May 2008 Newsletter

Ron Kervin   

Writer/Author, Motivational Speaker

Noteworthy news:

          I would like to take this space and opportunity this month to thank Kent Tidwell for introducing me to the great need and opportunity for mission service in Honduras. Kent outlined his service with the mission Lazarus program. I appreciate his efforts and look forward to giving my time and talents to that effort.

Upcoming events:

      Plans are being firmed up for the spiritual growth workshop in Orlando, Florida scheduled for this July. Let us hope for cool weather and no hurricanes down there this year.

Quote for the month:

The grand essentials of happiness are something to do, something to love and something to hope for.

Allan K. Chalmers

Scriptures for the month:

“Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that gathereth understanding”

Proverbs 3:13

For Your Consideration:

          My granddaughter Lilly was visiting me for the weekend a short time back and we were out running errands when I decided to stop at a Starbucks coffee shop. It was mid-afternoon and it is my habit to pause long enough for a good cup of coffee each day, if possible. When Lilly is spending time with me she insists upon taking each step that I take where ever or what ever I am doing. Lilly is about to turn four years old and she still enjoys piddling around with me on the weekends when we are together.

          When we got inside the coffee shop, I ordered my usual cup of coffee and ordered for Lilly one of those fruity, foaming swirling concoctions. You know the one about which I am speaking; it is the one where you almost have to mortgage your home to purchase. Lilly is worth it so I shelled out the money to buy it for her. It was at this point that I realized I had a big problem on my hands. Lilly likes me to carry her around when she goes on journeys with me. I had just lugged her inside the coffee shop and let her stand beside me while I ordered. Now I realized that I did not have enough arms to carry my baby girl, my coffee and her fruity drink back to the truck.

          It was major decision time. After running several options through my mind, I decided to take the chance and let Lilly carry her drink back to the truck outside. I calculated that if she walked really slowly and was careful, we could make the journey without too many problems. What happened next just goes to show that all well laid plans can and will go astray. We made it all the way through the crowded coffee shop and out the front door before disaster struck. As Lilly was starting down the few steps to the parking lot, the rather large drink slipped from her hands and spilled out all over the steps of the store. The steps now were covered in strawberry fruit swirl. This went well with the looks of aggravation from the customers walking into the store. They gave us that look that indicated they were displeased with our selection of places to spill fruity drinks.

          After assessing the situation and reverting back to my tendency to be butt-headed about things, I decided to give it another try. Lilly and I went back inside so that I could actually mortgage my house and get her another fruit swirl. It was at this point that Lilly was running around the store, skipping and jumping. While her second drink was being manufactured behind the counter, I did something I usually do not have to do with Lilly. I had to get stern. I ordered her to stand beside me and be still. I could see the disbelief on her little face as she did what I asked her to do. I could just read her thoughts at this point. She was thinking “Who is this man and where is my PAPA?” 

          This time around, I decided to make two trips and get Lilly and the drinks back to the truck. By this time my coffee was cold but I had everyone and everything back inside the truck. As we drove off, disaster struck yet again. This time Lilly spilled the drink inside my truck. I had made the grievous error of putting a three-year-old and a large fruity drink inside my new truck, which was only about a month old at that point. Whoever said that you can get too old to learn lessons, should call me because I can definitely contest that statement.

          After I had stopped and cleaned up Lilly and the second mess, we began the journey back home. As we drove along, Lilly got real quiet. After a long pause she looked over at me and asked these questions. She said, “Papa are you happy with me?” I responded that I was very happy when she was with me. She then asked me a very profound question. She asked “Will I be happy when I grow up?” I almost answered the question by saying that she would be happy as long as she didn’t try to buy her grandchildren fruity, high-dollar drinks and put them together in new vehicles. I almost said that, but I didn’t. I told Lilly that if I had anything to do with it, she would be happy when she grew up. The answer was good enough to make her happy and content once again and she returned to her normal state of asking one question after another until we got back home and her toys took her attention off questions.

          As we drove home, the answer I had given Lilly weighed heavily on my mind and in my thoughts. I had told her the truth and the intent of my future actions. If I have anything to do with her happiness by way of giving her physical possessions and leading her toward God, then she will be a happy grownup. However, I realized that no matter what I give her, happiness is something that she must find for herself. If her future happiness relies upon the material things I can give her, she will not have any problems with being happy. Whether or not you are happy with your life will not actually depend upon how much you have or don’t have.

          I have had material wealth in my life and been so miserable that I could not sit still. I have also had great happiness in my life and at some of those times I did not have two dimes to rub together. Happiness in life depends upon how you view and handle your particular situation. My baby girl’s happiness is going to depend upon her mental health and outlook on life, not what I can give her. The one thing I can give her and let her know is the fact that no matter what else happens in her life, I will always be there for her and will love and support her as long as I am alive. That is enough to make her happy if she grows up with the proper understanding of life.

          Looking back on my life and my happiness I can see that the most valuable possessions I have ever had were those people upon whom I could count who supported me through all the aspects of my life. Their numbers were not great but their support was.

          God tells us the same thing in his message to us concerning happiness in this life and in eternity. In the book of Hebrews, chapter thirteen, verse five, we read this message from God;  “Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee or forsake thee.”

          May you find happiness in this life and the life to come. May you also be wiser than I am when it comes to high dollar fruity drinks, new vehicles and young children.

Parting Thoughts:

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Until next month, may God bless your pilgrimage! May you live long and prosper and may the force be with you!