Zig Ziglar has long been one of my two favorite motivational speakers (the other being Matt Foley). He has a wonderful combination of great thoughts along with an unforgettable voice. However, I believe that he was my favorite because of the man that listened to him so frequently as I grew up, my dad. As a person grows and learns, it is natural for them to emulate their heroes. This has always been the case with me and my dad...I hope to be like him!
For those who do not know him, my dad is, by far, the best dad that anyone could ask for. My dad was never deemed the most intellectual but he was always the smartest man in the room. He has never been considered wealthy yet he has always been the richest man around. He will never set any records as a strongman though he will ever be the strongest man I know. In the eyes of the world, my dad has not achieved great success.
My dad is the smartest, richest, and strongest man because of the one thing that has truly defined him as a man. "...if ye have not charity, ye are nothing...cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all...charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever..." Having sacrificed so much for others, it would be expected that he have nothing left to give. All the time that he has invested in other people, he rarely had time for himself. In the shoes of a man that the world expects to be a failure stands one of the greatest men to ever live and definitely the greatest that I have ever known.
I cannot begin to count the number of times I have seen my dad cry with another person...the manliest thing I have ever witnessed. He has always been open to the guidance of the spirit which has made him the smartest man in the room. He has always treasured his relationships with family, friends, and, most of all, God, making him the richest man alive. With a hug and his words he has lifted many people thus he is the strongest man I know.
Reigning in this three-paragraphs-tangent, I now address my original thought and the inspiration for this writing. Zig Ziglar said, "You are what you are and where you are because of what has gone into your mind. You can change what you are and where you are by changing what goes into your mind." Incredible power is contained in the human mind. With it, we have created the worlds that we live in. With it, we survive heartbreak, loss, and inhumanity. Unfortunately, that power can be used against us.
I have seen many precious daughters of Heavenly Father destroyed by men. Men who have professed to love a woman have then ironically taught the same woman worthlessness, shame, and doubt. These girls are mere shadows of the women they were born to be. There is hope as these beautiful women look to Jesus Christ for an example of what a man should be. There is hope as they put their trust back in men who honor their virtue and prize them for their mind, morals, and maturity.
I have seen the power of mind used against men afflicted by addictions to pornography, alcohol, and drugs. These plague and destroy relationships, confidence, and faith. Men become boys, afraid of progress and afraid of believing they can overcome. Soon they begin to live minute to minute, satisfying their corporeal cravings. There, too, is hope for men if they will rise up and face the hardships of life. There is hope if they will put off the enticing temptation and look forward to the future. No man is strong enough to confront the ills of today without a true belief in the Creator and faith in the power of prayer and revelation.
Doubt can yield to faith, despair will wain and hope abide, and lust will die and love remain. We can and we will turn it around. We can do hard things. We can put off the carnal desire and disbelief. We can rise up and wield the power we possess. We have acclimated to the world as we now know it. However, we have changed our world before and we can do it again. It is not easy but it is simple. The tapestry that is being woven is of our own choosing; whether that choosing is active selection or tacit authorization is up to us. We need constant vigilance regarding what enters our mind and paints the landscape in which we exist. Faith, hope, and charity!
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