Made Me Think

While reading this morning our of the book titled "Rascal" by Chris Brady, I came across a paragraph that really challenged me. Within the paragraph he asked, "Why do most people waste their days without ever seeking that purpose for which they were built?" He later stated, "We are all limited by pride, ego, fear, lack of confidence, laziness, passivity, indifference, and the desire for comfort." After reading those to sentences, I began to think about my life and what I have accomplished.

Why am I where I am at currently?
Am I allowing some of the limiting factors Mr. Brady wrote about stop me from living a life of purpose?
Am I settling for what is good instead of striving for what is great?
Am I setting the example that I want my four children to see and model their lives after?

As I thought about those questions, I didn't like the answers I was giving myself. I think most parents have the thinking that they want their children to have a better life than they have lived. But are we teaching them how to do so? Are we teaching them the principles needed to live a purpose-focused life or are we teaching our children it is more important to work towards entertaining ourselves?

I want to teach my children the correct principles needed to live a better life. I cannot do that by watching TV and playing around online. I have to show them be example. I need to make choices that move me towards bettering my life so that my children see it is worth it.

This is the start of a new year, my goal is to do just what I have written about here. I want to be the role model that my children need to live a great life for a purpose. I ask you the same thing. What can you do to live a more purpose-focused life? Who is watching you as their model? Are you giving them a great example, not just a good example to copy?

A Touching Example of Serving Others

At the end of last week, I was shared a story from one of the aides at my school about a first grade student in our building. I was touched by the servant example this student displayed. Here is what the aide shared with me:

Michaela comes to the gym everyday for her recess. She enjoys listening to music as she moves around. One day while Michaela was in the gym she noticed that the gym floor was very dusty and dirty. She showed the aide and said that every gym class the kids do things on the floor. The aide asked what needed to be done. Michaela suggested that it needed swept. The aide agreed and suggested maybe Michaela could do that during her recess time that she spent in the gym. Michaela agreed to do so and has continued everyday for the past several weeks sweeping the gym on her own time.

Michaela does not sweep the gym floor because it benefits her. In fact, she never gets onto the floor herself. Michaela is wheelchair-bound. She cleans the floor on a daily basis so that it is clean for the other students in the school. Wow, talk about a servant heart! I was very impressed by this display of selfless action. She chose to do something that did not benefit her in anyway and did it at a time when no one else knew she was doing it. She didn't do it for the recognition, she did it because it needed to be done. Thank you Michaela for such a strong reminder of serving others.

Hilarious!

Enjoy another fun little clip! I feel a party idea coming. LOL!

Only As Young As You Feel!

We're only as young as we feel. I hope to live this long, be married this long and have fun this long!

Fran & Marlo Cowan (married 62 years) playing impromptu recital together in the atrium of the Mayo Clinic. He turned 90 in February. The song is Old Grey Bonnet.