If you look at my journal, you will see that at the start of every day I add a star  sticker to remind me that I need to be looking for ways to make sure that I get my gold star for the day. What does it mean to get a gold star?
In the beginning, it meant that I had followed the Scouting America slogan, “Do a Good Turn Daily.” Later it turned more complex as I tried to drive myself to do more and more to earn it. I found myself justifying why I deserved the star–even if I hadn’t done all the tasks that I set out to earn that star. (Then I used the fact that I had given myself an unearned star to justify some really bad habits, because I deserved it.) To avoid this negative cycle, I changed the requirements to meet the original intent. What does it mean to get a gold star?
I get a gold star by showing up as the man I want to be. A man who loves God. A man who is a provider for his family. A man who loves his wife and kids and shows them through his actions.
Why did I get a gold star today? I ensured my oldest daughter got out of bed and to school on time. I took my middle son to his math bowl practice. I swept the snow off my wife’s car. I am getting ready to take my youngest daughter to school. And it’s only 8:00 AM.
What kind of man do you want to be? What are you going to do to get your gold star today?
