In times of stress, people revert to habit. In other words, when you are stressed out, your true self comes out. No matter what you've worked on, no matter how much you've grown, your original way of doing things, whether good or bad, comes out. Be aware and watch for this, so next time you are under stress you handle it better than you usually would do. It's the right thing to do and it models the way for others.
When do you make time to talk with your spouse? Whenever you can, make sure you make time to share your life, your thoughts, and your dreams with your spouse. Over-communicate, specifically when you face busier than normal seasons of your marriage. If you travel overnight with your job, do you use iPhone FaceTime or Sykpe from the hotel to see and speak with your family? But then when do you and your spouse make additional time to talk without this kids over the phone? Use family, friends and babysitters to watch your children so you can date your spouse. Next time you are out at a restaurant look around and observe others eating. Over-communicating and investing in your marriage now can help prevent you from becoming the older couple that just eats and doesn't speak or have anything to say to each other after the kids are off to college and you become an empty nester. It's the long term investment that models the way way for other couples and is the right thing to do. "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" - James 1:19 When it snows, do you see the beauty in snow or do you see it as a pain. A pain to drive in, shovel it, scape it off your windows, etc. I challenge you to see the beauty in God's gift of snow. Your children, family and friends are watching how you handle such simple things. If you view beautiful gifts like snow as a pain, what example are you modeling for others. Watch how you look at things and look for the beauty instead of the pain. It's the better way to live in modeling the way for others. If you have snow like we do in Louisville today, go enjoy God's beautiful gift. Nelson Mandella passed away yesterday at 95-years-old and here are several lessons to be learned from this amazing and impactful leader. Stand up for what you believe and make a positive difference. Nelson said, "As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same." Be a man or woman of good courage. "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear." On leadership, Nelson Mandella said, "Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front." After all, "it always seems impossible until it's done." Nelson Madella was an excellent example of modeling the way for others. Be purposeful so you too can have an impactful life like Nelson Mandella. I rarely blog other posts but felt compelled after seeing this early this morning to pass it on. Merry Christmas, from my family to yours. "Apparently the White House referred to Christmas Trees as “Holiday Trees” for the first time this year which prompted CBS presenter, Ben Stein, to present this piece which I would like to share with you. I think it applies just as much to many countries as it does to America . . . The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary. My confession: I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejewelled trees, Christmas trees. I don’t feel threatened. I don’t feel discriminated against. That’s what they are, Christmas trees. It doesn’t bother me a bit when people say, “Merry Christmas” to me. I don’t think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn’t bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crib, it’s just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don’t like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don’t think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from, that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can’t find it in the Constitution and I don’t like it being shoved down my throat. Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship celebrities and we aren’t allowed to worship God? I guess that’s a sign that I’m getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where these celebrities came from and where the America we knew went to. In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it’s not funny, it’s intended to get you thinking. Billy Graham’s daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her: “How could God let something like this happen?” (regarding Hurricane Katrina). Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response. She said: “I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we’ve been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?” In light of recent events… terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O’Hare (she was murdered, her body found a few years ago) complained she didn’t want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbour as yourself. And we said OK. Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn’t spank our children when they misbehave, because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock’s son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he’s talking about. And we said okay. Now we’re asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don’t know right from wrong, and why it doesn’t bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves. Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with ‘WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.’ Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world’s going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send ‘jokes’ through e-mail and they spread like wildfire, but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace. Are you laughing yet? Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you’re not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us. Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not, then just discard it…. no one will know you did. But if you discard this thought process, don’t sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in. My Best Regards, Honestly and respectfully, Ben Stein" What do you have that is a family heirloom? Merriam-Webster defines a family heirloom as "something of special value handed on from one generation to another." So what do you have from your parents, grand parents, great grand parents, or even great great grand parents or even from yourself that you want to pass on? My paternal grandmother put a handwritten note and description on white medical tape on the back of each her family heirloom items to make sure if she passed away suddenly, items could be passed on to the next generation with the history of the item with the note on the back of cherished items. What do you need to put notes on the back of in your home to pass on to your children or the next generation? Make sure to add the family heirloom items into your living will with whom you would like to have each family heirloom items. It the right thing to do and it models the way by giving you the opportunity to speak to and share with your ancestors long after you are gone. "You've got the worst possible situation..." Words that you never want to hear the doctor say as they walk into to see you after reading the CTscan or lab results. So if or when you hear this, what is the first thing that you think? When you are prepared for any situation because of your daily walk with God, days like this just become like any other day...you put one foot forward and step into the day. Condition your head, your heart and your feet to step towards life's challenges with Jesus by your side and model the way for others. Make time and prioritize what is important to you. Then, make sure you live it out. For me here are my priorities ranked in order: God Spouse Children Work Parents Siblings Aunts / Uncles Friends And if you look at my life you will see it lived out. You will also see that even though my Spouse snd Children rank above my work, that in order to keep my family safe and provide for them, I do what I need to do to excel at work. I keep my priorities in balance and keep them in order. I keep vacation days available so that if I get ill or if my wife does that I have time available to take off to live out my priorities. Who would make your list of priorities and in what order? If you decide your priorities in advance, then when you are faced with a quick decision or you need to make a decision under pressure, you can decide quicker since you have already determined your personal priorities. It's the right thing to do and it models the way for those that make your priorities list. "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;" -Colossians 3:23 |
"Modeling the Way" BlogMark A. Watkins is a Region Sales Manager in the Midwest with Rollins, Inc. and strives to Model the Way as a Sales Leader, Teacher, Visionary, Innovator, Problem Solver, Coach and Mentor. Archives
August 2018
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