CITIES

Meaningless Wars and Battles

Men were designed in part to do battle: for Righteousness, for the Kingdom, for the weaker and wounded, and against evil and wrong wherever it appears.
Too many men are at war, but they are in the wrong battles!
Too many men are at battle, but in the wrong war, fighting for wrong things!
Too many men are neither in the right battle, nor in the right war, for any worthwhile endeavor. tbb

Taking Responsibility for Your Behavior is Good for You! Dick S. Forbes, MA

Taking Responsibility for your Behavior is Good for You!  Dick S. Forbes, MA

“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have control over.”    Jim Rohn

“The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence.”     Denis Waitley

We live in a culture of blame, being a victim and excuses.  However, a time tested characteristic of successful people is that they take responsibility for their actions. So why do some go with the path of least resistance and just say:

“I didn’t know what the rules were.”
“Other people are doing it.”
“You have unrealistic expectations, I can never please you.”
There are some good reasons to take responsibility for your actions:

• You will stand out. Sad to say, most people avoid taking responsibility for negative outcomes whenever possible. But, when you choose to say, “I did that,” “that was my mistake, “or anything that says you are taking responsibility, people will notice, teachers, employers, clients, coaches.  They will notice because it is a rare thing today.
• You are teachable. People will invest in you because you are teachable. Have ever been around someone who knows it all. There is nothing you can tell them or teach them. Most of us will not spend time and energy on that person. Teachable people will admit when they don’t know something. They will listen and learn. They will admit they can improve on something.
• You can be trusted. When you take responsibility, people have a positive view of you. What does it feel like to be around someone you can trust?  There is a degree of honesty in trustworthy people that others truly respect. We want to be people that are trustworthy.
• We grow and we grow up. The old saying, “we learn from our mistakes” is what people who take personal responsibility will tell you and beauty of that saying; it is the truth for them. We become people of integrity in a culture that I find to be lacking in.
• We become stronger individuals. Most of us fear taking responsibility, admitting shortcomings or asking for help because we fear we will be criticized. Or we may have the need to be right. It is true that there are some jerks out there that will “kick you while you are down” but it is the exception. Taking responsibility lets me spend time and mental energy on improving myself and less energy on denial, redirection and deflection. It allows me to focus on changing. 

• The world will not end.  When we take responsibility and admit our mistakes the world as we know it doesn’t come to an end.  When you take personal responsibility for your actions and outcomes, you do something that will change your world and people will notice. So do the right thing!

Dick is available to speak at your organization or church.

Dick Forbes can be reached at 770.386.0608 or

Email: dsforbes@bellsouth.net

www.forbescounseling.com

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Power-Up.html?soid=1114661019787

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Power-Up.html?soid=1114661019787

Memorial Day Tribute

     Granite Gray, Marble White                                         

                       (In remembrance of fallen servicemen)

The setting is a national cemetery, or the military section of any cemetery,

   with the rows of identical crosses or stones; and how they arrived there,

             for a lifelong faithful duty, for those whose faithful duty is over.

Rows and rows of faithful soldiers, keeping watch until the dawn

            Over the beds of finest men and women, that ever nation spawned.

Whence came these quiet soldiers, with steady, unwavering gaze,

            Who watch o’er their beloved, through dimming evening haze?

From the bowels of earth and mountainside, from edges of earth’s crust,

            The drill, blast, scoop, have yielded them from out a cloud of dust.

Unknown to fellow travelers who journeyed their same road,

            With similar wheels and engines to bear their heavy load,

They came!  To this green carpet, for years to solemn stand,

            To mark the final resting of the choicest of the land.

And now, in ceaseless vigil, with crest of morning dew,

            They serve their fallen comrade; and mark a spot beneath the blue.

Both here by accuracy of man, machine, and blast of power,

            From that great noise and energy, to this quiet, solemn bower.

One from dark earth to sun, the other from sun to dark earth.

            The end of one’s tumultuous watch became the other’s birth.

Yet, we would have it different now, and trade one for the other,

            And have again in loving arms: dad, mom, sister, son, or brother.

But no reply from partners, still.  No matter loud the tears,

            No response from either soldier, in this or other years.

Naught!   But quiet example, of service, brave and true.

            Their steady gaze and forward press, their gift to me and you.

If one reflects on what they say, with voices now unheard,

            They speak their timeless message still, without an uttered word.

In appreciation of the soldiers’ gift to us, which was with great loss to their families.

© Tom B. Bandy    770-548-3020     tbandy523@comcast.net

4/23/03 – 4/30/04

Daily Praise

"So I will sing praise to Your name forever,
That I may pay my vows day by day." David, Psalm 61:8 (NASB)

I can't sing His praise FOREVER, if I don't sing His praise TODAY.

Your Promises