This week we said goodbye to our furry best friend, Duke.
Having grown up on an acreage for most of my life, I’m no stranger to saying goodbye to family pets. It never gets easier—they hold a special place in your heart.
Grieving the loss of such an integral part of our family has had me reflecting on two things:
1. We don’t know how long we, or those we care about, have left on this earth.
2. Our physical bodies, money, or any other possessions will not be what lasts in the hearts of those we leave behind.
I know this is a heavy topic today, but stick with me.
Moments are precious. Every second of the day holds meaning, if we let it.
I’m going to specifically speak to entrepreneurs for most of this email, but even if you’re not one, this still applies to you.
We can get lost in the worries or dreams of the future, only to miss where our feet actually are today. If you don’t already know, I’m a Christian. I place my ultimate hope and trust in Jesus and His gift of grace through the cross. With this worldview, I’ve been learning to let go of things outside my control more and more—or rather, He’s been teaching me to let go.
I can make the most well-thought-out and well-intentioned plans for my future, only for them to not work out the way I wanted. But what I’ve come to realize is that my perspective is so narrow. I couldn’t have even begun to imagine the ways Duke impacted our lives while he was here. Only God can do that.
Be actively patient and present each day with those you love. Strive for things in the future, but don’t base your whole identity around them—it’s a trap that will rob you of the precious moments with those you love today.
We only leave the world with the impact we’ve had on it. Even that will only last a couple of generations, if we’re lucky. I don’t know my great-great-grandparents, and I never got to meet them. However, I know they impacted my grandparents’ lives in some way, which then impacted my parents and, ultimately, me. My parents will impact me and our family and so on.
What I’m trying to say is this: You will impact the hearts of those who meet you. That impact will either positively or negatively affect their character, which will impact the people they interact with. Although you may not have a direct impact on those 3+ generations after you, who you were as a person has the potential to influence who someone becomes, and that will then impact those who come after.
That’s all from me today. I am committed to bringing you one of these emails weekly, no matter what’s going on in my life.
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