Play it Safe - From the Heart, with John Willard
Channel: CNA TV - NAHCA Broadcasting Network
Date: 18/02/2020

Play it Safe - From the Heart, with John Willard

My opening thought- mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.

Friends, when I think of playing it safe, I think of- A backwoods farmer, sitting on the steps of his tumbledown shack, was approached by a stranger who stopped for a drink of water. 

“How’s your wheat coming along?” asked the stranger.

“Didn’t plant none.”

“Really? I thought this was good wheat country.”

“Afraid it wouldn’t rain.”

“Oh. Well, how’s your corn crop?” 

“Ain’t got none,” said the farmer.

“Didn’t you plant any corn, either?” 

“Nope, afraid of corn blight?”

“For heavens sake,” said the stranger. “What did you plant?” 

“Nothin,” said the farmer. “I just played it safe.”

Anyone who has to make decisions cannot escape the tension, the emotional strain, involved. Nor can they “just play it safe” by avoiding decisions. Inability to cope with this basic fact of life has stopped many people short of their real potential. 

If you’re feeling low, don’t despair. The sun has a sinking spell every night, but it comes back up every morning. 

If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain.

Rainbows are beautiful, but- it takes both rain and sunshine to create one. It’s the same with life. In most lives there are dark and bright spots; there’s joy and sorrow. The few people who have never known adversity invariably don’t have lives that are as rich and satisfying as those who have. If you can handle it, adversity makes you stronger. It also makes you a kinder and more empathetic person. At the end of a life without adversity, it’s hard to find a rainbow. 

My closing thought- 

We cannot control the tragic things that happen to us, but we can control the way we face up to them. 

Well friends, it’s feeding time for the pups Cora Mae and Bubba so I’ll let you go.

As always you can reach me on Twitter @JohnWillard47

We’ll see you next week friends, until then- this is John Willard- From the Farm!