I had a strange moment this morning while heading out to work. The sky was overcast, cold and raining. I got to the end of my driveway and realized I forgot to make sure I had closed the garage door, so I put the truck in reverse to look at the backup camera to confirm I had closed the door.

It was one of those moments where God taps you on the shoulder and whispers to your spirit, stop. I stopped with the truck in reverse with the backup camera showing our home and the strangest thoughts began to unfold in my mind and in my heart.

I realized how very very very blessed I am. As I looked at our home where we have lived for 19 years and the mental video player began to roll. I saw my bride, my daughters, my son in-laws, my granddaughters and all the financial blessings God had enabled my family to enjoy. I flashed back on my daughters when they were still living at home and the joys of graduations, proposals, meals together, special father moments, engagements, weddings, births of grandchildren etc. It was as though the last 19 years of my life played over a five-minute period. I thought about my beautiful wife and partner and our life together and how we met in high school and the 40 years of living we have had together. I realized for the 1000^th time how blessed I am to have a wife like Elaine and a family like God has blessed us with.

I saw all this while looking at our home in the backup camera this morning. Sure, I had a lot of things to do today at the office and calls to make and people to meet with, but that moment in the truck at the end of the driveway was far more important that all the other stuff. It was in that moment that God stopped me and let me view a glimpse of the how and the who and the why of my life. I came face to face (in my mind) in that moment with the who (family) and the how (God) that made my life what it is today. It is my hope that between now and Christmas, you will also have a moment that reminds you of the blessings of your life. KT

In our lives, there are many voices that compete for our attention but only a few that matter most.

I remember as a young husband and father when our children were little, how much financial stress we were under while building a life for our family. Back then I was trying to sell hotels but also constrained by past investments in the restaurants. Many days it was a struggle to make ends meet and to be the father and husband I needed to be for my family. I recall many times coming home under that financial load and walking in the door and having my two daughters call my name and run and put their arms around my neck. When I think about those days it makes me tear up just remembering those moments.

My point is that the voices we all most want, and need, are the voices of our family. Hopefully you have a spouse that loves and supports you like I do but I also understand that many people don’t. There are also many single adults trying as best they can to raise a family on their own. The one common denominator is our children. So, while you may or may not have a supportive spouse, it is the voices of your children that will get you through.

Even today, while my daughters are grown, when they call and say, “hey daddy,” it makes me choke up. I suppose it will be that way for the rest of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  In our lives, it is voices of our children and grandchildren that brings you home and calms your spirit and comforts your soul. It gives you the belonging we all search for. Those voices are the medicine for your soul, the hope in your heart, the blanket that holds you together and the vision for your future. Simply put, they are the voices of your life. KT

PS: I envision God as our heavenly father feels the same way when we say, “hey daddy.” KT

Very few things in life are endless. Most always there is an end or a stopping point. Think about your age, career, finances, home, health, friends and even your interests. Life changes. It is amazing to recognize and acknowledge a few aspects of life that never change and are endless.

At this time of year, I wanted to talk about two such areas of our lives that are in fact endless. One is the love a parent has for their children and grandchildren and the other is the love your heavenly father has for you. The depth of these two loves is well,,,, endless. Meaning there is no end and nothing that could happen to ever change it. We all know there are some parents of children that do not share this kind of love, but I am speaking about the vast, vast majority of parents that feel like I do.

There is nothing my children could ever be or do that would lessen my love for them as well as there is nothing they could ever do that I would see as unforgivable. That love is as simple, transparent and all-consuming as anything this side of heaven. If you really want to get a glimpse of the way God looks at you, just look at your children and grandchildren and understand that the same love you feel for them is the love God feels for you. If you can accept this, it will literally change your life and change how you think about God.

Think of a little boy or little girl running and jumping in their father’s lap without an invitation and zero hesitation. The world wants you to believe that the child (you) should be humble and beg the father before cautiously asking to sit in his lap. God wants you run to him, not from him. He wants you to jump enthusiastically into his arms that are always open to you. He says in his word, Matthew 19:14 “let the little children come to me and don’t stop them.” Another translation says, “don’t hinder them.”

Many times, we have let the weight of the world and our past, hinder us or stop us from running to our heavenly father. You should ask God to give you a new image or new vision of an uninhibited child running into their father’s arms knowing that the father is always available and will always love them. That is who God is to you and me. That is also who we as parents are to our children and grandchildren.

As you prepare to celebrate this Christmas season, take a few moments and celebrate these two loves in your life that are simply endless. KT

My father in-law taught me something many years ago that still resonates with me today. He said “mentally, be where you are physically.” Translation, be in the moments of your life.

So many times, the stresses of life impede our minds and we find ourselves thinking about being somewhere else instead of where we are. On example is thinking about work when we are home and thinking about home when we are work. I remember when my girls were young, and I was trying to get the business off the ground that I often found myself thinking about all the things I needed to do at work instead of being in those moments. It didn’t always happen but when it did, I can’t get those moments back. You only get one shot at each day and we need to make the most of every opportunity we have.

In our line of work, it is impossible to never let the lines cross between home and work but we all should make a concerted effort to be there with our family and be engaged as much as possible. Again, no one is perfect, but we could try harder to separate the two.

I remember a story about Abraham Lincoln that is a good example. Back in those days, people would line up at the white house to meet with the president. He would be so involved with one person’s issue that many times he would not even be aware that someone else had come in to see him. One such time, people came in to his office and he didn’t even look up to acknowledge them until he had completed the project he was working on and placed it in the proper file.

Once a moment passes, you may have other similar moments but never one exactly like the current one. One of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse, children and grandchildren is your attention. Give them you. More times than I can count, I remember my daughters talking to me about something happening in their life and quietly praying to the lord, to give me the wisdom to know what to say. When you give your attention, you hear much more than the words spoken. You hear the heart.

So, at this holiday time of year, be in the moments with your family. That is what they want most. You. KT