Inspirations
Relationships

HOME

Being Human
You Are More
Young Souls
What Are You Leaving Your Children?
Paint A Thought
God's Tapestry
A Christian's Walk
Within Us
Honesty and Integrity
Beginning Today
Moving The Rock
A Comfortable Silence
At The Window
Relationships
The Wealthiest Man
Stress Therapy
Let Go
Driving Away The Shadows
Forgotten
Standing Still
The Balance Sheet of Life
A Life That Matters
Eternal Instants
Slow dance
Burdens
Nicolo
The Atheist's Holiday
Homecoming
Exercise Your Soul
The Art of Letting Go
My Quilt
A Penny Blessing
Are You Empty Yet?
Living By Faith
Installing Love
If Only
God Will Provide
Value YOURSELF
The Pillar of Love
Alone I Am Nothing
We Danced
The Thorn Bouquet
Have Courage
And Think Of Me
Don't be afraid to speak out
What are you building?
Time - Your Greatest Gift
Roots of Change
Morning Prayer
GoldenGirls
Don't Open Your Mouth
Waiting
Never Give Up On Love
Shining Light
Weather Changes
I Hope by Paul Harvey
Push On
Scars
Refining Silver
Loving God's Way
Overcoming A Broken Heart
When I Am Lonely
Serving Where God Places Us
Clay Balls
God Is
The Oak Tree
Learning From Fear
Touching Billy
Between You and God
The Shadow of Your Cross
The Wolves Within
The Empty Chair
A Walk To School

gardenofloveone2.jpg

I sat next to the bed of old man, a friend for over twenty years,
and held his hand. Hal was dying. We both knew these next few days would be his last.

We spent time reminiscing about his long and fruitful career as a church pastor. We talked about old friends. We chatted about his family. And I listened as he offered sage wisdom and advice to a member of a "younger generation."

At a lull in the conversation, Hal seemed to carefully consider what he was about to say next. Then he squeezed my hand, gazed intently into my eyes and whispered, just loud enough for me to hear, "Nothing is more important than relationships."

I knew that this was somehow near the pinnacle of his life's
learnings.  As he considered all of his experiences -- personal, professional, spiritual and family, this one ultimate observation surfaced above the rest: "Nothing is more important than relationships."

"Don't get overly caught up in your career," he seemed to be saying to me. "Likewise, don't use people in order to achieve your goals, then throw them away. No project, no program, no task should be pursued at the expense of friends and family.

"Remember," I heard him saying, as clearly as if he were speaking the words, "that in the end, only your relationships will truly matter. Tend them well."

 

 



Writer Og Mandino puts it this way: "Beginning today," he
said, "treat everyone you meet as if he or she were going to be dead by midnight.  Extend to them all the care, kindness, and understanding you can muster, and do so with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again."

At the end of a long life, my friend Hal would have agreed.
 
 
 
~AUTHOR UNKNOWN~