My friend, Gary, and I had lunch with "Cathy" this week. We were blessed.

Cathy's mom lost custody of little 4 year old Cathy because her drug habit had spiralled out of control. Cathy's dad is nowhere to be found. Cathy has been in and out of more than 20 foster care homes and several adoptive family situations over the past 11 years. Her life has lacked stabiiity and unconditional love, and the 15 year old Cathy we shared lunch with has often found herself repeating her mother's cycle of drug abuse and treating the adults around her with anger and disrespect.

Eight months ago, Cathy came to live at the Murphy Harpst Center, which treats kids who have been sexually abused, traumatized, and rejected. This is likely the longest she has ever lived in the same place. Cathy has been clean now for 8 months, and her favorite part of Murphy Harpst is the library. She loves to read, and now for the first time is making good grades. Working with the horses in equine therapy there has taught her how to give and receive love, perhaps for the first time in her life. So much so that Cathy hopes one day to operate her own home for abused and abandoned animals.

While Gary and I listened to her talk about her challenges and her therapy, the words that struck me most came when Cathy said, "The turning point came when I learned to start looking toward the future rather than re-living everything in my past." My blue eyes filled with tears of grace as her gentle, brown eyes looked at Gary and me as she spoke those words that apply not only to her, but also to you and me.

I rarely have guests on the show. Too much that I want to say and I only have a 3 hour show once a week!

But when I heard that Dr. Miriam Grossman, M.D., was coming to town, I knew I had to have her be a part of the show. Her talks and books have been most helpful to me as a dad and as a person of faith. I only wish I had discovered her work sooner, like before my two daughters went off to college.

Check out this site that shares some of her work and the dates for her appearances and talks here in Atlanta in the coming week. I will be attending some of these and you should too. 

For many years, I have assisted North Fulton Charities in my community. They do good work, and it is a privilege to partner with them. North Fulton Charities will celebrate February as Have A Heart for NFCC month.

 NFCC’s mission is to build self-sufficiency and prevent homelessness and hunger in our community by providing emergency assistance and enrichment programs. The purpose of this month long campaign is to secure much needed funds to support our programs while increasing the awareness of the needs of our families.  Our goal is to raise $200,000. Your participation in the “Change Your Heart For NFCC,” campaign will help us reach this ambitious goal.

 Here are some suggestions about how YOU can Have a Heart for NFCC during February.

• Host a party in your home, invite your friends, and provide insight about the financial needs of NFCC.  
• Ask your church or synagogue to promote this campaign during the month of February.
• Donate a percentage of your business proceeds on February 14th or 29th  to NFCC.
• Post an announcement in your February business, personal or community newsletter that February is Have a Heart for NFCC month and ask people to join you in donating or match your donation.
• Announce the campaign on your social media outlets throughout the month.
• Challenge a business competitor, bordering neighborhood, church or organization to see who can raise the most money for NFCC in February.
• DONATE $20 or more to NFCC to celebrate someone you love at www.heartfornfcc.org.  Your donation can help us fill up OUR heart!

I have made countless mistakes in my life. I wish they were only confined to my youth and my 20's. Yet the older I get, the more I realize how flawed I am. We all are; we're humans. Since we all mess up, the goal should be to learn from mistakes rather than pretend like they never happened. Regret where you have failed, learn why you did, and grow forward to become a stronger, healthier, holier person. As a Christian, the goal and destiny of my life is a holy future not a perfect past.

News reports this week shout how Karen Santorum, Republican candidate Rick's wife, lived with an abortion doctor for several years while in her 20's. Now she and her husband, Rick, staunchly promote the dignity of life and the sacred worth of each human being. The contrast of her past with her present has generated criticisms that she is somehow discredited and hypocritical. As a faithful wife, and a mother of 7, actually, Karen Santorum has showed growth, not hyprocrisy. It shows that we get wiser as we mature and reflect on our mistakes. That's a good thing, not a bad thing. It's called growth. I recommend it.

On this MLK holiday weekend, we all take a deep breath reminder of the significant progress America has made in the past 50 years toward becoming the best version of ourselves.

No one has played a greater role in that progress than Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I give thanks for his courage, vision, and perseverance. The greatest American of the 20th century.

Found these photos online this weekend that capture the stunning moment and shock experienced by his inner circle on the evening when he was assassinated. Powerful must see shots that capture that moment better than words.

Right before Christmas last month, Antonio searched his wife's chest of drawers and found quite a surprise. Love letters she had written to a man with whom she was having an affair. In the 1940's.

Irate, Antonio confronted his wife, who guiltily confessed the affair. From the 1940's. 70 years ago.

This was it. The straw that broke the camel's back. So Antonio filed for divorce. After 77 years of marriage, 5 kids, and 12 grandkids. He ran out of grace. 

Did I mention that Antonio is 99 years old? I have to wonder what his long-range plan is. 

He's now the oldest person on record ever to have gotten a divorce. Would you prefer to be remembered for that or for finishing strong by embracing a measure grace and a sprinkle of forgiveness? Finding a way to become better, rather than bitter, at the age of 99. Come on Antonio, you can do it. By the grace of God, we all can.

Fun show last Sunday on Arnie and Maria reconciling and how reuniting during or after a divorce is a good thing. Reconciliation, redemption - when possible.

Great calls and emails on the topic - here's a good one for chewing on the subject. Enjoy!

Appreciated this excellent piece on the 12 stupid things not to do again. Hope it helps you as it did me.

Loved this column on the 27 rules of the gym as the new year begins and I try to lose all the strawberry cake I ate for Christmas and my birthday. #20 is my favorite. 

Roger Andersen thought it was over.

The 46-year-old dad lost control of his car on an icy winding Utah canyon road and slid into a frigid river, trapping his 9-year-old daughter Mia and 4-year-old son Baylor, along with their friend, 9-year-old Kenya. The car flipped upside-down and within a second the cabin of the vehicle was full of water.

Andersen's first thought? "So this is it how it ends." He struggled to free the children from their seatbelts, but couldn't get them loose, and he had to breathe.

"I decided the best thing was to get out of the car and get air," he said.  When he got up, within five second, he saw eight men jumping into the river, ready to assist.

But the story gets even more amazing. The rescuers pulled the children one-by-one from the car and passed them up the river bank, where others performed CPR on his two children, who were unconscious and not breathing.

They loaded into an SUV and sped down the mountain for help, but were met about halfway by paramedics. His two children were flown to a hospital in Salt Lake City, treated for hypothermia and released on Monday. Kenya also was treated and released.

Dad Roger said the bystanders who didn't hesitate to help "literally brought our children home to us." "Hero," their mom said, "is not even big enough for what they did."

Selfless, generous, courageous agape love at its best this New year's weekend. Well done!