Archive for the ‘Inspirational’ Category
A Tribute to Our Accidental First Lady
Former First Lady Betty Ford was recently laid to rest beside her husband — the man she always called her boyfriend — her amazing life of 93 years having come to a peaceful end. Because many of you under the age of 40 may know little about her, I want to share with you some insight into this remarkable woman and the path she blazed for all of us.
In 1974, due to the resignation of President Richard Nixon, and after serving as vice president for only one year, Gerald Ford took over our nation’s highest office. Suddenly, Betty Ford was unexpectedly thrust into the White House and the limelight, and became known as “the accidental first lady.” As accidental as it may have been, she embraced the role like Americans had never seen before; with a candor and humanity that was unheard of at the time.
Betty used her position to become an advocate for women’s rights. Remember, the early 70s was a far more chauvinistic era than today. She will be remembered for enforcing the notion that “being ladylike does not require silence.” She spoke of the contributions of women as wives and mothers. “We have to take the ‘just’ out of the phrase, ‘just a housewife,’” she insisted. (more…)
Pastor’s Second Act, and Blessed Life, Ends Too Soon
The following tribute is by best-selling author Mitch Albom in honor of our dear friend Rev. Henry Covington, who recently passed away. While you may not know him by name, Henry’s dedication to the good people of Detroit was evident in his work with I Am My Brother’s Keeper Ministry — he was their everything. While it is personal loss, the ripple effect of his absence will be felt by many. He is in our prayers, and I hope, in yours as well.
Mitch Albom and Pastor Henry P. Covington
Farewell, friend. You were too young to die. I saw you just the day before. Now I won’t see you again. Not on this earth, anyhow.
Farewell, friend. We hugged at breakfast. I said “Hennnrrry,” as I usually do, and buried my head into your huge upper chest. You were dressed up. It was a big day. The sun was out in the winter sky.
Farewell, friend. If I had known it was our last meeting, the things I would have changed. We spoke as if we had forever. We talked about Christmas coming up, the programs at your church, the hungry to be fed at your shelter. We got into a car that was waiting for us, like big shots, and it drove us to a TV studio in Rockefeller Center. (more…)
The Great Holiday Pause
My dad used to say holidays are that time of the year when you get thrown together with people whom you don’t really know that well or have much in common with any more. You spend way too much time with them — sometimes long, almost endless days, jammed into a space that’s way too small — and make each other miserable! Ya-hoo! Santa Claus, right? Ha! My dad really wasn’t a humbug; he was just joking about how we sometimes “over expect” when it comes to the holidays and forget the reality of it all.
Hopefully, you’re excited about your upcoming holiday gathering. I know I am. We don’t focus much on the gifts, but we sure enjoy the time together. If you are like a lot of families, there is always one (or more) family member or family friend you would rather not see. Deep down, you’re already dreading this jerk showing up. Don’t we all have the “Uncle Harry” or “Aunt Busybody” who would rather start trouble than anything else? You might be worried that some conflict from the past will come up, or that a long-time disagreement will raise its ugly head. (more…)
Teens under Pressure Update
I’m happy to share with you the following letter that the Dr. Phil show received from John Draper, Ph.D., the director of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, informing us that with the broadcast and re-broadcast of our show “Teens under Pressure,” substantially more callers sought crisis assistance from the Lifeline’s national network of more than 140 call centers. The day the show aired, the Lifeline had a 45 percent increase in calls over the previous week.
I’ve always said that we use this show as a platform to make a difference, and this news just reminds me of why we do this. We were very sensitive to the research-based requirements those in the media need to adhere to when reporting on teen suicide. The “contagion effect” presents unique challenges in responsibly having a much-needed discussion about this critical issue. Those guidelines and others that parents can use in talking with their own children can be found on DrPhil.com. (more…)
Yes, Virginia, There Are Still Sports Heroes
(AP Photo/Bill Haber)
I love, and I mean love, college football. I played it, I watch it, and I follow it, but I have a feeling that a lot of you, like me, are sooo ready for all the college football bowl games to come to an end. Seriously, is there a college team this year that did not play in a bowl? And when you read about a bowl game called the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (I’m not making that up), you have to wonder what’s next. The Toilet Bowl?
The season finally — yes, finally! — ends this week. But before it does, I’d like to take a moment and say a fond farewell to one of the great young men in the history of the game: University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Chances are, you might not know much about him other than his playing ability, but if you are a parent, he is worth a second look. This year especially, when so many headlines have been about sports stars embroiled in scandal, we should all take the time to acknowledge a real All-American hero. Tebow is exactly the kind of role model we are so in need of for our kids, who get bombarded with the glamorization of the wrong kind of attention-getters in today’s world. (more…)
