I've been in deep thought in the past few weeks about various things -- some that I cannot share with you and others I'm happy to.

But I'm not going to share any of them tonight. What I'm going to say is that all this thinking has made feel like telling you all to take some time out of your busy schedule to smell the roses.

Seriously, take an inventory of your life. If you have a job, do you appreciate it?

Before you get mad at your kids, step back and think about how much you love them and how blessed you are to have them.

Are you going through a personal struggle? Perhaps you lost a loved one and you're battling feelings of loneliness. Perhaps you're fighting illness and wonder if it will ever end. Maybe you harbor feelings of guilt over past failures.

I suggest taking a broader view of your life in times like these. Look back at where you started. Cherish the good memories and celebrate the triumphs.

Also look to the future and get excited about all it can be. You just might find out that the things that seem so big in your life right now will get smaller if you simply put them in perspective with your greater life.

I know there are a lot of things in our lives that get us down, that make us angry, that cause us to lose hope, but please don't let them.

And for those of you who tend to get uptight about little things or who tend to overanalyze things. This message is for you: CHILL OUT!

Finally, I've heard it said that if each of us would say something positive or encouraging to the people in our lives each day, what a better world this would be.

I think that's true.

I'd like to end with this quote: "Lord grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

God bless you all.