Dear Friend,
As I sit with in front of my computer and the morning light begins
to stream through my window, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the life God
has given me.
I read a greeting from my son's college football coach and
pondered his closing admonition: "Don't cry because it's over, smile
because it happened.” from Dr. Seuss. I was grateful for this reminder.
How blessed I am for the countless friends I enjoy who have
brought smiles to my face and joy to my heart. I count them among my greatest
blessings.
Just yesterday I sat with one of those dear friends for breakfast.
We were enjoying our time together when something he said suddenly touched my
heart, and I began to weep uncontrollably. However, at that moment I felt no
embarrassment because I knew I was with a friend who would understand.
Laughter and tears are qualities that only true friends can
enjoy together.
As I reflect on that that breakfast, I am filled with gratitude
for the countless friends I have enjoyed who have touched and blessed my life,
and those of you receiving this greeting-you are counted among them.
In 50 years of ministry, coaching, teaching, and writing, I have
accumulated many kinds of friends, and each one of them has impacted me in
uniquely different ways. Every friend is a precious and treasured commodity in
my bank of memories, and if you're reading this you included in that bank of
memories, and I say thanks.
Someone said, "Old age is like a roll of toilet paper, the
closer you get to the end, the faster it goes," and I can attest to that.
There is still so much I still want to accomplish before that
roll reaches it; end, and that is what gets me up every morning and fills me
with anticipation and excitement, and so today I look forward to the ways my
life will be different because of the things I will have learned and the people
I will have met.
So, I say thanks to you who are pastors, coaches, teachers,
mentors, teammates, children, relatives and yes, readers who have encouraged me
and blessed my life in so many ways. I am thankful for all of you, but most of
all I am thankful for the One who has made it all possible, my Lord Jesus
Christ and the salvation I enjoy and the peace I possess through faith in Him.
I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and again I say thanks for
your friendship and the blessing you have been to Jean and I and our
family. We love you!
Yours in faith and friendship,
Tom
No comments:
Post a Comment