A Norvell Note 

February 8 – Vol. 30 No. 05

Not How I Planned It

The snow did not come as predicted. The article was not finished. The medical test results were not as clear as we had hoped. The marriage did not survive. The child chose a different path than what we hoped, then moved back home. You said things or did something that you wish you could take back. Your candidate did not win. The dream job turned out to be a nightmare. We lost the game. The friendship turned toxic. The church was cold and full of cliques.

That’s not how I planned it.

Disappointment. David Jeremiah describes disappointment as “an unavoidable part of living—whether it stems from others’ failures or your own.” To avoid it, we will have to withdraw from living. Most will agree there are better options. Life does not always go according to our plans, so how do we deal with it? 

Try to see the disappointment from God’s perspective. He is in control, whether it seems that way or not. Spend time expressing your sadness and frustration. He is aware of it and understands it. Ask for His help in dealing with the disappointment, and accept it when it comes. That will not take all the pain away, but it prevents you from getting sidetracked from your sense of purpose. 

Ask God what He wants you to learn from the experience. There’s always something to learn. God’s lesson may be as simple and difficult as, “Keep trusting Me.” 

Move on. Grieve the loss, but don’t wallow in your grief longer than you need to. Acknowledge it and do what you need to do – seek help, be honest with your grief – but don’t quit. Search for another church. Be open to new relationships. Ask for forgiveness. Offer forgiveness. Keep living a good life. 

I try to be hopeful. If the weather forecaster says it’s going to snow (or, with our dry conditions, rain), I get my hopes up. When it does not happen, I get disappointed. Suppose someone makes a promise, I tend to believe them. If they fail to keep the promise, I am disappointed, sometimes angry, and always sad. When I mess up, I am disappointed, often angry, and always sad.

Life is not always going to go as we plan or hope. I have learned that life’s disappointments are only if I get bitter and quit trying to learn from them and stop trying to improve the life God wants me to live. 

“The thief (maybe disappointment) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10, NIV)

Keep living the full life God has planned for you. 

I love you.

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

A Norvell Note 

January 25 – Vol. 30 No. 04

The Anniversary

On Friday, Kim and I celebrated fifty years of marriage (see photos on my Facebook page). We celebrated by enjoying two wonderful meals and a night in a lovely hotel on the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas. We had a wonderful wedding fifty years ago, and a wonderful time remembering the event and the people who have loved and supported us through the last five decades.

During the weekend, we reminisced about the songs, the wedding day, the honeymoon in Memphis and Gatlinburg, and our first days of adjusting to life as a married couple. We shared memories of places we’ve lived, trips we’ve taken, our children, their children, and friends who have blessed us along our journey. 

We talked about the changes we have experienced since we first got married. We did not have cell phones when we got married. Nor did we imagine we would ever have cell phones. We also never imagined the Internet, Wi-Fi, 65-inch televisions, screens in our automobiles that would guide us to our destinations, or that we would one day celebrate our fiftieth anniversary in New Braunfels, Texas. 

When we first got married, a counselor told us we would become different people every seven years. I have no idea how one would measure those transformations, but like the world around us, we have changed significantly. Obviously, we are older. We are wiser and more mature. Hopefully, we have helped each other become more like Jesus. I pray we have encouraged others to also be more like Him. 

Our love for each other has grown deeper and stronger than we could have imagined. As we move into our sixth decade, we plan to celebrate victories, grieve our losses, forgive our failures, encourage each other to be better people, and pray for one another to grow in our relationship with the Lord. 

God has blessed us more than I can express, and I look forward to all He will do as we move forward. 

We love you.

Tom & Kim

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.

January 18 – Vol. 30 No. 03

He Is More

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Those words sometimes surprise me, but sometimes they do.

When I see and hear the violence and hatred in the world, I think surely the Lord disapproves of it as I do. But He seems to allow it to continue. 

When I go into rants (mainly on the inside) about the cruelty, the selfishness, and pride that exist within the leadership of world powers, I think surely the Lord must have His own times of ranting. He seems to be silent. 

When I observe the selfishness and pride in my own life, I think surely the Lord does not love me. Yet He continues to feed me, satisfy my thirst, clothe me, and allows me to speak for Him.

To say that His thoughts are not my thoughts, and His ways are higher than my ways, is an enormous understatement. 

When I think I am righteous and holy, He is more virtuous and blessed than I can even dream of. When I feel generous and forgiving, He is even more gracious and forgiving. When I pat myself on the back for being such a good person, His goodness puts me to shame.

There are times when I wish His thoughts and ways could be more like mine. When those egotistical thoughts pass, I thank Him for being the God He is, and for loving this frail, broken man that I am. 

Thank You, Lord, in this moment of quiet reflection, for reminding me of who You are and for loving me as one of Your children. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

January 11 – Vol. 30 No. 02

Time Flies

Many people have heard the saying, “Time flies when you are having fun.” Over the years, I have realized that time seems to fly by, regardless of whether I am enjoying myself or not. Another idea often shared is that the perception that time moves quickly is a sign of old age. While I am not sure if that is true, I can certainly say that time appears to be moving so swiftly these days that I often struggle to keep pace.

Days tend to blend into one another—one day becoming the next, and before I realize it, the weekend has come and gone, only for the cycle to begin again. Over the three decades I have written and shared these Norvell Notes, my goal has been to complete and post each note by 11:00 PM CST. As the week begins, I find myself searching for the right words and wondering how to put them together. More times than I care to admit, I am still making final edits as the clock strikes 11:00 PM or even later.

We have swiftly entered 2026, a year I am not sure I ever envisioned living to see. Yet here we are. Time has flown, time is flying, and time will continue to fly. Fun or no fun. 

Let us move forward, whether times move swiftly or slowly. Let us move forward with confidence that the Lord will move with us, move along with us, and move within us. Let us move into the days, weeks, and years ahead, seeing the possibilities and leaving the past behind. One day at a time.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

January 1, 2026 – Vol. 30 No. 01

Let’s Do It Again

In the recent movie, Jay Kelly, George Clooney’s character, reflects on his life, portraying an actor near the end of his career. As he reflects on the filming of scenes, one of the crew says, “That’s a wrap.” Jay Kelly says, “Let’s do it again.” There is a tone of sadness as he realizes he can’t change the past, but he hopes for a chance to do it again.

As a year ends and another begins, and the decades continue to pile up in my life, I confess there are more times than I can count when I said those words, “let’s do it again.” I said something stupid or hurtful, and I wish I could take it back. I made a foolish decision, and I immediately wished I could do it over. 

As much as I wish I could have another chance to do it again, to make up for all the mistakes and missteps, I am grateful that, at the end of every day, week, and year, I can start over. Because of the grace and mercy of our Lord, He also says, “Let’s do that again.” 

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations, 3:22-23)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youfree from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

Feeling the need to do it again. Wish you could start over. There is no better time than now. Start the new year by starting over. You can do it again.

Happy New Year. I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

December 21, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 48

A Simple Prayer

Let us be people of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I don’t know what else to say. 

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

December 14, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 47

Give and Receive

The church promotes the event as an “act of service – an opportunity to give to those in need.” We had participated before and enjoyed it, so we put our names on the list to be greeters. We were to meet a family, walk with them as they selected a coat, take a family photo, help them get a name tag, and then escort them to the dining area.

The total time, including travel, was about 90 minutes. Little did I know that this “act of service” would bring me so much more than I gave. 

I introduced myself to the mother and her two children as we headed to the coat room. The room was packed with mothers and fathers searching through the coats piled high on tables, sorted by size. I stood by with a bag to hold their coats once selected. That’s when she (the little girl) found her coat. The lady assisting her handed her a pink jacket just her size. The look on her face when she turned around to show her mom was priceless. My heart “grew three sizes that day.”

Her smile spread across her face, her eyes could not have opened any wider, and she said, “Mom, I want this one!” The smile on her mother’s face was just as big. The lump in my throat also “grew three sizes that day.”

I have long known that “it is better to give than receive” (Acts 20:35), and this experience has reminded me that often when you give, you also receive.

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

December 7, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 46

Maybe It’s Not Your Fault

“There’s a certain peace that shows up when you stop turning every inconvenience into a personal failure. Sometimes things go wrong because life is messy – not because you’re doing anything wrong. Once that clicks, the world feels a lot less hostile.” (Unknown) 

Stuff happens. We make mistakes. We all mess up. We all get it wrong sometimes. When you do something wrong, admit it and take responsibility. But it is not healthy for you to assume that you’re doing anything wrong. 

There is no reason for you to believe that getting sick or having a medical condition is somehow your fault.

If your school calls to tell you that your child is sick, it’s not your fault; they were not ill when you dropped them off.

There is no reason for you to internalize layoffs, rejected proposals, or shifts in company direction. 

There is no need for you to feel responsible when someone else is upset, angry, or disappointed, even if you don’t cause their feelings.

Don’t blame yourself for situations like someone spilling a drink near you or a power outage ruining your plans.

Don’t assume that every argument, breakup, or friendship drift is because you did something wrong.

Why should you feel guilty when a child struggles in school, or a family member is having a hard time, if it’s outside your control?

Sometimes we miss opportunities, but blaming yourself for not being in the right place at the right time, as if you could have predicted or controlled everything, does not help.

Recognizing these tendencies can help you separate what is truly your responsibility from what is simply life being messy.

“By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. “(1 John 3:19-20 (ESV)

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

A Norvell Note

November 30, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 45

What Do You Want for Christmas?

What do you want for Christmas? That’s the question of the day for children and adults alike, and it’s a dangerous question for me. 

My list of wants ranges from someone to pay off the mortgage on our house and our two car loans, to being able to snap my fingers and have another book published, to sitting on my favorite beach enjoying a cup of the best coffee in the world. And a few other things mixed in when I think of them. 

That is one list. The other list is more spiritual; hopefully, it does not come across as holier than thou, that is certainly not my intent. My second list is the same as the one the Greeks had in Jesus’ day. 

There were some Greeks in town who had come up to worship at the Feast. They approached Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee: “Sir, we want to see Jesus. Can you help us?”^[1]

I want to see Jesus in me. For that to happen, I must spend time in the gospels so that I know Him, then I must take what I know and put it into practice. I want to see the gentleness of Jesus in me. I want to see the compassion of Jesus in me. I want to see the love of Jesus in me. 

I want to see Jesus in nature. I want to see Jesus on a cool sunny day. I want to see Jesus on a cold, rainy day. I want to see Jesus on a hot, muggy day. I want to see Jesus in the mountains, by the ocean, and in flowers blooming in our backyard.

I want to see Jesus in people. Regardless of their skin color, background, nationality, political views, or the words that come out of their mouths, I want to see Jesus in all people.

I want to see Jesus in the church. I want to see the church love the world as He did. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son.” I want to see the church love one another as He instructed us: “Love one another as I have loved you.” 

What do I want for Christmas? I want to see Jesus so others can see Him and come to know Him. 

I love you, 

Tom

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved

^[1] Eugene H. Peterson, The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2005), Jn 12:20–21.

A Norvell Note

November 23, 2025 – Vol. 29 No. 44

Reflections in a Quiet Booth: Lessons from Life and On Golden Pond

After a memorial service for one of my patients, a visit with a lady in her 90s, and another visit with a woman who has a very confused view of what is going on in her world, I needed a quiet place to eat and document notes. I remembered that Freddy’s is usually calm on an early Friday afternoon (and has a good burger). I set up my mobile office in a booth in the back corner. It was indeed almost empty. 

After collecting my burger, I inserted my AirPods and touched play on my phone. The first song was from the On Golden Pond soundtrack. I paused, looked across the deserted dining area, and drifted away in the world of what may be.

I remember Norman getting lost while picking strawberries and melting into Ethel’s loving arms, saying, “I was scared.” I smiled as an angry daughter and dad struggled to reconnect. And I almost lost it completely when Ethel thought Norman was having a heart attack. And I took deep, long breaths as the couple recognized that the loons had come to say goodbye. 

As my burger and fries got colder, and my strawberry milkshake got warmer, I sat silently in a near-empty burger restaurant, thinking that one day it may be me. I didn’t cry, but I wanted to. 

So, I pondered. I’m big on pondering. How will I handle it as the years continue to do what advancing years do? Will I turn into a grouchy old man? Will I not recognize my wife, my son, my daughter, my grandchildren? Will be afraid, distant, angry, or mean? I hope not.

I love you,

Tom

Instead, I hope the teachings I have received from birth, and before, that His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control will flow out of me like rivers of living water. I hope my gentleness will be evident to all because I know, even if I do not consciously know, that God is near. 

A Norvell Note © Copyright 2025 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved