My long time friend Herb Mitchell sent this to me and I wanted to share with you:
“Mark, you are probably too young to associate with the name Erma Bombeck (Mark’s note: I do indeed remember Erma). Erma was a American Humorist in the 1970s who wrote 15 top selling books. I had an opportunity to work with Erma when I was editing a magazine. Recently I read this quote from Erma’s famous quotes.
‘When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, ‘I used everything you gave me.’
Erma died in 1996.”
Thanks, Herb. Wise words indeed.
Classic Erma. Met her briefly at Disney. Very nice woman.
I agree. My mother (very Erma-like) has a great philosophy – rather than leave any kind of inheritance, she wants to spend the money/time on her friends and family while alive. At the end, she says she wants enough left over to pay for all her bills and for a single drink for each of us to toast her, each other, and to living a FULL life.
Anything left over after we die is a waste. Better we invest our talents, etc. ourselves and make a difference now. As they say in sports: Leave it ALL on the field.
I wonder what other good quotes your blog followers can share that reflect optimizing our time/talents?
I guess this quote applies to all unused talents?
“All of us are born musicians. Many of us pass off this earthly scene, however, with much of our beautiful music still buried deep in side of us, unplayed and unsung. Don’t let that happen to you. Like a geode, open yourself up and let all that latent potential shine.”
– Grant M. Bright
Thanks and regards,
Geetha
Well, I don’t remember Erma, but what a powerful quote…Thanks for sharing, Mark.
Thank you so much.I remember what my father used to say that God will not ask us how much talents we return to Him with but how we used the talents He gave to us.In other words, we are encouraged to live and die empty.