Mark Twain, actually, Samuel Clemens, was an American writer, philosopher, and humorist.  He wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.  Today, we look at 5 of his quotes and how they relate to what we do both at home and at work.

1. “Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see” – There is never a time or never a place when an act of kindness is out of place.  Because my kids are grown, individuals still with kids at home often ask what one attribute I would choose to instill in children.  You might think of industriousness, positive attitude, persistence, or any of many others.  However, kindness would certainly be one attribute near the top of my list.  Certainly, we have many priorities and concerns and issues confronting us during any day.  Despite this, we should never lose sight of the need to treat others with kindness.
2. “Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please” – Too many individuals like to make up their own facts to fit their specific needs for that moment.  Twain in this quote is essentially saying that facts are still important.  We might twist their meaning or attempt to make them fit our own agenda or hypothesis, but facts are important and should always be of utmost importance.  Making fact-based decisions is critical, especially for us in regulated functions.
3. “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt” – This one is pretty clear.  Individuals often talk simply because they like to hear themselves talk.  We need to think first.  Before you feel the need to speak in a meeting, ask yourself if your comments will add to the value of the discussion.
4. “There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded” – We are nearing the end of 2015.  Consider this… If you were tasked to bring every item of work or value you have accomplished this year so far and place it on the table, what would you bring?  What have you accomplished this year that has enhanced the value of your company or made it a better company?  Would you pay yourself for the accomplishments you have made to your company?  Which group would you fit in?
5. “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up” – Try this to see if it is true!  It is amazing that the feelings of encouragement you think you are passing along to someone else somehow bubble up in you when you do it.  It only takes 10 seconds to brighten up someone else’s day.

Mark Twain provides good wisdom for us today.  Thanks for everything you do and please, have a “top ten” day!

“Results without relationships lead to disappointment” 

Consider, if you would…

• Day-after-day, Little Jimmy comes home from school with awards, favorable comments on his homework, and certificates of achievement from his teachers.  He works so very hard to be one of the best.  He volunteers to help the teacher.  His goal is to never disappoint those he loves.  His teachers think he is the most adorable, brightest kid in the class.  Yet, day-after-day, there is no one home that truly cares.  His parents are so busy that they never even look at his papers, his work, his awards.  Eventually, Jimmy loses the desire to excel.  Ultimately, he begins to think that his extra efforts do not matter.  He loses heart and becomes a mediocre student.
• Individual sports are great.  You rely only upon yourself for achievement.  You don’t depend upon a teammate performing well.  You quietly go about your business.  You win and hoist the trophy alone.  On the other hand, team sports champions have a blast!  They pile atop each other.  They act like crazies.  They have fun.  They share stories as old men or women about “the championship.”  Having teammates to share with in victory has no peer.  The thrill of victory is never better than when shared with teammates!

In his book, True North, Bill George says this about the fulfillment of leadership:

“You cannot find that fulfillment by observing leaders from the sidelines or by being a brilliant observer from the press box, high above the arena.  You have no choice but to get in there and get your face marred by dust and sweat and blood.  That is what life and leadership are all about.  Your fulfillment comes not from the money, the titles, the awards, or the recognition.  These fleeting symbols of external gratification will vanish like the wind.  What will remain are the memories:

• Working together toward shared goals with a group of people you care about
• Being passionate about helping other people or righting wrongs
• Toiling long hours to get it right
• Debating and arguing to understand each other’s points of views
• Failing and then regrouping to learn from your mistakes
• Growing together as leaders
• Making a difference in the world through your combined efforts

After reaching your goal together, pause long enough to celebrate your success before going on to the next challenge.  Then, pass it on to those that carry on after you.  That is the fulfillment of leadership.”

When I think of the greatest highlights of my life, every single one involves other individuals.  Results, achievements, highlights… they are always better when they involve the culmination of effort from many, not a single person.  Surely, receiving an individual award is nice, but the glow wears away quickly.  The impact of doing something great — with others — outlasts what we do as individuals.

There are many accomplished individuals in the world… artists, composers, athletes, politicians, leaders…. that have done great things.  But, their lives are filled with sadness.  When you share your life with others, including your results and accomplishments, you gain fulfillment.

So, how can this help you become a better leader?  The answer is simple…  involve others in your life.  Share your victories.  Enjoy the victories of others.  Celebrate together.  Let your teammates know that “we win as a team.”  It will enhance your experience as a leader AND it will drive better results in the end.

Celebrate something with someone else today!  Find something positive to share!  After all, “this could be our very best day yet!”

“Competence without compassion leads to criticism and mediocre effort”

Competence is generally consider a combination of practical and theoretical knowledge, cognitive skills, behavior and values that determine whether an individual can properly perform a specific job.  The more of these you have, theoretically, the better you perform.  We all want to be considered competent.  If you would ever hear the phrase, “I am concerned with your specific competence to perform this job,” during a year-end performance review, you immediately would become concerned.  So, we all want to be competent and should be working to enhance those attributes that enhance it.

As leaders, we all want our team members to view us as competent.  When you demonstrate at least a minimal amount of competence, you have a greater ability to gauge ideas, establish priorities, and work collaboratively with team members.  However, do you feel that the leader must always be the most competent or most knowledgeable person on the team?  I hope your answer is “no.”  As an example, I until recently had responsibility for the Quality groups at ten plants that encompass, literally, hundreds of different jobs, skills, and abilities.  Could I step in today and do all those jobs well?  Of course, the answer is “no way!”  I am not competent to do every team member’s job.  That is not the role of the leader.  The leader’s role is to provide resources, guidance, direction, motivation… then, get out of the way.

Where then does compassion come into play?  Is compassion really an attribute that should at all be connected with leadership?  My answer to this last question is, “Yes, compassion plays a critical role in the success of any leader.”  Compassion is that attribute that provides balance.  It provides perspective to the needs of the team members.  It is the “brake” that slows a runaway train rolling down a steep hillside.  It is that quiet voice that asks, “Will this work?  What do you think?”  It is that prod in the side that helps guard against work/life imbalance.  It is that inner urging that wants the very best of life for every team member.  It is the foundation for integrity.  It is the fuel that drives kindness.  Compassion is that corner of our soul that moves our thoughts from “I” to “we”; that changes “selfish” into “self-less”; and motivates team members to give their very best every day.

So, competence is good.  However, when competence lacks compassion, team members rapidly can go from motivated to critical to non-responsive to non-caring.  And, team performance is dropping all the while.  It is often difficult to diagnose a declining team that suffers from this “lack of compassion” root cause because it is so subtle.  However, if you pause and consider the possibility, you might find team members would say, “If he/she doesn’t really care about me or how I feel, why should I care about our team?  I will do only what is necessary, but no more.”

What are some practical ways you can either develop, demonstrate, or diagnose the impact of lack of compassion on your team?  Here are a few:

• As a leader, you must frequently (e.g., daily) “walk a mile in team member shoes” – put yourself in the place of your team members – would you feel valued?  Would you feel appreciated?  Have you ever heard anyone say “thanks”?
• Has your team performance declined for no visible reason?  Could a lack of compassion be the possible root cause?  Is it worth working to bolster the sense of appreciation and pride for team members?
• Do team members demonstrate kindness and caring for each other?  When you see this, does it make sense to highlight it to the team?
• Do you emphasize results inordinately more than behaviors?
• Do you really know your team members?  By this, I mean, do you know the names of their spouse, their kids, and their hobbies?  Do you know what is personally important to them?  Do you know what struggles they might be facing?  Do you care?

In short, a great leader is competent and expects team members to be competent.  However, a great leader also cares personally for his/her team members and actively demonstrates a proper balance between results and behaviors.  Without compassion, don’t be surprised when you see excessive criticism of decisions and an effort that can only be described as mediocre.

Have a great day!

 

 

 Today, we look at some of the amazing quotes and wisdom of Eleanor Roosevelt.  She was, according to Wikipedia, an American politician, diplomat, and activist.  She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, holding the post from March 1933 to April 1945 during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt‘s four terms in office.  President Harry S. Truman later called her the “First Lady of the World” in tribute to her human rights achievements.

Eleanor Roosevelt was also a lady of great wisdom.  She was known as an individual that was not afraid to speak her mind.  She endured significant hardship in her life, but left a lasting legacy.  Let’s look as some of the things she had to say that might apply to us:

1. “You must do the things you think you cannot do.” – To grow, we must challenge ourselves.  Some of the greatest accomplishments in history occurred because an individual did what they thought might be impossible.  If you think you are too little, too unskilled, too inexperience, or too powerless to make a difference, you probably are.
2. “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, ‘I lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.‘” – Experience is valuable.  Once you have experienced something, you generally have less anxiety the next time (unless, of course, you are talking about a visit to the dentist).  View these experiences, good and bad, as a way to polish our rough edges and as equity we can use in the future.
3. “We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.” – Mrs. Roosevelt here is saying that we should not fear being vulnerable and of showing others that you care.  In the business world, we often feel that we must remain dispassionate, professional, and rigid.  Whether others care or not, it is important they know that we care.  In short, don’t be afraid to demonstrate emotions, especially that you care what happens with and to your teammates.
4. “One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes… and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility.” – Personal accountability is needed.  We demonstrate who we are, not by our words, but by our actions.
5. “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – There are those that live their life elevating their own status by demeaning others.  Don’t get caught in that trap!  Those individuals typically have low self-esteem and struggle excelling on their own merits.
6. “It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.” – Do something!  Don’t be a victim!  When things are not going well, it is important that we take action, rather than wait for something to happen to us.
7. “It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.” – As leaders, we need to remember this.  A true leader serves others.  Unless you show your willingness to be an active participant in solutions to problems, you cannot expect your followers to care enough to do their best.
8. “Never allow a person to tell you no who doesn’t have the power to say yes.” – I think what Mrs. Roosevelt is saying here is we should not necessarily take the first “no” that we hear, if it is not the ultimate decision-maker.  Persistence may be the difference-maker.
9. “In all our contacts it is probably the sense of being really needed and wanted which gives us the greatest satisfaction and creates the most lasting bond.” – It has been said that most people thrive in their jobs when they feel appreciated and needed.  It costs nothing, but means much.  This cannot be overdone.
10. “When life is too easy for us, we must beware or we may not be ready to meet the blows which sooner or later come to everyone, rich or poor.” – We are blessed to live the lives we have.  Let’s never forget that.  Be ready for what comes next and be alert for those that need us to walk with them through difficult times.

There is much we can learn from the ten brief comments above.  Have a fabulous day!  Remember, this could be your very best day yet!

A friend of mine was telling me the other day about an important lesson he recently learned.  He was walking beside an old school that is now used to house low-risk inmates near his home.  He heard the guys inside the wooden fence shouting in unison, “13…13…13…13…”  Well, knowing that Alan is a curious sort, he found a slot in the fence to look through to see what was going on when one of the residents poked him in the eye with a stick.  Immediately, the guys started shouting, “14…14…14…14…”   You can determine the moral of this story for yourself.

There is always that question of when to get involved and when to stay quiet.  I would like to simply outline a few of each just for your consideration:

Speak up and get involved when:

1. There is the potential for danger, injury, non-compliance, or risk to the company
2. Someone is being hurt
3. Someone needs a friend or a good listener
4. You see a better way
5. You have an opinion that needs to be shared to make a positive difference

Consider remaining quiet when:

1. You have been asked to stay out of it (except for 1 and 2 above)
2. Someone else already has it under control
3. All you hope to do is elevate yourself, demotivate another, or throw someone under the bus
4. Your “better way” has already been considered by the team
5. Your opinion will or could make a negative difference

There are many others that could be added to each list, but consider today whether you have remained quiet when you should be speaking up or vice versa.  We need to build up, not tear down, others.

Have a “top ten” day!  Thanks to all of you that make a positive difference in my life!

In a conversation with an individual recently, she described all the preparations still needed at her house. She needed to wrap the gifts, get a ham, and make cookies… all around her work schedule and just a couple days before Christmas. When I asked if she was hosting a large group, she said, “No, just our family. But, I want it to be the perfect Christmas. I want it to be something our kids will remember.”

What constitutes the “perfect Christmas?” In our mind, we probably think of a country house in the hills. We think of snow with family members all arriving just in time on Christmas Eve. The house looks worthy of Good Housekeeping magazine, the food is wonderful, and everyone made it home on time. The tree is huge with dozens of perfectly wrapped gifts. The house smells wonderful and Grandma and Grandpa are healthy and happy. The children are happy, excited, and well-mannered. Everything truly is “perfect” for Christmas.

However, that isn’t reality for most. Most people I know never experience Christmas like this. They are burdened with broken families, parents with health issues, financial difficulties, and family members away. Some have sons or daughters in the military. Some are experiencing their first “divorced” Christmas. Some are worried about nearly grown children. Some expect to lose their job early in the new year. Some are saddened by the loss of loved ones. Some are just disappointed with how their lives have turned out. Some are lonely.

When I think of my very best Christmases, I don’t think of that Christmas from a movie or our dreams. My very best Christmas memories include times like these:

• Christmas when I was a child included two brothers and a sister. My Dad worked, my Mother stayed at home. We were far from wealthy, but Christmas was a blessing to us. We always visited Santa in our small town. We always received an orange in our stockings. We usually received one large gift, like a fire truck, or bicycle, or car race track, but nothing extravagant. We always visited my Grandparents on Christmas in the country. They had a Christmas tree (cedar tree cut from their farm), but gifts were sparse or absent under the tree. Our “big meal” included game hunted on the farm. Simple, but it still brings back nice memories.
• Christmas with our kids is always special. Their excitement when young still brings a smile. Seeing them give gifts to others was special. Going to church service together has always been important and memorable — we still laugh about things that have happened at Christmas Eve services. Spending time with them now is wonderful. Every year we look back at these times as perfect for us.
• Remembering loved ones from past Christmases now gone… my parents, my father-in-law, and friends. I remember some of those experiences like they happened just last year! I think of those times every year.
• Those first Christmases with my new wife. We were barely getting by financially as college students, but that little Christmas tree in our small mobile home was the “perfect Christmas” to us.

The “perfect Christmas” doesn’t come with that dream home in the country in the snow. It doesn’t come from the gifts, the wrapping, the food, or even who was able to be present. The “perfect Christmas” comes from the warmth in your heart celebrating the “perfect Gift” — the Lord of Lords and King of Kings. Only Jesus can bring that “perfect Christmas” we all seek.

So, today, let’s celebrate the One and Only Savior of the World. It is only through Him that we can have a “perfect Christmas.” And, let’s share that love that comes from Him. Let’s seek those hurting or sad or lonely that need a call, a visit, a text, or some expression of our love. Let’s not let anyone look back on this Christmas and say that no one cared. Let’s share the “perfect Gift” that brings the “perfect Christmas” with them this wonderful day!

A few years ago, Bronnie Ware quit her unfulfilling job and took a job working in palliative care where she spend may years helping those who were dying.  A few years later, she compiled a list of the 5 most common regrets expressed by the people she cared for.  Here is the list:

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard (meaning, they wished they had better balanced work versus key life events).
3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.
4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.
5. I wish I had let myself be happier.

The full article is in this link:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bronnie-ware/top-5-regrets-of-the-dyin_b_1220965.html

Hopefully, none of us is nearing the end of our life.  So, as we near the new year of 2016, let’s not look back with regrets.  Rather, it may be more valuable to look at those things we do NOT regret.  What are those things that we are glad that we did and would do all over again, if given the chance?  Here are a few things that would be on my list:

I will not regret:

• Making sacrifices in my own career to participate in my kids’ activities, events, and fun
• Working to improve and expand my knowledge of quality, compliance, leadership, and manufacturing (my chosen profession)
• Taking the risk to move from quality to manufacturing and back again
• Standing firm in the face of severe pressure (at another company) to make the right decisions for our patients and company
• Striving to aid the careers of others and sharing the experiences I have had
• Speaking up or being in the minority view when needed
• Seeking to provide new experiences and fun and memories for our three children
• The time spend today with our grandchildren, even when they wear me out
• Seeking opportunities to write articles, get involved in industry groups, and speak in public when asked (no matter how much it took me out of my comfort zone)
• Commuting every week for 89 weeks to fulfill a promise to my daughter that she finish HS without moving
• Hiring or promoting great individuals early in their careers, then seeing them emerge as great leaders — then, hiring them again – some two, three, or more times (at least one individual four times!)
• Enjoying time sitting on my deck just enjoying the view, wildlife, or sunshine
• Volunteering to serve others in the community, our church, our neighborhood, or our company
• Those challenging days watching our teenagers struggle, but knowing they had to get through those times on their own
• Marrying the love of my life barely out of my teen years and growing up together
• Taking a demotion or lower paying job because I knew it was good in the long-term for my career
• The struggles and challenges of working in the pharmaceutical industry for over 35 years — even though, some days were very difficult
• Buying baseball memorabilia on E-Bay — even though my family will one day ask, “What do we do with all this old baseball junk?”
• Leaving a great job once to be closer to my ill father – even though he died three months later

My list could go on and on, but you get the picture.  What do you NOT regret?  And, as a result, what will you do intentionally today to make a difference for yourself or someone else?  My last bullet reminds me of a quote I just ran into a few days ago:

“Spend time with your parents, treat them well.  Because one day, when you look up from your phone, they won’t be there anymore.” —- Unknown

Have a terrific, “top ten” day!  Enjoy what you do and be the kind of person that looks ahead with excitement, not behind with regrets.

Today, I feature a few items (favorite quotes shares by friends Jen Lewis, Lori Mercurio, and others).  These should remind us that life from a child’s eyes is simple, beautiful, and full of endless possibilities.  What do you see in these?

1. M. Barrie, from Peter Pan – “The moment where you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever being able to do it.” –  So many things are possible until that hint of doubt creeps in.  When you believe that anything is possible, the tendency is to achieve much more than when you place limits on yourself and others.  From the viewpoint of a child, anything is possible.  How would our work change if we took that viewpoint?  How much could we achieve if we looked at what is possible rather than “achieving a 10% improvement from 2015 results?”  Can we try to remove some of those limits we place upon ourselves that keep us from being more than we ever believe possible?
2. Frank Baum, from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz – “The true courage is in facing danger when you are afraid.” – I have been a fan of this book since I was a child.  It has so many lessons that adults could learn.  This quotes is the true definition of courage.  Anyone can be “courageous” when they have nothing at risk.  It is only when you are afraid, or have something to lose, that you exhibit courage — true courage.  Are you or a colleague fearful of something in the future?  Is there a risk that you simply need to take?  Is there something to gain that can make the risk seem minimal?  What is it that you need to face today?  And, is there someone you need to take with you on that journey?  It is easier to face danger when you face it together.  Likewise, the things we gain by taking risks are more enjoyable when shared with others.
3. Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – “It’s no use to go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.” – Hopefully, we are different today than we were yesterday.  We are smarter, more experienced, more confident, more relaxed, a better friend, a better teammate — It is easy to dwell on what we should have, could have, wanted to do yesterday.  But, today, we are a different person and one that will do those things we neglected yesterday.
4. K. Rowling, one of the Harry Potter books – “We must all face a choice between what is right and what is easy.” – Don’t you face this choice every single day?  We probably face many situations each day in which we must choose to do what is right or what is most expedient for that day or situation.  As we drive continuous improvement, we’ll hopefully see that what is right IS what is easy.  However, our integrity is challenged – and built – every single day on those choices we make and whether we neglect that which is right for that which is easy.
5. Aesop, from The Lion and the Mouse – “No act of kindness , no matter how small, is ever wasted.” – Kindness is a personal value for me.  There is never a time when kindness is inappropriate, unmerited, or unneeded.  Every kindness, even the smallest act, adds value to the life of someone — whether that is the person performing the kindness or the recipient.  So, I believe this one — no kindness is every wasted.

How will you be different tomorrow?  In 2016?  Can you apply one of these nuggets of wisdom to make a difference in your life, your leadership, your work, your home, or in your relationships?  Which of these hits you today?  Have a marvelous day!  Thanks for being great teammates!

Just in case any of you or your loved ones every has to stay a night or more in the hospital, I would like to share some of the things I learned during my recent stay.  In short, the nurses and other caregivers were absolutely terrific!  However, I did pick up a few pointers that could make your next stay a bit better:

1. Not every person you encounter in a hospital knows when “you’re just kidding.”  I now think the reason hospitals might be short-staffed these days is because so many of their employees now work for airport security companies.
2. Never take your bodily functions – even those littles ones we never discuss – for granted.  These can make the difference between food or no food; staying longer versus going home; etc.
3. There is no such things as “modesty” in a hospital.  Even if you think you might be appropriately modest, when you leave the hospital, you’ll think of yourself as an exhibitionist.
4. I love Jell-O!  Yes, those little cubes of strawberry Jell-O never tasted so good.
5. The very best time of day to draw blood samples is 3:00am.  The reason for this is that at precisely 3:00am CT, gravitational and earth centrifugal forces perfectly align to produce blood flow with a single prick of the skin.  At any other time, it might take three or four pokes to accomplish the same thing.
6. Just because you want to see your surgeon or one of his residents, does not mean that they want to see you.
7. Millennials in any profession have a hard time making change with a purchase.  This attribute carries through to drug dosage calculations.  Sometimes it is good to double-check, just for fun.  It is not, however, a good thing to brag too loudly about catching their mistakes.
8. When they ask you to rate your pain on a 1 – 10 scale, mix it up a little bit.  Watch how they scratch their heads when they think something is not quite right.
9. There are narcotics and other mind-numbing drugs that can almost make you forget the Cardinals’ baseball season is over.
10. Everything takes longer than it seems in a hospital when you are uncomfortable or hungry or waiting for the next adventure.

Fun times!  Have a “top ten” day!

The world is inundated these days with superheroes. We see movies about Superman, Spiderman, Star Wars, and others. Our children wear clothing with the superstars of cartoons. Even the youngest of children can sing the songs of Disney heroes. Adults even adore the heroes of books, the theater, TV, and music. But, what about Christmas? What about the Superheroes of Christ’s birth?

Certainly, the Bible is full of heroes and superheroes. The Christmas story includes: Mary, Joseph, the Shepherds, the Wise Men, the Inn Keeper, and others. We cherish this story of centuries ago as both the birth of our Savior and the birth of Christmas. However, who are the superheroes in Christmas today?

Well, I contend that there are at least five Superheroes that we need to celebrate this and every Christmas season. Let’s take a look at each and the superpowers that result from each:

1. Faith – First, is the Superhero I call Faith. The book of Hebrews in the Bible calls Faith “the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.”  Faith is that confidence that what we hope for and believe is true and will happen. Faith is that confidence that our chair will hold us up when we sit in it. It is that trust that what God says is true. Faith sustains us when life becomes difficult and motivates us to go another step or another day. Without Faith, we can’t really celebrate Christmas and its true meaning at all. Faith in the Christmas Child is the only thing that can bridge that gap between us and God. Without Faith, there is no Hope.
2. Hope – How can we go through life without our next Superhero Hope? Hope is that Superhero that connects our life today with God’s promise of everlasting life. Hope keeps us focused. Hope saves the day when we think things can get no worse. Hope walks with us when our loved one has died, when we have lost our job, or when our child has gone astray. Hope is powerful! Hope does what no earthy, normal hero can do. Hope is that Superhero that introduces us to Peace.
3. Peace – Peace is that Superhero that everyone on earth seeks. Peace can be elusive or mysterious. However, Peace is one of the three Superheroes that only appear after we have experienced Faith and Hope. Peace is that hero that goes deep within us to combat those villains of anxiety, despair, fear, and misery. Peace rocks those guys! Peace is that feeling we get when we experience the Faith that gives us Hope. It is a trust that cannot be fully explained, but is that hero that can immediately change our day or our lives. Without Peace, it is nearly impossible to experience the Joy of which we sing at Christmas time.
4. Joy – Joy is that Superhero that will never leave us, once we have experienced it. Joy is that base-level part of our being that is present regardless of our circumstances. To me, the Superhero of Joy can be described like this,  “Happiness depends to a large degree on our circumstances, but the joy of God is ever-present and ever-working to impact our lives and the lives of those around us.”  Joy finds us when our friends desert us. Joy is not afraid of the dark, our enemies, our thoughts, or our problems. Joy will stick to us when we have nothing else. Joy doesn’t have to have a GPS to find us because she is with us wherever we go. And, Joy is the one that produces Love in our lives.
5. Love – Love is that Superhero in our lives that others can see and that impacts, not only our own lives, but the lives of others, as well. Love is that Superhero that can change the world around us. Love is all-powerful and is that Superhero invented by God and that comes to us straight from Him. The Bible (in 1 Corinthians 13) says this about the Superhero Love:  “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. …. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”Love is the greatest and most powerful of the Christmas Superheroes.

So, there you have it… the five Superheroes of Christmas! Have you ever experienced these guys? Do you have them in your life guarding you, protecting you, changing you, and, as a result, changing others around you? Without these Superheroes, Christmas is empty and, in truth, without meaning. It all starts with Faith. The Bible says (in John 3:16), “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.” If you believe this is true, you can have the Superhero of Faith. Just trust God, ask Him to forgive you, and promise you’ll do your best to live for Him the rest of your life. By placing your faith (little “F”) in Him, God will give you Faith (big “F”). When you have the Superhero of Faith, all the rest of the Superheroes of Christmas will follow in your life.

If you would like to know more about these Superheroes or how you can find that Superhero of Faith, feel free to send me a note and I will help. God loves you and wants everyone to experience Christmas in all its wonder and excitement… the way He intended… with the five Superheroes of Christmas!