Marriage

Most people get married believing a myth.
They believe that marriage is a beautiful box that is full of all the things they have longed for: companionship, sexual fulfillment, intimacy and friendship.

The truth is that marriage at the start, is an empty box. You must put something in before you can take anything out. There is no love in marriage. Love is in people and people put it into marriage. There is no romance in marriage. People infuse it into their marriage.

A couple must learn the art and form the habit of giving, loving, serving, praising, to keep the box full. If you take out more than you put in, the box will be empty.

I Owe You One

For 3 years Victor has been terribly sick. His arm was black and blue. He often passed out. His kidneys have failed and dialysis was not working. Victor was dying.

Tony, his brother, kept offering his kidney but Victor refused as he couldn't bear to think of his brother living with 1 kidney because of him. It took a long time to persuade Victor but finally he agreed.

Several times the brothers went to hospital but only to have the operation postponed because of Victor's infections. However, Tony never thought of backing out. After each disapointment, he announced: 'We are coming back!'. He even got Vincent a T-shirt that read 'I'M NO QUITTER!'

Finally, surgery was scheduled. The operation was harder on Tony. Doctors had to remove part of his ribs to get the kidney out. His recuperation took longer than Victor's and he had more pain.

Victor wrote: 'Because of Tony's unselfishness, I have a chance to see my four children grow up. I will never know my brother's pain, fears and feelings. All I know is the love we share. How can I tell him thanks? I can only tell everyone that I have the greatest brother in the world.'

Legacy

The greatest legacy that we can leave our children is happy memories.
Those precious moments are so much like pebbles on the beach that are plucked from the white sand and placed in tiny boxes that lie undisturbed on tall shelves until one day they spilled out and time repeats itself with joy and sweet sadness, when the child now becomes an adult.
Memories...
Love's best preservative.

That Kind of Love

This is indeed a beautiful story enjoy reading it...Its one of those very
touching ones......

It was a busy morning, approximately 8:30 am, when an elderly gentleman arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He stated that he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would to able to see him. I saw him looking at his watch and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound.

On exam it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound. While taking care of his wound, we began to engage in conversation I asked him if he had a doctor's appointment this morning, as he was in such hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife. I then inquired as to her health. He told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer Disease.

As we talked, and I finished dressing his wound, I asked if she would be worried if he was a bit late. He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now. I was surprised, and asked him. "And you still go every morning, even though she doesn't know who you are?" He smiled as he patted my hand and said. "She doesn't know me, but I still know who she is."

I had to hold back tears as he left, I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, "That is the kind of love I want in my life."

True love is neither physical, nor romantic. True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be. With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there are some that come along that have an important message, and this is one of those kinds. Just had to share it with you all.

"The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along their way."

Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank.

You Are Special

One day a teacher asked her students to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name.

Then she told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down.

It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed in the papers.
That Saturday, the teacher wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and listed what everyone else had said about that individual.

On Monday she gave each student his or her list.
Before long, the entire class was smiling.
"Really?" she heard whispered. "I never knew that I meant anything to anyone!" and, "I didn't know others liked me so much." were most of the comments.

No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.
She never knew if they discussed them after class with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose.
The students were happy with themselves and one another. That group of students moved on.

Several years later, one of the students was killed in Vietnam and his teacher attended the funeral of that special student. She had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. He looked so handsome, so mature. The church was packed with his friends. One by one those who loved him took a last walk by the coffin.
The teacher was the last one to bless the coffin.

As she stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to her.
"Were you Mark's math teacher?" he asked. She nodded: "yes."
Then he said: "Mark talked about you a lot."
After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates went together to a luncheon. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting to speak with his teacher.

"We want to show you something," his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket. "They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it." Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times.

The teacher knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which she had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him.

"Thank you so much for doing that," Mark's mother said. "As you can see, Mark treasured it."

All of Mark's former classmates started to gather around. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, "I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home."

Chuck's wife said, "Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album."
"I have mine too," Marilyn said. "It's in my diary."

Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her purse and showed her frazzled list to the group. "I carry this with me at all times, " Vicki said and without batting an eyelash, she continued: "I think we all saved our lists."

That's when the teacher finally sat down and cried. She cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be.

So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are
special and important.

Tell them, before it is too late...

Remember, you reap what you sow, what you put into the lives of others comes back into your own.

Friends

Every day I look around me and see people who have problems far greater than mine and yet they confront life with a courage and honest determination within themselves. It makes me stop and realize how small my worries are in comparison and how I should try that much harder to be happy, tolerant, understanding, and caring toward others. It encourages me to believe in my own abilities, but most of all to be thankful for all I have every day of my life."
Deanna Beisser

The Greatest Love of All

I believe the children are our are future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be
Everybody searching for a hero
People need someone to look up to
I never found anyone who fulfill my needs
A lonely place to be
So I learned to depend on me

I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows
If I fail, if I succeed
At least I'll live as I believe
No matter what they take from me
They can't take away my dignity
Because the greatest love of all
Is happening to me
I found the greatest love of all
Inside of me
The greatest love of all
Is easy to achieve
Learning to love yourself
It is the greatest love of all

I believe the children are our future
Teach them well and let them lead the way
Show them all the beauty they possess inside
Give them a sense of pride to make it easier
Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

And if by chance, that special place
That you've been dreaming of
Leads you to a lonely place
Find your strength in love

Rivers

Rivers hardly ever run in a straight line.
Rivers are willing to take 10 thousand meanders and enjoy everyone and grow from everyone.
When Rivers leave a meander, they are always bigger than when they entered it.
When Rivers meet an obstacle, they do not try to run it over. They merely go around but they always get to the other side.
Rivers accept things as they are. They conform to the shape they find the world in, yet nothing changes things more than rivers.
Rivers move even mountains into the sea.
Rivers hardly ever are in a hurry. Yet is there anything more likely to reach the point it sets out for than a river?

Prayers

WHEN I ASKED GOD

I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong.

I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve.

I asked for prosperity and God gave me brawn and brain to work.

I asked for courage and God gave dangers to overcome.

I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help.

I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities.

I received nothing I wanted.

I received everything I needed.

My prayer has been answered.

Each Day

Make each day useful and cheerful and prove that you know the worth of time by employing it well. Then youth will be happy, elders will be without regret, and life will be a beautiful success.

Life's Trial

..As an adult, I always look back on that eventful day with a mixture of humor, immense gratitude and humility. I now know what my young mind couldn't grasp then.
It's impossible to go through life without trials and struggles being thrown at you. They come when you least expect them, when your guard is down and your defenses are weak. They come when you are happily strolling down a street and bullets start flying at you.

You can dodge them all you want, but as long as you are alive, they will keep on coming, from all directions. You cannot always stop dead on your tracks, or duck down forever. Sure, you might get wounded, but you just have to bandage the wound and carry on. There's no room for complacency or defeat.

The saying goes: When life gives you lemon, make lemonade". But I say: when someone sprays you with bullets, hit the ground and eat some dirt. When it's safe, pick yourself up and start walking again. After all, there's lunch to deliver and a reward to collect.

-by Thadani Baesa-

Friends

You Gotta Be-Desiree-

Oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh, oooh

Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Others they may cause your tears
Go ahead release your fears
Stand up and be counted don't be shamed to cry

You gotta be, you gotta be bad
You gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know love will save the day

Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, Oooh, love will save the day

Herald what your mother said
Read the books your father read
Try to solve the puzzles in your own sweet time
Some may have more cash than you
Others take a different view
My, oh, my, hey hey hey

You gotta be bad
You gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know love will save the day

Time asks no questions it goes on without you
Leaving you behind if you can't stand the pace
The world keeps on spinning can't stop it if you tried to
The best part is danger staring you in the face
Whoa

You gotta be bad
You gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know love will save the day


Listen as your day unfolds
Challenge what the future holds
Try and keep your head up to the sky
Others they may cause your tears
Go ahead release your fears
My, oh, my, hey, hey, hey

You gotta be bad
You gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know love will save the day

You got to be bold, you got to be bad
You got to be wise, don't ever say it
You got to be hard, not too too hard
All I know is love will save the day

Love, love, love will save the day
Love, love, love will save the day
Love, love, love will save the day
Love, love, love will save the day

You gotta be bad
You gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know love will save the day

You gotta be bad
You gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser
You gotta be hard, you gotta be tough, you gotta be stronger
You gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together
All I know, all I know love will save...

The day

Oooh, oooh
Oooh, oooh, oooh oooh, oooh

Listen

The Mouse Tale

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What food might this contain? The mouse wondered - he was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap. Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house! The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, "Mr.Mouse, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me." " I cannot be bothered by it

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. "Be assured you are in my prayers."

The mouse turned to the cow and said "There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!" The cow said, "Wow, Mr. Mouse. I'm sorry for you, but it's no skin off my nose."

So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer's mousetrap alone. That very night a sound was heard throughout the house -- like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey.

The farmer's wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer's wife. The farmer rushed her to the hospital , and she returned home with a fever. Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup's main ingredient. But his wife's sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock.

To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmer's wife did not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them. The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So, the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn't concern you, remember -- when one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

SEND THIS TO EVERYONE WHO HAS EVER HELPED YOU OUT AND LET THEM KNOW HOW IMPORTANT THEY ARE. REMEMBER,,,, EACH OF US IS A VITAL THREAD IN ANOTHER PERSON'S TAPESTRY; OUR LIVES ARE WOVEN TOGETHER FOR A REASON. One of the best things to hold onto in this world is a friend

My Dream

" Sometimes I look at myself and I see an imperfect person, trying just to do my best in any way possible. One of those ways is to never let people kill my beliefs and faith that help me to face life everyday. This world already has so much evil and negativity that I REFUSE to add more into my own world.
My dream is that someday I see myself old and feel the big satisfaction that I had the opportunity to help many in my life, that I can remember my life with a smile and die with the feeling of peace and happiness, knowing that I had done my best."

Copyright © 2008 Maria Uman

Little Things in Life

Too often we don't realize
what we have until it is gone
Too often we wait too late to say
"I'm sorry... I was wrong."

Sometimes it seems we hurt the ones
we hold dearest to our hearts
And we allow foolish things to tear
Our precious lives apart

We always hurt the one we love
The one we shouldn't hurt at all
We always take the sweetest rose
And crush it till the petals fall

We always break the kindest heart
With a hasty word we can't recall
We often forget to act with right
To the one we love most of all

Too often we listen to others word
Putting away trust to our beloved
Suspicious and doubts then arise
At last we have to pay the price

Far too many times we let
Unimportant things into our minds
And then it's usually too late
To see what made us blind

So be sure that you let people know
How much they mean to you
Take that time to say the words
Before your time is through

Be sure that you appreciate
Everything you've got
And be thankful for the Little Things
In Life that mean a lot...

Taking this opportunity to say thank you, Sue, Mouse & you for all the help all these while. (smile)

Not to worry if cat is keeping quiet for a while. Smile. Have taken a lot of your time during these few weeks. Guess it's time to face things on my own. Thanks again.

Thankful

Finding positive out of every negative- we don't always manage to do..(cat's version)

I am thankful...
1. For my nagging mother who frets about my irregular eating habits, because it means that I still have her beside me
2. For my bossy and demanding boss because that means I am employed
3. For the complaints received from customers because that means I can still improve my department's services
4. For the pile of reports to check, because that means I am using my brain
5. For the clothes that fit a little too snug because that means I have enough to eat
6. For the internet because that means I can still connect to friends and outside world
7. For the meetings that need to be attended, because that means my thoughts are still needed
8. For all the complaining I hear about the government because it means that we have freedom of speech
9. For the bus services and car pool because it means I have been blessed with transportation
10. For the noise I have to bear from my neighbours because it means that I can hear
11. For the pile of laundry and ironing because it means I have clothes to wear
12. For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day because it means I have been capable of working hard
13. For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours because it means that I am still alive.

AND FINALLY ....... because i know that I have friends who are thinking of me, because I am thinking of all of you too. I might not be the perfect friend, but I will be there when you need me most..

Bend in The Road

When you feel you have nothing left to give
And you're sure that the song has ended
And it seems there's no reason left to live
And the darkness of night has descended.
Where can you go to find the strength?
You need to keep trying
Where can you find the hand that will dry
The tears your heart is crying.

When you're filled with hopelessness and sorrow
Looking at what seems to be the end
God will whisper, "Wait until tomorrow"
This heartbreak is only a bend in the road.
Bend in the road, bend in the road, bend in the road, bend in the road.

The road will continue past the bend
And you'll sing as you can go on your journey
And hope in your heart will burn again
As you see the light for which you're dreaming.

Be comforted to know the Lord is with you
He's closer than any other friend is
He whispers to your heart to reassure you
That happiness is just around the bend in the road.
Bend in the road, bend in the road.
Bend in the road, bend in the road.

Father's Day

Her hair was up in a pony tail, her favorite dress tied with a bow. Today was Daddy's Day at school and she couldn't wait to go. However, her mummy tried to tell her that she probably should stay home. The other kids might not understand if she went to school alone. But she was not afraid: she knew just what to say.

The little girl went to school, eager to tell them all about a Dad she never sees and who never calls. When she reached school, there were daddies along the wall at the back of the class.Children were squirming impatiently in their seats to wait for their turn to introduce their daddy.

Seconds slowly passed. At last the teacher called her name. Every child turned to stare at her. Each of them was searching for a man who wasn't there. "Where's her daddy" she heard a boy called out. And from somewhere near the back, she heard a daddy say, "Looks like another deadbeat Dad, too busy to waste his day". The words did not offend her as she smiled at her friends. The teacher then told her to begin.

With hands behind her back, slowly she began to speak:
My Daddy couldn't be here because he lives so far away. But I know that he wishes he could be with me on this day. Though you couldn't meet him, I wanted you all to know all about my Daddy and how much he loves me so.
My Daddy loved to tell me stories and he was the one who taught me how to ride my bike. He surprised me with pink roses and taught me to fly a kite. We used to share fudge sundaes and ice cream in a cone. And though you can't see him, I am not standing all alone.
My Daddy is always with me even though we are far apart. I know this because he told me , he'll be forever with me in my heart."

Somewhere in the crowd, her mother stood in tears. She was proudly watching her daughter who was wise beyond her age. She had stood up for the love of a man who was not in her life.

Then the little girl stare straight into the crowd and finished her presentation in a voice so soft but the message was clear and loud:
I love my Daddy bery much as he is my shining star. If he could, he would have been here. But heaven is just too far. Sometimes when I close my eyes, it's like he has never been away. Then she closed her eyes and saw him there that day.
"I know you are with me Daddy" she called out to the silence.

Law of the Garbage Truck

Beware of Garbage Trucks
By David J. Pollay

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive colleague ruin your day? Unless you're a robot, you are bound to blow your top off. However, the mark of a sucessful person is how quickly he or she can get back his or her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago, I learned this lesson. I learn it in the back of a New York City taxi cab. Here's what happen.

I hopped in a taxi, and we took off for Grand Central Station. We were driving in the right lane when, all of a sudden, a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us.

My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So, I said, "Why did you do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now called, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'.

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. If they happen to dump it on you, don't take it personally.

You just smile, wave, wish them well, and moved on. You'll be happier if you did that rather than fight them.

So this was it: 'The Law of the Garbage Truck'.

I started thinking, how often do I let garbage trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the street? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore." I see garbage trucks everywhere and everyday. I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my taxi driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know they have to welcome their kids home from school with hugs and kisses. Teachers and parents know that they have to be fully present and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here's my bet. You'll be happier.

So ... love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that every thing happens for a reason.
If you get a chance, TAKE IT!
If it changes your life, LET IT!
Nobody said it would be easy ....
They just promised it would be WORTH IT

Cheers!

"Life is short. Enjoy the journey."

A Gift

This is a story of how one human being in adversity tries to help make another's last days brighter and happier:

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs.
His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. They spoke for hours on end-of their wives and families, their homes, their job..
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those 1 hour periods where his world would be livened by the activities and colours of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while kids sailed paper boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amid flowers of many colors.
As the man by the window described all this in detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
Days and weeks passed. Then one day, the man by the window passed away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window and was approved. After the switch, the man slowly propped himself up on one elbow to take his look at the real world outside. The window, he found, faced a blank wall. Surprised, he asked the nurse where was the lake that his friend had described earlier. The nurse was taken aback. "But your friend was blind and could not see at all"

Big Difference

The differences between a boss and a leader

A boss drives his men
A leader inspires them

A boss depends on authority
A leader depends on goodwill

A boss evokes fear
A leader radiates love

A boss says "I"
A leader says 'we'

A boss shows who is wrong
A leader shows what is wrong

A boss knows how it is done
A leader knows how to do it

A boss demands respect
A leader commands respect

So, be a leader, not a boss

The Road Less Travelled

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Giving Back

I absolutely believe in the power of tithing and giving back.
My own experience about all the blessings I've had in my life is that the more I give away, the more that comes back.
That is the way life works, and that is the way energy works."
(Ken Blanchard)

Time of My Life

After 21 years of marriage, I discovered a new way of keeping alive the spark of love. A little while ago I had started to go out with another woman. It was really my wife' idea. "I know that you love her," she said one day, taking me by surprise.

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my Mother, who had been a widow for 19 years. The demands of my work and my 3 children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie."What's wrong, are you well?" she asked. My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.  "I thought that it would be pleasant to pass some time with you," I responded."Just the two of us,"She thought about it for a moment then said "I would like that very much."

That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up, I was a bit nervous.When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she too, seemed to be nervous about our date.  She waited in the door with her coat on.She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.  She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. 

"I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said as she got into the car."They can't wait to hear about our meeting".

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant,was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entree, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me.  A nostalgic smile was on her lips.!   "It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor, " I responded.

During the dinner we had an agreeable conversation-nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. We missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later,she said "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you," I agreed.

"How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home."Very nice!"Much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.  A few days later my mother died of a massive heart attack.  It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her.Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined!  An attached note said:  "I paid this bill in advance. I was almost sure that I couldn't be there but, nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife.  You will never know what that night meant for me.  I LOVE YOU."

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying, in time: "I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve.  Nothing in life is more important than God and your family.  Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off to "some other time".

Forever Friends

You are my friend and that is true,

but the gift was given from me to you.

we went through moments that were good and bad,

even moments that were happy and sad...

you supported me when i was in tears,

we stuck together when we were in fear,

It is really sad that it had to be this way,

but it has reached the very last day.

miles away can't keep us apart,

Because you'll always be in my heart.

Friendship

A friend is like a flower,

a rose to be exact,

Or maybe like a brand new gate

that never comes unlatched.

A friend is like an owl,

both beautiful and wise.

Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,

whose spirit never dies.

A friend is like a heart that goes

strong until the end.

Where would we be in this world

if we didn't have a friend.

- By Emma Guest-

Tips for Good Personality

11. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra cla! ss but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23. Smile and laugh more.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Tips for Good Health

Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books than you did in 2008.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.

Family & Strangers

You don't love someone because they're beautiful. They're beautiful because you love them. It's true you don't know what you've got until it's gone, but it's also true you don't know what you've been missing until it arrives!!!

I ran into a stranger as he passed by, Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too; I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I. We went on our way and we said good-bye. But at home a different story is told, How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal, my son stood beside me very still. When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.

"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken. I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken. While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said, "While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, but the children you love, you seem to abuse. Go and look on the kitchen floor, you'll find some flowers there by the door. Those are the flowers he brought for you. He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue. He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise, you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."

By this time, I felt very small, and now my tears began to fall. I quietly went and knelt by his bed; "Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.

Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.
I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."
He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."

FAMILY

Are you aware that if we died tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of days. But the family we left behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

And come to think of it, we pour ourselves more into work than into our own family, an unwise investment indeed, don't you think?

Easy and Difficult

Easy is to get a place in someone's address book

Difficult is to get a place in someone's heart.

Easy is to judge the mistakes of others

Difficult is to recognize our own mistakes

Easy is to talk without thinking

Difficult is to refrain the tongue

Easy is to hurt someone who loves us.

Difficult is to heal the wound...

Easy is to forgive others

Difficult is to ask for forgiveness

Easy is to set rules.

Difficult is to follow them...

Easy is to dream every night.

Difficult is to fight for a dream...

Easy is to show victory.

Difficult is to assume defeat with dignity...

Easy is to enjoy life every day.

Difficult to give its real value...

Easy is to pray every night.

Difficult is to find God in small things...

Easy is to promise something to someone.

Difficult is to fulfill that promise...

Easy is to say we love.

Difficult is to show it every day...

Easy is to criticize others.

Difficult is to improve oneself...

Easy is to make mistakes.

Difficult is to learn from them...

Easy is to weep for a lost love.

Difficult is to take care of it so not to lose it.

Easy is to think about improving.

Difficult is to stop thinking it and put it into action...

Easy is to think bad of others

Difficult is to give them the benefit of the doubt...

Easy is to receive

Difficult is to give

Easy to read this

Difficult to follow it

Easy is keep the friendship with words

Difficult is to keep it with meanings.

The language of friendship is not words, but meanings.

How to Measure Success

To laugh often and much

To win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

and endure the betrayal of false friends

To appreciate beauty

To find the best in others

To leave the world a bit better

whether by a healthy child,

a redeemed social condition,

or a job well done

To know even one other life has

breathed because you lived--

This is to have succeeded.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson-

Be Grateful

In life,
Someone will always be prettier,
Someone will always be smarter,
Their house will be bigger,
They will drive a better car,
Their children will be better in school
And their husband will fix more things around the house,

So..Let it go, Be Happy
Love yourself and your circumstances,
Because..

The prettiest woman in the world can have trouble in her heart,
The most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children,
The richest woman you know, who has the car, the house, the clothes..might be lonely..
And the words do say: If I do not have love, I have nothing.."

So, again, love yourself,
Love who you are
Look in the mirror in the morning, smile and say :
"I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed"

Winners make things happen, Losers let things happen
"To the world, you might be one person, but to one person, you might be the world"

Run Through the Rain

A little girl had been shopping with her Mom in K-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful red haired, freckle faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the earth it has no time to flow down the spout. We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the K-Mart.

We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerised by rainfall. I got lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child came pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.

The little voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in "Mom, let's run through the rain," she said.

"What?" Mom asked.

"Let 's run through the rain!" She repeated.

"No, honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit," Mom replied.

This young child waited about another minute and repeated: "Mom, let's run through the rain,"

"We'll get soaked if we do," Mom said.


"This morning? When did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet?"

"Don't you remember? When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"

The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes.
Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say. Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. A time when innocent trust can be nurtured so that it will bloom into faith.

"Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If GOD let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing," Mom said.

Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case. They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing.

Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories... So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories everyday. To everything there is a reason and a time to every purpose under heaven.

This is to remind us of life. TAKE THE TIME TO RUN THROUGH THE RAIN. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them, but then an entire life to forget them. Take the time to live!!!

Keep in touch with your friends, you never know when you'll need each other -- and don't forget to run in the rain!

God makes everything but unbreakable hearts.

Last Wish

In Phoenix, Arizona, a 26-year-old mother stared down at her 6 year old son, who was dying of terminal leukemia.

Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination.
Like any parent, she wanted her son to grow up and fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible.

The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son's dream to come true.

She took her son's hand and asked, 'Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up ?
Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life ?'

Mommy, 'I always wanted to be a fireman when I grew up.'

Mom smiled back and said, 'Let's see if we can make your wish come true.'

Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona, where she met Fireman Bob, who had a heart as big as Phoenix.

She explained her son's final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.

Fireman Bob said, 'Look, we can do better than that. If you'll have your son ready at seven o'clock Wednesday morning, we'll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards !

And if you'll give us his sizes, we'll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat - not a toy -- one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.'

'They're all manufactured right here in Phoenix, so we can get them fast.'

Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.

Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven.

There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls.
He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic's' van, and even the fire chief's car.
He was also videotaped for the local news program.

Having his dream come true, with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, so deeply touched Billy, that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.

One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept - that no one should die alone, began to call the family members to the hospital.

Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.

The chief replied, 'We can do better than that. We'll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor ?

When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire ?' 'It's the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room ?'

About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy's third floor open window ----16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy's room !!

With his mother's permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him. With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, 'Chief, am I really a fireman now ?'

'Billy, you are, and The Head Chief, God, is holding your hand,' the chief said.

With those words, Billy smiled and said, 'I know, He's been holding my hand all day, and the angels have been singing.'

He closed his eyes one last time.

Women

When God was finishing creating woman, an angel came and asked :
"Why do you take so much time with that one?"

God answered: "Have you seen all the specifications that I have to meet to shape her?"

First, she must be washable but not made of plastic.
Secondly, she must have 200 moving parts which all must be replacable.
Third, She must function on all kind of food
She must be able to embrace several kids at the same time
She must be able to give a hug that can heal anything: from a bruised knee to a broken heart; and she must do these with her 2 hands.

The angel was impressed :"With only 2 hands? Impossible! And this is the standard model? This is too much work. Why don't you stop for today and finish her tomorrow?"

God replied:" I am close to finish this creation, which will near the favorite of my heart. She cures herself when she is sick and she can work 18 hours a day".

The angel came nearer and touched the 'woman': "But You have made her so soft.."

"She is soft", said God "but I have also made her strong. You can't imagine what she can endure and overcome."

The angel asks:" Can she think? "

God answered,"Not only can she think, she can also reason and negotiate".

The angel touched the woman's cheek: "This creation is leaking. You may have put too many burden on her".

"She is not leaking. Those are tears", God corrected the angel."Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubt, her love, her loneliness, her sufferings and her pride".

The angel was impressed.

Woman has strength that amazes man.She can handle trouble and carry heavy burden.
She holds love, happiness and has opinions.
She can smile even when she feels like screaming.
She sings even when she feels like crying.
She cries when she is happy and she laughs when she is afraid.
She fights for things that she believes in.
She stands up against injustices.
She does not take "No" for an answer when she can see a better solution.
She gives herself so that her family can thrive.
She holds her friend's hand when she is afraid
Her love is unconditionnal
She cries when her kids are victorious
She is heartbroken when someone dear died or went away
She finds strength to get on with life
She gives a kiss and a hug to heal a sad heart

However, there is one thing that is lacking with her:

She always forgets what she is worth...

Changing the Strategy

They say that one day, there was a blind man sitting on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet and a sign that read: "I am blind, please help".

A creative publicist was walking by him and stopped to observe - he only had a few coins in his hat, he dropped a few more coins in his hat and without asking for his permission took the sign, turned it around, and wrote another announcement. He placed the sign by his feet and left.

That afternoon the creative publicist returned by the blind man and noticed that his hat was full of bills and coins. The blind man recognized his footsteps and asked if it was him who had re-written his sign and he wanted to know what did he write on it?

The publicist responded: "Nothing that was not true, I just rewrote your sign differently". He smiled and went on his way. The blind man never knew but his new sign read: "TODAY IS SPRING AND I CANNOT SEE IT".

Change your strategy when something does not go your way and you'll see, it  will probably be for the best.

God's Grocery Shop

As I was walking down life's highway many years ago,
I came upon a sign that read 'Heavens Grocery Store'
When I got a little closer
the doors swung open wide...
And when I came to myself
I was already standing inside.
I saw a host of angels standing everywhere
One handed me a basket and said
"My child shop with care."
Everything a human needed was in that grocery store
And what you could not carry
you could come back for more.
First I got some Patience.
Love was in that same row.
Further down was Understanding,
you need that everywhere you go.
I got a box or two of Wisdom
and also Faith a bag or two.
And Charity of course
I would need some of that too.
And then some Strength and Courage
to help me run this race.
My basket was getting full
but I remembered I needed Grace,
And then I chose Salvation for it was free
I tried to get enough of that to do for you and me.
Then I started to go to the counter
to pay my grocery bill,
For I thought I had everything..
As I went up the aisle
I saw Prayer and put that in,
For I knew when I stepped outside
I would run into sin.
Peace and Joy were plentiful,
the last things on the shelf.
Song and Praise were hanging near
so I just helped myself.
Then I said to the angel
"Now how much do I owe?"
He smiled and said
"Just take them everywhere you go."
Again I asked "Really now,How much do I owe?"
"My child" he said, "God paid your bill a long long time ago."

Keep on Trying

Keep these concepts in mind:

You've failed many times, although you don't remember about it. 

You fell down the first time you tried to walk. You almost drowned the first time you tried to swim. .... Don't worry about failure. My suggestion to each of you: Worry about the chances you miss when you don't even try. 

- Sherman Finesilver