Monday, July 12, 2010

Choices ...

My daddy passed this on to me, and it really touched my heart. -Morgan

The Choice
by Max Lucado

IT'S QUIET. It's early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the pounding pace of the human race.

The refuge of the early morning will be invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

For the next twelve hours I will be exposed to the day's demands. It is now that I must make a choice. Because of Calvary , I'm free to choose. And so I choose.
I choose love . . .

No occasion justifies hatred; no injustice warrants bitterness. I choose love. Today I will love God and what God loves.
I choose joy . . .

I will invite my God to be the God of circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical . . . the tool of the lazy thinker.

I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see any problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God.
I choose peace . . .

I will live forgiven. I will forgive so that I may live.
I choose patience . . .

I will overlook the inconveniences of the world. Instead of cursing the one who takes my place, I'll invite him to do so.

Rather than complain that the wait is too long, I will thank God for a moment to pray. Instead of clinching my fist at new assignments, I will face them with joy and courage.
I choose kindness . . .

I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me.
I choose goodness . . .

I will go without a dollar before I take a dishonest one. I will be overlooked before I will boast. I will confess before I will accuse. I choose goodness.
I choose faithfulness . . .

Today I will keep my promises. My debtors will not regret their trust. My associates will not question my word.

My wife will not question my love. And my children will never fear that their father will not come home.
I choose gentleness . . .

Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice may it be only in praise.

If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.
I choose self-control . . .

I am a spiritual being. After this body is dead, my spirit will soar. I refuse to let what will rot, rule the eternal.

I choose self-control. I will be drunk only by joy. I will be impassioned only by my faith. I will be influenced only by God. I will be taught only by Christ. I choose self-control.

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. To these I commit my day. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace.

And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest.

Friday, July 9, 2010

30 Seconds.

Today one of our stories was about a man who died ... a police chief and well known in the community ...

I wrote the story, and the TRT or total run time of the piece was 30 seconds. Yes, 30 seconds.

Made me stop and think about what life is worth. 30 seconds?

A whole life amounts to what? 30 seconds ... covering how old you were when you died, your name, your parents, and where the funeral and visitation will be ... 30 seconds total.

Is that what I want my life to add up to? 30 seconds or less?

No.

I guess to make it worth more than that ... you have to leave a legacy in the hearts and minds of the friends and family you have here on earth.
That is how my life will amount to more than 30 seconds.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Opportunity Awaits You

There is a boring white piece of old printer paper with these words typed on it ... posted on the door of the newsroom tacked to the bulletin board:

"Opportunities are won and lost based on performance and attitude."

I don't think many people take the time to notice that quote, or think about what it really means. But it is such a profound statement to sink your teeth into!

I believe if everyone in the world kept in mind that their actions and outlook on life directly impact the direction they go, and the things they are able to do, then the world would surely be a different place!

My goal today is to try to keep this in mind; closer to heart than I already do.

Positivity definitely helps! :)

Friday, July 2, 2010

Beginning of July!

Summer is here of course, and I'm getting so excited for my 2 weeks paid vacation from WYMT-TV to finally arrive!

Monday I have off :) hooray! And it is also my 9 month anniversary at YMT. Wow how time has flown by.

Adrian T. is in Louisville golfing and I'm left with no plans, and not sure what to do! I love that feeling sometimes. You feel like you have a clean slate, you can relax and just fly by the seat of your pants. Wonderful!

I want to see Angie B. so can't wait to hear from her for Fourth of July Extravaganza planning. I miss her so much now that she's moved and settled in to KYT in Lexington. :) Glad she is loving it though!

This morning I ran a story in the 6 am Healthwatch segment about Alzheimer's and youthful exercise ... I have always wondered if I would be a good candidate for getting that horrible disease someday, since I don't have the best memory in the first place ... but according to this new study, girls who exercise a lot when they are a teen have way less likely of a chance of ever having the disease!

Good news for me!

Well, I'm off to head home now from work ... I need to sleep and then get ready for my long weekend. Much needed and so exciting!

M