Archive for February, 2012

Valentine’s Day Sabotage

by John Locklair on February 14, 2012 in Family, Kids with Comments Off on Valentine’s Day Sabotage

Sabotaged by a 4-year old. I doesn’t make me feel any less outsmarted to think of him as “almost five.” Here’s his latest…

I got Penny a card for Valentine’s Day and wrote a nice, long heart-felt love note to her inside. We’re not huge Valentine’s Day folks, but this year, I thought I’d take it up a notch…you know, from nothing. I was so pleased with my note and placed it at the perfect angle next to her toothbrush in the bathroom, where she was sure to see it when she awoke.

However, I went to bed late and the girls got up early to make Mommy breakfast, so Penny got up before I did. More importantly, Logan got up before I did. Big mistake. Penny comes in and gently asked if I had gotten her a card with a yellow envelope. I smiled and said I had and asked if she liked it. She smiled right back and said that she did – when she finally found the card underneath the kitchen table and the envelope next to the bathtub on the floor!

Logan! Seriously, dude? He said that he liked the card too and thought it was for him. Anyway, good laughs for the day…until our next holiday. What is that, St. Patrick’s Day?

What I wouldn’t give…

by John Locklair on February 3, 2012 in Faith with Comments Off on What I wouldn’t give…

I remember my friend Paul’s words making their initial impact and they have stuck with me daily for the past 7 years. I had accepted the opportunity to visit a remote village in Borneo in the summer of 2004 and had observed poverty, squalor – and yet, happiness – like I’ve never seen before. His words that struck me were simple and honest: “Yeah, this is how most of the world lives.”

I was reminded of this again after reading Paul’s post entitled, “I Can Make You Happy… Right Now.” Of course, I jumped at even the thought of him actually coming through with his offer – and now, having read the surprisingly brief  article, I am positive that he does. Read it by clicking the title and let me know if you agree.

It also reminded me of a phrase I have heard in various places, by various people in various situations and income levels, or lack thereof.

“What I wouldn’t give for…”

…and then fill in the blank with whatever it is we think will make us happy. I know from experience that going down that road in my head and my reality hardly ever leads to where I thought it would, and usually in the other direction.

Lord, make me a grateful person for your presence in my life and for the people, places and provision you have placed in my life. Let us all be able to say wholeheartedly, “I am truly blessed!”