It’s a tradition in Allen’s family. No one should miss the Thanksgiving gathering. Allen is eighty-two years old. He is a retired businessman, father of six children, and grandfather of fourteen grandsons. He lives in a mansion in Nolensville, Tennessee.
Every year, after the Thanksgiving meal, Allen and his grandsons play the “Brain challenge game.” It’s a series of questions on various topics. The kids have thirty seconds to answer each question. The winner receives a gift from the old man. Last year, Kimberley, twenty-four-year-old, was offered a trip to Paris fully paid for by her grandfather.
“Grandpa,” Ryan said as everyone was eager to start the game, “before the game, could you share with us how you became so successful. You built a lawnmower business across the country; you own several properties, even two apartments in Tokyo, Japan. Two years ago, you were on the cover of Undertakers, a famous business magazine. How did you do that?”
“Well, Ryan, that is a great question. By the way, I bought my apartment in Tokyo when I was serving in the military. I love Japanese people. They are focused, hard workers, and most importantly, disciplined. To answer your question, I want to share three keys that have helped me have a fulfilling life.”
Allen sipped a glace of coconut juice and instructed, “Mia, turn off the TV. I don’t want any of you to be distracted.” When he got everyone’s attention, Allen stated, “The first key to a fulfilled life is finding your gift and staying in your gifting area. Every human being has a gift. Your gift is Unique. Nobody can do it like you. It’s your responsibility to find it. Your gift not only will attract people to you, but it will make room for you. It means your gift will create opportunities and connect you to people. When you discover your gift and refine it, stay in your area of gifting. Don’t envy other people’s gifts. You are Unique. Grow in your uniqueness. Don’t allow others to pressure you into a different area, an area that is not designed for you. It’s like taking the fish out of the water. Stay in your lane.”
“Grandpa, does it mean we can’t learn from others?” Isabella interrupted.
“No, Isabella. Stay in your area of gifting doesn’t mean you don’t need others. Remember, iron sharpens iron. Read books other people have written, go to their seminars, and learn from their experiences. Use that knowledge to grow and polish your gift.” The grandfather paused, sipped another glace of coconut juice, and continued, “The second key is Giving.” He paused again, surveyed the room, stared at each person, and proceeded, “Have you ever heard the expression kingmaker?” The grandkids nodded. “Great!” he said and explained, “I call Giving the Rainmaker.”
“How can giving form rain? We learned in the science class that rain is formed when water vapor creates the clouds, and the air turns the vapor into water droplets,” replied James, the youngest grandson.
“James, this is not a science class. Let’s learn from grandpa’s wisdom,” Ryan rebuked him.
“I’m glad you know your science lesson,” Allen praised him, “Actually,” he elaborated, “giving works the same way. When you give and help others, you build huge clouds that will turn into water, into blessing. When you take care of others, Heaven takes care of you. You all know the story of the good Samaritan, right?”
“Yes, it’s in the Bible,” Rogers shouted.
“What made the Samaritan great is his giving heart. While some people ignored an injured man who needed help, the Samaritan provided for him. If you want to be fulfilled in life, be a Giver. Do you feel tired? I can share the last key tomorrow,” he suggested.
“Noooo!!! Grandpa, please, please, we want the third key now,” they implored.
“Okay, I like your enthusiasm. So the third key to a fulfilled life is Endurance. Do you know how many times I failed when launching my lawnmower business?” He paused, waiting for them to guess an answer.
Some shouted 4, others, 1, still others 8. The Oldman smiled and said, “I failed seven times. You see, failure is not a big deal. The problem is giving up after a failure. That is why Endurance is so important. You must be strong enough to believe in yourself after several setbacks. I talked about the rain earlier. The rain won’t come if you don’t have Endurance. By the way, that is a good transition to our Brain Challenge game. Question 1: What’s the name of the man who prayed seven times for rain in the Bible ?” the grandfather asked.