Over the past year, Parker and I have identified four values that will be part of our coat of arms. It was so hard to narrow down the list. So many things we value. And we could have used so many different words. And why not three or five or seven? But these are the four values we landed on as values that we want to define our lives: gratitude, humility, generosity, and courage.

Each value is multi-dimensional. For example, I think humility has degrees of teachability and curiosity. And generosity isn’t just a money issue. It’s an open-handed approach to life that believes that the more you give up the more you get back. It’s all about eternal rewards. I think gratitude for everything is the goal of life. Gratitude is far more important than happiness. In fact, it determines our level of happiness. And we want to live courageously for the cause of Christ.

I’m sure I’ll share more thoughts on those four values but they are shaping the way I think, the way I act, and the way I make decisions.