They are created under pressure and become very hardened.

There is a lesson for us that the formation of a diamond can teach about ourselves and our approach to adversity. It’s all about the development of our coping skills.

How do you react to traumatic situations? Do you lose control of your emotions or are you able to be a positive example to those who observe your response through tough times?

Those, who have developed strong coping skills, are more quickly able to find solutions to a bad situation. Because there are many unknowns about our collective future, it is a desirable self-preservation technique to try to continually improve our ability to cope.

We cannot choose which troubling challenges may come our way, but we can choose how to cope with them.

If not today, when?

”By far the strongest poison to the human spirit is the inability to forgive oneself or another person. Forgiveness is no longer an option but a necessity for healing.”  (Caroline Myss)

No, you can’t have one without the other. We have all heard stories about the mother of a murdered son or daughter who had to forgive the assailant in order to move on with her own life.

You won’t find a more dramatic example of the linkage between forgiveness and healing.

How about your situation? Are you carrying a burden that is going to require the healing power of forgiveness before you can be FREE to live again? I mean really free to enjoy a better tomorrow!

Yes, it will require courage, but this won’t be the first time you dug deeply into the well of courage!

If not today, when?

Yes, you are, As a matter of fact, we all live with various obstacles that we overcome on a regular basis. Some of them are private while others are known by loved ones and friends.

These obstacles take many forms:

Lost loved ones-This sorrow lingers for our life time. The passage of time helps somewhat, but it never leaves entirely.

Physical health-Most of us deal with health issues along the way. Some are temporary while others are a permanent companion.

Relationships-These are the premiere challenges of our lives. The most critical ones involve family members. Spouses, children, parents, in-laws and siblings provide opportunities to love and be loved. They also, however, can be difficult.

Financial Worries-Very few of us complete our lives without severe money concerns.

So, you see, you are a hero!

If not today, when?

“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.”

There are four major events that are affecting the lives of all who live in the U.S. They are: Covid 19, climate change, inequality and employment uncertainty.

Any one of these taken individually is a big challenge. Taken collectively as we must, they form an uncertain picture of our future. This is new territory!

Because life can only be understand in hindsight, we must draw upon what we’ve learned in order to help us navigate the future. Because we all must deal with the new realities together, we must come together and go forward together.

Common threats should unite us, not divide us! We must communicate with one another and love one another. Whatever differences we may have are insignificant compared to the tsunami ahead!

If not today, when?

“You know it’s love when all you want is that person to be happy, even if you’re not part of their happiness.”    (Julia Roberts)

What Julia Roberts is teaching us is that true love is unselfish and never self-serving. All of us have different definitions of love. I think sexual or passionate love is what most people would describe as love. There’s also the love of parent and child and “philia” which is friendship or shared goodwill.

Then, there always is self-love which can be healthy or unhealthy. This form of love can be dangerous when it places self-interest above the common good.

Regardless of which kind of love pertains in your life, you will always be content with yourself if you have the happiness of others as your greatest yearning!

If not today, when?

My great aunt used to tell me, “We’re living in a terrible world.”

I was always amazed that she felt that way about life because she had a very good life while living in a small town with no financial worries. She was a spinster who lived all her adult years with her sister, my grandmother and my grandfather.

Grandpa owned the only hardware store in town, so money was not a problem. Despite her obvious pessimism, she lived to be 102.

Maybe she was able to look beyond her own idyllic life to the suffering multitudes around the world. Of course, she lived through two world wars, also.

I’ve never been a pessimist, but I am well aware that millions of people around the world won’t have enough food today.

You and I must lighten their burden!

If not today, when?

This world of ours… must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be, instead, a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect. (President Eisenhower)

He was referring to the world at large, but the same applies to your community and your neighbors. Everyone in America is hurting in some way right now. It could be fear of the pandemic, a loss of employment or the divided nature of our present day society.

These are huge issues if we only had to contend with one at a time, but taken together, they’re overwhelming.

The answer to all three worries is LOVE, LOVE LOVE!

We must reach out with kindness and compassion to everyone we see in this emotionally difficult time. Let’s lighten the burden of others and by so doing, lighten our own burdens!

If not today, when?

“The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.'”  (Billy Graham)

Even Billy Graham had his ups and downs just like the rest of us. Yet, he was born in 1918 and died in 2018. What a long and productive life he had preaching all over the world!

It should be reassuring to you and me that he was subject to all the human frailties that we experience on a regular basis.

I think the message of his life was to believe and trust in God and turn to Him in prayer while getting about the business of living life to the full.

Just like Billy, let God into your life!

If not today, when?

Ah! The age old topic of worry raises its ugly head once again.

Do you spend most of your waking hours worrying about something or are you actually at peace with yourself and your situation?

In my opinion, the only things worth your worry are those problems that are within your grasp to solve. You see, I connect the word, “worry” with the word, “action!”

Here is a simple question? Do I have the ability to fix this thing that I’m worrying about? If yes, go do it? If no, there is nothing you can do. So, don’t waste your valuable time with it one minute longer.

You have a right to be at peace with yourself, but peace will only come once you face up to those worries that are actionable.

If not today, when?

On this 4th of July, we must pause to examine what it means to be an American.

For those of us born here, it’s practically impossible to appreciate the magnitude of our citizenship. Yesterday, an Afghan soldier, who was a translator for us, became an American. In the past few years, he had  saved the lives of many of our troops.

I’m sure he could tell us more eloquently why he wanted to become one of us. Yes, every immigrant can explain it by looking back at the huge contrast between life in their native land and now as an American citizen.

My grandma’s sister died on the boat bringing her to Ellis Island and past “The lady of the Harbor” holding her torch high for newcomers to find their way.

Don’t ever take citizenship for granted!

If not today, when?