Friday, December 28, 2007

Listening...sometimes it's what I do


My bride is one of the worlds best readers aloud. It leaves me in wonder at times how her voice, and inflection, and whatever it is that she does - just brings the pages to life. I love to hear her read. My daughters love to hear her read. So, despite the business of all that goes on these days, it's nice once in a while to just sit back and listen. This particular day it happened to be Max Lucado. If you don't know his work...you should. You'll understand what he means when he says, "No wonder they call him the Savior."

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Only small things with great love...



"We can do no great things, only small things with great love." -Mother Theresa

She offered such great inspiration for each of us in our daily lives. It's the little things that matter. The consistent small acts of love that make others feel special...make us feel special. "Small things with great love." 8 pounds 9 ounces. Laid in a manger in a filthy stable in an obscure village in the middle east. Though He is not limited like we are, even God chose this example of such a small thing with such great love. And like our small acts, who could have predicted that this 8 pound "small thing" could give the greatest love of all...His life...for our eternal lives. There is a song, Mary did you know. 'Mary did you know this little boy you delivered, will one day deliver you?' There are tears in my eyes as I continue...because I believe she did know. A humble Jewish woman who "pondered these things in her heart," knew she was holding God in her arms. And yet He was so helpless in her arms.

This holiday season, this Christmas, take a quiet moment to consider to consider the humanity of Jesus. Born in a lowly way on a remarkable night (the angels and shepards thing). He lived a pretty normal life as a carpenter - I wonder how many times he smashed his thumb with a hammer? He experienced love and pain and trial. Moments of joy as well as sorrow. And then like Mother Theresa, like Mary, like all of us...he died. In this small package came the greatest gift of all.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Men and memories...it's what I do

I'm a project manager. That means I'm responsible for construction projects, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I like what I do, but my strength doesn't really lie in construction. They have more to do with building a team, assembling the right people and maintaining the right vision, keeping the sandbox safe to build castles in. That sort of stuff. Good construction has so much to do with good relationships, and if those relationships turn into good friendships...all the better. I talked to a friend today - he's an architect. And my other great friend is an engineer. We built this thing together out of bricks, and steel and MAPLE. The buildings are beautiful. Though the process was arduous, one day soon the three of us are going to have to stand between them, Starbucks in hand and just admire our good work...and our great memories. Sometimes that's what I do.

Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Lots of Love


Today we braved the ice and snow of central NY for the hair salon. Strange place to share love, you might think. Well, not if you know my wife's hairdresser (don't read too much into that)! Today Gavrielle (9) had a significant amount of her gorgeous long hair cut off in order to give it to Locks of Love. For those of you who have not lived this vision for the last 4 years, Locks of Love takes hair and makes wigs for children (and maybe others) who have lost theirs to cancer. It's a noble cause...especially for young ladies. I'm proud of Gavi...who I now call Bob because she insists that's what her new hairstyle is called? I wouldn't know a bob from a bee-hive. ..and Hadassah who will have her red hair cut in February...and Eliana who still has a few years to go. So today or family value of extending "Lots of Love" has manifest itself in "Locks of Love." You go girls!