To her parents, her abbreviated time on earth was perfect.

I believe, God built that sense into every one of us.

We are created in the image of God and death itself is against his very nature.

The only answer to death is Christ.

He lived it. He went through it. He overcame it.

Bless our short time here.

Blessed be the name of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 2:9:
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.

I love you

-Dad

As soon as you can, start a “commonplace book.” 

A commonplace book is simply a place where you keep things – or everything. 

Heck, you don’t even have to call it that. 

Anyway, Ryan Holiday calls it that and wrote about his commonplace book, here. 

I use Evernote as my commonplace book.

Notes can be made for everything you want to save and all notes are able to be categorized and tagged by topic.

In addition, everything is searchable. 

Specifically: Every book I read becomes a note in Evernote where all the passages I want to remember are stored.

Later, I make a new note for each passage, and each individual passage is tagged by topic. 

Good grief, I wish I had started my book when I was 18. 

The point is to not just read and experience life – and then press on with something else. 

It can be incredibly valuable to codify your experiences, your thoughts, and specific passages that stand out to you as you read. 

Over time, as Holiday points out, themes will come up and ideas and thoughts will be able to be more easily tied together. 

Knowledge is not worth much if it does not change your thoughts and your behavior. 

And it is less likely to do either if it is not easily accessible and organized. 

A commonplace book is a great place to start. 

I love you. 

 Be humble.

There are few personalities harder to be around than an arrogant know-it-all, no matter how much they actually do, or do not know. 

Nobody likes to be talked down to. 

In his book Resilience, Eric Greitens said it like this: 

“I begin with humility, I act with humility, I end with humility. Humility leads to clarity. Humility leads to an open mind and a forgiving heart. With an open mind and a forgiving heart, I see every person as superior to me in some way; with every person as my teacher, I grow in wisdom. As I grow in wisdom, humility becomes ever more my guide. I begin with humility, I act with humility, I end with humility.“ 

Proverbs 11:2:
When pride comes, then comes shame;
But with the humble is wisdom. 

Colossians 3:12:
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 

1 Peter 3:8:
Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; 

I love you.