Hi gang;

With our bellies full from Thanksgiving, and an extra pound or two (or 10), we eyeball the coming weeks with the coming celebrations…from holiday parties of every kind, to New Year’s Eve, to just plain taking some time off.  Here in Dallas, things got a little nasty today…pretty cold (43F with a bitter humid wind) and that nasty-drizzly rain we see so often this time of year.  But after such a BEAUTIFUL day on Thanksgiving day, who could complain?

This was my first year without the kids during the holiday.  I’m not ashamed to admit that brought me to tears three times the first 24 hours they were gone – Scottie and her mom took the kiddos to see family in Mississippi, so I was without from Wednesday morning all the way through to Sunday afternoon.  I set out with a purpose this year…in my normal somewhat last-minute mode, I made sure I had something fun planned for the kiddos the night before they left.  I had tickets for the Mavs game – and that’s always a treat…for about a quarter (that’s usually how long it takes Ward to finish a batch of fries – then he’s ready to go home).  This year, about 30 minutes before we planned to leave, Ward proclaimed that his other grandmother (my mom) “had to go wiff us.” So, I had the treat of taking mom and the kids to the game.  Boy was that exhausting!  Not because of mom – but because it was my first attempt to take both of the kids at the same time.  The American Airlines Center is a big place for a scared dad…and all I could think about was what might happen.  I was so freaked out by it – we actually got to the arena 45 minutes before tip-off!!  Those who know me know that I count it as a very LUCKY TREASURE to make it to the beginning of ANY game!  To be there 45 minutes early was unheard of!

We had a great time, but by the time we got back to the car, I was pooped!  Exasperated!  Wondering how the heck I’d ever be a suitable dad!  I had lost my cool on at least a couple of occasions when they were being, well…kids…and man it was irritating to me that I even lost my cool!  At one point, mom grabbed me and asked me if I remembered going to the Ranger game when I was little.  (Note to all – my dad was handicapped so we didn’t make it to a ton of games – just Todd’s football games in college).  I said, “heck yeah, that time Todd almost got into a fight with the guy seated next to me over the 2 foul balls that landed in my chair!” We figured out that I had to be no older than Ward’s age at the time…to have a memory like that…wow…maybe the good part of last Tuesday night will stick in their minds.

Personally, my December 1st was a little rougher than I expected.  I think you all know I run a small CPA firm (and hey, if you need an accountant…).  We’ve grown to be quite a family…a very dysfunctional, disjointed family, but a family nonetheless.  Over the past year or so, the practice has taken quite a hit from a spiraling economy and from a leader who hasn’t been much of a leader.  Digging in on an off-economic cycle is like trying to find sure footing on a muddy, moss-covered rock.  It’s possible…but it’s hard as heck.  As part of that, sometimes we have to make difficult decisions – some that keep us awake for days, make us graze in the fridge or pantry, even stir back up stomach ills strictly because we don’t like dealing with things.  Today, I let go of an employee that, including the time spent with the firm I purchased, had almost 10 years of experience – for what amounted to disloyalty.  It’s hard when that hits a small practice – it makes us all have to buckle down for more.

Soaking in my pity party on the way home, in some really nasty weather-affected traffic, I heard a song come on the radio that I have never heard before.  Some of you may have heard it before (I tend to be way behind the curve on music); it was Randy Travis’ “Three Wooden Crosses” (the lyrics are copied below).  The first time lyrics pass me over, I have an almost panicked feeling as I scramble to remember a message.  This one was pretty easy, really.  It’s about the legacy we leave behind.  It’s not about what we win or take with us…but about how our mark is left on the world.  All of us leave marks…whether we know it or not.  If that’s not enough to scare me into better shape (physically, emotionally, and spiritually), I guess there’s not much else that will…unless you find the following story touching.

I’d heard a bunch of people talking about “The Village” – a church here in the D/FW area – a small church by most standards, but a PACKED HOUSE at every service.  People rave over the young minister there, Matt Chandler.  I went to listen to him once, but he wasn’t in the pulpit that morning.  But I’ve heard from others who I truly respect and they say this kid is one of the best at delivering a message.  Immediately after Three Wooden Crosses went off the radio, I received a text message from one of those beloved friends, “…the pastor has a brain tumor and will be having surgery friday.  Please add to prayer list…”

The timing of that message along with the song that had just stopped playing was plenty to snap me out of my pity party and realize that a) this young preacher needs prayer, and b) no matter how bad I have it at any given moment, I can always find a story (or many stories) that beat my predicament hands down.  Matt Chandler is quite a bit younger than me – with a young family.  Matt Chandler has touched the lives of thousands with his God-given-abilities.  Matt Chandler knows much more than me about scary, life-threatening situations.  But folks, Matt Chandler is not much different than any of us – he’s human.  Fortunately, Matt Chandler is a believer and a follower.  Fortunately, whatever God’s will is this friday for Matt’s surgery – we all know that he’s in good hands.  And right now, while I’m sure Matt Chandler’s not too worried about it…he’s already got a great legacy.  He fully knows that “it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you, it’s what you leave behind you when you go.”

I’ve been working on a personal mission statement lately…to hopefully flower into some better goal-setting.  It’s been so long since I actually thought about my goals that I’ve lost aim and focus.  My friend’s text message tonight reminded me that sulking about my own paltry issues is only detracting from the focus I need…the intent to leave behind a very positive legacy.

I hope this message inspires you to a similar focus.

Six days after a day of thanks, I want each of you to know how much I care for you.  I count all of you as friends (some of you multiple times – ha!).  Thank you all for being a part, no matter how significant, in my life.

Be blessed
Tim

***
Three Wooden Crosses by Randy Travis

A farmer and a teacher, a hooker and a preacher,
Ridin’ on a midnight bus bound for Mexico.
One’s headed for vacation, one for higher education,
An’ two of them were searchin’ for lost souls.
That driver never ever saw the stop sign.
An’ eighteen wheelers can’t stop on a dime.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows.
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It’s what you leave behind you when you go.

That farmer left a harvest, a home and eighty acres,
The faith an’ love for growin’ things in his young son’s heart.
An’ that teacher left her wisdom in the minds of lots of children:
Did her best to give ’em all a better start.
An’ that preacher whispered: “Can’t you see the Promised Land?”
As he laid his blood-stained bible in that hooker’s hand.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,
Why there’s not four of them, Heaven only knows.
I guess it’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It’s what you leave behind you when you go.

That’s the story that our preacher told last Sunday.
As he held that blood-stained bible up,
For all of us to see.
He said: “Bless the farmer, and the teacher, an’ the preacher;
“Who gave this Bible to my mamma,
“Who read it to me.”

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway,
Why there’s not four of them, now I guess we know.
It’s not what you take when you leave this world behind you,
It’s what you leave behind you when you go.

There are three wooden crosses on the right side of the highway.