Archive through November 20, 2002
TV ClubHouse: Archive: 2003 April:
"You Are Beautiful" (ARCHIVES):
Archive through November 20, 2002
Twiggyish | Wednesday, October 23, 2002 - 08:19 pm     These are great! |
Aunt_Bob | Sunday, October 27, 2002 - 10:00 pm     "What Do You Want For Breakfast, Son?" A 7 year-old and his 4 year-old brother are upstairs in their bedroom. The 7 year-old is explaining that it is about time that the two of them begin swearing. When his little brother responds enthusiastically, the 7 year old says, "When we go downstairs for breakfast this morning, I'll say 'h+ll' and you say '@ss'." The 4 year-old happily agrees. As the two boys are seating themselves at the breakfast table, their mother walks in and asks her older son what he would like to eat for breakfast. The 7 year-old replies, "Aw h+ll, Mom, I'll just have some Cheerios." The surprised mother reacts quickly and smacks his rear. WHACK! The boy runs upstairs, bawling and rubbing his behind. With a sterner note in her voice, the mother then asks the younger son, "And what would YOU like for breakfast?" "I don't know," the 4 year-old blubbers, "but you can bet your @SS it's not gonna be Cheerios!" |
Aunt_Bob | Sunday, October 27, 2002 - 10:09 pm     People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self centered. Forgive them and love them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, they may cheat you. Be forthright anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous and scornful. Be joyous anyway. The good you do today, they will forget tomorrow. Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give the world your best anyway. For one's own sense of well-being, their criticism would be best to fall on deaf ears. When it's all said and done, we will only have to explain ourselves to God as will they. Author unknown Wishing you peace of heart... |
Sage | Tuesday, October 29, 2002 - 02:21 pm     AWAKENING A time comes in your life when you finally get it... When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening. You realize that it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that he is not Prince Charming and you are not Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily ever after" must begin with you and in the process a sense of serenity is born of acceptance. You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are, and that's OK. (They are entitled to their own views and opinions.) And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself and in the process a sense of newfound confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you (or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected. You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not always about you. So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness. You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world around you, is a result of all the messages and opinions that have been ingrained into your psyche. And you begin to sift through all the crap you've been fed about how you should behave, how you should look and how much you should weigh, what you should wear and where you should shop and what you should drive, how and where you should live and what you should do for a living, who you should marry and what you should expect of a marriage, or what you owe your parents. You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are what you really stand for. You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with and in the process you learn to gowith your instincts. You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive. And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life. You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save the world and that you can't teach a pig to sing. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say NO. Then you learn about love. Romantic love and familial love. How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. You learn not to project your needs or your feelings onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, morelovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You stop trying to control people,situations and outcomes. You learn that just as people grow and change so it is with love . . . and you learn that you don't have the right to demand love on your terms . . . just to make you happy. And, you learn that alone does not mean lonely . . . You look in the mirror and come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a perfect 10 and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head and agonizing over how you "stack up". You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK ... and that it's your right to want things and to ask for the things that you want . . . And that sometimes it is necessary to make demands. You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love, kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less. And, you allow only the hands of a lover who cherishes you to glorify you with his touch . . . and in the process you internalize the meaning of self-respect. And you learn that your body really is your temple. And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begineating a balanced diet, drinking more water and taking more time to exercise. You learn that fatigue diminishes the spirit and can create doubt and fear. So you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play. You learn that, for the most part, in life you get what you believe you deserve . . . and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different from working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone and that it's OK to risk asking for help. You learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time . . . FEAR itself. You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes-bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people. On these occasions you learn not to personalize things. You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your prayers. It's just life happening. And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever to settle for less than your heart's desire. You hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the wind. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you take a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can. AUTHOR UNKNOWN |
Dahli | Friday, November 01, 2002 - 06:58 am     WOW Sage, that was truly incredible, thank you thank you thank you.... |
Aunt_Bob | Friday, November 01, 2002 - 07:49 pm     Thank you Sage... |
Ruditoo | Saturday, November 02, 2002 - 02:56 am     Aunt Bob, thank you for directing me here. OOO's & XXX's and to Aunt Bob, Caliogal, Twiggy, Dahli, dear Sage and all those yet to come you've moved me to laughter and tears, you're all so giving and I am grateful for all of you.  |
Twiggyish | Saturday, November 02, 2002 - 04:38 pm     ((Ruditoo)) Aunt Bob... Here's one that I've always loved.. Desiderata Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle to yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars and you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. --Max Ehrmann, 1927. © Robert L. Bell |
Aunt_Bob | Saturday, November 02, 2002 - 09:14 pm     Twiggy...that was very inspirational. . . . Big® ((( twiggy ))) ¬Hug It's amazing that it was written in the youth of the 20th century and it is still so apt for today in the infancy of the 21st century.
Help Yourself To Happiness Everybody, everywhere seeks happiness, it's true, But finding it and keeping it seems difficult to do, Difficult because we think that happiness is found Only in the places where wealth and fame abound-- And so we go on searching in "palaces of pleasure" Seeking recognition and monetary treasure, Unaware that happiness is just a "state of mind" Within the reach of everyone who takes time to be kind-- For in making others happy we will be happy, too, For the happiness you give away returns to "shine on you". Helen Steiner Rice
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Aunt_Bob | Friday, November 08, 2002 - 09:08 pm     Happiness From Within Others Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words. Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you." There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. |
Aunt_Bob | Friday, November 08, 2002 - 09:13 pm     ok ... next post will be something with humor ... we need a little levity in here, right? ... right! |
Jmm | Friday, November 08, 2002 - 10:18 pm     Aunt Bob, Here are some thoughts sent to me by a dear friend. They aren't especially humorous, but they won't make you cry either. Just Some Thoughts "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." "Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to MacDonald's makes you a hamburger." "Real friends are those who, when you feel you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel you've done a permanent job." "A coincidence is when God performs a miracle, and decides to remain anonymous." "Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side." "I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to." "Lead your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip." "People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross." "Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you respond to it." "Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep." "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." "There are two things I've learned: There is a God. And, I'm not Him." "Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked." "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." |
Aunt_Bob | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 12:07 am     Wow...Jmm...You know over the years I've heard and read so many 'thoughts' and such that it is a rare occasion when I happen on to something 'new'. This is one of those rare occasions. I'm familiar with only one of these 'thoughts'. So, I am thanking you and your dear friend for sharing. Let me tell you: "Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to MacDonald's makes you a hamburger." -- Qualifies as "levity"...Love It!!! "A coincidence is when God performs a miracle, and decides to remain anonymous." -- Oh, my...Love that!!! "Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side." -- Reminds me so of one of my first posts to this board. Someone stated that since they were obviously in the 'majority' & I the 'minority', this lead to the deduction that they were 'right' & I was NOT! You can probably guess this was on the BB3 board. If I put a lot of stock in 'majority rules', thus is 'right', I probably wouldn't be posting today. "I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to." -- I'm telling you...I wish more people would realize this as fact. "There are two things I've learned: There is a God. And, I'm not Him." -- mmm hmmm...uhhh huhhh "Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked." -- YES! "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." -- Beautiful thought! Thanks again...Jmm |
Lancecrossfire | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 12:25 am     Thank you so much for the posts AuntBob and Jmm. Sight is but one way to see the world. |
Jmm | Saturday, November 09, 2002 - 03:47 pm     Aunt Bob, I'm thrilled to be able to contribute something that you haven't read before. I'm like you, seems like sometimes I've read them all but it is nice to be reminded of some of them. When I get out of this lazy mode I'm in today, I'll go back through more of what Deby sent me and see if I can find some of the less used ones. (She used to send out several a week and I've kept them since 1999, so I have a few) Here's hoping your weekend continues to be peaceful and stressfree. Jackie typo corrected by request (22) |
Heyltslori | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 01:53 pm     I just want to take a couple of minutes and tell all of you how wonderful and special you are. I happened upon this website a couple of years ago because I was a Big Brother fan who needed a daily fix. It wasn't really until maybe 4 or 5 months ago that I took the time to look around at other areas of the site. Time and time again as I would read the posts I was struck by how kind and caring and generous all of you are. I have a wonderful family and a couple of really wonderful friends...but I've been knocked around in life enough to have basically come to the conclusion that most people don't really care about their fellow man. Here I found something different. Day after day I read posts of love and support to our fellow club members. I read about things so terrible that I sit here crying many times and find myself unable to respond to those posts because I can't possibly imagine how I could help ease that pain. But I watch, and someone always comes through with some hugs or words of encouragement or advice....and to me this is just so amazing and wonderful. I don't know if there are more people in the world like this...or if I have remarkably stumbled upon a really unique and special bunch of people. I do know that I love it here...and I feel extrememly lucky and blessed to be a part of our little community. Today is my birthday and when I came here today I wasn't really having that great of a day. Nothing major, just a tad depressed over getting older and not having a guy around...but I digress... Anyway...I went to my members folder...and there they were...LOTS of happy birthday wishes from everyone...along with all sorts of cute pictures! I couldn't believe it. I got all teary eyed (I'm sucha sap!) and called one of my friends to tell him about it. I know that some of you have no idea how much your words can lift a persons spirits and just provide a nice warm feeling in their heart. This is really like free therapy! lol Seriously, tho...I am truly touched by your kindness and I just wanted to take a moment to express my thanks. You are all such beautiful people and being able to come here every day and interact with you has enriched my life more than you could know. Thank you. Lori |
Wargod | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 02:20 pm     Lori, this is an awesome site with lots of caring people. Most of us have gotten to know each other pretty well and we care about each other. There was a poem going around awhile ago, about sharing smiles...how if you pass it around, it'll come back to you...I think thats the attitude around here. We're gonna offer hugs and encouragement because if we haven't needed them before, we will one day. I look around here, and think that this(the kindness and caring) is the norm, and not the exception. Maybe its the fact that sometimes its easier to share with people you know, but don't. Or that in RL we don't really offer too much of our lives or problems to people. Whichever it is, its nice to come here and see the caring, kind, and supportive people we have here. Nice to be part of a community that is like this. |
Spygirl | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 04:50 pm     Lori, I'm so glad that others get as much out of this site as I do. It amazes me at times, too. I am glad to hear that your birthday was a little brighter because of the people here. Thank you for sharing your beautiful words  |
Twiggyish | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 07:44 pm     Happy Birthday Lori!! I agree with you about people here, too =) |
Ruditoo | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:52 pm     Lori, I too have been slow about finding different areas of the CH and I agree with you about the quality of the caring here. What I also have found is that it just keeps getting better and better. (((Lori))) |
Ruditoo | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 09:56 pm     Aunt Bob, It's wensday!!!!!!!! |
Sia | Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - 10:03 pm     Lori said belonging to TVCH is like free therapy!! I have to agree! I'm glad to be part of this on-line community, too. |
Jmm | Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 07:46 pm     Just another post from my friend, she collects these posts like she collects friends. We went for about 15 years without seeing or speaking with each other (I moved to another part of the country and she got divorced and married again), when I moved back to Texas I stopped by her work to see her. Amazingly after all that time we just picked up where we left off as if it had been only yesterday. Some friends are just so very special that way. Anyway, here it is, I just love it. ULTIMATE TEST John Blanchard stood up from the bench straightened his Army uniform, and studied the crowd of people making their way through Grand Central Station. He looked for the girl whose heart he knew, but whose face he didn't, the girl with the rose. His interest in her had begun thirteen months before in a Florida library. Taking a book off the shelf he found himself intrigued, not with the words of the book, but with the notes penciled in the margin. The soft handwriting reflected a thoughtful soul and insightful mind. In the front of the book, he discovered the previous owner's name, Miss Hollis Maynell. With time and effort he located her address. She lived in New York City. He wrote her a letter introducing himself and inviting her to correspond. The next day he was shipped overseas for service in World War II. During the next year and one month the two grew to know each other through the mail. Each letter was a seed falling on a fertile heart. A romance was budding. Blanchard requested a photograph, but she refused. She felt that if he really cared, it wouldn't matter what she looked like. When the day finally came for him to return from Europe, they scheduled their first meeting -7:00 PM at the Grand Central Station in New York. "You'll recognize me," she wrote, "by the red rose I'll be wearing on my lapel." So at 7:00 he was in the station looking for a girl whose heart he loved, but whose face he'd never seen. I'll let Mr. Blanchard tell you what happened: A young woman was coming toward me, her figure long and slim. Her blonde hair lay back in curls from her delicate ears; her eyes were blue as flowers. Her lips and chin had a gentle firmness, and in her pale green suit she was like springtime come alive. I started toward her, entirely forgetting to notice that she was not wearing a rose. As I moved, a small, provocative smile curved her lips. "Going my way, sailor?" she murmured. Almost uncontrollably, I made one step closer to her, and then I saw Hollis Maynell. She was standing almost directly behind the girl. A woman well past 40, she had graying hair tucked under a worn hat. She was more than plump, her thick-ankled feet thrust into low-heeled shoes. The girl in the green suit was walking quickly away. I felt as though I was split in two, so keen was my desire to follow her, and yet so deep was my longing for the woman whose spirit had truly companioned me and upheld my own. And there she stood. Her pale, plump face was gentle and sensible, her gray eyes had a warm and kindly twinkle. I did not hesitate. My fingers gripped the small worn blue leather copy of the book that was to identify me to her. This would not be love, but it would be something precious, something perhaps even better than love, a friendship for which I had been and must ever be grateful. I squared my shoulders and saluted and held out the book to the woman, even though while I spoke I felt choked by the bitterness of my disappointment. "I'm Lieutenant John Blanchard, and you must be Miss Maynell. I am so glad you could meet me; may I take you to dinner?" The woman's face broadened into a tolerant smile. "I don't know what this is about, son," she answered, "but the young lady in the green suit who just went by, she begged me to wear this rose on my coat. And she said if you were to ask me out to dinner, I should tell you that she is waiting for you in the big restaurant across the street. She said it was some kind of test!" It's not difficult to understand and admire Miss Maynell's wisdom. The true nature of a heart is seen in its response to the unattractive. "Tell me whom you love," Houssaye wrote, "And I will tell you who you are." |
Heyltslori | Thursday, November 14, 2002 - 07:36 am     Wow Jmm... thanks for sharing that. |
Djgirl5235 | Wednesday, November 20, 2002 - 06:10 am     LIFE'S LESSONS Five lessons to make you think 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 50s, 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 rainstorm. 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 1960s. 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 his 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 laying 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 and 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 her 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. I don't know about the rest of you, but these brought a tear or two to my eyes... Have a great Wednesday! |
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