Things I learned from a horse...

• Sometimes it’s time to quit trotting and go for the canter.  Don’t let fear hold you back.
• Set your goal and keep working at it.  If you had started 5 years ago it would be done by now.
• You have to really work at it.  That may mean some extra training in a class that is out of your comfort zone. 
• Having patient people (and horses) mentor you will help you reach your goals. 
• Sometimes you’ve got to ride the difficult one.  It will stretch you and improve you.
• Put a smile on someone’s face.  Lift their burden and make their day with your acts of kindness.
• Be nice.  Sometime in your life the shoe will be on the other foot.
• There are lots of opinions out there about how to do things…figure out what works in your situation.     
• Be positive.  You can do it!
• Cheerful, willing workers are appreciated.  Be one!    
• Be humble enough to ask for help.
• Ask questions.  Let people teach you by being teachable. 
• Stay balanced. 
• Think of your goal as an investment in your life. 
• If you fall off get back on. 

• Don’t be stubborn as a mule.

• 

  Sometimes it’s good to kick up your heels and feel your oats!

from the Honeymooners...

Here's a great little nugget of truth...

Josh called me after his honeymoon with his sweet wife, Michelle.  They had a wonderful trip.  Josh told me that he and Michelle had rented a bicycle built for two to ride around Mackinaw Island.  He said "At first we had trouble with it (the bike) but then we got in sync and got the hang of it".    Relationships are like that too.  Marriage takes time, work, and trial and error to create a smooth running marriage.  Congratulations Josh and Michelle... may you happily ride on into your future!

Taking correction... Part 2

... you have to read this one slowly:

Best is the man who can himself advise;
He too is good who hearkens to the wise;

Who, himself being witless, will not heed
Another's wisdom, is worthless indeed.

Hesiod
( c. 720 B.C.)

Taking correction...

Taking correction is not easy to do.  None of us like to hear about where we need to improve.  However it is an important thing to listen to the wisdom of others.

"Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies one made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience.  Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith".
1 Timothy 1:18-19

Any thoughts on how to be heard when you see a shipwreck happening?

Make someone's day.

I recently went to Wal-Mart bought a huge cart load of stuff.  I got in line behind a acquitance of mine who also had a huge load of stuff.  We chatted while we unloaded our carts... it was a lenghtly process.  After I had unloaded my stuff I then realized that the poor guy behind me had less than ten items in his cart and a very patient 2 year-old in the cart.  I quickly apologized.   He patiently answered that it was OK and so on.  When I finished my order I took (with his permission) his milk and put it on my bill.  He thanked me and I thanked him for his patience.  As I pushed my cart away I over heard him and the clerk saying" I've never seen that happen before".  I smiled... it made my day.

I cannot take credit for this random act of kindess.  I actually learned this from a youth minister, Pastor Mike.  Pastor Mike was known and loved for his great road trips.  When Pastor Mike unloaded about a million teenagers at McDonalds he often bought the people who rolled in behind our group their meal.  I always admired his consideration.  To me that is what being a Christian is about.  Others before self.  Thanks Pastor Mike for teaching me!

Please share random acts of kindness here: