There are certain people, places, and moments in life that hold a special place in your heart, no matter how many years pass. For me, one of those places will always be Stanford’s Department Store in Forest Park, Georgia. It was just a small-town department store, but the memories I made there have stayed with me for more than 50 years.

I played football at Morrow High School, and unfortunately, we were never quite good enough to make it into the postseason playoffs. Looking back, that may have had something to do with the team’s middle linebacker. Me! Ha!

When my junior-year football season ended in late November, I drove about five miles from our home in Morrow to Forest Park, walked into Stanford’s Department Store, and applied for a part-time job with Tommy Stanford Jr. Tommy was probably in his late 30s at the time and had taken over the business from his father, Thomas Stanford Sr., who had passed away.

Tommy hired me to work Friday evenings and all day Saturday during the Christmas season. Fortunately, he liked me well enough to keep me on into the following year. I earned $18 in cash each week, and I absolutely loved that job. Not so much because of the money, but because of the wonderful people I met along the way.

One of those people was Arlene Estes, a little lady about five feet tall and probably 60 years old at the time. I dearly loved Arlene, and little did I know when I first met her just how much she would influence the rest of my life. You see, it was Arlene who introduced me to Elaine one Friday evening when Elaine and her mother came into the store to shop.

I can still remember almost everything about that little department store. I remember the layout, the dressing rooms, the men’s department where I worked, the Christmas music playing throughout the season, and the hustle and bustle of shoppers looking for that perfect Christmas gift. I remember the holiday sales, the conversations with customers, and the ladies who worked at the gift-wrapping counter, carefully wrapping packages and making every gift look so beautiful. I can almost hear the Christmas music and see those shoppers walking through the store today.

But more than anything, I remember that store because it was where I met the girl who would become my wife.

Life is made up of seasons. Some last for years, while others pass almost before we realize they have begun. Yet sometimes the shortest seasons leave the deepest impressions and the most lasting memories. My time at Stanford’s was one of those seasons. The following summer, I left for the United States Navy, and that little chapter of my life came to an end. But I have never forgotten that department store in Forest Park or the wonderful people who worked there and made a 17-year-old boy feel like he was part of their family.

Many years later, Arlene’s family asked me to speak at her funeral. I chose to speak on the 23rd Psalm because I knew it was her favorite passage of Scripture. I knew that because Arlene had taken a genuine interest in me as a young man. She cared about the direction my life was taking, and during those years when I could have easily made some poor decisions, she was always there with a little advice, a word of encouragement, or a gentle correction.

I can still see that little five-foot-tall lady pointing her finger at me and telling me what I needed to hear, whether I wanted to hear it or not! She had a way of making you feel loved while reminding you to stay on the right path. Looking back, I realize what a blessing she was in my life.

The old Stanford’s Department Store is long gone, and most of the people who worked there have passed on. But the memories remain as clear as if they happened yesterday. What seemed like an ordinary part-time job earning $18 a week turned out to be one of the most meaningful chapters of my life. I went there looking for a little spending money and walked away with friendships, life lessons, and, most importantly, an introduction to the woman I would spend my life with.

Isn’t it amazing how God can use the simplest places and the most ordinary moments to shape the course of our lives?

I have no doubt that when the Lord calls me home, in addition to my family waiting to welcome me into heaven, there will be a little five-foot-tall lady named Arlene Estes standing there, too. And knowing Arlene, she may very well be pointing that little finger at me one more time!

Some people come into your life for only a season, but the difference they make lasts a lifetime. KT

Have you ever noticed how often we spend our time majoring on the minors while minoring on the majors? We get so caught up in things that really don’t matter that we overlook the things that matter most. We judge people by how they dress, what they drive, or where they live instead of looking at their character and how they treat others. We spend time worrying about what people think of us rather than focusing on the people and relationships that really matter. Sometimes we become so focused on the little things in life that we completely miss the big picture.

Parents can become so focused on a child’s grades, athletic performance, or keeping their room clean that they overlook the importance of teaching kindness, honesty, and good character. In business, we can become so consumed with winning a small argument or proving a point that we damage a relationship that took years to build. The truth is, we sometimes win the battle but lose the war. Imagine taking your car to a repair shop and becoming so concerned about a small scratch on the door that you completely overlook the fact that your tires are bald and your brakes are worn out. You spend your money fixing the scratch so the car looks better, while ignoring the very things that could save your life. Don’t become so focused on the scratches in life that you overlook the things that can truly make a difference.

Life is too short to spend it majoring on the minors. At the end of our lives, I doubt we will wish we had won more arguments, made a little more money, or convinced everyone we were right. But we may wish we had spent more time with family, shown more kindness, helped more people, and enjoyed the journey a little more. The next time something gets under your skin, ask yourself one simple question: Will this really matter five years from now? If the answer is no, perhaps it doesn’t deserve so much of your attention today. Don’t become so consumed with the little things in life that you miss the things that make life worth living. KT

What do you do when you are faced with challenging times, a difficult season of life, or simply a moment when things don’t go the way you had hoped? I don’t know anyone in history, with the exception of God Almighty, who has had everything unfold exactly as they wanted. Things happen, opinions change, circumstances evolve, and sometimes life simply doesn’t go according to our plans. That is just part of living in an imperfect world.

So, what do you do during those times? I don’t know about you, but those are the moments that cause me to lean even more heavily on my faith. Malachi 3:6 says, “For I am the Lord, I change not.” I take great comfort in knowing that regardless of what happens here on earth, God never changes. His Word never changes, His promises never change, and His principles of right and wrong never change. In a world where almost everything seems uncertain, we serve a God who is forever constant and faithful.

So, when challenging moments come, or when you find yourself walking through a difficult season of life, take heart, take a deep breath, and rest in the assurance that God is still on His throne. He is still ever-present, He is still in control, and nothing that happens in this world catches Him by surprise. And never forget, no matter how complicated or impossible your circumstances may seem, God can change everything and bring about His perfect plan in the twinkling of an eye. KT

As we go through life, without consciously thinking about it, we tend to believe we have all the tomorrows we could ever want. The truth is, we don’t.

Last Tuesday, a friend of mine passed away. He was only a year or so older than me, appeared to be in great health, and was still actively working managing hotels. About 10 days earlier, he developed blood clots in his leg and lungs. Doctors decided to operate, only to discover cancer had spread throughout his body. He died two days later. He entered the hospital fully expecting to return home the next day, but he never made it home.

One thing I’ve come to realize is that when the Lord calls us home, He doesn’t check our Outlook calendar, our meeting schedule, or the plans we had for the week. He doesn’t ask whether today is a convenient day for our homecoming. We simply don’t get a choice in the matter. I believe that when a Christian closes his eyes for the last time here on earth, in the twinkling of an eye, he opens them in heaven, standing in the presence of the Lord God Almighty.

We should all strive to redeem the time we have by doing what is right and, to the best of our ability, making right what is wrong in our lives. Why? Because none of us knows how many tomorrows we have left. KT

Many of the greatest ideas come when we are doing the mundane, routine, every day boring stuff. I can’t explain it, but it seems God favors those who go about their life with consistency and integrity in our ordinary daily lives.

It’s almost like God can get through to us when we are not so focused on the world around us. It’s a dance recital, chorus concert, T-ball game, sitting with the children in the backyard or just simply reading a book. It’s in those moments, when we are faithful in the small things that big things can happen.

You have heard me say this before, but one idea from God, can change your future. Take the Hula Hoop story, Joan Andweson saw children playing in Australia with bamboo hoops swinging them around their waist. Her and her husband brought the idea to Wham-O toy company. Long story short, they sold 25 million in the first four months and 100 million worldwide in the next year or so.

I don’t know this to be true, but Joan was probably at a family picnic when she saw the kids playing with the bamboo hoops.  A mundane, ordinary boring moment and she sees the idea.

The next time you are going about your everyday life, doing probably something boring, perk your antenna up. You never know what idea you could have in that boring moment. KT