Today my brain is stuck on the song by Lori McKenna, “Humble and Kind” (made famous by Tim McGraw), and like these brain loops go, it’s mostly just the line “always stay humble and kind” over and over and over and over, with the occasional snippet of other lyrics. “….don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t lie…” Wise words, of course. Smoking is bad for your health, and drinking can be, as well. But smoking and drinking aren’t necessarily an indicator of humility and kindness, or of health.
My great grandfather, for example. He died when I was around
10 years old, so I don’t remember much about him. I do know that he was in his
90s when he died, and that he never stopped smoking cigars or drinking whisky.
I have no idea whether he was humble or kind.
Actually, the only thing I remember about him are the cigars and whisky,
maybe not what he’d want to be remembered for.
Humility and kindness are not always a package deal. I did a funeral for a man that we had described
as grumpy while he was alive, and was surprised at how many people came, and
how many stories there were of this grumpy man helping people. Go figure.
Now the funny thing is that I just looked up the lyrics for
this song and my brain has it all wrong.
The line is, “…don’t steal, don’t cheat, don’t lie…”[1]
Maybe my brain was singing what might be the Rob Krabbe version of the song. Rob and I were talking yesterday about how
smoking and drinking had taken a greater toll on his health than he’d realized.
He often says he wishes he could go back and tell his 30-year-old self to cut
it out. If only that would work.
What would you go back and tell your younger self if you
could?
Apparently Lori McKenna wrote the song “Humble and Kind” as
a list of all the things she wanted to make sure she’d told her husband and
five kids.[2] If you were to write a song for your family
to remember, what would it say?
I think mine might say….
Remember that God is always with you
And God’s goodness is greater than life
If you’re having trouble remembering
Go outside and look up at the sky
Live each day like it might be your last one
Say hello, can I help, I love you
Take the time that it takes you to listen
Be brave and keep trying something new
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