A Norvell Note

January 26, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 04

You Don’t Have to Act So Tough

Life lesson: You don’t have to act so tough.

We see athletes demonstrate their toughness when they sack the quarterback, monster dunk over the defender, power one over the fence and out of the park, or deliver the knockout punch. “Look at me. I’m strong. I’m tough. You may think you are tough, but I’m tougher!” (After I typed those words, opposing players were face mask to face mask in a heated discussion, and the two teams were going at each other in the end zone.)

You don’t have to act so tough.

Advertisers try to convince us their product can make us stronger, bigger, brighter, sexier, more intelligent, and meaner than anyone else. Politicians, business tycoons, and attorneys often promote themselves as the best at destroying the enemy. 

Displaying our toughness with verbal abuse and physical prowess is one way of gaining influence and power. But there is an alternative. 

Jesus said, Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)

“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.” (The Message)

 “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.” (The Amplified Version)

“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.” (Romans 12:5)

“Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” (Philippians 4:5)

You don’t have to act so tough.

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved. 

January 19, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 03

It’s Okay to Grieve

Another life lesson I’ve learned is that it’s okay to grieve.

We live in a world where we are encouraged to rejoice, be happy, and avoid sadness. We urge each other to look forward and let go of the past. I’ve told myself these things, taught them, preached about them, and written on them. I believe they are true. To grow in the Lord, we must “forget the past and press on to our goal.” 

I also firmly believe that it is okay to grieve.

There are moments when moving forward necessitates mourning. It seems that hardly a day passes without us facing some form of loss: a date gets canceled, a friend cancels an appointment, you damage your favorite shirt in the laundry, your team loses the playoff game, or the anticipated snowfall arrives, leading to the closure of schools and businesses. Schools and businesses stay open for the day when the predicted snowfall veers away from your area. It’s perfectly okay to take some time to grieve the disappointment.

There are more significant losses that require us to spend time grieving: the death of a friend or relative, the loss of a job, the lab results not what you hoped for, your loved one has been gone for years, but you are still grieving, a relationship ending, a church disappointing you, your sin reminds you that you have failed, or you are moving far from your community of friends.  

Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” 

Are you grieving? It’s okay. Are you sad? It’s okay. You don’t want to mourn longer than is healthy, but it’s okay if you need to grieve. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved. 

A Norvell Note

January 15, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 02

It’s Okay to Ask for Help

One of life’s fundamental principles is that asking for help is acceptable. 

It is okay to ask for help. We live in a world that paints the opposite picture. “Be strong.” “Don’t let them see you struggle.” “Don’t let anyone see that you are hurting.” Yet, we constantly face the reality that we are not always strong; sometimes, we struggle and are often hurting. Regardless of what the world tells us, it is okay to ask for help. 

Sometimes, we need help in our work, in our marriage, as parents, and in our spiritual walk. We may know what to do, but we may need help. Ask for help. It’s okay. 

Every spiritual journey begins by saying, “I need help. I can’t do this on my own.” “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)

Every twelve-step program begins with the admission that I cannot overcome this problem alone. “I need help.” 

We sometimes need help mentally, physically, and spiritually. It’s okay to ask for help.

I cannot nor will I attempt to predict the future, but I believe that even though we are already living in very stressful times, the days ahead will be worse. More stress. More anxiety. More feelings of being overwhelmed. If true, we will need help to survive and thrive in the coming days. 

It’s okay to ask for help. 

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved. 

A Norvell Note

January 5, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 01

That You Know Him

 My prayer for you as this new year begins is the same as Jesus prayed for us all. 

“Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)

This year, I pray you will come to know Him like you have never known Him. I pray you will know “how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

I pray you will come to know Him, not just know about Him.

I pray you will come to know how much He loves you.

I pray you will learn how much He has done for you and what He wants to do for you. 

I pray you will accept His grace and mercy. 

I pray you will allow Him to fill you with His Spirit and allow His Spirit to flow from you. 

I pray you will come to know Him.

A Norvell Note ^© Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.