10 RULES FOR A BLESSED DAY
1. TODAY I WILL NOT STRIKE BACK . . .
If someone is rude, if someone is impatient, if someone is unkind, I will
not respond in a like manner.
2. TODAY I WILL ASK GOD TO BLESS MY 'ENEMY'
If I come across someone who treats me harshly or unfairly, I will quietly
ask God to bless that individual. I understand "enemy" could be a family
member, neighbor, co-worker or stranger.
3. TODAY I WILL BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT I SAY . . .
I will carefully choose and guard my words being certain that I do not
spread gossip.
4. TODAY I WILL GO THE EXTRA MILE . . .
I will find ways to help share the burden of another person.
5. TODAY I WILL FORGIVE . . .
I will forgive any hurts or injuries that come my way.
6. TODAY I WILL DO SOMETHING KIND FOR SOMEONE, (BUT I WILL DO IT IN SECRET .
. . )
I will reach out anonymously and bless the life of another.
7. TODAY I WILL TREAT OTHERS THE WAY I WISH TO BE TREATED . . .
I will practice the golden rule. "Do Unto others as I would have them do
unto me"- with EVERYONE I encounter.
8. TODAY I WILL RAISE THE SPIRITS OF SOMEONE WHO IS DISCOURAGED . . .
My smile, my words, my expression of support, can make the difference to
someone who is wrestling with life.
9. TODAY I WILL NURTURE MY BODY . . .
I will eat less . . . I will eat only healthy foods. I will thank God for my
body.
10. TODAY I WILL GROW SPIRITUALLY . . .
I will spend a little more time in prayer today. I will begin reading
something spiritual or inspirational; I will find a quiet place (at some
point during this day) and listen to God's voice.
Luke 10:27
He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.'"
Luke 10:27
We learn three principles about loving our neighbor: (1) lack of love is
often easy to justify, even though it is never right; (2) our neighbor is
anyone of any race, creed, or social background who is in need; and (3) love
means acting to meet the person's needs. Wherever you live, there are needy
people close by. There is no good reason for refusing to help.
Remember, today is a gift from God so treat it preciously
-- Author Unknown
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
short story---what T.J.Drew
WHAT T.J. DREW
A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.
"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."
She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.
She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.
Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!
She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.
Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.
-- Author Unknown
A weary mother returned from the store,
Lugging groceries through the kitchen door.
Awaiting her arrival was her 8 year old son,
Anxious to relate what his younger brother had done.
"While I was out playing and Dad was on a call,
T.J. took his crayons and wrote on the wall!
It's on the new paper you just hung in the den.
I told him you'd be mad at having to do it again."
She let out a moan and furrowed her brow,
"Where is your little brother right now?"
She emptied her arms and with a purposeful stride,
She marched to his closet where he had gone to hide.
She called his full name as she entered his room.
He trembled with fear--he knew that meant doom!
For the next ten minutes, she ranted and raved
About the expensive wallpaper and how she had saved.
Lamenting all the work it would take to repair,
She condemned his actions and total lack of care.
The more she scolded, the madder she got,
Then stomped from his room, totally distraught!
She headed for the den to confirm her fears.
When she saw the wall, her eyes flooded with tears.
The message she read pierced her soul with a dart.
It said, "I love Mommy," surrounded by a heart.
Well, the wallpaper remained, just as she found it,
With an empty picture frame hung to surround it.
A reminder to her, and indeed to all,
Take time to read the handwriting on the wall.
-- Author Unknown
short story---unconditional acceptance
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my
college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was
absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had
been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class
was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello
anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I
went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of
sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to
be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and
then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling
of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there
standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short
gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling." His beautiful sky blue eyes were
full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he
counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his
hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally
deficient and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as
I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee
is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit
in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to
be warm). Then I really felt it-the compulsion was so great I almost reached
out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my
every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give
me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the
corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the
tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned
over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is
here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away
to join my husband and son.
When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you
to me, Honey. To give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time
we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able
to give.
That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to
college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in
"my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said,
"Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being
part of God, share this need to heal people and be healed. In my own way I
had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every
soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college
student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is to each and every person who may read this and
learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
-- Author Unknown
I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my
college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was
absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had
been graced with. Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class
was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello
anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.
Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I
went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of
sharing special play time with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to
be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and
then even my husband did. I did not move an inch...an overwhelming feeling
of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there
standing behind me were two poor homeless men. As I looked down at the short
gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling." His beautiful sky blue eyes were
full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he
counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his
hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally
deficient and the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation. I held my tears as
I stood there with them.
The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee
is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit
in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to
be warm). Then I really felt it-the compulsion was so great I almost reached
out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my
every action. I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give
me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the
corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the
tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you." I leaned
over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is
here working through me to give you hope." I started to cry as I walked away
to join my husband and son.
When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you
to me, Honey. To give me hope." We held hands for a moment and at that time
we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able
to give.
That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love. I returned to
college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in
"my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said,
"Can I share this?" I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being
part of God, share this need to heal people and be healed. In my own way I
had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every
soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college
student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:
UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.
Much love and compassion is to each and every person who may read this and
learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE.
-- Author Unknown
Sunday, August 9, 2009
short story--tomorrow is not promised
TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED
Sometimes people come into your life
and you know right away that they were meant to be there,
they serve some sort of purpose,
teach you a lesson
or help figure out who you are
and who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be:
your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger
who, when you lock eyes with them,
you know at that very moment that they will affect your life
in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you
and at the time they seem painful and unfair,
but in reflection you realize
that without overcoming those obstacles
you would have never realized
your potential strength, will power, or heart.
Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance
or by means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity
all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests,
whether they be events, illnesses or relationships,
life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere,
safe and comfortable,
but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life
and the successes and downfalls you experience
create who you are,
and even the bad experiences can be learned from,
In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart,
forgive them,
for they have helped you learn about trust
and the importance of being cautious to
whom you open your heart...
If someone loves you,
love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you,
but because they are teaching you to love
and opening your heart and eyes to things
you would have never seen or felt without them.
Make every day count.
Appreciate every moment
and take from it everything that you possibly can,
for you may never be able to experience it again...
Talk to people you have never talked to before,
and actually listen,
let yourself fall in love,
break free and set your sights high...
Hold your head up because you have every right too.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself...
for if you don't believe in yourself,
no one else will believe in you either.
Create your own life
and then go out and live in it!
"Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last...
Tomorrow is Not Promised"
-- Author Unknown
Sometimes people come into your life
and you know right away that they were meant to be there,
they serve some sort of purpose,
teach you a lesson
or help figure out who you are
and who you want to become.
You never know who these people may be:
your neighbor, child, long lost friend, lover, or even a complete stranger
who, when you lock eyes with them,
you know at that very moment that they will affect your life
in some profound way.
And sometimes things happen to you
and at the time they seem painful and unfair,
but in reflection you realize
that without overcoming those obstacles
you would have never realized
your potential strength, will power, or heart.
Everything happens for a reason.
Nothing happens by chance
or by means of good or bad luck.
Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness and sheer stupidity
all occur to test the limits of your soul.
Without these small tests,
whether they be events, illnesses or relationships,
life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere,
safe and comfortable,
but dull and utterly pointless.
The people you meet who affect your life
and the successes and downfalls you experience
create who you are,
and even the bad experiences can be learned from,
In fact, they are probably the poignant and important ones.
If someone hurts you, betrays you or breaks your heart,
forgive them,
for they have helped you learn about trust
and the importance of being cautious to
whom you open your heart...
If someone loves you,
love them back unconditionally,
not only because they love you,
but because they are teaching you to love
and opening your heart and eyes to things
you would have never seen or felt without them.
Make every day count.
Appreciate every moment
and take from it everything that you possibly can,
for you may never be able to experience it again...
Talk to people you have never talked to before,
and actually listen,
let yourself fall in love,
break free and set your sights high...
Hold your head up because you have every right too.
Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself...
for if you don't believe in yourself,
no one else will believe in you either.
Create your own life
and then go out and live in it!
"Live Each Day As If It Were Your Last...
Tomorrow is Not Promised"
-- Author Unknown
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