I have been talking to you about greatness the last few post.  (You can read them <a title=”How to be Great Everyday” href=”https://candygibbs.com/how-to-be-great-everyday” target=”_blank”>here</a> and <a title=”Greatness” href=”https://candygibbs.com/greatness” target=”_blank”>here</a>)  I want to continue to explore qualities of greatness and practical ways to live them out daily.

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<ul>
<li>Be willing to <strong>apologize</strong> when you’re wrong. When you do apologize only an A+ effort will work…nothing less.</li>
<li>Show <strong>gratitude</strong>…It’s just the right thing to do!</li>
<li>”As you get older, your crayon box becomes more colorful than just black &amp; white.” I love this and I am not worthy to articulate its message. Read The Last Lecture to get a Pausch understanding of it.</li>
<li>Get yourself and your family <strong>out of debt</strong>. If you cannot pay cash for it you probably don’t need it. Yes, this means cars too. I drive a 1999 Ford 150 with 160,000 miles on it and the reason?   I can’t pay cash for a new pickup. If you haven’t already read Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Make Over it’s a must.  The concepts in this book just might save America from financial ruin!</li>
<li><strong>No job is beneath you</strong>.  Get your hands dirty and lead by example. Don’t allow yourself to become a self-impressed elitist!</li>
<li><strong>Don’t be a helicopter parent</strong>. We need to nurture and advocate for our kids not hover over them throwing them a life line every time they experience difficulties. If you’re the dad that calls or texts the teacher or coach because your Johnny Joe Jr. did not get the grade or the play time they wanted then you are probably a helicopter parent!</li>
<li>Minus the infanticide, the Spartan culture described in the book “Gates of Fire” by Steven Presser gives a whole new meaning to the “No Coddle Zone.”  Be a man of <strong>honor with strength</strong> and bestow an appropriate level of mental and physical toughness with your children.  Help them to believe they “have what it takes.”  Read Wild at Heart by John Eldridge.  I believe we gave a copy of this book out during Candy’s launch week.</li>
<li><strong>Love your wife.</strong>  Your wife’s emotional health is a direct reflection on you. She is your beauty that you will fight for and she needs to know it. She needs to know she is your true love. The whole family unit is dependent on this very powerful relationship!</li>
<li>Be the<strong> spiritual leader of your home</strong>.  This is by far the most important of all of the suggestions.  You are the gate keeper. You cannot do this without complete submission to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Satan does not want you or your family to succeed but with the grace of Jesus…you can be GREAT!</li>
</ul>
How do you show greatness everyday?  Comment below. Iron sharpens Iron!

Strength with Honor!

Brian