No problem

I had a brief visit with my boys and their families last night as I passed through Atlanta on my way to Anchorage Alaska and it was nice to see them again. Several people have remarked at how relaxed I look since retirement. I noticed just the opposite with one of my sons who looked rather stressed. He has stepped into a larger role with the company and how well I know the stress that accompanies that position. He actually looks as though he has aged some in just the past few weeks. Lest you think that pressure will not take its toll, take a look at some before and after photos of any of the Presidents of the United States. It is very dramatic how they age after just being in office for four years. Making big decisions daily can wear on you.

My doctor recommended that I take an aspirin a day to keep the heart attacks away. Prior to retiring I did not even bother to take them in the mornings, because I knew that I would be taking handfuls of them throughout the day for the dreaded headaches that were sure to come. Since retiring I have had to start taking one in the mornings, because I do not remember even having a headache since I have retired. This seems odd to me, because I have been an entrepreneur and in top management for thirty five or more years. I am an optimist by nature and never consciously worry about anything. I did not realize at the time that I was stressed, but I suppose I was and maybe it just goes with a CEO type job.

Many people in these hectic times are far more stressed about other things than from job responsibilities. Too many are struggling with sickness, finance, marital problems, inner demons, depression, and a myriad of other things. I was thinking this morning of God’s view of things in the world and I can hardly imagine the sights that He sees as His eyes wander the globe and the crisis management that He undergoes minute by minute. Life and death struggles on virtually every corner of the world are common fare and yet His message is one of tremendous optimism, hope, and joy. God is the eternal optimist because He already knows the outcome and it is good. Satan will be defeated and God and His children will live together forever in a state of perfect harmony and bliss in heaven walking streets of gold in paradise.

If you are down this morning I urge you to consider God’s message and as a result enjoy the tremendous optimism, hope, and joy that He desires for you. To be sure we will face obstacles and fight our battles in this world, but eventually the world will pass away, and like God we too already know that the outcome is going to be great. We know this because God’s holy word the Bible assures us of it.

So put a smile on your face and relax today. All of God’s children should know that it is well with our souls.

1 John 2:17
And the world is passing away
and the lust of it; but he who does
the will of God abides forever.