A Pig In Pearls

Tags

Christian, conscious, deep, emotional, fact, gentle reminder, gift choice, healthy-living, Illustration, insightful, inspiration, Inspirational, liberating, Life Class, Personal, perspective, self development, thought provoking, Writing

There once was a farmer who awakened every day joyous about being a farmer. He loved everything about being a farmer. He loved raising chickens, pigs and cows. He loved growing crops. He loved everything about it. He loved the planting, he loved watching the seedlings grow, he loved the harvest time, he loved the rain and he even loved the droughts. He loved everything about being a farmer.

One day as he was passing the pig pen, he happened to notice that one of his pigs was significantly bigger than the others. So he separated this pig from the others and treated the pig as a pet. He took the pig and cleaned him up and put a leash on him. Wherever he went the pig went, when he ate the pig ate and whatever he ate the pig ate the same. While out in town one day he had a custom pearl collar made for his friend, his companion, his loyal pig. To him this was no ordinary pig this was his friend.

One day the pigs leash broke and the pig went running to the pig pen jumped the gate and splashed down in the mud, feces and slop. He couldn’t recall having ever seen the pig so happy, he suddenly realized that he had to leave the pig where he was the most at home. He then noticed the pearl collar that he bought for the pig was still on the neck of the pig and now it too is covered in mud, feces and slop. He began to fill silly for taking something of such great value and giving it to a pig. A pig who was neither equipped nor possessed the desire to appreciate something of such great value. A great gift that had come by way of the sacrifice of someone who wanted better for him/her.

To some, this story may seem funny but we do this all of the time. There are times in life we take the great pearls of our wisdom and experience and place them around the neck of a pigs. I know this seems harsh and judgemental but sometimes the truth can be that way because it has to be. I write this so that we will be careful and discerning of who we share our pearls (things of great value) with.

Here’s the takeaway…. you can easily recognize pigs in most cases. Pigs are the happiest when they are in the middle of, creating and neck-deep in mud (dirt) slop (anything messy) and feces. These are the people who are not just in it but when they don’t see it they will work to make everyplace they go a pig pen. All of us know people like this and I share this simply to say don’t cast the greatest things of value to you to someone who doesn’t have the slightest intent or inkling of hearing or accepting it.

You see whether you like it or not WE are all farmers in some sense. My question is this, how many pigs are wearing your pearls?

Motivation One Moment At A Time

The Life of Chivalry

Tags

Chivalry, Christian, conscious, deep, emotional, gentle reminder, Gentlemen, Growth, healthy-living, insightful, inspiration, liberating, Love, Marriage, perspective, relationship, Reminder, self development, thought provoking, training

Is there still a need for chivalry?

I would say yes, there is still a need for men to be chivalrous. I know it may sound old-fashioned but, here is still a need for us to open doors, pull out chairs, to carry bags. There is still a need for us to walk closest to the traffic in public. There is still a need for us to be the provider and protector, the need still exist. If you ask me, I believe now more than ever before.

Chivalry is not about going thru the motions for appearances sake. Your chivalry can’t be a symbolic public gesture that’s not reinforced privately. Chivalry is the outward expression of thoughts and feelings expressed with simple gestures.

News Flash: To provide and protect is not about having the larger income, the biggest ego, the loudest voice, or having a physical and emotional presence of domination.

You see public chivalry is an extension of the private relationship. It says that I place you before me. It’s saying I will open doors to new opportunities for you. I will close doors to limit your exposure to unnecessary elements. I will stand on the outside so that any harm that comes to you has to go thru me first. I will lift and carry things regardless of the weight so it doesn’t burden you. I will pull out chairs and seat you first so you will know that I will work to make a place for your comfort first. Chivalry is deeper than it appears on the surface.

*Please note that Chivalry is the work of a gentlemen (better said a gentle man). Any guy can perform the outward or the surface activities, but only a gentle man will perform the private work.

Somehow we traded Chivalry for Rivalry. Keep Chivalry Alive!

If You’re Going Thru

Tags

Christian, Church, Cliche, Faith, inspiration, Life Lesson, motivation, Spiritual, washingtonian

This morning I was just thinking about something that I hear all the time. I often hear people say things like ” I’m going thru right now” ” You’ve got to go thru something to get to something”. I have decided that I like the latter part of the latter statement. I believe words have power. I believe words can shape and redefine our understanding of our current experiences. So today, I have decided that I’m no longer  using the term that I’m ” going thru” anything. I want to announce today that I’m “getting to” something.

 
I know it seems like a play on words but it’s not. See when I say I’m going thru it makes me look around at my current circumstances so I can get a real clear picture of where I am. I am simply suggesting that we change our focus so that we are not always “going thru” something but we are always “getting to” something.
I choose to think this way, because what I’m “getting to” will always be greater than what I’m “going thru”.

 
Here’s why, because what I’m getting to has me arriving at destination with the added benefit of having gone thru. See when I “get to” I will be better than I was when I was going thru. I’ll be stronger than I was when I was going thru. My praise will be different, my worship will be different, my walk will be different, my talk will be different, my faith will be different. I WILL BE DIFFERENT.

 
I choose to focus on “getting to” because It will help me feel better even when things aren’t better. Because I’m looking forward to the revelation of my experience.
I don’t know about you but from here on out. I’m not “going thru” something, I’m “getting to” something.

A Father’s Heart

Tags

children, commitment, community, Father's Day, fatherhood, insightful, inspiration, Love, Manhood, motivation, opinion, perspective, relationship, thoughtful

 

 

 

As we rapidly approach Father’s Day I want to ask a simple question to the Fathers that we know and those in our lives. It’s a question that at some time in your life you should share with your children.

Question:

What’s the best thing you’ve learned in life that you want me (your child/children) to know and live out?

Please answer in the comments section of the blog and I will post responses.