Congress must demonstrate what it takes to succeed

Published 2:18 pm Friday, April 19, 2024

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BY GLENN MOLLETTE

Life is fragile and doesn’t last long, so we should try to enjoy every day. 

Be good to yourself and be good to other people. Treat people the way you would like to be treated. Speak to people in a manner that you would like for them to speak to you. Treat motorists on the highway the way you want others to treat you. 

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If you can help someone in some way, then don’t miss the opportunity of being blessed by doing an act of kindness. 

Forgive yourself and forgive others. Extend grace and move forward with life. Some things are hard to overcome, but carefully consider what you want to carry around the rest of your life. If someone broke in front of you at the cafeteria line, then don’t hold that against them for the rest of your life. It harms you more than it harms them. Much of the baggage that we carry all our lives is not worth the burden and unrest that it causes. Let it go and move forward. 

Try to do what you enjoy every day or at least some of the time. There are always dishes to wash, grass to mow and bills to pay. Life is filled with the daily chores and tasks of life. Try to fit into your schedule to see what brings you some pleasure. It may be the simplest of activities but that’s OK. A car drive, a walk around the block, fishing or sitting in church, whatever it is then find time for the simple pleasures of life. 

Life is fragile. We are all one heartbeat away from death. We never know what’s lurking inside these bodies that could disable or kill us at any moment. Routine physical exams are vital to try to maintain our health but even then, they are not the silver bullet. Anything can happen at any time. Take value in this day that you have and soak in the sunshine or the rain, whatever is going on, find joy in another day of life. 

Do not fall out with people over politics and issues. It’s important to be able to express our points of view and work to accomplish change. However, the only way we are going to bring about change and progress is by working together. A divided house cannot stand, nor can a divided nation. The planet needs for America to be “United.” 

United doesn’t necessarily mean in harmony. I heard a story about a little boy who tied the tails of two tomcats together and hung them on a clothesline. They were very united, but they had no harmony. Obviously, this would be a bad thing to do but it’s sort of like our United States Congress. They are all united by political positions and have to show up in the same room, but they argue, fight and scratch every day without bringing about solutions. Each of us must demand from our local Congressional representation that they go to D.C. to work beyond party lines, embrace each other, and get things accomplished. 

Those who serve us in D.C. must demonstrate to the American people what it takes to get things done instead of what it takes to fail. 

(Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.)