(My apologies, dear readers, as my life has been too busy lately to blog.  I shall get back on track this week 🙂  Thank you for staying with me!)

We’ve all heard about how important first impressions are.  If you are trying to catch the attention of the recruiter, or the interest of the guy or gal you are dating, then a memorable first impressions is essential.

What about the impression you make after you leave?

This morning as I wobbled into the kitchen, still half asleep, I hesitated when I noticed a wrapped butterscotch candy on the floor.  Hmmm.  Cat!  The scary part to me was the fact that the glass candy bowl sat on top of an old drop front desk between two glass oil lamps.  The cat had leaped to the desk top and toyed with a wrapped candy that dropped to the floor – and the lamps and candy dish stayed put.  Good kitty.  Just the night before, I had noticed a small dark object on the family room carpet in the corner.  It looked like … well … dark brown … sort of like a large Milk Dud.  I called Ted over to investigate and made him see if it was a cat turd.  Bad kitty.  It ended up being a chestnut that the cat had taken from a bowl on a shelf in the kitchen.  Apparently, both the butterscotch and chestnut were late night entertainment for Skipper the cat.  I was impressed that Skipper could find entertainment and at the same time was careful enough not to break anything.  Good kitty.

Almost everyone will make a good first impression, but only a few will make a good lasting impression.  Sonya Parker

Many mornings, after Ted has left for work, I can tell a lot about his previous night’s frolicking by what he’s left behind.  All those little crispy tan flecks on the couch?  Oh!  He peeled and ate pistachios while watching TV last night.  I can also tell in what manner Ted left the house by the state of the kitchen when I come home from work in the afternoon.  If the dishes have been placed in the dish washer and the counter is clear, he left the house in a leisurely manner.  If the sink is full of dishes and coffee has been splashed on the counter, then he quickly grabbed a cup of coffee to go and dashed out the door.

My dad told me when I went into high school, ‘It’s not what you do when you walk in the door that matters. It’s what you do when you walk out.’ That’s when you’ve made a lasting impression.   Jim Thome

With the celebration of Independence Day behind us, I am now reflecting on the idea of what has been “left behind.”  Our fathers, grandfathers, uncles, brothers, sons, husbands, and friends have given their lives in combat over the years so that we can live in freedom in this country.  What a legacy!  Not only those in the military, but the policemen and women as well as firefighters put their lives on the line for their community every day.  Because of their service, we have been left with a nation that is safe and free.

Oh I think a good first impression is nice.  It does set the stage for what happens next.  But the true test and measure of what value something holds is the lasting impression.  Did you quit your last job on good terms without burning any bridges?  Were you a thoughtful houseguest and did you make the bed after your stay?  Did you party in the park with your friends and leave trash behind?  Did you contribute with passion to the last committee/service project/task force/group you were part of?  Did you say goodbye to your loved one the last time you saw them with a smile and a kiss or did some hostility get in the way?   Hebrew 12:1-2 tells us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”  Life is a journey, folks.  Try to make each day count.  Keep your eyes on Him.  Run the race!  It’s not about any fancy or temporary good work done today.  You can celebrate that victory – but even if you’ve messed up today – keep running!  Let’s all finish with a smile on our faces and with a whole bunch of goodness kicked up in the dust of our tracks!

St. Paul Lutheran Church once again had a Freedom Celebration concert this year.  The music that is sung each year is a wonderful mix of Christian and patriotic tunes.  This year the music included the title, “May All Who Come Behind us Find us Faithful.”  The song pretty much covers my sentiments.  If you have time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSa6rqZbp9c&feature=player_embedded

Proverbs 10:2 Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death

just Laurel