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‘People who like this sort of thing will find this the sort of thing they like’ – Abraham Lincoln
In 1989, Stephen Covey authored ‘The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People;’ a list rooted in business. Today, I’ll borrow from his theme – this list is rooted in scripture. Let’s go!
KEEP SMILING – Prov. 15:13 “A happy heart makes the face cheerful.”
To hire 500 people for a national hotel chain’s newest location, managers spoke with 5000 applicants. Candidates who smiled fewer than 4 times during their interview were excluded.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks and a great picker-upper for others.
LOVE YOURSELF – Lk.10:27 “Love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
A Hong Kong tattoo artist was asked why someone would ink ‘Born to Lose’ on their body. He tapped his head, saying, ‘Before tattooed on body, tattooed on mind.’ – Norman Vincent Peale
You and I are ‘one another,’ so ‘loving one another’ includes loving ourselves! Hooray!
DO YOUR BEST – Col. 3:23 “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”
Excellence is to do a common thing is an uncommon way. - Booker T. Washington
Doing our best can take no more effort than not doing our best. Our best benefits us, too.
AVOID NEEDLESS COMPETITION – 2 Cor. 10:12 “Those who compare themselves to themselves and measure themselves by themselves are not wise.”
A white football was kicked into the chicken yard. A rooster saw it and called the hens together. “Girls, you need to see what they’re doing next door!”
Competing is not foolish, but needlessly competing is, and there’s no winner.
BE KIND – Gal. 6:10 “When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it.”
Kindness makes a person attractive. Offer me a cookie and I’ll follow you anyway!
REPLY SOFTLY TO HARD WORDS – Prov. 15:1 “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Police officers are trained to speak calmly to drivers, an approach intended to defuse anxiety. This practice is suitable for use at home, at school, in business, or when your in-laws drop by for a surprise visit!
ASK YOURSELF: DOES IT REALLY MATTER? – Titus 3:9 “Avoid foolish controversies and quarrels; they are unprofitable and worthless.”
Husbands, so she moved the thermostat 2 degrees; she didn’t drive through the garage door!
Wives, so he left the toilet seat up; he didn’t break your grandmother’s crystal punch bowl!
Not everything that counts can be counted. Not everything that can be counted counts.
People who matter are people who are aware that all people matter.
–Jackie Chesnutt, Chaplain and Emotional Support Coach for Myers-Davis (4/6/2026)
