78a – Success Is Mostly Failure
Think a minute…A wise, respected man said: “Success is mostly failing.” What we often don’t know about the world’s most successful people is how many times they failed before they finally succeeded. Successful people never stop learning from their mistakes and failures. As a world-famous entertainer put it: “If you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain.”
This is the true story of a man who when he was 22-years-old failed at business. The next year he tried for public office in government and lost. He tried at business a second time, but failed again. Then at age 25, he made another attempt for government office, and this time he won. However, the following year his fiancé died and at age 27 he had a nervous breakdown.
In the next 7 years he tried for government office 3 more times and lost all 3 times! Three years later, at age 37, he tried again for government office and finally won. But only 2 years after that he lost yet another time. In the next 10 years, amazingly he tried 2 more times for the United States Senate and lost both times. Then he tried for vice president and lost that too. Finally, 2 years later, at age 51, he was elected President of the United States. Today, he is considered by many to be the greatest president in America’s history. This is the true-life story of Abraham Lincoln.
Failing should make us better, not bitter. It helps us learn something that does not work, so the next time we try we will be wiser and more successful. When you fail and make mistakes, you need the inner strength and courage to keep going so your life’s disappointments don’t cause you to stop short of becoming all you can be. “Tough times don’t last—tough people do.” Another way of putting it is: “It’s not how hard you can hit. It’s hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” Only Jesus can help you fully use your failures and disappointments to make you stronger and wiser to reach the true success He created you to have—both personally and professionally. Won’t you ask Him to take charge of your character and career from this day forward? Just think a minute…
78b – The Sound of Silence
Think a minute…”People would be happier if they were as good at silence as they are at speaking.” Studies have shown that constant noise is one of the biggest causes of our daily stress. “Silence is golden because there is so little of it.” Many of us don’t even realize how noisy our daily life is, and how it is robbing our peace of mind, family harmony, and health.
Our problem is we have become so accustomed, even addicted, to continually hearing some kind of noise—whether it’s talking, news, music, videos, the telephone, and other sounds. In fact, many of us simply are not comfortable with silence. Even when we go away on holiday to relax, we still take our smart phone, tablet, laptop, or we watch TV in the hotel room.
Sadly, we lose some of the best things in life because they are found only in the “sound of silence.” In silence, we can think of what we need to improve and change in our life, our family, our job and career, and our own personal character. Silence helps us think clearly so we can set goals and understand our life’s purpose. Yet silence can also give us time and freedom not to think at all, but enjoy life’s simple pleasures—such as the waves of the ocean, the color and fragrance of flowers, a gentle breeze, or a beautiful sunset. It’s in these peaceful, powerful moments of silence that we can appreciate our beautiful world and begin to understand where we fit in it.
It’s only when we are quiet that we can begin to clearly hear and understand the feelings of those we love and care about. Most importantly, it is in our silence that we can begin to hear the voice of our Maker. He keeps waiting for us to be quiet long enough to listen, so we can start receiving His peace of mind and learn to live the right way He created us to enjoy each day. Today, won’t you stop and listen to what He wants to say to you through “the sound of silence”? Just think a minute…
78c – Talking With Teens
Think a minute… Do you live with strangers in your house? It can feel that way when our kids change into teenagers and the “generation gap” between us grows wider. Now more than ever, we need to stay close to our kids during these crucial, changing years of their life. Here are some tips to overcoming this communication breakdown, and enjoying good times of talking and listening to your teenagers.
First, set rules for relating to each other. For example, make it OK in your family to disagree with each other. But be sure to always be kind and never criticize each other’s ideas, feelings, or personal preferences. If you make fun of your teenager’s taste in music or clothes, then they probably will not want to talk with you about anything else.
Second, don’t correct your teenager’s grammar and way of talking every single time they make a mistake. If you do, you are telling them that you care more about their grammar then what they are feeling and trying to tell you.
Third, pull the plug. For short drives in the car and family meals together, try not to allow your teens to use their smart phone for social media, videos, music, TV, etc. That way you can use this time together to talk, laugh, and enjoy being together. Plus, during your family meal you can choose to ignore the phone, since this time with your kids is more important.
Number four: Tell your kids about your own experiences, both the fun ones and the difficult ones you had when you were their age. This will make them feel closer to you and freer to tell you what they are going through in their childhood and youth. Furthermore, when our children hear stories about their family, it gives them a feeling of security and healthy pride in their identity and family history. Tell them how you and your spouse met, or what their grandparents were like when they were younger.
Finally, let your kids talk and share their real feelings without you preaching at them. Remember, feelings themselves are not right or wrong, but they are real to your kids. Their problems and pain may not seem the most important thing in the world, but they are extremely important in your child’s world! So, they should be important in yours also! Your teenagers need to know that you care about what they care about, without you lecturing and correcting them every time. Instead, try to help them understand what their feelings mean and how to handle them. Then they can become confident, happy, and hopeful about their life and future.
Remember, the One Who fully knows and understands your teenagers is their own Maker. So, won’t you ask Jesus to help you learn how to talk and listen to your kids? That’s the way you can stay close to them now and always. Just think a minute…
78d – The Best Policy
Think a minute…A survey was given to thousands of people: 91% said they regularly tell lies and 50% call in to their jobs saying they are sick even though they’re not sick. In fact, over half of all stealing from stores and businesses is done by their own employees. One survey question was: “What are you willing to do for $10 million?” 25% of the people said they would leave their spouse and children, and 7% said they would murder a stranger for $10 million. So, in a crowd of 1000 people, there are 70 people who would kill you for $10 million. Think about it!
I asked myself: How much like those average people am I? Have I lied to my family or friends? Stolen from my workplace? Have I cheated in school or on my taxes? Broken any of my promises? Not paid my debts? If I was guaranteed I could get away with anything, what would I do?
A famous writer said: “Honesty is like art: you have to draw the line somewhere.” The problem is who draws the line? Do I decide to draw it myself wherever I want? Does the line change with each situation I’m in? Unfortunately, lying, cheating, even stealing, come rather naturally to us. We do whatever it takes to survive and succeed, because we believe the lie that this is the only way to get ahead. That is how confused and wrong we’ve become. “Honesty is the best policy—but sadly there are few policyholders.”
We think it’s just a small “white lie” or cheap thing that we stole; but soon being dishonest becomes our way of doing things. Yet, no matter how much money and status we gain, we end up the biggest loser. This is why “Total honesty in little things is a really big thing.”
Don’t forget, sooner or later every one of us is going to pay for our dishonesty in life. It’s impossible to escape—except for one way. The only way to be set free from the painful penalty of your wrongs is to wholeheartedly ask Jesus to forgive you for your dishonest heart and way of living. Then, He can help you start changing to become the person of honesty, integrity and truthful character He created you to be. Just think a minute…
78e – Favorite Child
Think a minute…Throughout history the hopes of a family often depended on the son. Parents and daughters would sacrifice to help the son succeed. Nearly 200 years ago a family in Yorkshire, England had 3 daughters and only 1 son, Branwell.
Branwell was considered the family’s smartest child. At a young age he showed amazing talent for art and literature. His drawings and paintings, along with his poetry and other writings, promised a bright future for him and his family.
For years, Branwell’s 3 sisters worked and saved money to help their brother get the education and job experiences he needed to reach his potential. But repeatedly, Branwell wasted the opportunities that his sisters worked so hard to give him. Even when their brother became a drug addict and alcoholic, his sisters continued working to help him succeed. Sadly, to this day Branwell’s paintings and writings remain unknown. It appeared that his sisters’ many years of labor and devotion to their brother’s goals and dreams were wasted.
But during all those years, while they were working to financially support their brother, in their spare time at night by candlelight, his sisters themselves tried to do their own writing and live up to their brother’s ability. But unlike their failing brother who was the favorite child, they succeeded! In fact, all 3 sisters wrote famous books. Anne wrote the novel, Agnes Gray; Emily was the author of the classic, Wuthering Heights; and Charlotte wrote the famous Jane Eyre. Anne, Emily, and Charlotte Bronte.
It’s terribly wrong and destructive when parents have a favorite child. But thankfully and amazingly, each and every one of God’s children is His favorite! That’s the kind of perfect, unlimited love God has for His kids. He always loves each of His children fully and equally.
Won’t you ask the perfect Father to become your father? Today you can become His child—if you sincerely and seriously ask Him to forgive you for your wrong heart and living? Then, ask Him to take full charge of your character and way of living for the rest of your life. That’s the only way you can have the awesome privilege, peace, and joy of becoming His favorite child. Just think a minute…