All posts in Note to Self

note to self: try a little tenderness

Author wes@heywesward.comPosted on

Note to self: try a little more tenderness, Wes.

Dude, pull up a seat and listen again to this piece of goodness from classic screen legend Jimmy Durante. Through his seasoned distinctive gravel-and-staccato speak/sing style, take in some enduring life-coaching that you need to heed:

In the hustle of today
We’re all inclined to miss
Little things that mean so much
A word, a smile, a kiss
When a woman loves a man
He’s a hero in her eyes
And a hero he can always be
If he’ll just realize

She may be weary
Women do get weay
Wearing the same shabby dress
And when she’s weary
Try a little tenderness

You know she’s waiting
Just anticipating
Things she may never possess
But while she’s without ’em
Try a little tenderness

It’s not just sentimental
She has her grief and care
And a word that’s soft and gentle
Makes it easier to bear

You won’t regret it
Women don’t forget it
Love is their whole happiness
It’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness

You won’t regret it
Women don’t forget it
Love is their whole happiness
It’s all so easy
Try a little tenderness

Wes, note to self: grow in loving your wife. Try a little tenderness. You won’t regret it. She won’t forget it.

note to self: bring energy in the right way

Author wes@heywesward.comPosted on

Note to self: you will lean into a lot today — as you do, bring energy in the right way.

Being honest, yesterday you brought the wrong kind of energy at times. If you were to “roll tape” from yesterday, you’d cringe some. You didn’t steward the energy of your thoughts, words, and actions best at every turn. (Thank God there’s forgiveness for that and grace for today. No really, stop and burn some energy thanking Jesus for his real forgiveness for yesterday’s mess and today’s new measures of grace!)

So, here you are. Another day. The good works that you’re to walk into today will require legit muscle and proactive thoughtfulness. As a husband, dad, friend, leader — and disciple of Jesus — you need to bring the right kind of Christ-like energy to people. It’s okay to be a fixer . . . but more than “fixing,” expend effort — real energy — and bring tenderness, bring affirmation, bring joy, and bring hope with your solutions. (Your solutions, Wes, really aren’t all that outstanding likely anyway.)

And one more note to self — and some more good news: you don’t go it alone . . . the Holy Spirit enables you to bring His energy into each of these good works. Go for it. Lean into him. Enjoy the ride.