The story is told of the famous heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey in Houston, who was performing surgery as a group of medical students looked on. At the end of the surgery, when Dr. DeBakey was sewing up the incision that he made, the medical students noticed that when he got to the end of the suture and was going to tie them off, he tied 3 knots at the end of the suture. After the surgery when the medical students were talking with him and asked him about that since they were taught that one good solid knot was sufficient. Dr. DeBakey reportedly said, “I tie one knot because that is required, but I tie 3 knots because that third knot is my sleeping knot. I know that it will never come undone.” What a great way to live your life. Always tie a third knot. The folks I know who sleep the best at night, have the best relationships, the most successful, get the most reward out of living are those who do what is required and then go one step further. Jesus called it ‘living by the second mile principal.’ “If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.” (Matthew 5:41) Remember to always tie a third knot in what you are doing. You will sleep a lot better tonight.
– Dr. Tim Thompson