There is a big difference between giving up and quitting. This is a complicated area all of us deal with, but it is important to understand deep in our hearts what the difference is.

Sometimes you need to quit something to start something else. That’s ok and it is a normal course of life. Let’s say that you changed job professions. You will need to quit one job before you can start the new job. Many times in our lives we make changes to our circumstances that could be interpreted as quitting. Change is an easier way to describe it. Another example would be like in high school you quit the track team to play on the baseball team. Got the idea?

Giving up is an entirely different subject and is the real focus of this blog post. Giving up can in many ways alter your life. Giving up is most commonly associated with areas of our lives such as health, marriage, friendships, exercise programs etc. The spirit within us is often driven by our will to fight. The will within you could be the most powerful emotion in your life. It is the thing that keeps you going. Hope is a part of our own will and it is hope that makes our life worth living.

You may ask why I am writing this strange blog. Good question and here is the answer.

I know a person that was faced last week with the option to give up or keep going in a certain area of their life. This person has been struggling with something for their whole life and last week it came to a point where the person was almost ready to give up the fight. This person did not make the decision quickly, rather they thought about it for several days; after deep thought and prayer, they decided that they must fight on and not give up. It seems that when you give up in one area of your life, it becomes easier to give up in another. Many times when you give up, you can change the true purpose of your life to be less than what God intended for you.

If we are honest with ourselves, we know the difference between quitting something and giving up. We instinctively know in our hearts that giving up is life-altering. So the advice is if you are tempted to give up, consider your life, your family, the person you want to be, and what you want to be remembered for. KT

There is an old woodsman proverb from the 1800’s that says, “A tree is best measured when it is down.” That proverb was recalled by one of the people in the room when Abraham Lincoln died. The train that carried Lincoln’s casket went through seven states, 1662 miles and stopped at various cities along the way so the people could morn their beloved president. It was reported that over 30 million people lined the railroad tracks waiting for the funeral train to pass by. Abraham Lincoln was the most beloved president in American history. In death, he was measured as a man found worthy.

The true measure of a man is often not fully known and acknowledged until the end of his life. That to me, is a very humbling thought. I think of several actors in the news lately that were believed to be real gentlemen, only to have found out that the whole time, they were just acting.

Think of yourself and how you will be measured and remembered when you are gone. If you are reading this blog post that means you still have time to change course if needed and become the person you want to be remembered as.

The following is a news report of Billy Graham speaking at a birthday luncheon that was given in his honor. When Billy stepped to the rostrum the person told him, “we don’t expect a major address Mr. Graham but please come and let us honor you.” The following is the story that Billy Graham told that day.

“I am reminded today of Albert Einstein who was honored as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train, when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets.

“It wasn’t there. He looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn’t find it.

“The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’

“Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

“The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry, I know who you are; no problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’

Einstein looked at him and said, “Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.”

Having said that, Graham continued to his Charlotte crowd, “See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My children and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious.

“So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is?  This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing.

“I want you to remember this:

“I not only know who I am. I also know where I’m going.” KT

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