The great ones didn’t just fall out of bed that way….
The best way to become a better person is to be better in all aspects of your life. That’s how you become a better person. There is no way we become what God intended for us to be without change. You have to change your mind before you can change your heart. Self-improvement is the biggest challenge we have in our life. It is always easy to say someone else needs to change, but it is harder when you realize you need to change. When things get tough (and they will), remember that your circumstances don’t change until you do. If your circumstances aren’t changing, God isn’t done changing you. Fight for self-improvement.
People want to change for all the wrong reasons. They want to earn more money, they want to have a bigger house, they want to have a bigger car. When you want to change, examine the reasons. If they are about having more, question your heart. If the reasons are about being more, start there. Remember, Jesus had a donkey and a pair of sandals. He changed the world.
I know I have to keep working on me. I have to keep fixin’ on me.
If I know something has to change, I need to recognize that a journey to a different man means I have to leave something behind. I must look at so many aspects of my life. I love to eat, but I have to change that so I can be healthy. I want to be here for you when you are 40. I want our school to be better and improve…not for me, but our community. I could go on and on. Don’t be hard on yourself. Nobody is perfect. It is tough to be a good person.
You might wonder why I tell you to focus on the reasons you want to change for. The material things…those fade or they turn into wanting something else. Another reason is to focus on the reasons behind your change is because the Bible is pretty clear on what it looks like to be a “good” person. It doesn’t say anything about acquiring more riches, more cars, bigger house….but it is pretty clear on what kind of person you need to be.
If you don’t look at yourself and always try to improve, you are going to find yourself in some pretty tough spots. Spots where you will question right or wrong. When it comes time to stand up, don’t be passive. Make the right choices. Deal with responsibility. Get in the arena and fight the bull. It is worth it. Don’t punt on your responsibilities. Don’t defer to someone else. Learn to respond.
But it all starts with fixin’ you first.
I love you more than words can ever describe.
I love you yesterday, today, and forever…
Dad
Dad of Girls 