Weekly Thought – October 6, 2026
Fred kept a plaque in his office which said, “Any man who kneels to God can stand up to anything.” It was a gift from Dallas friend Mattie Caruth Byrd. She affectionately called her oilman husband D.H. (for dry hole). Fred and Mary Alice were visiting with them one evening.
Harold was dwelling on his drilling miscues when Mattie walked into the room with two plaques. “Pick one,” she said. “Okay, Fred, you take the other.” Before handing it to him she said, “Harold, it is only a dry hole – move on and dig again.” Fred kept it as a reminder of his friends, but also of the much bigger message about choosing your response to circumstances.
Bitter or Better
A pastor received the diagnosis of fast-moving Alzheimer’s in his mid-fifties. He faced the end of his vibrant ministry and the death of his dream. He called the board together, told them what the doctors said and made this statement: “When I am incompetent to lead this congregation would you promise me I can clean up the fellowship hall and do other menial tasks as long as I am able? I want to know my life will still be one of service to the people of God.” He could be bitter. He could struggle with “why God?” But he didn’t. Now, I am not saying he didn’t have some very difficult days. I am not taking a Pollyanna view of his situation. But, he made a decision to become better, not bitter. When I heard this story I thought of the scriptural affirmation: “We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.”
My friend Bax Ball lost an eye when he was three years old. He refused to use the loss as an excuse. When he went to an Ivy League school he checked to see if anyone has ever carried straight As and lettered in four sports. Finding none, he set his mind to achieve this goal – with one eye. Bax made a decision to be better, not bitter.
For many years I stayed close to a young man I met when he was in college. He experienced great business success and received many personal accolades. One day he called to say he was in chapter 11. We talked for awhile and at the appropriate time I gave him a saying which has been extremely helpful to me in difficult times: “Only your plans have failed, you have not.” Too often we get our ego so tied up with our plans we forget we are more than what we do.
Our experiences make us either bitter or better – we make the choice.
Think about: 1) What situation in my life right now requires this choice? 2) How can I turn bitter into better? 3) Who needs to hear Fred’s words today?
Words of Wisdom: “Only your plans have failed – you haven’t.”
Wisdom from the Word: “No, in all these things we have complete victory through Him who loved us!” (Romans 8:37 NET Bible)