See that beautiful red-head?
September 23, 2008 | family
I listened to some of the most gifted and interesting people yesterday, among them Gen. Colin Powell. Joe Montana. Zig Zigler. Rudy Giuliana. As a speaker it was interesting to watch eight gifted individuals talk about their passion. I’ll talk about what I learned all this week.
Some of the speakers inspired me; in fact, they just may have woke me up on some issues, which I’ll share on Thursday. Others felt-like canned infomercials, but I learned from that too. Some made me think about my finances. Others challenged me on business issues. One challenged me on my ministry and writing.
One presentation was heartbreaking, but still beautiful. Zig Zigler, a man known around the world as a gifted orator, suffered a fall recently that caused short-term memory loss.
He’s in his early 80’s and appeared fragile. This man, who once dominated the stage, sat with his daughter and talked in a Q&A that his daughter led. He repeated himself often, falling into lapses of memory that revealed his mental difficulties.
But even so, I took away something quite beautiful from his presentation.
“See that beautiful red-head over there,” he said at least five times. “Been married 62 years and isn’t she the prettiest woman here?”
His daughter gently corrected him each time. “Daddy, you already told them that,” she said.
One day I’ll be old. Really old. And I may not remember my accomplishments. I may not be able to run five miles (can’t now, so chances are I won’t then). I may be the doting great-grandmother, or the crochety old woman who has lost her filter and says whatever she wants.
I don’t know.
But what I hope for is that at the core of my being I remember what matters most. Maybe this will be me in 30 years or so.
I’m bent over. I’m silver-haired. I’m still wearing fun clothes, but my shoes are sensible. My teeth are my own, but I have wrinkles and age spots.
I’m sitting on stage:
“See that grey-haired man over there. Hottest guy in the whole stadium. He’s kind. He never griped, always loved to talk to me. I’ve been with him for 59 years.”
and then I’d point to the people sitting next to them.
“See that beautiful slender woman over there. She’s a lawyer, but first she was my baby. Blue-eyed. Blond fuzzy hair. She’s my girl. And there’s my boy, always loved hanging out with his momma, loved to make our time special. Isn’t he handsome? And see the other beautiful blond? Green eyes? That’s my girl too. She’s smart as a whip (that’s what old people say), and she loved her momma from the time that she was a little tyke (another thing old people say).”
Of course, I’ll have to talk about my SIL’s and my DIL and my grandpunkins and greatgrandpunkins.
Maybe the audience will be bored, or maybe they’ll boo me off the stage.
But I’ll be happy no matter what anyone else thinks because my memory may be shot, but I have remembered what really matters when it all comes down to it.
Zig Zigler is a man that transformed a generation into positive thinkers. And now he’s elderly.
He’s still telling us what matters, if we are willing to listen.
My two cents for the day,
Suzie
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Amen. So beautiful.
September 23rd, 2008 at 3:47 pmGreat post, Suz. A few tears betrayed me as I read it. Oh no, make that more–lots more!
HUGS!
September 23rd, 2008 at 4:11 pmI hear that tears are good for us, right? : )
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:05 pmThank you Suzie for sharing! I had not heard about Zig Ziglar. He is a great man of God with a BIG heart for Him & others. In my “younger” days, when it first came out, I read “See You At The Top”. It encouraged my heart & life in many ways. I have recently read his latest book, “Better Than Good, Creating A Life You Can’t Wait To Live”. Another A+ for Zig! So sad to hear this news, but will be praying for him. God bless you and yours bunches!
Livein’ it and Lovin’ it ~ In Christ,
Susan
October 2nd, 2008 at 11:45 am