They say, “You do not appreciate what you have until it’s gone.” I agree that is the case many times…but it does not have to be.

You can learn to start appreciating all the good things in your life…

…IF you MAKE THE TIME to do so. Let me explain.

I got married the first time at the age of 19. Over time, life got crazy:

Finishing college while holding part-time jobs.

Moving back home to Nashville.

Finding a place to live.

Jobs.

Babies.

More moving.

Home-based business (in addition to career).

Changing jobs, etc., etc.

You get my point. Most of you have been there – and many of you probably still are. So, why do I bring all of this up?

Because one day it stopped.

My divorce was official 19 years ago yesterday, as I write this post. No more taking the kids to the bus stop, or to school. No more helping them with homework. No more watching shows, or going to movies together as a family. The house was empty.

There were no more voices in the morning.

I had let all of these good – no, great – things in my life slip through my hands. How did that happen?

It happened because I did not make it a priority in my life to APPRECIATE them.

When I got remarried, I vowed (pun intended) never again to let these precious moments and blessings go by without appreciating all of them.

I now make the time to stop and embrace – to appreciate – each time that I help my younger daughters do their homework, or watch a show or go to a movie together as a family.

I started to appreciate hearing these voices in the morning.

How about you? When is the last time you took your spouse’s face into your hands and said how much you love him or her? When is the last time that you made it a priority to date your wife? When was the last time that you were bothered by those voices in the morning while you were trying to work…

…only to stop, and decide to appreciate these voices instead?

Always remember (whether you get divorced or remain married) that one day those voices in the morning WILL BE GONE.

Appreciate each and every day that you hear them. I know I do.