After losing his full-time job, David Ponder struggled to feed his family and make ends meet.

The guilt of not being able to provide for his family drove Ponder to take dangerous risks on an icy road, leading to crashing into a tree, where he was left unconscious.

While David Ponder was in the hospital, he fell into a coma and experienced many visions.

Except they weren’t quite “dreams.” But more like deep revelations.

On multiple occasions, these visions led Ponder to unfamiliar places where he learned valuable lessons from famous historical figures and biblical characters.

People like Abraham Lincoln, Columbus, President Truman, and King Solomon appeared in his “dreams” to help guide him through the challenges, so he could take care of his wife and sick daughter.

Sure enough, David Ponder listened to the whispers, and now shares these seven important decisions with us, so we can do the same.

Without further ado, please enjoy, The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews.

The Traveler’s Gift: Seven Decisions that Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews Book Summary and Notes 📝

The first-person David met was President Harry S. Truman, who, back in August 1945, was about to make the tough decision to drop two nuclear weapons over the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 

Truman told Ponder not to make excuses and to just take responsibility for what was happening.

Decision #1: The Buck Stops Here 🛑

Decision #2: Seek Wisdom

After his meeting with President Truman, Ponder’s mind suddenly took him to the court of the biblical King Solomon.

When he arrived, he saw two women arguing over a baby, each claiming to be its mother. (You might recognize this story from the Bible or Sunday school.) Anyway, to settle the dispute, King Solomon suggested cutting the baby in half and giving each woman part of it.

One of the women, out of love for the baby, immediately begged the King to spare its life, while the other woman agreed to the split. 

After carefully watching both women, Solomon made the smart choice to give the baby to the true mother.

Now Solomon, who was the only one able to see Ponder in the crowd, invited him for a private conversation. 

They talked about the importance of seeking wisdom and surrounding oneself with intelligent people. 

Before they finished, Solomon handed Ponder a small scroll, telling him to always seek wise associates.

God moves mountains to create the opportunity of his choosing. It is up to you to be ready to roll. — KING SOLOMON

King Solomon was a biblical king of Israel who reigns the throne around the tenth century BCE.

Decision #3: Become a Person of Action

During the bloody Battle of Gettysburg (Civil War 1863), Union Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain spotted Ponder on the battlefield and pulled him aside. He stressed the importance of acting confidently, even when things were uncertain.

Chamberlain then handed Ponder a tobacco pouch with a note attached, reminding him that a true leader makes decisions and always does the right thing.

“Many people move out of the way for someone running fast; explains Chamberlain, others get caught up in their wake.”

After reading the note, Ponder moved on to his next destination.

Joshua Chamberlain (1828–1914) was an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War and a governor of Maine. 

Decision #4: Have a Decided Heart

Ponder now found himself on one of Christopher Columbus’s ships, the La Santa María, back in 1492, just before Columbus’s famous discovery of the Americas. 

The sailors on board had been away from home for over 64 days, searching for new lands, but all they had found was open sea. Frustration, discouragement, and despair were all over their faces.

In other words, they had lost faith and hope. 

But not Columbus. He stayed focused on his vision, confident that they would eventually spotted lands somewhere.

Columbus then turned to Ponder, handed him a scrap of paper, and reminded him of the importance of having faith and sticking to a clear vision.

Criticism, condemnation, and complaint are creatures of the wind. They come and go on the wasted breath of lesser beings and have no power over me. — CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Christopher Columbus (1451–1506) was an explorer who stumbled upon the New World for the Spanish monarchy to open new trade routes across the Atlantic Ocean.

Decision #5: Choose to Be Happy

Ponder’s next stop took him to Anne Frank’s house in Amsterdam, where her family had to hide from the Nazis during World War II. 

Given everything these folks were going through, Ponder was amazed by how cheerful Anne Frank seemed, even after all the hardships she had faced.

Bravely, Anne ripped out a few pages from her diary, and reminded Ponder to stay happy and grateful, no matter what life throws at you.

Ponder quickly realized that happiness comes from within. No one can give it to you or take it away. 

During turmoil and stressful time, choose to be happy. Our very lives are fashioned by choice. First, we make choices. Then our choices make us. — ANNE FRANK

Anne Frank (1929–1945) was a Jewish girl who died in the Holocaust. Her diaries were published after her death.

Decision #6: Greet This Day with a Forgiving Spirit

Ponder found himself back in Gettysburg, but this time, he was inside a tent with President Lincoln, who was getting ready to give his famous Gettysburg Address speech (1863).

As Ponder watched him up close, he became really impressed by how quickly Lincoln was able to forgive the Confederate States.

Lincoln, who was the only one who could see Ponder in the tent, asked for some privacy. He wanted to tell Ponder that forgiveness was important, not just for him, but for the future of the country.

“Greet this day with a forgiving spirit,” Lincoln said. “Forgive even those who don’t ask for forgiveness. Forgive those who criticize you unfairly.”

You will find that God rarely uses a person whose main concern is what others are thinking. Be willing to forgive others as well as yourself. — ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) was president of the US during the Civil War.)

Decision #7: Persist Without Exception

Ponder found himself in a huge warehouse, and standing next to him was the archangel, Gabriel. 

The warehouse was full of dreams and wishes that people had prayed for but never followed through on, either because they gave up or didn’t have the right mindset.

As Ponder looked around, he saw his family photos, the financial stability that never happened, and the good health he’d always hoped for. He couldn’t help but wonder where it all went wrong.

Seeing Ponder upset, Gabriel gently put his arms on his shoulder and told him not to give up on his dreams. 

The angel reminded him to keep working hard and to have absolute faith in achieving them.

With persistence, prayer, and planning — anything is possible. Reason can only be stretched so far, but faith has no limits. The only limit to your realization of tomorrow is the doubt you hold fast today. — ARCHANGEL GABRIEL

The archangel Gabriel is known as the angel of revelation. He is often met in dreams by many people and has a significant role in many religions.

Into the Future

Finally, Ponder found himself in a future version of his city.

He saw himself running a successful business that taught people how to make better decisions. And from that point of view, Ponder was happy and fulfilled.

Both his business and personal life were doing great.

His family was well taken care of, and everything felt a little surreal, but also full of promise.

Then, just like that, Ponder woke up in the hospital. His family was there by his side. And that’s when he realized he had been in a coma since the accident.

He reassured his family that everything would be okay, then grabbed a pen to write down everything he’d just remembered:

• “The buck stops here. I am responsible for my past and my future.” (Truman)
• “I will seek wisdom. I will serve others.” (Solomon)
• “I am a person of action. I seize this moment. I choose now.” (Chamberlain)
• “I have a decided heart. My destiny is assured.” (Columbus)
• “Today I will choose to be happy. I am grateful.” (Frank)
• “I will greet this day with a forgiving heart. I will forgive myself.” (Lincoln)
• “I will persist without exception. I am a person of great faith.” (Gabriel)

As he reached into his pockets, Ponder found the tobacco pouch that Colonel Chamberlain had given him. He smiled and hugged his family, feeling a sense of peace.

Final thoughts 💭

Control your thoughts and feelings because they drive what you do.

As David Ponder learned, a promise is like a debt that needs to be paid. Especially the promise he made to take care of and provide for his family.