When things are good, we often take the good for granted. We usually do not think this way on purpose, rather it is based in our expectation that if things are good now, they will continue.

There is a song that has the lyrics, “I wanted the world until my world stopped, now all I want is what I had.” Many times we do not recognize what is important until we don’t have it any more. It is said that when you get close to the end of life, the only two things that matter is the relationship you have with God and the relationship you have with your family. Work, money, cars and houses mean literally nothing any longer. The question you ask yourself is, have I done all I needed to do to prepare my children and my spouse before my leaving? Have I been the father and husband I should have been or the mother and wife I should have been?

I suspect that when you face uncertainty, the things that mean the most to you are not financial. They are the people in your life.

Sometimes you never know what impact you have on others. I had this gentleman some years ago who I detested because he was wealthy, arrogant, mean and spiteful. Basically a guy you wanted nothing to do with. We interacted many times because he was my landlord in one of the restaurants I used to own. I found out he was diagnosed with late stage cancer and was at Emory hospital and one day his assistant called me and said that Ray has asked if I could come see him. I was taken back by the call but I knew instantly why I was placed in that situation. It was like a still small voice spoke to me and told me what to do.

I knew Ray needed Jesus and was asking me to come show him how. I also knew that if I didn’t go, there would no one else to go in my place. It is strange how you sometimes hear that voice of understanding in your heart and you just know.

I stopped by the book store and bought Ray a bible and took a pen and outlined the plan of salvation. When I walked into his room was looking at his stock portfolio reports. I will never forget that day as long as I live because he looked at me and laid his financial report down and said thank you for coming. I told him I was there to tell him about Jesus. Tears came to eyes and he told me to pull up chair real close so he could hear me. I opened the bible I had bought for him to the first scripture of the plan of salvation and he began to listen so intently to everything I said. At the end I asked if he would like to accept Jesus into his heart. That 79 year old man prayed the pray of salvation like a little child and when he was done he had tears coming down his face. Ray died a week later and I have no doubt that when I get to heaven, Ray will be there at the gate to see me.

Recognize what a gift you have in your family and in your God and never take for granted the beauty and simplicity of what you already have. Also never underestimate the influence you may have on others along the way. KT

I was with a very dear friend this week who is really like an older brother to me. Our relationship goes back many years and it is one that I cherish.

We were discussing a certain area of his life where strife, for the past five years seems to have stolen much of his love, joy and peace. I ask him a question that we all should ask ourselves in situations like these. How long will I let it control my life? It may sound funny when you ask it out loud but I ask him are you going to continue in strife for another 5 days, a week, April 20^th etc. I ask him to pick a date that he will forgive, release and move on with his life.

He ask me something that only a dear friend world ask. He said, you choose the date and I decide now in advance that I will do what is needed on that day to move on with my life. That day I choose is this Sunday. Might as well do it on the Lord’s Day.

We all have had situations that have happened to us that cause anger and strife. One of the key ways to know if you have anger and strife in your life is if you find yourself standing at your mirror or driving your car while talking to yourself about what you should have said and what you want to say to them.

It is our choice how long to carry it. I use the term “carry it” because it is so true. When you carry around envy, strife and anger it is like you are walking through life with a 50 lb. backpack on. It goes with you wherever you go. At some point we all need to take off the backpack and stand tall and move on with our life.

If you are in strife against another person, choose the date you decide to stop letting it have control over your life. There is really something almost spiritual about making that decision rather than letting the situation control you. KT

I have all five of the original Rocky movies. The movies are a little cheesy and hokey but the reason I love the movies is because of what they portray.

The movies are about a guy that had none of the proper qualifications needed to be a championship boxer. He wasn’t the smartest, he wasn’t that great of an athlete, he was uneducated, unorthodoxed, slow and pretty much had no qualities that one would associate with a championship boxer. That said, he had the one thing that he needed. He had the heart to win.

He defied all expectations of other people as well as his own expectations. He never saw himself winning and certainly never saw himself as the champion. When you watch the first movie, about have way through the boxing match, he begins to realize he can compete with Apollo Creed and he makes a decision that he no longer is just an average boxer. He begins to push himself harder and fight with everything he had to become the person he secretly always dreamed of being.

Many of us don’t have the skill, talent, brains or education to compete in the world but in my experience it is not about any of those things. It is about heart. KT

In business and life there is never a wrong time to do the right thing. There are many difficult situations in life that can be improved if one party just does the right thing. Just goes to the other person and says, I’m sorry, can you forgive me?

Men are probably the worst offenders because they don’t like to show vulnerability and certainly don’t like to talk about it. Some men will spent their entire lives with unforgiveness hanging over their hands. Men especially think that if they just ignore what happened, the other party will forget and everything will be ok. So many times, the event could be put to rest if a simple conversation was initiated.

Many of life’s big issues start as a small misstep that is left unattended and could be corrected so easily with a soft word. I know people today that when I see them, it is hard not to remember the kind of person they used to be. We are not like God in that he literally forgives and forgets and remembers the wrong no more. We as humans still have a memory chip and can recall what was done but we also are capable of grace and forgiveness. I suspect that we all have friends today and possibly even good friends that disappointed us years ago but the issue was dealt with quickly and resolved and that same person has now become a friend to you.

The only person you can control is you. You cannot control whether someone accepts your apology, rather all you can do is clear your conscience by doing the right thing. KT