Love Heals All Wounds

“I’ve learned that love, not time, heals all wounds.”

-- Andy Rooney

***

I know people who have been carrying around a grudge for a long, long time.   It is evident that time has not healed their wounds.  Somebody said something, did not say something, did something, or did not do something that has forever changed a relationship.  People expect that time will take care of things.  It does not!  Time does not really heal.  Time has a way of repressing things, but the hurt, disappointment, and/or rejection never completely go away with time alone.    

Time by itself does not heal a wound.  The prescription for healing a wound is the right amount of time and a strong dose of love.  If you feel that someone has done you wrong,  you’ll never fully heal until you find it in your heart to forgive.  True forgiveness is an act of love.  I do not subscribe to the old cliché “forgive and forget.”  I don’t believe that you can ever forget that a hurtful act took place, but if you truly forgive the person, then the act becomes insignificant. 

With 10 days into the new year we’ve had time to say good-bye to 2012.  Hopefully, we’ve welcomed 2013 with hopes and dreams for a better year.  It’s not possible to have a better year with old wounds that have yet to heal.  This year, I encourage you to add forgiveness to your New Years Resolution list - it's not too late.  There are so many things in life that we do not have control over.  But, one thing is for sure, we have control over home much love we wish to spread.  This year identify people in your life that you need to forgive and go to work on forgiving them.   You have the power to create a win/win situation; forgive someone and I guarantee you that you’ll make two people feel better in the process.

Remember, it is love that really heals all wounds!

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
MJD

Leaving the Harbor

"A ship is safe in the harbor, but that is not what ships are built for."

- John A. Shedd

***

A ship is meant to travel, be it with people or goods.  On some days a ship will meet turbulent seas, while on other days, the seas are idly calm.  Nonetheless, it is when a ship leaves the harbor that it fulfills it's purpose.   Like a ship, you won't be able to fulfill your purpose, if you never leave your harbor.  You'll never find new adventures or great opportunities if you're not willing to set sail. 

Today, pick something that will take you out of your comfort zone (the harbor).  You don't have to journey too far.  Just the willingness to leave the harbor marks the  beginning of the realization of your hopes, dreams, and desires. 

You're the captain of your own ship and you can take it anywhere you desire.  You were built for success.  However, like a ship, you cannot fulfill your purpose if you're not willing to leave the safety of the harbor.

In the words of Mark Twain," So throw off the bowlines.  Sail away from the safe harbor.  Catch the trade winds in your sails.  Explore.  Dream.  Discover."

Bon voyage!

Its your life: live it, love it & celebrate it!
MJD

***

Furnish It Well!

"A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner, so if one's life is cold and bare he can blame none but himself."

-- Louis L'Amour

***

How will you furnish your mind?  Will it be with thoughts of happiness, gratitude and achievement, or thoughts of sadness, lack and failure.  Unlike furnishing a home, which is limited to what you can afford, your mind is not limited.  It possesses great power and potential.  The key is too furnish it with the “right stuff.” 

If things do not appear to be going right in your life, then it is time to get rid of some of the old furnishings to make room for some new furnishings.  Remember, you are the sole designer of your life, so choose your furnishings wisely. 

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!

- MJD

Actions Speak Louder than Words

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

John F. Kennedy

***

Actions validate our words.  It' nice to say you're appreciative of somebody or something, but words soon become hollow if they're not supported with action.   Remember people may forget what you said.  But, they will never forget the way you made them feel. 

Today, make it a point to say something nice, do something nice and be somebody nice! 

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
- MJD

Seasons of Life

"Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live."

-- Norman Cousins

***

Like it or not, you were born to die!  Ecclesiastes 3: 1-2 tells us. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  a time to be born and a time to die.”   The reason we were born to die is so that we can live.  Remember, nothing lasts forever: love and hate, and, joy and suffering are not intended to endure.  Everything has a begin date (time to be born) and an end date (time to die).  Life’s events certainly can precipitate an end date to love and hate, and joy and suffering.  And, ultimately, death will determine our final end date as a mortal.  Remember, the Good Lord promises us that there will be seasons of death (time to die) and seasons of rebirth (time to be born) throughout our lives. 

So, if you are experiencing love, cherish it.  Don’t ever take it for granted, for tomorrow it may no longer exist (time to die).  If you are experiencing the effects of hatred, have faith that love will find a way (time to be born).  If you are experiencing joy, be thankful, for tomorrow holds no guarantees (time to die).  If you are experiencing suffering, believe that a new found happiness awaits you (time to be born).

You might ask, why would a loving God allow us to experience hatred and suffering.  It is because you cannot experience true love until you have felt the effects of hatred.  You cannot experience joy until you have experienced the pain and suffering.  Often, we have a tendency to take things for granted: we may get too comfortable with love or not appreciate the joys.  The seasons in our lives are intended to remind us to cherish what we have, because nothing lasts forever. 

Life starts with a heart beat and ends with a final heart beat.  Remember it is in between those two heartbeats that we were born to live and born to die.  Recording artist, Kris Allen tells it best:

“Looking at the hands of the time we've been given
If this is all we got and we gotta start thinking
If every second counts on a clock that's ticking
Gotta live like we're dying.”    

So, life is a paradox:  We were born to live, yet born to die.  I encourage you to live, live, live!  You can’t escape death, it is inevitable!  And, you really don’t have much control over death.  But, you do have a whole lot of control over how you choose to live.  Steve Jobs said, “Death is very likely the single best invention of life."  So I urge you, get out there and live your life.  Live it loud and live it proud! 

It’s your life: live it, love it & celebrate it! 
MJD

A New World

“Show me a day when the world wasn't new.”

  ~ Sister Barbara Hance

***

Although God has never told me this, I suspect that he created day and night to allow us to begin anew.  Yes, day gives way to night and night gives way to day; a new beginning!  Each day is a new day and it is a gift to you from God.   The gift is another opportunity; another opportunity to be happy, healthy, and productive.   Although the choices you have made up to this point certainly define you, they don’t have to define your tomorrow.  Tomorrow is a new day.  So for a better tomorrow, make the best use of your gift today; become a better, new you.  Remember, when you change the world changes too!

It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
MJD

The Small Room

"One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to anybody."
~Mother Teresa

***
Today, I heard a conversation about LeBron James.  The talk was about the phenomenal season he is having thus far.  He is averaging 29.2 points per game, 8.3 assists and 7.1 rebounds. He is shooting 55.1 percent from the floor.  LeBron’s stats are most impressive.   If this trek continues, some may claim that he could be the best basketball player to ever take the hardwood.  But, would he be?   His statistics alone could dictate that.  But there is more to basketball than just statistics.  There are the intangibles: things like character, leadership and work ethic. 

Some believe that in order for LeBron James to be identified with the likes of Bird, Magic and His Airness, LeBron must win a championship.  Why is it so important that Mr. James win a championship to take his place among the great ones?  It is because winning a championship speaks to a complete player.   No doubt, statistics can be impressive.  But alone, statistics do not win championships.   Basketball requires teamwork.  LeBron has four other players on the court with him.  If LeBron is going to win a championship, he has to be able to do what the great players that went before him did.  Bird did it; Magic did it; and Jordan dit it!. The great ones made those around them better.  They knew they could not win a championship by themselves.  Everyone on the team had to get better.  The great ones have a leadership style that brings out the best in people.  If LeBron James is going to win a championship, he has to become a person of influence.  It is imperative that he must make those around him better.
 
Congratulations to LeBron James – his statistics are stunning.  But, until he wins a championship, he will not find his name among the truly great ones.  Sure, LeBron is extremely talented.  Someday, he will retire with Hall of Fame type statistics.  Absent a championship, he will not be entitled to enter the "small room."  A room reserved only for the truly great ones; those who not only put up big numbers, but made everyone else better while doing so. 

So I ask you, do you make those around you better?  Or, are you so caught up in your statistics (your own affairs) that you either don't have the time or you don't care to make those around you better.  I encourage you to become a person of influence.  When you make those around you better, it is only natural that you become better too; your family becomes better; your organization becomes better and so on.  The truly great ones understand and embrace the responsibility of making others better. 

Here's to making those around you better.  I only hope that someday you find yourself in some "small room" among the truly great ones!
 
It's your life: live it, love it, & celebrate it!
MJD