Fatherhood is one of the greatest callings in my life. It seems like I’m always in the teaching mode. Everything becomes a “teachable moment”. It’s not uncommon for me to advise my seven and four year old sons with words that will turn around and hit me right between the eyes. As soon as the words of wisdom that I am trying to impart upon my sons’ lives leaves my lips, I can hear a gentle voice within telling me to make sure I listen my own advice. Below you will find three of the nuggets that I’ve shared with my boys that I pray will encourage you as much as they’ve encouraged me.
Focus Until You Finish
He starts to brush his teeth and then all of a sudden the action figure needs to zip line across the room. He starts to put on his clothes for school when all of a sudden I hear him go into his very own American Idol performance in the mirror. Ten minutes passes and bad breath remains and the clothes are still laying across the bed. And then I shout into the next room, “Son, focus until you finish!”
How often do we start something and never finish it? How often do we look up and realize that we’ve done a lot but we really haven’t done anything? We start with all of this enthusiasm and then we get distracted and move onto the next thing without completing the first thing. As soon as I said the words, I felt convicted. I felt inspired! I felt like it was time for me to finish some stuff myself.
I encourage you to stick to the task at hand and finish it before moving onto your next project or goal. There is this magical feeling of accomplishment that will consume you when you finish your assignment and then it will inspire you to knock out the next task. But you’ve got to focus until you finish!
Be Your Best, But Be Humble
When you are good at something, pride can quickly enter the picture and then arrogance (Pride’s ugly cousin) will quickly sneak through the door next. One of the things I admire most about successful people is their humility and how approachable they are. One of the things that I despise most about successful people is their haughtiness and when they are standoffish. It is my prayer that God grants me success in everything I set out to do, but at the same time I pray I never become “too big for my britches”. I want to be the best, but I never want anyone to say that I think I’m better than the next man.
What do we have in our lives that God didn’t give us? So you’re smart, creative, and innovative, but guess what, God allowed you to have those traits. The moment we start to think it’s about us or that we’ve arrived will be the exact moment when we’ll become that person, that we don’t want to become. I tell me sons to always strive to be their best, but never try to put another person down to accomplish that goal. Humility isn’t an automatic response. It has to be taught and learned. One of the things I’ve learned is that it is much better to humble yourself than to make God humble you.
Do The Right Thing Because It’s The Right Thing To Do
This is a tough one! My boys will try hard when they are working toward getting something in return. Just mention the trampoline fun center or the skating rink and they’ll try harder to do right at school. My oldest son is NEVER quiet so when I say whoever can stay quiet in the car until I say speak will earn a milkshake, all of a sudden he has the will power that only God can grant. Why is it that the milkshake or the night of fun has to be offered before the doing the right thing becomes the first option that is taken?
Every morning before I leave home for work, I hug my sons and I look them in the eyes and I say the words “honor and obey”. I make them repeat these words in hopes that hearing and saying them themselves will bring them to remembrance when the temptation to do wrong presents itself.
There is nothing wrong with extrinsic motivation (we are motivated to act because of what it will bring to us). Often times this is how we initially get started, but we must progress to intrinsic motivation (we are motivated not by what we can get, we are motivated to act because it’s just who we are). We do the right thing, because it’s just RIGHT!
Please take a moment to subscribe to the mailing list so that you never miss a blog post. If this blog blessed you or inspired your heart and you believe it will encourage someone else, please share this within your circles of influence.
If you have a topic that you’d like me to cover in a future post, please leave a comment below or email me your thoughts. got2liveright@gmail.com
Do you need more encouragement or do you have a special prayer request? Check out www.columbuscody.com and enjoy the YouTube videos and send in your prayer requests. God bless you and remember, “You’ve Got To Live The Life”.
Columbus Cody III.
Author of Recap and Too Many Toys In The Tub
