My_Name_Is_Earl 的个人资料Mothership Earth照片日志列表更多  |  工具 帮助 |
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2009/1/30 Talking about YouTube - Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy I wish there were more people with a heart like his. God Bless you Logan & God Bless Kurt Warner for speaking out about your faith to others. Go Arizona Cardinals!!!! Quote Talking about YouTube - Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy 2008/11/1 Famous Quote #1 Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people
always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can
become great. Mark Twain 2008/8/8 Noah in the modern dayThe Lord came unto Noah, who was now living in Canada , and said,
'Once again, the earth has become wicked and over-populated, and I see
the end of all flesh before me. Build another Ark and save 2 of every
living thing along with a few good humans.'
He gave Noah the blueprints, saying, 'You have 6 months to build the Ark before I will start the unending rain for 40 days and 40 nights.' Six months later, the Lord looked down and saw Noah weeping in his yard - but no Ark. 'Noah!' He roared , 'I'm about to start the rain! Where is the Ark?' 'Forgive me, Lord,' begged Noah, 'but things have changed.' 'I needed a building permit. I've been arguing with the inspector about the need for a sprinkler system. My neighbors claim that I've violated the neighbourhood zoning laws by building the Ark in my yard and exceeding the height limitations. We had to go to the Development Appeal Board for a decision.' 'Then Hydro One demanded a bond be posted for the future costs of moving power lines and other overhead obstructions, to clear the passage for the Ark 's move to the sea. I told them that the sea would be coming to us, but they would hear nothing of it.' 'Getting the wood was another problem. There's a ban on cutting local trees in order to save the spotted owl. I tried to convince the environmentalists that I needed the wood to save the owls - but no go!' 'When I started gathering the animals, an animal rights group sued me. They insisted that I was confining wild animals against their will. They argued the accommodation was too restrictive, and it was cruel and inhumane to put so many animals in a confined space.' 'Then the Ministry of the Environment ruled that I couldn't build the Ark until they'd conducted an environmental impact study on your proposed flood.' 'I'm still trying to resolve a complaint with the Human Rights Commission on how many minorities I'm supposed to hire for my building crew.' 'Immigration and Naturalization are checking the Visa status of most of the people who want to work.' 'The trades unions say I can't use my sons. They insist I have to hire only union workers with Ark-building experience.' 'To make matters worse, Revenue Canada seized all my assets, claiming I'm trying to leave the country illegally with endangered species.' 'So, forgive me, Lord, but it will take at least 10 years for me to finish this Ark.' Suddenly the skies cleared, the sun began to shine, and a rainbow stretched across the sky. Noah looked up in wonder and asked, 'You mean you're not going to destroy the world?' 'No,' said the Lord. 'The Government beat me to it.' 2008/7/16 Five (5) lessonsFive (5) lessons about the way we treat people. 1 - First Important Lesson - Cleaning Lady. During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. "Absolutely, " said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say "hello." I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy. 2. - Second Important Lesson - Pickup in the Rain One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A special note was attached. It read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others." Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole. 3 - Third Important Lesson - Always remember those who serve. In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked. "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. " Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies.. You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip. 4 - Fourth Important Lesson. - The obstacle in Our Path. In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. 5 - Fifth Important Lesson - Giving When it Counts... Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare & serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away". Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. Now you have 2 choices. 1. Close this page, or 2. Forward it other people. I hope that you will choose No. 2 And remember, Most importantly. "Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when nobody's watching." NOW more than ever - Peace to you and your family... Pass It On... Help your friends & neighbors 2008/6/13 The Gift of LoveThere was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see the world, I will marry you.' One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her, 'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.' This is how the human brain often works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations. Life Is a Gift Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak. Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone who has nothing to eat. Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out to GOD for a companion. Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven. Before you complain about your children - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren. Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets. Before whining about the distance you drive - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet. And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job. But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without sin and we all answer to one MAKER. And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and thank GOD you're alive and still around.  2008/4/4 Favorite Quotes Expect only of yourself,
And you will not be disappointed.
Correct your mistakes immediately, And you minimize the damage. Identify the positive, And you lessen the negative. Look always for a solution, And you may not have a complaint. Think with your head; listen with your heart, And act only when they both agree. Forgive yourself and others, And remember only to avoid repeats. Be thankful for even the sorrows, For from it comes character, And the recognition of happiness. 2007/12/20 The real meaning of lifeIt's all about helping the less
fortunate.............
Watching this story made me weepy
Striving for a better tomorrow............Earl 2007/12/17 Shoes in Church I showered and shaved............... I adjusted my tie. I got there and sat.............. In a pew just in time. Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes. I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed. With plenty of room on either side...... I thought, "Why must our soles touch?" It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much. A prayer began: "Our Father"............. I thought, "This man with the shoes.. has no pride. They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are holes on the side!" "Thank You for blessings," the prayer went on. The shoe man said............... a quiet "Amen." I tried to focus on the prayer....... But my thoughts were on his shoes again Aren't we supposed to look our best.. When walking through that door? "Well, this certainly isn't it," I thought, Glancing toward the floor. Then the prayer was ended............ And the songs of praise began. The shoe man was certainly loud...... Sounding proud as he sang. His voice lifted the rafters......... His hands were raised high. The Lord could surely hear.. The shoe man's voice from the sky. It was time for the offering......... And what I threw in was steep. I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep. I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in. Then I heard a soft "clink" . as when silver hits tin. The sermon really bored me.......... To tears, and that's no lie. It was the same for the shoe man..... For tears fell from his eyes. At the end of the service........ As is the custom here We must greet new visitors.. And show them all good cheer. But I felt moved somehow............. And wanted to meet the shoe man So after the closing prayer.......... I reached over and shook his hand. He was old and his skin was dark..... And his hair was truly a mess But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest. He said, "My names' Charlie.......... I'm glad to meet you, my friend." There were tears in his eyes......... But he had a large, wide grin "Let me explain," he said........... Wiping tears from his eyes. "I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.'" "I know that my appearance........."Is not like all the rest "But I really do try................."To always look my best." "I always clean and polish my shoes.."Before my very long walk. "But by the time I get here........." They're dirty and dusty, like chalk." My heart filled with pain............ and I swallowed to hide my tears As he continued to apologize......... For daring to sit so near. He said, "When I get here..........."I know I must look a sight. "But I thought if I could touch you.." Then maybe our souls might unite." I was silent for a moment............ Knowing whatever was said Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head. "Oh, you've touched me," I said......"And taught me, in part; "That the best of any man............"Is what is found in his heart." The rest, I thought,................. This shoe man will never know. Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul 2007/12/16 For the Man Who Hated Christmas........ It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas--oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it--overspending... the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma---the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else. Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids - all kids - and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition--one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more. Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us. ~ Author Unknown~ 2007/12/3 Thanks for checking in...A minister passing through his church in the middle of the day, Decided to pause by the altar and see who had come to pray. If
this blesses you, pass it on. Many people will walk in and out of your
life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart 2007/11/16 MY SONThe ending will surprise you. Religious or not, this is great. Take a moment to read it, it will make your day! Take my Son A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son. About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art." The young man held out this package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this." The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will somebody bid for this painting. Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?" Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?" Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!" A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!" God gave His son 2,000 years ago to die on the cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The son, the son, who'll take the son?" Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything. "FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHO SO EVER BELIEVETH, SHALL HAVE ETERNAL LIFE"...THAT'S LOVE Please send this to anyone who can use some words of encouragement Do whatever you like, but remember that maybe "one" of the people you might have taken the time to send this to, may be just the person who needs to hear this message. You have a choice to make." God Bless. 2007/11/6 THIS IS AWESOME You will watch spell-bound until the last drop of paint is put in place. Make sure your sound is turned up Click here: http://www.youtube.com/v/QZFkZiwMLZ4 2007/11/1 The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of CoffeeWhen things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18 There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."
The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."
Please share this with someone you care about.. I JUST DID 2007/6/27 CREATION EXPLAINEDNEVER HEARD CREATION
EXPLAINED THIS WAY BEFORE !!!  In
the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the
Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red
vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy
lives. Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?" And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled. And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14. So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast. God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables, and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof. God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food." God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds. Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds. God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest. God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery. Then Satan created HMOs. If you don't send this to five old friends right away there will be five fewer people laughing in the world.  2007/6/8 CHOICESCHOICES The little orange boy stopped. Behind him, kitties were playing, chasing each other and wrestling in the warm sunshine. It looked like so much fun, but in front of him, through the clear stillness of the pond's water, he could see his mummy. And she was crying. He
pawed at the water, trying to get at her, and when that didn't work, he
jumped into the shallow water. All that got him was wet and Mummy's
image danced away in the ripples. "Mummy!" he cried. "Is something
wrong?" The
little orange boy turned around. A lady was standing at the edge of the
pond, her eyes sad but filled with love. The little orange boy sighed
and walked out of the water. "There's
been a mistake," he said. "I'm not supposed to be here." He looked back
at the water. It was starting to still again and his mummy's image was
coming back. "I'm just a baby. Mummy said it had to be a mistake. She
said I wasn't supposed to come here yet." The
kind lady sighed and sat down on the grass. The little orange boy
climbed into her lap. It wasn't Mummy's lap, but it was almost as good.
When she started to pet him and scritch under his chin like he liked,
he started to purr. He hadn't wanted to, but he couldn't help it. "I'm afraid there is no mistake. You are supposed to be here and your mummy knows it deep down in her heart," the lady said. The little orange boy sighed and laid his head on the lady's leg. "But she's so sad. It hurts me to see her cry. And daddy too." "But they knew right from the beginning this would happen." "That
I was sick?" That surprised the little orange boy. No one had ever said
anything and he had listened when they thought he was sleeping. All he
had heard them talk about was how cute he was or how fast he was or how
big he was getting. "No, not that you were sick," the lady said. "But you see, they chose tears." No, they didn't," the little orange boy argued. Who would choose to cry? The
lady gently brushed the top of his head with a kiss. It made him feel
safe and loved and warm - but he still worried about his mummy. "Let me
tell you a story," the lady said. The
little orange boy looked up and saw other animals gathering around.
Cats - Big Boy and Snowball and Shamus and Abby and little Cleo and
Robin. Merlin and Toby and Iggy and Zachary. Sweetie and Kamatte and
OBie. Dogs too - Sally and Baby and Morgan and Rocky and Belle. Even a
lizard named Clyde and some rats named Saffron and Becky and a hamster
named Odo. They all lay down near the kind lady and looked up at her,
waiting. She
smiled at them and began: A long long time ago, the Loving Ones went to
the Angel in Charge. They were lonesome and asked the angel to help
them. The angel took them to a wall of windows and let them look out
the first window at all sorts of things - dolls and stuffed animals and
cars and toys and sporting events. "Here are things you can love," the
angel said. "They will keep you from being lonesome." "Oh, thank you," the Loving Ones said. "These are just what we need." "You have chosen Pleasure," the angel told them. But
after a time the Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge. "Things
are okay to love," they said. "But they don't care that we love them." The
Angel in Charge led them over to the second window. It looked out at
all sorts of wild animals. "Here are animals to love," he said. "They
will know you love them." So
the Loving Ones hurried out to care for the wild animals. "You have
chosen Satisfaction," the angel said. Some of the Loving Ones worked at
zoos and wild animal preserves, some just had bird feeders in their
gardens, but after a time they all came back to the Angel in Charge. "They know we love them," they told the angel. "But they don't love us back. We want to be loved in return." So
the angel took them to the third window and showed them lots of people
walking around, hurrying places. "Here are people for you to love," the
angel told them. So the Loving Ones hurried off to find other people to
love. "You have chosen Commitment," the angel said. But
after a time a lot of Loving Ones came back to the Angel in Charge.
"People were okay to love," they said. "But sometimes they stopped
loving us and left. They broke our hearts." The angel just shook his head. "I cannot help you," he said. "You will have to be satisfied with the choices I gave you." As
the Loving Ones were leaving, someone saw a window off to one side and
hurried to look out. Through it, they could see puppies and kittens and
dogs and cats and lizards and hamsters and ferrets. The other Loving
Ones hurried over. "What about these?" they asked. But
the angel just tried to shoo them away. "Those are Personal Empathy
Trainers," he said. "But there's a problem with their system
operations." "Would they know that we love them?" someone asked. "Yes," the angel said. "Would they love us back?" another asked. "Yes," the angel said. "Will they stop loving us?" someone else asked. "No," the angel admitted. "They will love you forever." "Then these are what we want," the Loving Ones said. But the angel was very upset. "You don't understand," he told them. "You will have to feed these animals." "That's all right," the Loving Ones said. "You will have to clean up after them and take care of them forever." "We don't care." The
Loving Ones did not listen. They went down to where the Pets were and
picked them up, seeing the love in their own hearts reflected in the
animals' eyes. "They
were not programmed right," the angel said. "We can't offer a warranty.
We don't know how durable they are. Some of their systems malfunction
very quickly, others last a long time." But
the Loving Ones did not care. They were holding the warm little bodies
and finding their hearts so filled with love that they thought they
would burst. "We will take our chances," they said. "You
do not understand." The angel tried one more time. "They are so
dependent on you that even the most well-made of them is not designed
to outlive you. You are destined to suffer their loss." The
Loving Ones looked at the sweetness in their arms and nodded. "That is
how it should be. It is a fair trade for the love they offer." The angel just watched them all go, shaking his head. "You have chosen Tears," he whispered. "So it is," the kind lady told the kitties. "And so each mummy and daddy knows when they take a baby into their heart, they know that one day it will leave them and they will cry." The little orange boy sat up. "So why do they take us in?" he asked. "Because even a moment of your love is worth years of pain later." "Oh."
The little orange boy got off the lady's lap and went back to the edge
of the pond. His mummy was still there, and still crying. "Will she
ever stop crying?" he asked the kind lady. She
nodded. "You see, the Angel felt sorry for the Loving Ones, knowing how
much they would suffer. He couldn't take the tears away but he made
them special." She
dipped her hand into the pond and let the water trickle off her
fingers. "He made them healing tears, formed from the special water
here. Each tear holds bits of all the happy times of purring and
petting and shared love. And the promise of love once again. As your
mummy cries, she is healing. "It may take a long while, but the tears
will help her feel better. In time she will be less sad and she will
smile when she thinks of you. And then she will open her heart again to
another little baby." "But
then she will cry again one day," the little orange boy said.. The lady
just smiled at him as she got to her feet. "No, she will love again.
That is all she will think about." She picked up Big Boy and Snowball
and gave them hugs, then scratched Morgan's ear just how she liked. "Look,"
she said. "The butterflies have come. Shall we go over to play?" The
other animals all ran ahead, but the little orange boy wasn't ready to
leave his mummy. "Will I ever get to be with her again?" The
kind lady nodded. "You'll be in the eyes of every kitty she looks at.
You'll be in the purr of every cat she pets. And late at night, when
she's fast asleep, your spirit will snuggle up close to her and you
both will feel at peace. One day soon, you can even send her a rainbow
to tell her you're safe and waiting here for when it's her turn to
come." "I
would like that," the little orange boy said and took one long look at
his mummy. He saw her smile slightly through her tears and he knew she
had remembered the time he almost fell into the bathtub. "I
love you, Mummy," he whispered. "It's okay if you cry." He glanced over
at the others, running and playing and laughing with the butterflies.
"Uh, Mummy? I've got to go and play now, okay? But I'll be around, I
promise." Then he turned and raced after the others. Written by: ©Anne Kolaczyk February 5, 1998. 2007/5/4 The Wooden BowlBeautifully stated and sad that sometimes it takes a child to teach us something...Life is a treasure meant to be enjoyed.....Laugh often, Love much, Live long........Read it , practice it, and share with others. I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now. A
frail old man went to live with his son,
daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old
man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and
his step faltered. The family ate together at the
table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about father," 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. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat 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 in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work . The words so struck the parents so 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. On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things: a rainy day, the elderly, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life" I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, a phone call, or just a friendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.! I've learned that you should pass this on to everyone you care about. I just did. NOTICE
AT THE END, THE DATE THE CANDLE WAS
STARTED.
GONNA GIVE YOU GOOSE BUMPS. I am not going to be the one who lets it die. I found it believable -- angels have walked beside me all my life--and they still do. ********************* This is to all of you who mean something to me, I pray for your happiness. The Candle Of Love, Hope & Friendship () |--| |--| |--| This
candle was
lit
on the
15th
of September, 1998. Someone who loves you has helped keep it alive by sending it to you. Don't let The Candle of Love, Hope and Friendship die! Pass It On To All Of Your Friends and Everyone You Love! May God richly bless you! Please keep this candle alive Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend. Jesus is our best friend. 2007/2/22 God is in Control - even of 9/11A man from Norfolk, VA called a local radio station to share this
on Sept 11th, 2003. His Name was Robert Matthews. These are his words:
"A few weeks before Sept. 11th, my wife and I found out we were going to have our first child. She planned a trip out to CA to visit her sister. On our way to the airport, we prayed that God would grant my wife a safe trip and be with her. Shortly after I said 'amen,' we both heard a loud pop and the car shook violently. We had blown a tire. I replaced the tire as quickly as I could, but we still missed her flight. Both very upset, we drove home. I received a call from my father who
was retired NYFD. He asked what my wife's flight number was, but I
explained that we missed the flight. My father informed me that her flight was
the one that crashed into the southern tower. I was too shocked to speak. My father also had more news for me;
he was going to help. 'This is not something I can't just sit by for I
have to do something.' I was concerned for his safety, of course, but more
because he had never given his life to Christ. After a brief debate, I knew his
mind was made up. Before he got off of the phone, he said, 'take good care of my
grandchild.' Those were the last words I ever heard my father say; he died while
helping in the rescue effort. Please take time to share this amazing story with those you love. You may never know the impact it may have on someone. God doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called.
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His love endures forever. Psalm 136:1
The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had. 2006/12/9 The Sixth Word - A Christmas story Just the week before Christmas, I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I had just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door of the front room, and to my surprise, Santa Claus himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his fingers over his mouth so I would not cry out. "What are you doing..." I started to ask, but the words choked up in my throat as I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone -- gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement of "Teach the children." I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood there bewildered, Santa said again, "Teach the children. Teach them the old meaning of Christmas -- the meanings that Christmas nowadays has forgotten." I started to say, "How can I..." when Santa reached in the toy bag and pulled out a brilliant shiny star. "Teach the children the star was the heavenly sign of promise long ages ago. God promised a savior for the world and the star was a sign of the fulfillment of that promise. The countless shining stars at night -- one for each man --- now show the burning hope of all mankind." Santa gently laid the star upon the fireplace mantle and drew forth from the bag a glittering red Christmas tree ornament. "Teach the children red is the first color of Christmas. It was first used by the faithful people to remind them of the blood which was shed for all the people by the Savior. Christ gave His life and shed His blood that every man might have God's gift of Eternal Life. Red is deep, intense, vivid -- it is the greatest color of all. It is the symbol of the gift of God." "Teach the children," he said as he dislodged a small Christmas tree from the depths of the toy bag. He placed it before the mantle and gently hung the red ornament on it. The deep green of the fir tree was a perfect background for the ornament. Here was the second color of Christmas. "The pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round," he said. "This depicts the everlasting hope of mankind. Green is the youthful, hopeful, abundant color of nature. All the needles point heavenward -- symbols of Man's returning thoughts toward Heaven. The great green tree has been man's best friend. It has sheltered him, warmed him, made beauty for him." Suddenly, I heard a soft tinkling sound. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring for man to return to the fold -- it means guidance and return. It further signifies that all are precious in the eyes of the Lord. As the soft sound of the bell faded into the night, Santa drew forth a candle. He placed it on the mantle and the soft glow from its tiny flame cast a glow about the darkened room. Odd shapes in shadows slowly danced and weaved upon the walls. "Teach the children," whispered Santa, "that the candle shows man's thanks for the star of long ago. Its small light is the mirror of starlight. At first, candles were placed on the trees -- they were light many glowing stars shining against the dark green. The colored lights have now taken over in remembrance." Santa turned the small Christmas tree lights on and picked up a gift from under the tree. He pointed to the large bow and said, "A bow is placed on a present to remind us of the spirit of the brotherhood of man. We should remember that the bow is tied as men should be tied, all of us together, with the bonds of good will toward each other. Good will forever is the message of the bow." Santa slung his bag over his shoulder and began to reach for the candy cane placed high on the tree. He unfastened it and reached out toward me with it. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the staff helps bring back the strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane represents the helping hand we should show at Christmas time. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brothers' keepers." As Santa looked about the room, a feeling of satisfaction shone in his face. He read wonderment in my eyes, and I am sure he sensed admiration for this night. He reached into his bag and brought forth a large holly wreath. He placed it on the door and said, "Please teach the children the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love; it never ceases, stops, or ends. It is one continuous round of affection. The wreath does double duty. It is made of many things and in many colors. It should remind us of all the things of Christmas. Again, Santa whispered, "Teach the children the true meaning of Christmas." Author unknown 2006/3/17 Lessons on LifeThere was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted. The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise. The Cowboy's SermonA young preacher had his first church |
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