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Because of him ...
One day in Elementary school a couple of girls were teasing me. A young boy walked up to them and poliety asked them to stop, and they all walked away. The boy and girl became good friends. One day they were playing together in the schoolyard when a small dog walked into the school grounds. The boy checked the collar. "Misty" is what it read. He helped to get it out of the gate so it wouldn't get takenway. The very next day my mother got a call from my grandpa telling her that my grandma had fallen. When we got to the hospital, my grandmother told me that a dog saved her by getting Grandpa's attention by barking. When my grandma finally got back from the hospital I found out that it was Misty who had saved my grandmother. The next day at school we found out that the boy, had died in a car accident. At his funeral I met one of his cousins who became a good friend of mine. When we were leaving the funeral the boy asked me for my number. It took a minute to give it to him.
On our way home we passed a horrible accident where a tree had fallen on top of a car. The police who helped us through told us that the accident had happened only 5 minutes earlier, the same time as how long it took to give the boy my number. One year later I was in middle school, and I met a girl who told me her mother had passed away in a tragic tree accident, so they had moved out to where we lived. The girl and me also became good friends. One night it highschool we were having a sleepover when a tornado struck the area. I had never been in a tornado before, but the girl had, and she helped me survive.
I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that first boy who took one moment to stop bullying, and that girl wouldn't have been my best friend.
The moral of my story is: take one moment to show a little bit of kindness, you never know how much it could do.
@american
Success
In the eyes of the world I am not seen as much of a success. I live with my cousin. I don't have a house nor a mansion. My parents buy my cloths or I won't wear fancy clothes. I drive a car that was bought for me, I don't have a plane, or a yacht. My bank account is always empty if I don't get paid to deposit money there at the end of the month. I am not a CEO of a corporation. I haven't made a movie, won a Grammy, or sold a million books. I am not famous. My picture has never been on a magazine cover. I have never had my own reality television show. Yet, in spite of all of this there are many times when I do feel like a success.
When my mom gives me a hug and says: "I love you Hun", I feel like a success. When my dog walks over to me, puts his head on my lap, and looks up at me with his adoring brown eyes, I feel like a success. When I share a laugh with the cashier in the grocery store, I feel like a success. When I give my smile to a stranger I am walking by and find my gift returned, I feel like a success. When I send what few dollars I can to a charity and know that I am helping someone in need, I feel like a success. When I get a letter from someone who has been touched by the simple stories I write, I feel like a success. When I have fun with my friends online and laugh from bottom of my heart, I feel like a success. When I remember that God loves me in spite of all my faults and failings, I feel like a success.
Perhaps what this world needs is a redefining of what success really is. Perhaps this world needs to recognize that fame fades, money is soon spent, power never lasts, and material things always turn to dust. Perhaps this world needs to see that the most successful life of all is one where you love God, yourself, and others. Perhaps we all need to realize that a successful life in the eyes of the world isn't always a successful life in the eyes of Heaven.
May you always see the success in your own life. May you always be a success in loving, giving, caring, and sharing. And may you always succeed in making God smile.
@american
Footprints On The Sand
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This bothered him so he questioned the Lord about it: "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The Lord replied: "My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, I was carrying you."
@american
The Beauty of the Spirit!
I was walking towards the store when I first saw her. She was between eighty and ninety years old. Her hair was thin, sparse, and as white as the snow on the sidewalk outside. Her face was red, chapped, and wrinkled from a lifetime of use. Her mouth was missing most of its teeth. Her gnarled hands each carried a bag full of groceries. She wore work boots that had clearly seen better days. As she shuffled slowly towards the door she stopped only once to put down her bags and button her thin, wool jacket.
I hurried my pace and opened the door for her. She smiled at me with her few remaining teeth and said, "Thank you kid." I touched my hair and smiled at being thought of as a kid again. Then I watched as this ancient angel slowly walked to the food drive collection bin, there are food drive bins all over my city. People buy groceries and leave them in the bins for the less fortunate to come and pick up what they need for their daily consumption. She lifted the heavier of her two bags up and put the food inside the bin. She made one last stop on her way out to say "hi" to a young mother she knew. The mother had her baby girl in her arms and the elderly woman gently reached down and tickled the child under her chin. The little girl laughed with joy and kicked her feet. The old lady laughed as well in her cracked voice and then continued happily on her way. I stood there watching her and thought to myself: "That was the most beautiful woman I have ever seen."
I am so thankful to God for teaching me over the years how to see clearly. I no longer look at the world through the eyes of society with its plastic surgery view of what is beautiful and what is not. God has showed me through His love, His grace, and His guidance to see with the eyes of my soul and to recognize the beauty of the spirit in each of us.
I hope that lovely old woman continues to touch others with her gentleness, kindness, and joy for years to come. May her beauty, love, and light shine bright on Earth and in Heaven.
@american
The Greatest Adventure Of All
When I was a little girl I used to love those nights when my Mom would read me a story before bed. I would be warm under my blankets while my Mom's soothing voice would take me on an adventure to another world. As I got older I soon started taking those magical adventures myself. There seemed to be so many books and so little time to read them all. I journeyed along with Bilbo and Frodo in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." I walked excitedly into the closet with the kids in "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe." I traveled into outer space and went on quests with the Knights of the round table. I journeyed to the center of the Earth and swung through the trees with Tarzan. I fought in the battle of Troy and the traveled on the voyages of Ulysses. I went on thousands of great adventures all from the safety of my chair and comfort of my bed.
As I grew into adulthood, however, I came to realize something very important: the greatest adventure of all is the life you live here. Living your life with compassion, kindness, laughter and joy day by day and moment by moment is more exciting than the best book. Putting your heart on the line in the real world takes far more courage than putting your life on the line in some make believe fantasy. Offering hugs, sharing smiles, giving your love and help to others may seem like little things in a book's plot line, but in life they are the things that help to make the world a better, more Heavenly place.
I will always love books and the adventures they bring to the heart and mind, but I will also forever embrace the greatest adventure of all. God put us here in this world to live, to learn, and to love. What greater quest than to do so every single day of our lives? What greater adventure than to become the people God meant for us to be?
@american
A Blessing in Disguise!
The rain poured down on the car stopped by the side of the road. I had made my aunt pull over a few minutes earlier when her tears had made it impossible for her to drive. My own heart ached with pain and my eyes were wet with tears too. It was the worst moment of our lives. I held her in my arms for a long time while the Heavens seemed to cry with us.
We had just come from a specialist office in a big hospital. We had taken my firstborn cousin there to be tested. He was nearing 3 years old and hadn't started to talk yet. He also had displayed behaviors that weren't normal. After a long wait and longer tests the Doctor told us that there was definitely something wrong although he couldn't say what it was. He recommended more tests. We drove away in silence. I could see the hurt in my aunt's eyes as she tried to hold back the coming tears. All she had wanted was a "normal" little boy. Finally as the rain began to fall outside the car our tears began to fall inside it.
We sat there for the longest time crying and feeling powerless and unsure of what to do next. After a while the clouds parted and the sun began to shine again. I looked back at my little cousin in his carseat and he smiled happily back at me. My family knew then that we had to go on no matter what the road ahead of us may hold.
My cousin was later diagnosed with Autism and mental retardation. He was five years old before he finally began to speak in sentences. Although he learned to talk and read we still knew that he would have to be looked after for the rest of his life. As the years went on, though, I realized that my cousin was not only "special" mentally, but also "special" spiritually. Even with all the limitations and frustrations his handicap gave him, he still managed to give his kindness, love, and enthusiasm to everyone around him. He remembered people he met and called them by name. He gave out hugs as easily as the rest of us gave out "hi's".
He went through his days with a ready smile and a simple joy that were contagious. He gave up the role of "eldest child" to his younger "normal" sister, but still helped to look after his younger brother who had been born with an even more severe form of Autism. He became more than just my cousin. He became my friend. He became my helper. He became my teacher in how to live and in how to give. He became my inspiration on how to love and be happy in that love. He and his brother both became beautiful blessings in disguise.
As I look back on the years my cousins and I have spent together and look forward to the times that lie ahead of us, I once again thank God for giving them to me. My first cousin and his younger brother have both done what everyone of us longs to do: they have made this world a better and more beautiful place just by being in it. They have touched countless hearts with their love, laughter, and joy and they will undoubtedly touch countless more.
Many people look upon the mentally handicapped as something less than human. I now see them as something more. They have inside of them a deeper love, joy, and connection to God than the rest of us. And while we take care of them we should also take the time to learn from them as well. They truly are all blessings in disguise and while they sometimes bring us tears of sadness, they more often bring us tears of joy.
@american
Chopping Woods ...
When I was growing up my Dad would often give me chores to do to help out around the house. Some were easy but the three I remember the most were the three toughest of all. The first was helping to weed the several gardens we had. It was tedious work and we had gardeners, but Dad wanted me to chip in and help. I would much rather have been riding my bike than crawling in the dirt on my hands and knees pulling the thousands of weeds that choked our gardens.
The second was stacking firewood for Winter. It was tough work and I got more than my share of splinters. I would much rather have been walking in the woods than stacking it in rows.
The third was hauling water from a mountain spring passing through our house, because the water was almost sweet and our neighbors even came to fetch water from our spring. It was a hard job carrying five gallon jugs. I would much rather have been playing basketball than carrying them.
Over the years, though, I learned to see the rewards in all the things Dad made me do. Having fresh vegetables for dinner was a delicious delight. Enjoying a cold glass of iced tea made from the mountain spring water was a pure pleasure. Standing by the wood stove on a snowy December day was a wonderful way to warm up. I saw as well that all this work Dad had given me had gradually made me a better, stronger, and more caring person. Most of all, I realized that when I did my work with a happy heart it didn't feel like work at all.
Over the years I have learned something else too. When we do the work of our Heavenly Father with a loving spirit it doesn't feel like work either. It feels like joy. Every act of kindness, word of encouragement, and gift of love we share will only make our lives better, make our hearts happier, and bring our souls closer to Heaven.
I am so grateful then to both my Dad and my Father in Heaven. They showed me the value of work and more importantly they showed me the pricelessness of love.
@american
If You See Something Beautiful In Someone, Speak It
Dale Carnegie have said "The Most Important goal of anyone's life is to feel Important". But unfortunately the world doesn't allow people to feel important easily. I mentioned easily because you as a individual can feel important but there are so many standards have been elevated by people and society and industry that can be explained in this way, if you have certain body shape you can feel Important, if you have this much money, that specific car, big house you can feel important, if you are crushing everyone out in your office giving company sales and value you can feel important and the list goes on. So, the peace of advice here it is. Everyone wants to feel important whether he/she is your company CEO or your colleague in next cubical. Your realtives, friends and strangers. Everybody out there craving for this that's why they are working very hard to get ahead of race in Thier arena of life.
So, why don't you make them feel good. Don't give them superficial appreciation. Do it sincerely, observe their true talent and appreciate where they are good at.
As "Ralph Marston" said, Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.
Thank You, God bless You
@american
Don't Quit!
"When things go wrong, as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low and the debts are high;
And you want to smile but you have to sigh.
When all is pressing you down a bit-
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out;
The silver tint on the clouds of doubt;
And you can never tell how close you are;
It may be near when it seems far.
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things go wrong that you must not quit."
- John Greenleaf Whittier
@american
So I Looked Up My Ex Online...
This is my best friend's Cathrine story:
I remember having a horrific breakup 3 years ago when I was 18. I was moving in with my boyfriend, talking about getting engaged in a few months, we were inseparable, and then one day he just told me he was leaving. No explanation. He blocked everyone we knew on social media (myself included), packed his bags and flew to another country almost overnight. His housemate told me later he refused to say goodbye and threw his keys in the bin as he left. I'll honestly never understand it.
It completely totally broke me. I couldn't eat or sleep or function. I moved back in with my folks for a while because they were so worried about me. I told myself if I didn't feel better in two months, I'd give myself permission to kill myself. It was the lowest I've ever been.
Long story short, I survived day to day barely, then started putting my life back together. I got healthy, started my own business, got a rescue dog. But I couldn't really date for about two and half years and felt sure that 'love' was something that just didn't work out for me.
And then I met this guy I thought was wayyy too good for me. The most genuinely sweet thoughtful guy I'd ever met, the kind everyone just loves. He lights up the room. And he fell just as hard for me as I did for him. We started dating and he stood by me as wave after wave of insecurity washed over me. I was sure he was going to leave. I was sure he'd change his mind. But he didn't. And on our ten month anniversary we got our own place together. It's been over a year and we're stronger than ever. And the best part, he's so much better for me than anyone I'd ever dated before. I'd go through all the pain a thousand times over to be with him.
On a side note, after the big breakup with the guy 2 years ago, I never looked him up online. Ever. It was just too painful. After I moved in with my boyfriend, I felt safe enough to finally have a look and end the curiosity. I found his twitter and it was bizarrely... lame. He tweeted 60+ times a day, all quite lonely messages about being single and needing to find a woman. A lot of sexist creepy stuff too. I was shocked to see he wasn't somebody I should ever have regrets about losing. I was so afraid of him and his rejection for so long, for no reason!
So excuse the big rant, it's just it's the happiest I've ever been and just want to cartwheel on a mountain. If you hang on and work hard, life always gives a chance to be happy again. Just hang on in there if you're struggling or trying to stay afloat. You'll be here soon enough telling your happy story.
@american
One Person
In his many books and lectures the great educator, Leo Buscaglia showed us time and again how the love of just one person can change a life and change the world. I remember especially his story about the noted psychologist, Dr. Skeels.
In the early 20th century orphaned children were often warehoused in badly understaffed institutions where they received little if any attention or love. At one time Dr. Skeels took 12 of these orphaned children and let them be cared for, a few hours each day, by mentally retarded adolescent girls at a nearby institution. He also studied 12 other children who were left in the orphanage all day long. He followed these children until adulthood and the results he found were shocking. Of the 12 children left all day in the orphanage without love and attention all were either dead, in institutions for the mentally retarded or in institutions for the mentally ill. Of the 12 children cared for and loved by the mentally retarded teenage girls all were self-supporting, most had graduated high school, and all were happily married. The only difference in the lives of these children had been the love of one person.
God loves us all so much and His greatest wish is for us to love each other as well. Let us never forget then just how vital our love can be to another. Patrick McCauley wrote “ Some of us will reach millions, most of us will reach a few, and some will reach only one person. However, given the infinite significance of each person, there is no difference in the end.”
Give your love, your kindness, and your heart to others today. You never know whom you might touch, whom you might help, and whose life you may save. As Thomas Merton said: “How can anyone tell how much he owes to the goodness of those who love him?” You may be just one person and you may touch just one person but that alone can change the world.
@american
Christmas Miracle continued...
As their time together dwindled, Santa felt led in his spirit to pray for Sarah, and asked for permission from the girl's mother. She nodded in agreement and the entire family circled around Sarah's bed, holding hands. Santa looked intensely at Sarah and asked her if she believed in angels.
"Oh, yes, Santa... I do!" she exclaimed.
"Well, I'm going to ask angels watch over you." he said. Laying one hand on the child's head, Santa closed his eyes and prayed. He asked that, God touch little Sarah, and heal her body from this disease. He asked that angels minister to her, watch and keep her. And when he finished praying, still with eyes closed, he started singing, softly, "Silent Night, Holy Night....all is calm, all is bright." The family joined in, still holding hands, smiling at Sarah, and crying tears of hope, tears of joy for this moment, as Sarah beamed at them all.
When the song ended, Santa sat on the side of the bed again and held Sarah's frail, small hands in his own. "Now, Sarah," he said authoritatively, "you have a job to do, and that is to concentrate on getting well. I want you to have fun playing with your friends this summer, and I expect to see you at my house at McAllister Mall this time next year!"
He knew it was risky proclaiming that to this little girl who had terminal cancer, but he "had" to. He had to give her the greatest gift he could -- not dolls or games or toys -- but the gift of HOPE.
"Yes, Santa!" Sarah exclaimed, her eyes bright.
He leaned down and kissed her on the forehead and left the room.
Out in the hall, the minute Santa's eyes met Rick's, a look passed between them and they wept unashamed.
Sarah's mother and grandmother slipped out of the room quickly and rushed to Santa's side to thank him.
"My only child is the same age as Sarah," he explained quietly. "This is the least I could do." They nodded with understanding and hugged him.
One year later, Santa was again back on the set in Saint John for his six-week, seasonal job which he so loves to do. Several weeks went by and then one day a child came up to sit on his lap.
"Hi, Santa! Remember me?!"
"Of course, I do," Santa proclaimed (as he always does), smiling down at her. After all, the secret to being a "good" Santa is to always make each child feel as if they are the "only" child in the world at that moment.
"You came to see me in the hospital last year!"
Santa's jaw dropped. Tears immediately sprang in his eyes, and he grabbed this little miracle and held her to his chest. "Sarah!" he exclaimed. He scarcely recognized her, for her hair was long and silky and her cheeks were rosy -- much different from the little girl he had visited just a year before. He looked over and saw Sarah's mother and grandmother in the sidelines smiling and waving and wiping their eyes.
That was the best Christmas ever for Santa Claus.
He had witnessed --and been blessed to be instrumental in bringing about -- this miracle of hope. This precious little child was healed. Cancer-free. Alive and well. He silently looked up to Heaven and humbly whispered, "Thank you, Father. 'Tis a very, Merry Christmas!
@american