InSpiRatiOns StOriEs...

[melody]

Funds of Stock Market

Once upon a time in a village, a man appeared and announced to the
villagers that he would buy monkeys for Rs10.

The villagers seeing that there were many monkeys around, went out to the
forest and started catching them.

The man bought thousands at Rs10 and as supply started to diminish, the
villagers stopped their effort. He further announced that he would now
buy at Rs20. This renewed the efforts of the villagers and they started
catching monkeys again.

Soon the supply diminished even further and people started going back to
their farms. The offer rate increased to Rs25 and the supply of monkeys
became so little that it was an effort to even see a monkey, let alone
catch it!

The man now announced that he would buy monkeys at Rs50! However, since
he had to go to the city on some business, his assistant would now buy on
behalf of him.

In the absence of the man, the assistant told the villagers. Look at all
these monkeys in the big cage that the man has collected. I will sell
them to you at Rs35 and when the man returns from the city, you can sell
it to him for Rs50."

The villagers squeezed up with all their savings and bought all the
monkeys.

Then they never saw the man nor his assistant, only monkeys everywhere!! !

Welcome to the "Stock" Market!!!!!

 

[melody]

Love Your Parents

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come
and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples,
took a nap under the shadow... He loved the tree and the tree loved to
play with him. Time went by... the little boy had grown up and he no longer
played around the tree everyday. One day, the boy came back to the tree
and he looked sad. "Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy.

"I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied,
"I want toys. I need money to buy them."
"Sorry, but I don't have money...but you can pick all my apples and sell
them. Then you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed
all the apples on the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after
he picked the apples. The tree
was sad.

One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. "Come and play with
me" the tree said. "I don't have time to play. I have to work for my
family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?"
"Sorry, but I don't have a house. But you can chop off my branches to
build your house." So the boy cut all the branches of the tree and left
happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back
since then. The tree was again lonely and sad.

One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never showed up for a long time.

Finally, the boy returned after he left for so many years. "Sorry,my boy.
But I don't have anything for you anymore.
No more apples for you..." the tree said.

"I don't have teeth to bite" the boy replied.
"No more trunk for you to climb on"

"I am too old for that now" the boy said.

"I really can't give you anything ... the only thing left is my dying roots"
the tree said with tears.

"I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these
years." The boy replied.

"Good! Old tree roots is the best place to lean on and rest. Come, Come
sit down with me and rest."

The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears.......

This is a story for everyone. The tree is our parents. When we were
young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad...

When we grew up, we left them... only come to them when we need something or when we are in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they can to make you happy.

 

[melody]

No Problem

Don't worry if you have problems! Which is easy to say until you are in the midst of a really big one, I know. But the only people I am aware of who don't have troubles are gathered in little neighborhoods. Most communities have at least one. We call them cemeteries.

If you're breathing, you have difficulties. It's the way of life. And believe it or not, most of your problems may actually be good for you! Let me explain.

Maybe you have seen the Great Barrier Reef, stretching some 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. Tour guides regularly take visitors to view the reef. On one tour, the guide was asked an interesting question. I notice that the lagoon side of the reef looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and colorful, a traveler observed. Why is this

The guide gave an interesting answer The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is constantly being tested by wind, waves, storms - surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested it changes and adapts. It grows healthy. It grows strong. And it reproduces. Then he added this telling note That's the way it is with every living organism.

That's how it is with people. Challenged and tested, we come alive! Like coral pounded by the sea, we grow. Physical demands can cause us to grow stronger. Mental and emotional stress can produce tough-mindedness and resiliency. Spiritual testing can produce strength of character and faithfulness.

So, you have problems - no problem! Just tell yourself, There I grow again!

 

[sh@rty 5]

UPDATE!!! anymore mel??

 

[sh@rty 5]

UPDATE!!! anymore mel??

 

[melody]

Perfection

Does perfection exist? What is the true meaning of perfection. And why do so many people try to be perfect if the concept does not exist.

As much as we want everything in our lives to be perfect. Perfection does not exist. If you asked me to define perfection I would tell you in my eyes perfection is trying your best and taking each day one day at time. If you’re not satisfied, then I would tell you there is no point in getting upset because perfection does not exist. I would tell you to try harder next time and keep trying till you are satisfied with your accomplishments. But don’t stress yourself by trying too hard because remember perfection does not exist. You know you have reached human perfection when your heart tells you so. You’ll feel a sense of pride travel throughout your soul.

Don’t live life and waste precious moments worrying or being angry of what you have not become or accomplished. Take those moments and used them to celebrate with your love ones. Celebrate all the things you have become and embellish in your accomplishments.

If you don’t understand, then picture a pile of leaves that were just raked up in the fall. Imagine a child jumping into those leaves and the happiness that they show through their smile. There not worried about the mess they’re going to make or if they’re going to get in trouble for making a mess.

What they are concerned about is being happy and having fun. Maybe it times for adults to stop trying to teach the children. Maybe its time to take some lessons from the children around us.

Rise yourself high above the mountains and be proud of who you are and what you have become.

 

[sh@rty 5]

thxs.....................................

 

[melody]

The Tailor's Needle

A tailor was at work. He took a piece of cloth and with a pair of shining, costly, scissors, he cut the cloth into various bits.

Then he put the pair of scissors at his feet. Then he took a small needle and thread and started to sew the bits of cloth, into a fine shirt. When the spell of sewing was over, he stuck the needle on to his turban.

The tailor's son who was watching it asked him: "Father, the scissors are costly and look so beautiful. But you throw them down at your feet. This needle is worth almost nothing; you can get a dozen for an anna. Yet, you place it carefully on your head itself. Is there any reason for this illogical behaviour?"

"Yes, my son. The scissors have their function, no doubt; but they only cut the cloth into bits. The needle, on the contrary, unites the bits and enhances the value of the cloth. Therefore, the needle to me is more precious and valuable. The value of a thing depends on its utility, son, not on its cost-price or appearance."

Similarly, there are two classes of people in the world-those who create dissensions and disharmony, who separate man from man; and those who bring about peace and harmony, who unite people.

*******
The former are generally the rich people, powerful politicians and kings; the latter are generally the poor devotees of God, the penniless wandering monks, and mendicants. The Lord makes use of both to carry on his function of providing the field for the evolution of individual souls. He throws down on the dust the mighty kings and millionaires who create wars and disharmony; and He keeps the poor, pious devotee over His own head. In His eyes the scale of values is entirely different!

 

[melody]

I knew you would come

There were two childhood buddies who went through school and college and even joined the army together. War broke out and they were fighting in the same unit. One night they were ambushed.

Bullets were flying all over and out of the darkness came a voice, "Harry, please come and help me."

Harry immediately recognized the voice of his childhood buddy, Bill. He asked the captain if he could go.

The captain said, "No, I can't let you go, I am already short-handed and I cannot afford to lose one more person. Besides, the way Bill sounds he is not going to make it." Harry kept quiet.

Again the voice came, "Harry, please come and help me." Harry sat quietly because the captain had refused earlier.

Again and again the voice came.

Harry couldn't contain himself any longer and told the captain, "Captain, this is my childhood buddy. I have to go and help."

The captain reluctantly let him go. Harry crawled through the darkness and dragged Bill back into the trench. They found that Bill was dead.

Now the captain got angry and shouted at Harry, "Didn't I tell you he was not going to make it? He is dead, you could have been killed and I could have lost a hand. That was a mistake."

Harry replied, "Captain, I did the right thing. When I reached Bill he was still alive and his last words were 'Harry, I knew you would come."'

 

[melody]

"PARABLE OF THE ROSE"

A certain man planted a rose & watered it faithfully,
& before it blossomed, he examined it. He saw the bud
that would soon blossom also have thorns with it. &
he thought, *How can any beautiful flower come from
a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns?*
He felt very sad by this thought, & he neglected to water
the rose, & before it was ready to bloom, it died……......

So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose.
Allah like qualities planted in us at birth growing
amid the thorns of our faults.
Many of us look at ourselves & see only the thorns,
[the defects].
We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly
come from us.
We neglect to water the good deeds within us,
& eventually it dies.
We never realize our potential.

Some people do not see the rose within themselves;
someone else must show it to them.
One of the greatest gifts to a person can possess
is to be able to reach past the thorns
& find the rose within others...... ..

This is the characteristic of love,

To look at a person, & knowing his faults,
Recognize the nobility in his soul, & help him
to realize that he can overcome his faults...... .

If we show him the rose, he will conquer the thorns.
Then it will blossom hundred- folds as it is given to him.

'' Our duty in this world is to help others by showing them
their roses & not their thorns [the defects]……….''

 

[melody]

Judgement

Judgement means a stale state of mind. And mind always wants judgement,because to be in a process is always hazardous and uncomfortable. Be very very courageous, don't stop growing, live in the moment, simply stay in the flow of life.

This story happened in the days of Lao Tzu in China, and Lao Tzu loved it very much:

There was an old man in a village, very poor, but even kings were jealous of him because he had a beautiful white horse. Kings offerred fabulous prizes for the horse, but the man would say, "This horse is not a horse to me, he is a person. And how can you sell a person, a friend?" The man was poor, but he never sold the horse.

One morning he found that the horse was not in the stable. The whole village gathered and said, "You foolish old man! We knew that someday the horse would be stolen. It would have been better to sell it. What a misfortune!"

The old man said, "Don't go so far as to say that. Simply say that the horse is not in the stable. This is the fact; everything else is judgement. Whether it is a misfortune or a blessing I don't know, because this is just a fragment. Who knows what is going to follow it?"

People laughed at the old man. They had always known he was a little crazy. But after fifteen days, suddenly one night the horse returned. He had not been stolen, he had escaped into the wild. And not only that he had brought a dozen wild horses with him.

Again the people gathered and they said, "Old man, you were right. This was not a misfortune, it has indeed proved to be a blessing."

The old man said, "Again you are going too far. Just say that the horse is back...who knows whether it is a blessing or not?" It is only a fragment. You read a single word in a sentence - how can you judge the whole book?"

This time the people could not say much, but inside they knew that he was wrong. Twelve beautiful horses had come.

The old man had an only son who started to train the horses. Just a week later he fell from a horse and his legs were broken. The people gathered again and again they judged. They said, " Again you proved right! It was a misfortune. your only son has lost the use of his legs, and in your old age he was your only support. Now you are poorer than ever."

The old man said, "You are obsessed with judgement. Don't go that far. Say only that my son had broken his legs. Life comes in fragments and more is never given to you."

It happened that after a few weeks the country went to war, and all the young men of the town were forcibly taken for the military. Only the old man's son was left because he was crippled. The whole town was crying and weeping, because it was a losing fight and they knew that most of the young people would never come back. They came to the old man and they said, " You were right, old man - this has proved a blessing. maybe your son is crippled, but he is still with you. Our sons are gone forever."

The old man said again, " You go on and on judging. Nobody knows! Only say this, that your sons have been forced to enter the army and my son has not been forced. But only God, the total, knows whether it is a blessing or a misfortune."

Judge not, otherwise you will never become one with the total. With fragments you will be obsessed, with small things you will jump to conclusions. Once you judge you have stopped growing. Judgement means a stale state of mind. And mind always wants judgement, because to be in a process is always hazardous and uncomfortable.

In fact the journey never ends. One path ends, another begins: one door closes, another opens. You reach a peak; a higher peak is always there. God is an endless journey. Only those who are so courageous that they dont bother about the goal but are content with the journey, content to just live in the moment and grwo into it, only those are able to walk in the total.

 

[melody]

HOW DO WE THINK OF OUR DADDY AT DIFFERENT AGES

At 4 Years
My daddy is great .


At 6 Years
My daddy knows everybody.


At 10 Years
My daddy is good but is short tempered


At 12 Years
My daddy was very nice to me when I was young .


At 14 Years
My daddy is getting fastidious.


At 16 Years
My daddy is not in line with the current times.


At 18 Years
My daddy is becoming increasingly cranky.


At 20 Years
O h! Its becoming difficult to tolerate daddy. Wonder how Mother puts
Up with him.


At 25 Years
Daddy is objecting to everything.


At 30 Years
I t's becoming difficult to manage my son. I was so scared of my
Father when I was young.


At 40 Years
Daddy brought me up with so much discipline. Even I should do the
Same.


At 45 Years
I am baffled as to how my daddy brought us up.


At 50 Years
My daddy faced so many hardships to bring us up. I am unable to manage a single son.


At 55 Years
My daddy was so far sighted and planned so many things for us.
He is one of his kind and unique.


At 60 Years My daddy is great.


Thus, it took 56 years to complete the cycle and come back to the
1st.stage.


Realize the true value of your parents before its too late.

 

[melody]

Many years ago in a small Indian village,

A farmer had the misfortune Of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.

The Moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful Daughter. So he proposed a bargain.

He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his Daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the Proposal.

So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let Providence decide the matter.

He told them that he would put a black Pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would Have to pick one pebble from the bag.

1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.

2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.

3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into Jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As They talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he Picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two Black pebbles and put them into the bag.

He then asked the girl to pick A pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have Done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you Have told her?

Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:

1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.

2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag And expose the money-lender as a cheat.

3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order To save her father from his debt and imprisonment.

Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with The hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral And logical thinking.

The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with Traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses

The above logical answers.

What would you recommend to the Girl to do?

Well, here is what she did ....

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without Looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path Where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the Bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I Picked."

Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had Picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his Dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into An extremely advantageous one.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Most complex problems do have a solution. It is only that we don't Attempt to think.

 

[melody]

A white has no superiority over a black

The following scene took place on a British Airways flight between Johannesburg and London.

A white woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a black man. Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess.

"Madam, what is the matter", the hostess asked "you obviously do not see it then?"

She responded: "You placed me next to a black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat."

"Be calm please", the hostess replied.

"Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another place is available". The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later.

"Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the economy class. I spoke to the captain and he informed me that there is also no seat in the business class. All the same, we still have one place in the first class."

Before the woman could say anything, the hostess continued. "It is not usual for our company to permit someone from the economy class to sit in the first class. However, given the circumstances; the captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting."

The air hostess then turned to the black guy, and said. "Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please take your hand luggage because a seat awaits you in the first class".

At the moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded.

This is a true story which is not usually told. All mankind is from Adam and Eve; a rich has no superiority over a poor; an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab, nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over a black, nor does a black have any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every human being is brother of each other.

 

[melody]

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/5053/showletterboxinboxmsgidih9.jpg

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them. She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

"No", she replied. "He's out."
"Then we cannot come in", they replied.
In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.
"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"
The woman went out and invited the men in"

"We do not go into a House together," they replied.

"Why is that?" she asked.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How n ice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter's advice," said the husband to his wife.
"Go out and invite Love to be our guest."
The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, t he lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!!!!!!"

 

[melody]

A Considerate Man's Thoughts

It is important for men to remember that as women grow older it
becomes harder for them to maintain the same quality of
housekeeping they did when they were younger. When men notice
this, they should try not to yell. Let me relate how I handle the
situation.

When I chucked my job and took early retirement a year ago, it
became necessary for Nancy to get a full-time job both for extra
income and for health insurance benefits that we need. She was a
trained lab tech when we met thirty some years ago and was
fortunate to land a job at the local medical center as a
phlebotomist.

It was shortly after she started working at this job that I noticed
that she was beginning to show her age. I usually get home from
fishing or hunting about the same time she gets home from work.
Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says that
she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts supper.
I try not to yell at her when this happens. Instead, I tell her to
take her time. I understand that she is not as young as she used
to be. I just tell her to wake me when she finally does get supper
on the table.

She used to wash and dry the dishes as soon as we finished eating.
It is now not unusual for them to sit on the table for several
hours after supper. I do what I can by reminding her several times
each evening that they aren't cleaning themselves. I know she
appreciates this, as it does seem to help her get them done before
she goes to bed.

Our washer and dryer are in the basement. When she was younger,
Nancy used to be able to go up and down the stairs all day and not
get tired.

Now that she is older she seems to get tired so much more quickly.
Sometimes she says she just can't make another trip down those
steps. I don't make a big issue of this. As long as she finishes
up the laundry the next evening I am willing to overlook it. Not
only that, but unless I need something ironed to wear to the
Monday's lodge meeting or to Wednesday's or Saturday's poker club
or to Tuesday's or Thursday's bowling or something like that, I
will tell her to wait until the next evening to do the ironing.
This gives her a little more time to do some of those odds and
ends things like shampooing the dog, vacuuming, or dusting.

Also, if I have had a really good day fishing, this allows her to
gut and scale the fish at a more leisurely pace. Nancy is starting
to complain a little occasionally. Not often, mind you, but just
enough for me to notice. For example, she will say that it is
difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during
her lunch hour. In spite of her complaining, I continue to try to
offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even
three days. That way she won't have to rush so much. I also remind
her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn't hurt her
any, if you know what I mean.

When doing simple jobs she seems to think she needs more rest
periods than she used to have to take. A couple of weeks ago she
said she had to take a break when she was only half finished
mowing the yard.

I overlook comments like these because I realize it's just age
talking. In fact, I try to not embarrass her when she needs these
little extra rest breaks. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big,
cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while.
I tell her that as long as she is making one for herself, she may
as well make one for me and take her break by the hammock so she
can talk with me until I fall asleep.

I could go on and on, but I think you know where I'm coming from.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support
Nancy on a daily basis. I'm not saying that the ability to show
this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult.
Some will find it impossible. No one knows better than I do how
frustrating women can become as they get older. My purpose in
writing this is simply to suggest that you make the effort. I
realize that achieving the exemplary level of showing
consideration I have attained is out of reach for the average man.
However guys, even if you just yell at your wife a little less
often because of this article, I will consider that writing it was
worthwhile.

 

[melody]

-=[House of 1000 Mirrors]=-

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors.

A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house.

He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the House, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door.

When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet?

 

[melody]

A Good One

Once there was loving couple travelling in a bus in a mountainous area.

They decided to get down at some place. After the couple got
down at some place the bus moved on.........,

As the bus moved on, a huge rock fell on the bus from the mountain and crushed the bus to crumbs.

Everybody on board was killed.

The couple upon seeing that, said, "We wish we were on that bus" Why do u think they said that????????

If they had remained on the bus instead of deciding to get down, the resulting time delay could have been avoided and the rock would have fallen after the bus had passed ..!!!

Think positive in life always and look for opportunities when u can help Others......

Many times in life, the opposite of Success is not Failure, its Quitting. Winners never quit, quitters never Win .

Never expect things to happen. struggle and make them happen. Never expect yourself to be given a good value...create a value of your own.

 

[melody]

The Wooden Bowl - Touching Story

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table.

For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day that building blocks are being laid for the child's future.

Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, ... and those you love, ... today, and everyday!

 

[melody]

Beautiful Explanation of Death

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, 'Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side.'

Very quietly, the doctor said, 'I don't know.' 'You don't know? You, a Christian man, Do not know what is on the other side?'

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; On the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, And as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room And leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, 'Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, And when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, But I do know one thing... I know my Master is there and that is enough.'

May today there be peace within you. May you trust God that you are exactly Where you are meant to be. I believe that friends are quiet angels Who lift us to our feet when our wings Have trouble remembering how to fly.