask God why not?

 

He was kind, loved and respected,

Who am I to ask God why him?

 

For his disease there were no more options,

Who am I to ask God why no cure?

 

There were things I had not done or said,

Who am I to ask God for more time with him?

 

I never heard a bad word spoken towards him,

Who am I to ask God why not someone else?

 

He deserved so much more,

Who am I to question that God knows what he truly deserved?

 

I lost my dad far too soon,

Who am I to question God’s plan?

  

Barry D. Blanton

In loving memory of Don Blanton

January 6, 1935 – June 23, 2007

 

This MMM was originally written in 2007.  I will repeat it as long as I write MMM’s on a Monday near the anniversary of the passing of my father. Today happens to be the exact anniversary date.

Grace

 

Do you give yourself grace? We often talk about kindness, grace, and forgiveness towards others. There have been several MMMs on those subjects. But, what about us? Do we give ourselves enough grace?

·        Grace for being forgetful as we age

·        Grace for not completing a workout as planned

·        Grace for tiring out on certain tasks

·        Grace for running late to an appointment

·        Grace for making a mistake at work

·        Grace for overreacting with a child or spouse

I am not suggesting we get to always make excuses. I am just suggesting we not be so hard on ourselves. We all have been taught to always be kind and forgiving to others, to ourselves, not so much. Perhaps, earlier generations did not realize the importance of that. We will give them grace for that.

Give yourself some grace today, tomorrow and everyday…

Follow A Leader – Lead a Follower

 

Any worthwhile discussion of leadership will focus on the concept of willing followers.  There has been much written about leadership skills, qualities, methods and systems, but the true test of leadership is followers.

“He who thinks he leads but has no followers is only taking a walk.” 

-       John Maxwell

Excellent leaders are marked by willing followers. That does not mean subordinates who follow out of obligation. True followers are those who follow when they have the freedom not to. We are all followers in some roles in our lives and leaders in others.  Think about what causes you to follow certain people. What qualities do they have? Do those same traits show up in your leadership roles? I don’t know about you, but when I am in a leadership role, I do not want to be just taking a walk!

Change

  

There is an old Jerry Jeff Walker song entitled Too Old to Change.  I recall being in my late twenties and early thirties, thinking that song applied to me.  I had this notion that I was who I was, and was not likely to change much, people around me just needed to accept that.  At that point, my song title should have been Too Stupid to Change.  Maybe it still should be!  We are never too old to change, we are however, often too hardheaded to change.  We do not grow as people if we do not change.  Self-improvement requires change. I know this better now, even if I am still not very good at it.  Life is all about change and how we accept, embrace, and adapt to it. 

 

Don't be too old to change!