Gratitude & Contentment
Articles mainly about thankfulness, gratitude practices, contentment, being satisfied.
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Singing Through the Sorrow
When I was young, my dad loved a song which began, “How can I say thanks for the things you have done for me, things so undeserved yet you proved to show your love for me.
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I Will Be Happy If
There is a question I have been pondering during Holy Week. “I will be happy if ____________.” Early in my dad’s cancer journey, he would have placed his happiness dependent upon his cure.
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Good News
In my devotional, I was feeling sad when I opened an advent book by one of my favorite authors, Henri Nouwen.
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Giving Away Thankfulness
Why should Thanksgiving be limited to one calendar day a year? Giving thanks can be so much more than watching football all day, eating piles of delicious food that later make us miserable, Christmas shopping, a four-day weekend.…
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Artist Work
Shann and I went with our daughter Bella as part of a ministry team to work with children born into brothels.
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Cup of Joy
A cup of joy has the potential to give more vitality than a cup of joe. Do we really believe this? Ask 65% of adult Americans who delight in their daily cup of joe.
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First Word Joy
I have a sign on my office door that I made that reads, “First Word Joy.” I consider how differently my day begins when I select to focus on delight in God, life, and people.
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Waiting for the Shoe to Drop
I am sitting in my office feeling a mixture of hope and a small sense of dread. My dad’s picture is to my right. I consider how he would like me to live right now.
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Psalm 34
We are memorizing Psalm 34 as a staff. Some are working on verses 1-4, and some are trying for all 22 verses.
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Happy Father’s Day
Happy Father’s Day is so much more than a just a happy… Father’s… day… There are at last three valuable celebrations during this day to honor Fatherhood.
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Jewels or Snakes
I am thinking about Numbers 21:6-9 and the snakes again that bit and killed the thankless people of God.
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Feasting in the House of God
I flew to Cambridge, UK again with Shann. We spent time with a lovely Christian artist who wrote a song called, “We Will Feast in House of Zion.” Her name is Sandra, and she has a tender quietness…
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Words and Snakes
I read an interesting passage of scripture from the Old Testament. It is the story of the complaining Israelites who are unhappy about being in the desert.
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In Celebration of Marrying Young
Shann and I will be married for thirty-five years this June. A young man asked us if we were glad we married young in light of so many people feeling they made mistakes by marrying too soon.
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Fulfillment
Our family line had a burning desire to be remarkable. I know my dad wrestled with this internal drive. He continuously worked to move his sense of self-worth away from achievement and into being.
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Blood and Happiness
The incredible human machine has an approximately 10-ounce heart that pumps blood through the entire body.
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Rpg
I have been signing cards recently with the acronym RPG. It’s my true north right now. When I get confused, anxious, unsure how to spend my time or focus my thoughts, it is my way forward.
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Quintiles of Life
I am currently in a Bible study that is reflecting on what God is doing in our journey on earth.
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Marian Point of View
I am struck by the obedience and willingness of Mary to become the mother of Jesus. Her song of gratitude to God for this blessing stuns me.
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Recognize the Value of Appreciation
“The ability to appreciate is a learned behavior. Mastery of this skill of seeing the full worth in people, in creation and all life is the difference between being a positive or a negative human being.” Fred Crowell…
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Practice Gratitude
“As medicine is to the body, gratitude is to the soul.” For the past six months, Words of Hope with Fred Crowell has been a source of joy and thanksgiving to me.
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How to Live in a Broken World
It is a serious thing Just to be alive On this fresh morning In the broken world This poem by Mary Oliver brings me back to my center. What is required of me?
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America the Lady
America has been portrayed as a lady—a lady of grace and beauty from sea to shining sea, purple mountain’s majesty, amber waves of grain, among fruited plains.
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A Sacred Moment
I opened my office drawer for a notecard and found the one I selected was already written on in my dad’s handwriting. It’s a card with a beautiful tree on the front.
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A Time to Mourn
I am back writing Words of Hope for the remainder of the year. I took a lengthy break for several reasons. Mostly because I was sad. Grief is complex that way.
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The Discipline of Gratitude
I am keeping a gratitude timer on my phone. Every hour and a half, I check in with myself. How grateful have I been? How much news or negative thinking have I jumped into?
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Infinite Abundance
The other day I was praying through Colossians 1:9-14. I was praying about myself which is interesting because the passage is about praying for others.
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Systemic Love
At the core of all systems of love is listening, mutual respect, serving others, repentance, gratitude, and joy. Health looks complete from top to bottom and bottom to top.
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The Most Important Daily Decision
I recently researched the benefits of gratitude. I am still surprised how overwhelmingly transformative gratitude is to our health and wellbeing, to our relationships, and to every aspect of our life.
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The Healing Power of Praise
I read recently that gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. It counteracts against the four most toxic emotions: envy, bitterness, regret, and depression.
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Miraculous Power
My dad started a practice of letter writing at camp and for the last fifty-plus summers, student-athletes pause during the week to write a letter to a family member or key mentor.
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We Croak
One of our family friends has an app that’s called “We Croak.” Seven times during the day, a small alarm goes off and a quote pops up as a reminder on how to live.
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Verbal Guardrails
Camp is in full swing with many moving parts and of course unforeseen challenges. Most of these come out of nowhere surprising me without warning.
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Dad’s Last Podcast
I received a beautiful letter from William May who told me stories about his appreciation for my dad. He shared with me a podcast I didn’t know Dad was part of.
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Overflowing Hope
I am so thankful my dad called these little devotionals Words of Hope . I bless him for this.
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Gratitude in Grief
Growing up my family had a daily ritual of reading Our Daily Bread every morning at the table. No matter who was staying or living at our home at the time, everyone participated.
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Peace on Earth
Recently, I had a waking vision of my dad. I was walking on the treadmill, praying through the Pray as You Go app. I saw Dad walking toward me, hugging me and welcoming me.
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Wild Imagination
I have a bad habit of imagining someone else’s suffering will pass to me like a contagious disease.
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Moments of Wonder
I sit watching about 20 robins congregating in the trees. They greet each other noisily and swoop continuously between my neighbor’s tree and mine. They have bright red breasts and look so happy together.
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Best Thought
One of Dad’s favorite hymns came on when I was listening to my Pray As You Go app.
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Tgbtg
Dad loved acronyms. He had a million different ones he used often. My newest favorite is from my brother Jay. He texted a response TGBTG which stands for To God Be The Glory.
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Enough
I have been reading my dad’s Words of Hope messages lately. I was surprised to find one in April of 2021 where my dad wrote, “My promise for 2021 is just to live in the reality that enough…
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At All Times
I have been meditating on the first part of Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the Lord at all times.” I consider the words, “at all times.” This is a topic Dad and I discussed often.
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I Will Bless
One of my favorite passages of scripture is Psalm 34. What a psalm of solace! Dad and I would pray each word, meditating on it.
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Focal Point
My best frame of mind comes from meditation on gratitude and the truth that I belong to God. Every time I draw my attention away from these focal points I wind up off balance.
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Miracle of Grace
My husband Shann and I watched a modern-day movie fable attempting to show the calamity of friendships and families that lead to war.
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What time is it?
My daughter traveled to Melbourne for her college roommate’s wedding. She left the afternoon of Christmas Eve because flights were astronomical any other time.
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Christmas Intention
The world outside my window is covered in snow, the trees flocked with hoarfrost. A palpable stillness descends with the snow. I have a quiet, almost solemn but still joyful feeling as I look out in wonder.
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No Grumbling
This is a strange time to be alive. There is a zeitgeist moving that is full of portent like a mighty storm brewing. I believe the Lord is near though I am not sure what that means.
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Envy Observed
It’s basketball season. The starting lineups have been announced and I consider all the students who don’t make the starting five.
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Listen for the Blessing
I like to talk. Sadly, I often talk too much, and about the wrong thing. This hurts my relationship with my family. I say something that is judgmental, fearful, or just plain bothersome.
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Delight in Difficulty
One of the hardest lessons I have learned is the discipline to delight in difficulty. Our NBC Central office team has been practicing this for almost 10 years, but it still is not easy or natural.
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Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude was one of the most important disciplines for my dad. Gratitude for God, for life, and for people were his intentional and pursued disciplines. I call gratitude a discipline because it is a habitual mindset.
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An Elegant Question
During date night, Shann asked me an elegant question. In the metaphor of sowing and reaping, he asked what two seeds I am thankful I am planting in my life.
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Relational Joy
I read recently that researchers have discovered a connection between relational joy in your fifties and wellbeing and flourishing health in your eighties.
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Facing the Year of Fear
On March 11, 2020, we received news the March Basketball Tournament was closing. Games were canceled across the country. We met as a staff in the conference room for the last time.
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Hey Dad
When I was younger, I loved to yell, “Hey, Dad, what would you give me if I make this shot?” One of the biggest wagers we made was at Silver Lake.
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Back to Basics
When I feel the deep ache of loss and start feeling sad about Dad being gone, I go back to the fundamentals. I go back to the basics; Dad taught: solitude and gratitude.
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Learned Contentment
Contentment has been a hard-fought lesson for me and also for Dad. He wrestled with finding contentment even in illness. I have been on a long journey as a student of contentment.
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The Best Medicine
Shann is genuinely a happy person. He is cheerful, lighthearted, and never moody or depressed. He sings daily and is genuinely a joy to be married to.
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When Problems Compound
One of the great gifts from my Dad was the discipline to write each day in a gratitude journal. At NBC Camps, we say daily habits reveal our future success.
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Surprised by Joy
I had been dreading Father’s Day. I woke up on Father’s Day, assuming it would be a bone-crushing day of sorrow, but it wasn’t. I left deep gratitude for my Dad and felt very close to him.
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The Choice of a Beautiful Life
Dad LOVED slogans—he had hundreds. One of his favorites was, “You win or lose by the way you choose.” This phrase has been on my mind each morning—a simple decision.
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How’s Your PMA
One of the most famous lines at NBC Camps was a question Dad asked. He would ask the campers, “How’s your PMA?” They would jump up and respond, “Boy, am I enthusiastic.” PMA stands for positive mental attitude…
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Daily Grace
I am reading Ulysses by James Joyce. Truly not the easiest read but entertaining nonetheless.
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Where Your Treasure Is
A huge table in the center of our kitchen seats twelve people comfortably. This table is the focal point of our home, a place to eat, play, and write.
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Atypical marriage
One quality I admire about my Dad is that he did not speak poorly or negatively about my Mom. He worked hard to root out criticism. He believed that criticism is poison to relationships.
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Contentment Mindset
When I think about the many things Dad taught me, contentment is one of the most crucial. Contentment is the state of living where we are peaceful and, for the moment, happy.
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March Madness
Dad and I liked to play solitary card games while racing against each other. Our favorite was kings in the corner. These games are addictive—just one more game.
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Prayer Sisters
Today is my middle daughter Ariana’s birthday. She has the last birthday in four weeks of March birthdays to celebrate in our family. When she was four months old, she stopped gaining weight.
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Messenger
Today is my Dad’s birthday. Do I write that it would have been his 80th or that it is his 80th birthday? I will say it is Dad’s 80th birthday.
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Our Present Darkness
I am reading Czech writer Bohumil Hrabal’s novella, Too Loud a Solitude . Hrabal experienced not only the horrors of the Nazi occupation of Prague but also the dark years of communism under Soviet Russia.
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Mumbai
Mumbai is a city of 28 million people. There were slums and poverty everywhere we went. People live in tin slabs with tar paper roofs and tarps on the hardened mud floors.
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Magnificat
Dad and I loved to talk about Mary, the mother of Jesus. When we were in the Philippines, Dad was adored everywhere he went. He and Shann were on local television. Dad was like a rock star.
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Dream Dinner
I had my first dream of my father. He was younger than I am now at my current age. We sat side by side at a beautiful banquet table.
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Next Generation
One of the verses Dad and I memorized together was Deuteronomy 4:7-9, a beautiful set of verses reminding parents to pass on what they have seen and witnessed as transformation from God to the next generations.
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Weather Man
Dad would say, “Imagine an elevator. Most of us have moods and emotions which take us up and down the elevator. But some people get off and live on certain floors.
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Beauty over Utility
I have never loved flowers as a gift. They have always seemed to be an extravagance. I would rather Shann buy me a vacuum or a pair of shoes, something durable and useful.
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Consider the Birds of the Air
Dad loved New Year’s Eve. He loved to clean out closets; he loved to organize and plan; he loved fresh starts. New Year’s Eve was a big event in my home.
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Garment of Praise
Sorrow can feel like a heavy shroud. I sometimes feel suffocated by it if I allow my mind to think of no more time with Dad, no more calls, no more chats by the fire, or surprise trips.…
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Psalm 23
Dad and I often talked about life balance. Dad was a juggernaut of energy when he was younger. He was a make it happen person. But as he developed cancer, his ability to power through became harder.
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Thanksgiving
Dad was masterful at creating meaningful moments. At Thanksgiving, the TV would be off, there would be intentional time for grateful reflection, and there would be great food and laughter.
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Veterans Day
My dad loved veterans and felt deeply grateful for his friends and family who served. One man that he came to know and love fought in the Vietnam war. They were around the same age.
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The Decision of Gratitude
Dad asked our family to be with him when he first received the news he might have cancer. We gathered around the kitchen table to wait with him when the hospital called with his results.
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God supplies our Needs
God shall supply ALL my needs?! What a sentence! Do I live like I believe this? I know this is something Dad wrestled with for a long time.
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Mealtime Conversation
Our family created a ritual around mealtime conversation. This ritual refined through the years, but it emerged from my Dad’s quote he often used, “Great people talk about ideas, mediocre people talk about things, and small people talk…
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Overflowing with Thankfulness
Dad liked to use a jar illustration to help people diagnose the quality of their thoughts and words. Picture a large glass jar in which you can inspect all the contents.
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Sing for Joy to the Lord
Dad loved to sing, and for a long time, he was not good—so poor people thought he purposely mocked the song when he sang in church. Yet, Dad still sang— in church and in public.
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Right Here Right Now
Dad loved to do crazy things, like two-footed hops down the middle of main street Disneyland or teach strangers how to laugh or practice his Qi Gong breathing technique in a crowded elevator.
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Mount Never Enough
Looming in the hearts of human “doings” (not human beings) is the majestic Mount Never ENOUGH . This imaginary self-imposed mountain stands taller than America’s tallest Mount Denali and the world’s tallest Mount Everest.
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Three Stages of Life
In the early days, a baby spends the vast majority of time in a crib. The middle years of life are spent grinding it out for the accumulation of stuff.
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Have or Have Nots
This is the ultimate difference between contentment and discontentment. Contentment is living in abundance. Discontentment is living in scarcity.
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Land That I Love
“This land is your land, this land is my land. From California to New York Island, from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf stream waters.
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Good News – Great News
The Apostle James encourages us to consider trouble when it comes our way, to be an opportunity for great joy.
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Privilege
Webster writes PRIVILEGE is “a special benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity granted only to a particular person or group.” There was a time in our culture when the average person could not spell or give…
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Wanting More
Very early this morning I asked myself this question: Is my life enough, or do I want more? My reality is while I am in my secret garden, it is a perfect place.
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Best We Not Forget
Wise people do not forget those who have gone before and made our lives richer, better, happier, and safer.
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3 Pills, Big Job
Approximately 160 men with metastatic prostate cancer are counting on three (3) daily pills to give them a few more good days on this earth, celebrating each new day.
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Crowellians Chapter 1
Greeting from Fred Crowell! This letter from Fred to all who have a special place in my heart.
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Enough Is Good Enough
“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, I have everything I need, all I really want is God.” – Crowell It’s been said that when John D Rockefeller was asked how much money was enough, he…
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Basketball Betrayal
Years ago, a wise college basketball coach evaluated a hopeful recruit with these words: “His body betrays him.” At the time, these were stunning yet insightful words. What in the world was he talking about?
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My Tribute to a Man Who Changed My Life
My dear, dear Father B: I slept a very rare 8 uninterrupted hours through the night this week. Praise God.
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Excellent UCLA doctor time
Dear Forever Friends, Once again, the Lord delivers Fred Crowell big time. After 11 intense metastatic cancer years, my cancer is isolated in the bones and not present in soft tissue.
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World’s Greatest Artist
Is it Rembrandt, Picasso, Michael Angelo, Chagall, Van Gogh, or is it GOD? Susan Stricker, high school math teacher, lover of beauty, declares to any and all, “God is the greatest artist!” One of my thousands of joyous…
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99.9% vs. 100%
“Fred, how do you do it? How do you have such peace and joy going through the challenges you are facing? Four times in the past few days, this has been the question asked of me.
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Detachment Life Principle
Crowell’s Fourth Spiritual Pillar Detachment Truth is the 4th foundation of St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercise Theology. Every Jesuit priest is taught to exercise this foundational principle in their life, daily.
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A Written Letter
A WRITTEN LETTER can be an effective way to communicate. Francis Bacon said: “Reading makes us full, speaking makes us prepared, and writing makes us exact.” A letter is from one person to others to be read.
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You Are Enough
My Dearest of Friends, When St. Paul wrote his many letters from his Roman prison cell, I am sure he did not know they would reach his friends, let alone be read.
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2021 Letter from Fred
WARMEST GREETINGS TO MY DEAR FAITHFUL FRIENDS: The year 2020 had the earmarks of a very unique year. For too many, it was the worst of years, especially financially.
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The Triple A’s
Adversity – Abundance – Appreciation Is it possible to go through life without adversity? Are learning valuable life lessons possible without adversity? In your life experience, how has adversity shaped you?
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Thanksgiving Week
In 1863, because of the Army victory at Gettysburg during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving holiday for every succeeding November.
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Grateful for Gifts
Once in a while, I question why I find such joyful delight when I receive a grateful expression.
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A Prayer for You
Years ago, a brilliant leader taught the magic learning number is 6 . For example: If you want to remember a person’s name when introduced, silently repeat the name 6 times.
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Man’s Best Friend
When neighbors are out walking their dogs, my favorite question is: “Who is having the most fun — you or the dog?” Of course, the answer is always the same: “The dog.” As I have watched dogs, all…
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What Thankfulness Is
“ Thank you “ may be the most forgotten phrase in all mankind! Is the loss of a couple seconds of our time worth not expressing thanks? What is thankfulness?
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The Glory of Creation
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His handiwork. There is no speech or language where His word is not heard.” The psalmist continues to extol the grandeur of creation.
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Reasons to Make Gratitude a Goal
Why is gratitude important? Gratitude becomes mental and emotional medicine. John Hopkins Hospital asks each cancer patient to journal 25 gratitudes daily. Gratitude enhances greater performance.
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Certain Path to Peace
With many mental parts moving about in the “Crowell Cooker” today, I wonder how do I find peace where there is so much pain in our world, both micro and macro?
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The Power of Personalized Letters
One of the most powerful ways to inspire and encourage someone is a personal letter. This is because written words can be reread and encouraged again. Therefore, they are magical.
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Meet Miss Hope, My New Teacher
Everyone is a teacher ! The title teacher is not inclusive to those who are certified academic instructors. The most effective teacher is one’s life experience.
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Labor Day Celebration
I discovered far too late in life what Labor Day Celebration should be. I thought it was valuing hard work.
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Words of Hope
Hi Robert – Bobby MAC, Good news and bad news The self-therapy letter to myself details the good news. Read on. Dear Freddy J, Good morning, best friend. Hope with God’s hope you are enjoying today.
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Abundance Not Scarcity
“I have come that you might life and have it abundantly.” – Jesus Often people tell me, “We grew up poor but I never knew we were poor.” The six Crowell kids knew every day of our growing…
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Thirst
Key Statement: “My soul thirst for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” – Psalm 63 Water has been the center of my attention lately for several reasons.
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Five Daily Gratitudes
Research suggests gratitude helps beat cancer. Dr. John Gottman has proven through extensive testing that when the heart jumps over 100 beats per minute when angry, the ability to solve problems diminishes.
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Wake in Darkness
When I awaken in darkness in the middle of the night with a sudden thought that cancer will defeat me, fear grips my heart like a villain.
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Thank God It’s Friday
We build our personal world within the global world with the words that proceed from our mouths. So, if words matter as I believe they do, perhaps the idiom TGIF is not a great thing.
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It Is Well with My Soul
One of my most favorite songs is “It Is Well with My Soul.” The lyrics are what I need, sometimes several times a day.
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Today’s Light
My 20% PMA advantage plan today is gratitude. I am thankful I am alive with a strong heartbeat and breathing ability.
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The Life Elevator
Yes, in life we are either going up, going down, or not moving! Just like a mechanical elevator.
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Thy Kingdom Come
A basketball coaches analysis of the Lord’s Prayer. Based on the prayer instruction of Jesus, how is it possible to have His Kingdom come and His Will be done here on earth?
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Coach Crowell’s Gratitude Story
The year 1999 is the year the gratitude story began. The world was in disarray. Brilliant minds predicated the world economy was going to collapse because the world of technology was not equipped to deal with a new…
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Dwell Together in Unity
The world’s pandemic has forced isolation upon us with a heartless vengeance. This isolation for the vast majority of Americans changed our lives in dramatic ways; some positive; some negative.
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Something Better
The strength and integrity of a company or an individual are the associations they are able to develop. Cornerstone Home Lending is one of the finest companies in the USA to help families finance their homes.
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Thankfulness
THANKFULNESS GRATITUDE CREATION Today is focus time on 3 impactful words! First, is the idea of thankfulness. It is impossible to have a negative attitude and be thankful. Thanklessness is a terrible robber of peace and contentment.
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Existential Diagnosis of Self-love, Part 1
The legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus reportedly said: “You cannot become a great golfer until you have the skill to watch yourself hitting the golf ball.” This is like taking your eyes out of your head and watching yourself…
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Not My Plan
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord; when he delights in His way…” – Psalm 37 Children are remarkably amazing.
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Is Your Quiver Full
In the days of old a quiver full of quality arrows was a must. It was the difference between life and death. The Psalmist used a quiver as a simile for a man having many sons.
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Delight – Delightful – Delighted, Part 1
The three D’s are the ingredients for a joyful, cheerful and fulfilling day! Oh, how we love the anticipation of a fantastic day! This feeling is because life is a gift.
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Contentment
The secret of this attitude. An elegant question from Jay Crowell: Dad, if you could visit one site in Rome what would this place be?
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The Crowell Beat Cancer Game Plan
This is my personal game plan for dealing with cancer. It is working! My HOPE is it can work for you as you face your possible insults, difficulties, hardships, and persecutions. FROM ST.
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Thanksgiving with the Crowell Family
“I will offer to YOU the sacrifice of thanksgiving & will call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:17 Our Special Day dedicated to being extra thankful typically begins in the early morning hours with Susie by…
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Take and Receive
St. Ignatius’s TAKE AND RECEIVE prayer is one of my most favorite prayers. Multiple times daily these are the words of my mouth. May they be yours as well.
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WHAT YOU APPRECIATE APPRECIATES – Jay Crowell
For a father I’m not sure many joys surpass the privilege of having children becoming lovely, healthy, successful parents. One of Crowell’s teaching principles is, “A son should become twice as smart as his Dad.
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Thankful Beats Unthankful
As in the lyrics of “Ungrateful Eyes,” do we ever stop and watch the stars shine? This may give us a clue if we are thankful or unthankful.
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The Many Gifts of Creation
Imagine five majestic deer enhancing the Crowell home view of one of America’s best places to raise children and live a peaceful life: Spokane, Washington . It is our seasonal autumn time of the year.
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Thankful for America
Twenty-five feet above a huge carved rock in the Crowell front yard waves the U.S. flag .
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Consolation & Desolation
“At any given moment you are either in consolation or desolation.” – St. Ignatius of Loyola The idea of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” speaks to the fact that two people do not necessarily see…
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The Sun and the Moon
These exceptional photos of a sunrise on Scout Lake, OR, and a moon-glowing night there as well, are perfect reminders we can count on day turning to night and later night turning to day.
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Almost Works
A leading human performance expert likes to say, “You can’t get enough of what almost works.” Here are some examples. Maybe the next drink will be enough for the alcoholic.
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I Just Called to Tell You
Stevie Wonder made famous the song, I Just Called To Say I Love You with the popular lyrics, “I just called to say I love you; I just called to say how much I care.” How does it…
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LIFEBALL – Wanna Play?
By far the most beneficial game ever invented in my opinion. Dr. James Naismith invented basketball to give children something to do during cold Massachusetts’s winters with the hope of developing Christian virtue and character.
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Happiness a Treasured Gift
How many times have you heard: ‘Just do what makes you happy! Don’t worry, just be happy!” We feel if it makes us happy, it must be right.
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Defeating Anorexia Addiction, Part 3
The teenage gal (in Part 2) began this day-by-day Win Life plan, the process of “living a brand new me.” There are FOUR FOUNDATION PILLARS to beat any addiction and all destructive behaviors, including anorexia and suicide thinking.…
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Love People or Love Things
In this world of people and things, we can either love people more than things, or things more than people. If we love things more the people, we will use people to get things.
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Contentment Leads to Life
It seems comparison has crept into every area of our lives prompted by social media and constant media ads. It can reveal a dissatisfaction and a disillusion. It can divide and destroy.
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Comparison Leads to Death
COMPARISON leads to death; GRATITUDE leads to life. COMPARISON leads to depression; GRATITUDE leads to satisfaction. COMPARISON leads to arrogance; GRATITUDE leads to humility. COMPARISON leads to self-degradation; GRATITUDE leads to positive self-assessment.
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Did So Good
Long ago God had some words to Cain (son of Adam and Eve). God could see in Cain’s heart, seeing his half-hearted motivation and attitude when bringing an offering to God.
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Oceans
The creative genius of the Grand Master’s paintbrush was making two-thirds of our planet, Earth , oceans! How is it possible to be near the ocean, yet never stop to contemplate this miracle?
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Existential Diagnosis of Self-love, Part 3
How does Self-Love work in the midst of a crisis? This is how it works for me. On January 3, 2014, Dr. Anthony showed me my Pet Scan results.
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Thank You African Americans
Fifty-four years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr., paid the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity. Yesterday we celebrated his life.
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Finishing Is Harder Than Starting
Three excellent ways to finish a day, a week, a month, and a year; Gratitude is the best attitude. Gratitude increases performance. Dress your mind in gratitude.
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The Smart Start
Is it possible that 2019 could be the best year ever in your entire life? Even if it were remotely possible why not go for it? What do we have to lose? CROWELL’S 2019 GAME PLAN!
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Commitment to What? to Whom?
Commitment begins with an act of the will. The difficult challenge is the choice to decide to make the commitment. 50 years ago I learned we have only three choices. Yes, no, or Maybe.
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Thank God for George Washington
“Soldiers keep by your officers, for God’s sake keep by your officers!” spoke Washington in a deep and soulful voice. It was 21 degrees on December 24-25, 1775. Washington’s army was in shambles, experiencing defeat after defeat.
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Pearl Harbor Lessons
History is a valuable teacher when and if we choose to learn from it. Twenty two days old Susie King’s father, Walter Willis King, went to war. Four years later Walt returned home alive but very ill.
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Carpe Diem – Seize the Day
The Roman poet, Horace, coined this phrase in a poem published in 23 BC. The Crowell family was introduced to Carpe Diem in Robbin William’s excellent movie, “Dead Poet Society” in 1989.
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Encouragement Is Oxygen
Pictured Above: Miracle Hanson ladies from Bristol Bay Alaska. No more worthy cause than investing in our future leaders! When you need encouragement give oxygen to others! Then you get encouraged.
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Less Is Better
In 1855 Robert Browning wrote the poem, Andrea Del Sarto. The line, less is more , has become an oft-used expression in promoting inner peace and personal focus.
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Sunrises – God’s Guarantee
“You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” – Jesus The most reliable teacher of all is your life experience. Your life experience proves each new day begins with a sunrise.
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Shout Outs
Everyone delights in and appreciates an encouraging thank you shout out. Alaska Airlines deserves a Fred Crowell – NBC Camps shoutout .
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I Love Reading WOH
Fred, I love reading your WOH. Thanks for thinking of me. The one of laughter hit a nerve in a good way.
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Former NBC’er
I hope this email finds you well. It has been on my heart for the past month to email you.
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The Detachment Principle
The detachment principle is a life skill of letting go with ease and grace yet maintaining zest and a drive to live life fully. All of life has a beginning and an ending.
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Did So Good
Cain, what have you done? Why is your countenance so downcast? What did you do that makes your face so dark? The eyes are lights to the soul.
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Satisfied with Good Things
Join me in a walk through this five star Psalm. I wonder what was happening in King David’s dramatic life when he wrote the 103rd Psalm. From a theological perspective it is brilliant.
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Precious Presents
31 days of precious presents in December Savor is a great word. To me, savor means to enjoy to the maximum. To savor each day in December as Christmas is pure delight for me.
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Thank You’s Are Noble
Saying “thank you” is a noble yet often neglected statement after an act of kindness.
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Gratitude Is the Best Attitude
As iron sharpens iron so a friend sharpens a friend – Proverbs 27:17 One of the truly great men in my life, Steve Pence, stands in victory with the majestic Mount Blanc in the background.
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Isabella
At age 6 Isabella declared, “Papa you have to live long enough to see my first baby born, but not my second one.” Bella and her two sisters, Natalya and Ariana, have been encouragement/oxygen for me in the…
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Superheroes – Every Day Heroes
If you don’t take time to watch/listen to Charlie’s story this is a missed opportunity! Everybody needs an everyday hero . No one needs a superstar hero.
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Awake
A daily privilege so often taken for granted! Ann, age 57, took a one hour nap. Ray tried to wake her at 1:30 PM. Ann never opened her eyes again. A brain aneurysm took her life.
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The Gift of Gethsemane
Chapter 26, the converted tax collector, Levi, turned to the apostle Mathew, takes us to the olive grove called Gethsame. As I use His precious gift IMAGINATION I place myself with Matthew seated by a fire.
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Crowell Wins Cancer Loses
Crowell 99.9. Cancer 0.1 My dedicated oncologist gave the Crowell’s this news. These are the best scores you have had in 3 years. The drugs are doing their job.
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I Have a Job
Key Statement: Like health, a job is never fully appreciated until you lose it. Lose your health and you run the risk of losing everything.
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God Created Human Beings
Then God said let us make human beings in our image to be like ourselves… Then God looked over all He had made, and saw that it was very good!
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Wallace and the Whale
Wallace is a high school student in Unalakleet, Alaska. This is a celebration day for this wonderful village. Many families will have delicious food for many days to come.
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Church This Morning
This is where I am having church this morning. A cup of coffee. Beautiful Sea of Cortez. An opportunity to pray. This is what’s on my mind today: Pray, give thanks in all things.
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75Th Celebration
March 18 is always a special day in the Crowell’s life. Mom wanted her Saint Patrick’s Day boy to be named after Ireland’s Patron Saint Patrick. Dad wanted the name Frederic after his dad.
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What Happened?
“Days are long sometimes. Very long, but life is way too short, way to brief.” -Fred Crowell 30 years ago, Fred Crowell was living in what he calls the Golden Era of Life.
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Travel – Sites or People
“I travel not to see imposing monuments. Which indeed somewhat bore me. Nor beautiful scenery, of which I soon tire. I avoid the great.
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A Child Is Born
“Dad I never knew how much you loved me until Kingston was born.” – Jay Crowell For unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder.
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See, I Told You I Loved You
37 years ago I discovered for the first time God loved Fred Crowell. February 3 1979, was a great day for Susie and Fred Crowell. The Bulldogs of Samford University got a win on the basketball court.
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His Pleasure, His Purpose
All things were created in Him, by Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 Thanks to the incredible gift of imagination, given only to human kind, we have minds to take us to the past, present, and future.
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Human Arrows in Your Quiver – Part 2
Imagine an arrow being one of the most important people in your life. What lessons can be learned from an experienced bow hunter? Imagine hunting with the finest bow without one arrow in your quiver.
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Rescued
Who is most grateful? The one rescued or the one who does the rescuing? Going back to the four pillars that form the foundation for one’s belief system: Control your Environment – choice of people.
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Disneyland and Livingland
Both lands were created to be the happiest places on earth. What happened? Walt Disney had a dream. He wanted children to be able to experience happiness. Disneyland is Mr.
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I Can Hardly Imagine
Anacortes basketball boy becomes basketball old man in China. Today is my first day in Beijing. My partner Mr. Lao Yang tells me we meet some “Big People” this morning.
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Paper Boy Story
Every boy has a dream, every boy is a miracle, every boy has failures, every boy deserves a real chance to make their dream come true.
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It Is Well with My Soul
“A life lesson in being an over-comer not under-comer” Saturday in Spokane is a lazy day for me. Lazy means I don’t have important tasks for NBC.
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All Paths Lead Somewhere
Mike is an amazing example of a miracle. Former superintendent of schools, coached two Washington State girls’ state basketball teams and one golf championship team. Judy was the love of Mike and their son Eric’s lives.
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Gratitude Is the Linchpin to Virtue
Gratitude truly is the linchpin to virtue. I chose to rerun this entry often, as when I go back over the Words of Hope archives, this article stands out.
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Freedom Is Priceless
Today on the Freedom Trail a guide told the history of stories of New Englanders who gave ALL their financial resources to win FREEDOM from the English King.
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Woman
“God’s best gift to man” Careful study of Genesis 1 & 2 brings us to an obvious conclusion that God’s ultimate, most lovely gift to man is a woman. Think about it!
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Don’t Forget That Feeling
Emotions are unreliable; change suddenly; are easily influenced by circumstances, and words; they work better when you lead them with strong and decisive leadership, with fact, and logic. Emotions can’t think, they can’t make decisions.
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Alaska
USA’s Best Buy, Russia’s Worst Sale. For 67 million dollars, the United States bought all of Alaska. As I travel the magnificent state, I marvel how we were able to buy it from Russia.
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Psalm 20 – a Crowell Favorite
“One of luckiest men I know is me.” This morning as I looked out at the Pacific Ocean from the 17th floor, I felt like the luckiest man on the planet.
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Eyes to See
If you don’t look, you can’t see. If you don’t see, you miss glorious mountains, swift rivers, flowers that take your breathe away and, best of all, delightful people. This past weekend I visited the Crowell families.
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True Confession Time
“Fred Crowell is the happiest man I know.” – F. Crowell 74 years ago today I was born next to mother, Kathleen Mitchell Crowell at Providence Hospital in Seattle.
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Monday – Mundane or Momentous?
With this February being a leap year, we got a bonus day. We will not have another 29th of February for four more years! My bonus day started early.
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Marvelous Workmanship
“Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex.” These days as I am in Cabo San Lucas, two questions I have been asking people are: Do you believe in miracles?
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It’s a Girl
A son is a son until he takes a wife, a daughter is a daughter all her life. The Lord’s promise made to us in St.
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The Lord Is My Shepherd
“If the Bible were a baseball game Psalm 23 would be my home plate.” This first November 15 th , Saturday morning the south fork of the Naselle River presents me with a colorful picture of the still…
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No Expectation Sunday
Today, this 13th day of a Spokane “Indian Summer,” is no expectation Sunday! My firm resolve is to reduce all expectations from others for one entire day. In addition, I will reduce all expectations from me.
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Green Lights Red Lights
The first day of September is Crowell’s January first day? Why? Always a wise question because if you know the why the “how too follows” like a dog on a leash.
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Marvelous Monday
Marvelous day? Why? Because it is a new day Because it is a new week Because it is the last day of the month Because it is an opportunity to really live Because we can exercise the gifts…
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Sacred Sunday
Today is a pajama day. (Many years ago Jay loved pajama days). Welcome rains are cleansing showers for smoke filled skies and respiratory relief for all.
