CBN John O'Leary

3 days ago

As schools prepare to open, it’s a great time to reflect on some highlights from summer before it fades.For me, the list includes morning walks with Beth, a slower pace at work, evening swims with Grace, playing cards with my boys and family vacations to Michigan and Florida. One highlight, however, started as a bad experience, became even worse and through a new friend’s generosity was transformed into a highlight. Let me explain.On our last night vacationing with my parents, five siblings and 21 cousins in Florida a bunch of the younger kids wanted to get ice cream together. Beth and I loaded them up into a golf cart, double buckled a few, triple buckled the rest and began the short commute. The night was cool, the stars were out, the kids were laughing, the week had been perfect and the glistening lights of the ice cream hut appeared in sight. Everything was perfect.Until…Until the bright red and blue lights of a police car pierced the darkness and sirens shrieked over the sounds of nature. My heart sank – as did my pride – as I pulled the golf cart off the road into a parking lot used as overflow for the ice cream stand. (A little golf cart pulled over with seven kids in it became quite the spectacle for an extensive line of customers waiting for their ice cream.)While they gawked at us, the kids behind me started asking questions.“Why did they pull you over, Dad?”“Are they going to take you to jail, Uncle John?”“Will this be your first time in jail?“Does this mean no ice cream?”The officer approached and explained that although our headlights were on, the taillights weren’t. She needed to run my license, but would get us out of here as quickly as she could.After getting my license back, I thanked the officer, double checked that the tail lights were on, pulled out of the spot and finished the commute. We parked, the kids popped out, skipped to the end of the line, and waited to place our order. It had been a bit of an ordeal, but the night was back on track.Until…Until Beth whispered to me, “You have cash, right? This place doesn't take credit.”My heart sank as I realized neither of us had brought cash.We looked at these little kids, with the realization the place was closing shortly. There wasn’t time to run back for cash. The little ones were going to be disappointed.We started telling the kids what happened, prepared to step out of line and dejectedly return to the golf cart, defeated.Until…Until a gentleman a few people behind us heard our conversation, approached and shared that he’d like to buy our family ice cream. After repeatedly telling him that his offer was too generous, we had too many kids, it cost too much, he shared:“John, I actually read your book ON FIRE. I loved it. And I’d love to buy your family’s ice cream.”My friends, the suntan from that Florida sun has faded. The shells collected from the beach have been misplaced. The sand has finally been washed out of the clothes and the ice cream stains removed from the kids’ shirts.But none of us will forget our last night.We won’t forget the series of mistakes that almost made the night a total failure.And we won't forget the unexpected generosity of a stranger who did far more than buy ice cream for a bunch of kids.What he really did was remind a line of onlookers that anyone can stand back, gawk and feel sorry for another.But the opportunity we all have is to not merely observe what’s wrong with someone else, but to care enough to step up, to walk over and to try to do something that makes a difference.We all know life is not perfect. We all know it’s hard. We all sometimes struggles with self-doubt and self-worth.Until.Until someone shows up. Reminding us that we are loved, our life matters and the best is yet to come.Take the opportunity today to be that person for someone else.Today is your day. Live Inspired. ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

7 days ago

Jenna Kutcher is a born-and-raised Minnesota wife, mother, and entrepreneur who aims for two things daily: helping others wake up to life and staying in comfy pants.Creator and host of the top-rated Goal Digger Podcast, she’s helped thousands redefine success and chase bold dreams through her decade-long work as a leading online personality and educator. And just a few weeks ago, Jenna’s debut book How Are You Really? became a The New York Times Books bestseller.Today, Jenna shares how she learned to value experiences over “things”, the ongoing journey of self-love and how she protects her most valuable asset: time.If you’re looking to truly enjoy being alive and not merely suffering through it, this episode is for you.Listen to Live Inspired Podcast ep. 488 now:Our website: bit.ly/jenna488Apple Podcasts: apple.co/2TEUEKTSpotify: spoti.fi/32hYoJk ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

1 week ago

Blame it all on my roots, I showed up in boots...Last weekend Beth and I had the joy of joining 110,000 of our closest friends at a Garth Brooks concert in Dallas. The fact that Trisha Yearwood opened and joined him on stage was awesome. The fact that he played for 3.5 hours without a break was amazing. The fact that our client invited us to join them for a sound check and sit with them was a blessing. But the best part? Wearing a cowboy hat, wiping my sweat [it was hot in Dallas!], holding Beth's hand and belting out songs we sang before we even met each other ... and have been singing together for the past 20 years. We shall be free...More than a memory....Standing outside the fire....Friends in low places...The dance.... Garth rocked. We had a blast. My friends, tonight I'm not trying to ruin your black tie affair....just want to sing a simple reminder I belted out as a kid, but actually understood while singing them standing next to Beth last weekend: Some of God's greatest gifts...are all too often unanswered prayers. Keep the faith. Because the best is yet to come. This is your day. Live Inspired. ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

1 week ago

Last week I enjoyed what’s become one of my annual highlights each summer – speaking at Midwest Children's Burn Camp.The camp welcomes kids of all age and from all walks of life. These kids share the enduring bond of living with the scars of being burned and the longing for a place where they can be fully accepted. They find that love at camp.Despite the community fostered during that amazing week, though, these children know eventually camp comes to an end. They must return to their homes and the real world waiting.One of the most difficult aspects of being burned isn’t the indescribable physical pain of recovery, it’s the reminder of that time that remains embossed on the survivor’s skin. The scars serve as a constant reminder not only of the agonizing struggle endured, but of how different we remain from others because of it.For burn survivors, scars often make us feel less than, set apart, totally isolated. We seldom discuss this reality, but universally struggle with it.In the sacred, safe space of camp, though, we can be honest. When I asked what their biggest worry was, one by one they went around the room and repeated the same chorus:“I’m afraid I’ll be bullied.”“I know people will make fun of me for how I look.”“I’m worried I’ll be judged by what’s on the outside.”“I think people will label me as a freak because I’m different.”Child after child shared the fear of returning to a world that quickly judges others based on their imperfections and differences.Until we got to Serenity. She is a young teenage girl and was the last to speak. Without missing a beat, Serenity stood up to share her fear, and what I heard wasn’t what I was expecting. Her fear wasn’t that people would see her scars and judge her—but rather that eventually they wouldn’t.She shared her fear was that as she grew older, her scars might fade, and what was most unique about her would fade, too.It was like a tire screech. With her admission, Serenity threw our whole conversation in reverse. The scars—the very ones that we think will be the source of ridicule—can actually be the source of pride and a signal of our specialness.After her stunningly insightful share, I relayed an instance when I was reminded of that truth by my daughter. Grace was six years old, was seated on my lap and was tracing the outline of a scar on my arm with her little finger. Then she stopped tracing, looked at me and said sweetly,“You’re so lucky, Dad.”Now, I’ve been called lucky for a lot of things, but the way my body looks has never been one of them.When I asked her why, she pointed out to me that the scar that had caught her attention was in the shape of a heart. “Your skin is like art. You get to have different colors and different shapes all over your body. And this one is my favorite. It’s shaped just like a heart. How awesome is that?!”I looked at my right arm and for the first time in more than three decades saw a perfect heart-shaped scar on it. Grace saw what I’d missed. How awesome is that?!My friends, you don’t need to be a kid with burns to be worried about how you’ll be perceived by others.It happens every single day as we carry around our visible—and invisible—scars of life. Our disappointments, indiscretions, and rejections. Our mistakes, our circumstances, our do-overs. Too often we consider them simply painful reminders of what makes us unworthy. But the bumps, bruises, brokenness, ugliness, and scars from our past are simply one part of the story.Rather than wishing them away or covering them up, why not begin seeing the beauty of compassion, individuality, and courage they reveal? Rather than desiring to be different than we are or angry at the past, why not celebrate the splendor of the life we have today and the limitless possibility that remains for tomorrow?Rather than desiring to be somehow different than we are, why not embrace with grace and serenity the gift that your life already is?How awesome is that?Today is your day. Live inspired. ... See MoreSee Less

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John O'Leary - Live Inspired

2 weeks ago

Last night, I had the honor of joining hundreds of student-athletes and their families just outside of Detroit at an event put on by the Get To Foundation.The Get To Foundation honors the life and legacy of Ben Jones who passed away in a car accident in August 2020 at the age of 30. Ben was a loving son, a caring brother, a trusted friend, and a hard-working football player and coach. And while that alone is worthy of celebration, what made Ben so special was the approach he took toward all areas of his life.A specific motto of Ben’s life was “get to….” His unwavering outlook was not that he “had to” do something, but that he had the opportunity and chance to “get to” do something special. It was a feeling of hope, a want to go into battle, and drive to take something on with enthusiasm.My friends, ‘getting’ to do something is so much more liberating than ‘having’ to do something. So often in life, though, that simple notion of “I get to” degrades into “I have to.” I HAVE to go to work. I HAVE to make dinner. I HAVE to pick up the kids from school. I HAVE to forgive him or her.But how would our lives- and the lives of those around us- be positively impacted if we looked at obligations and obstacles not as challenges to overcome but as opportunities to celebrate?I GET to go to work.I GET to make dinner.I GET to pick up the kids from school.I GET to forgive him or her.Today, let’s model Ben Jones’ legacy. Let’s shift our perspective from “Have To” to “Get To.”It will change the thoughts, words and actions we take after.And it’s sure to make our tomorrow even better than today.To learn more about Ben and the Get To Foundation, visit www.gettofoundation.org/. ... See MoreSee Less

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