...........about a 4th Quarter comeback

          My wife is a "Kindle Fanatic".  For three reasons:  1) she's an avid reader, 2) she can get tons of free books, and 3) she can change the font size to accomodate her failing eyesight!
          She recently downloaded a free book titled:  "Encourage-Mints", by Carol Freed.
          Obviously, it's about being an encourager.....as she relates experiences in her life where she was able to encourage others---or was, herself, encouraged by someone.
          The sub-title is:  "Give a mint--Refresh a life".  She says......."just like the mints you swallow, encourage-mints come in endless forms and provide a mixture of effects and influence on those who receive them.  Through these mints, you become a touch from God that He uses to show His love to people......".
          The last chapter is titled:  "Enjoying 4th Quarter Living"....and it relates our lives to a football game.   With football season coming to a close, I thought it appropriate to relate some of her thoughts.
          The chapter begins with a quote from C.S. Lewis that expresses the chapter's theme: "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream."
          The author divides our lives into four "quarters":
          Ages 1-20..........1st Quarter
          21 -40................2nd Quarter
          41-60.................3rd Quarter
          61-80.................4th Quarter
          80 +....................Overtime!

          That life-breakdown "hit home" for me, since I'm about "3 minutes" into my "fourth quarter"!
          But, the chapter talks about a "fourth quarter comeback".  Some who have reached the 4th quarter may have regrets about how they've "played the game"......some may feel they haven't "scored enough points".....others may feel that there's not much hope in being a winner!
          But, it's never too late to be an "encourage-mint" to someone else!

          I thought of some admonitions in the scriptures:  .....like Hebrews 10:24-25: "and let us consider one another in order to stir up (encourage) love and good works...exhorting one another" (NKJV).
          And Ephesians 4:29: "Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." (NLT)
          Freed says, "The more you encourage, the more it will become a natural part of who you are and how you live..."
          A quote from Mother Teresa puts the "flavoring in the mint":  "Let no one come to you without leaving happier and better."
          I was just thinkin'.........regardless of what "quarter" you're playing.....you can alway pass out "mints" along the way!

Serving with you in HIS name,
Tommy