How simple can my life really be? This is the daily disturbance blood gas with Anthony on 89. Matthew 27, 37, and he said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Now that is one simple charge.
What is yours? Covid reminds us, right? Keep the main thing, the main thing. The main thing is to keep the main thing, the main thing.
For outstanding professionals, entrepreneurs, living successful and significant lives past the age of 40, half-time founding partner Lloyd Reem, a successful and significant business myself in the US. He said he found five common priorities among all the successful people he met through the years. Number one, they put their spouses interests first at the second half of their lives past 40. Number two, they had an inner circle of people that they were accountable to.
Number three, they had a sense of God's purpose and calling for their lives. Number four, they took care of their health. And number five, they were committed to continuous transformation. Spouse, inner circle, God's purpose, health and transformation, they had sight.
S-I-G-H-T, what do you see is your calling, your mission, your vision in life. From what he said and I, it is to know God and to enjoy his presence. Joseph Brackett, what did he say? This is the gift to be simple, this is the gift to be free.
I mean, simple doesn't mean easy, okay? But it does mean focused, disciplined, unrelenting. And that can be, right, the simple life, in a complex, complicated, often confused world, not an easy task. It can be hard to stay simple, but it is so worth it.
For simplicity, there is what, there is understanding, there is power, impact, there is peace. It wasn't easy to put one of our dogs to sleep, to allow her to, to pass on just the other day. As the doctor said that opening her up in surgery, he already did reveal that so much of the tours had already spread and her key organs were already compromised. Kalua, that's the name, was my daughter's 11-year-old mentees, Hannah's Kalua.
And truly the most endearing of our pets in our home. The question of whether to still operate, right, to do surgery and have her come home and spend the rest of her days with us was almost instinctively the preferred choice. But the inevitable and simple question had to be asked, what is best for Kalua? What is the loving thing to do for Kalua?
One definition of love that we have embraced as a family is to do what is best for that person. What is the best interest of that person? No matter if it breaks our hearts or theirs in the process. If it is best for the other person to say goodbye, then do bid farewell.
And to us all, as we looked at each other in the eye, we knew it was best for Kalua to go home. Oh, how we all go on to that movie title and I quote, all dogs go to heaven. But indeed it was best to say goodbye for it would mean the least physical, right? Pain for Kalua, given her medical condition.
Simple but hard, painful. The family especially Hannah continues to grieve at this time, but you know what? There is peace, there is comfort and continuing love. Let's keep it simple, dear friends.
Let's commit to this daily. Matthew 6, 32, 33. But if God sews the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you? Oh, you have little faith.
Therefore do not be anxious saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear? For the Gentiles seek after all these things and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But here we go, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. That one focus, his kingdom.
And yes, even as Matthew assures us of provision, there may still be a lingering question, right? Some confusion, even deep pain. Let me close with some advice from John Mayer himself. And I quote, someday everything will make perfect sense.
So for now, laugh at the confusion. Smile through the tears. Be strong and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason. It's a Friday and it's time to reflect.
Let's have a simple reflection, right? Over the weekend, think about number one. How can you simplify your life? One thing that will make it less complicated, less complex and confusing.
One thing to do to have a more simple life. Number two, what can you do to simplify the life of somebody close to you? What can you do for this person? Or what should you stop doing perhaps for your spouse or your child?
But that person might have a less complicated complex and confusing life. And number three, what should you tap yourself on the shoulder for? It's something that you have been doing and will continue to do to live the simple, uncomplicated, uncomplex, focused, disciplined, powerful, impactful life. Have a great weekend.