With Mother’s Day coming up, I’d like to thank my wife, Morgan. Her continued encouragement is truly a blessing. Her unconditional love provides stability and strength for our family. And thank you for all your help with the What Works Book Series; you truly are a blessing.

I also want to thank my mother, Diane Idleman, who has continued to offer guidance and encouragement. Not only is she a great mother, but an exceptional editor and “book doctor.” The Book Series would not be what it is today had it not been for her insight. Thank you for the many days, nights, weeks, and months invested—may it return a hundred-fold. Aside from the Lord, in the words of Abraham Lincoln, “All that I am, and all that I’ll ever be, I owe to my mother.”

Sometime ago, my mother gave me a faded note in the form of a prayer that she wrote for her children years ago. She listed several character traits that we should strive to possess. I couldn’t think of a better addition to this article:

Seek to be a person who…

… sincerely desires to love and serve the Lord.

… hungers for a righteous spirit, and is honest at all times, despite the cost.

… chooses words and actions that are wise and well thought through.

… focuses on the needs of others rather than on his own, and is not critical and domineering when communicating.

… works hard, and will stop at nothing to accomplish what God has set before him.

… stretches the limits of his body, soul, and spirit to excel in every area possible.

… desires to encourage and nurture others, rather than to overpower and control.

… seeks excellence in all things and lives to that end.

In regard to this last point, my mom taught us that life is a long journey full of wonderful opportunities and experiences, but that there are also roadblocks, delays, pitfalls, and hurdles. She would often say, “We overcome by persevering; by getting up when we fall. Successful people build success from failure. They don’t look back—it’s not the direction they want to go. Everyone falls, but not everyone gets up.”

She was right. Few things hinder us more than failing to forgive others or ourselves for past mistakes. Many times, they haunt and discourage us from moving forward. As a result, people may rate themselves according to who they were, or what they did; not realizing that who they are now, and who they will become is far more important.

This mother’s day, I encourage you to thank your mom for investing into your life—it’s an investment that can never be re-paid.