Shake It Off And Step Up

A farmer's mule tripped and fell into the well. It began to bray. The farmer tried but was unable to bring it up. Finally, he called his neighbors together to help haul dirt into the well to bury the mule.

The mule was puzzled, but as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling the dirt onto its back, It began to shake off the dirt and step up.

"Shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up... shake it off and step up."

Even though it took painful blows of the dirt and had to fight panic, it just kept on shaking it off and stepping up!

It wasn't long before the mule got out from the well.

What could have buried it alive actually blessed it... all because of the manner it handled its adversity.

Be positive men when the going gets tough.

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Sometimes, it really hurts...

Sometimes, those angry words hurt me deeply and leave me restless. But then I remain unscathed. I would hold no grudges against anyone, and I would try every means to live in harmony with my surroundings.

Sometimes, those scrutinizing eyes make me feel completely naked and cause me nightmares. But then I am ever prepared and ready. I would return with a smile, not wanting to draw and attract their attentions. Those judgemental people only satisfy their egos for a moment. And when their egos are bruised, they always bring harms to themselves.

Sometimes, those jealous looks melt my brain, and make me insane. But then I remain generous and loving to all. I would return with a friendly look, not wanting to make more enemies. After all, hatred and jealousy can really harm most relationships. Who wish to have fewer friends, colleagues or relatives as time goes by?

But now, I already get use to all these. In the presence of my "enemies", I learn to stay aloof and remain polite. They will do me no harm because I cause them no harm. Let their angers return to them, let their own ill will cause them harm, and let those jealousy stirs up hatred in them. Nothing is to disrupt or rob me of my joy, my peace, and my love for others.

May God gives me patient, strength and wisdom to love my neighbors as myself.

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Couples Quarrel

A man and his wife had been arguing all night, and as bedtime approached neither was speaking to the other.

It was not unusual for the pair to continue this war of silence for two or three days. However, on this occasion the man was concerned; he needed to be awake at 5:30am the next morning to catch an important flight, and being a very heavy sleeper he normally relied on his wife to wake him.

Cleverly, so he thought, while his wife was in the bathroom, he wrote on a piece of paper: "Please wake me at 4:30am – I have an important flight to catch." He put the note on his wife's pillow, then turned over and went to sleep.

The man awoke the next morning and looked at the clock. It was 8:00am. Enraged that he had missed his flight, he was about to go in search of his errant wife to give her a piece of his mind, when he spotted a hand-written note on his bedside cabinet.

The note said: "It's 5:30am – get up."

Lessons :

• Don’t get involved in any conflict conversation, and you will avoid a quarrel.
  
• Any grudge against your partner must be voiced calmly and at the proper time.
• Never quarrel with offensive words.
• Find out the real causes of any quarrel, and not everlasting scandals caused by minor things.
• Some kind words may avoid further quarrels.
• Make it a rule not to quarrel in the presence of other people.
• Don't make a request when the recipient is very angry!

He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly. (Proverbs 14:29)

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Turn A Deaf Ear To Destructive Advice

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit.

When the other frogs saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead.

Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die.

He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?"

The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

Lessons:

• There is power of life and death in the tongue.
  
• An encouraging word to those who are down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.
  
• Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.
  
• When you are in difficult conditions, listen careful to encouraging words but always turn a deaf ear to destructive words.

May God help us to face the current worldwide economic slowdown.

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You Determine Your Future

Once upon a time, there was a general who was leading his army into battle against an enemy ten times the size of his own. Along the way to the battlefield, the troops stopped by a small temple to pray for victory.

The general held up a coin and told his troops, "I am going to implore the gods to help us crush our enemy. If this coin lands with the heads on top, we will win. If it is tails, we will lose. Our fate is in the hands of the gods. Let's pray wholeheartedly."

After a short prayer, the general tossed the coin. It landed with the heads on top. The troops were overjoyed and went into the battle with high spirits. Just as predicted, the smaller army won the battle. The soldiers were exalted, "It's good to have the gods on our side! No one can change what they have determined."

The general smile to himself – both sides of the coin were heads.

Lessons :

• Positive attitude helps us cope more easily our daily life. It brings optimism into our life, and makes us easier to avoid worry and negative thinking.
  
• Positive attitude brings constructive changes into our life, and makes us happier, brighter and more successful.
  
• Positive attitude makes us see the bright side of life, become optimistic and expect the best to happen.
  

Make it your new year's resolution to have a more positive outlook in life.

May God bless you...

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Discontentment Kills

An ass, belonging to an herb-seller who gave him too little food and too much work made a petition to Jupiter to be released from his present service and provided with another master.

Jupiter, after warning him that he would repent his request, caused him to be sold to a tile-maker. Shortly afterwards, finding that he had heavier loads to carry and harder work in the brick-field, he petitioned for another change of master.

Jupiter, telling him that it would be the last time that he could grant his request, ordained that he be sold to a tanner.

The ass found that he had fallen into worse hands, and noting his master's occupation, said, groaning: "It would have been better for me to have been either starved by the one, or to have been overworked by the other of my former masters, than to have been bought by my present owner, who will even after I am dead tan my hide, and make me useful to him."

Lesson: He that finds discontentment in one place is not likely to find happiness in another.

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Timothy:6-10)

Do It Anyway

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
LOVE THEM ANYWAY.

If you do good, people accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.

If you are successful, you win false and true enemies.
SUCCEED ANYWAY.

The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow.
DO GOOD ANYWAY.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY.

What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight.
BUILD ANYWAY.

People really need help but may attack you if you help them.
HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY.

~From a sign in Mother Teresa's children's home of Shushu Bhavan, Calcutta, India

Lesson: No matter how difficult or how unrewarding, Let us continue to do the right things.

But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

– Matthew 5:44-45 (New King James Version)

The Very Old Lady

A very old lady looked in the mirror one morning. She had three remaining hairs on her head, and being a positive soul, she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today." So she braided her three hairs, and she had a great day.

Some days later, looking in the mirror one morning, preparing for her day, she saw that she had only two hairs remaining. "Hmm, two hairs... I fancy a center parting today." She duly parted her two hairs, and as ever, she had a great day.

A week or so later, she saw that she had just one hair left on her head.

"One hair huh...," she mused, "I know, a pony-tail will be perfect." And again she had a great day.

The next morning she looked in the mirror. She was completely bald.

"Finally bald huh," she said to herself, "How wonderful! I won't have to waste time doing my hair any more."

Lessons:

• If you try, there is always something positive to be found in our circumstances.
• Don't let negative circumstances dictate your daily life.
• Begin each day, end each day, and live each day with a sincerely thankful heart.
  
  May God bless you.
  
  

You Don't Have To Accept Any Bad Feeling!

It is said that on an occasion when the Buddha was teaching a group of people, he found himself on the receiving end of a fierce outburst of abuse from a bystander, who was for some reason very angry.

The Buddha listened patiently while the stranger vented his rage, and then the Buddha said to the group and to the stranger, "If someone gives a gift to another person, who then chooses to decline it, tell me, who would then own the gift? The giver or the person who refuses to accept the gift?"

"The giver," said the group after a little thought. "Any fool can see that," added the angry stranger.

"Then it follows, does it not," said the Buddha, "Whenever a person tries to abuse us, or to unload their anger on us, we can each choose to decline or to accept the abuse; whether to make it ours or not. By our personal response to the abuse from another, we can choose who owns and keeps the bad feelings."

Lessons

• We choose our reaction to any and every negative or abusive behavior.
  
• We don't have to accept any if we want to.
• Step back. Draw a deep breath. Review all things in a wider and fuller perspective.
• Enjoy and prolong your life by living in harmony with God and men.
• An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth can never solve any relationship problem.
• Besides, as christian, you are required to mend all broken relations with God and men before the sun goes down.
  

Every Man Has A Rose Within

A man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it.

He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns? Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom, it died.

Lessons

• Within every soul, there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth, grow amid the thorns of our sins. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects.
  
• We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.
• Some of us do not see the rose within ourselves; someone else must show it to us. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns of another, and find the rose within them.
  
• One of the characteristic of love is to look at a person, know their true faults and accepting that person into your life, all the while recognizing the nobility in their soul.
  
• Help others to realize they can overcome their sins. If we show them the "rose" within themselves, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over.
  
• The virtue of life is to remember that everyone is created in the image of God and we are to love them just as we are commanded to love our neighbors as ourselves. Note: a strong reminder to myself.
  

Driving Nails Into The Fence

There once was a boy who had a temper.

His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence.

Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered gradually dwindled down.

He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when he didn't lose his temper.

He told his father and his father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his anger.

The days passed and the boy told his father that all the nails were gone.

The father took the boy by the hand and led him to the fence.

He said look at the holes in the fence.

The fence will never be the same.

When you say things in anger, they leave scars just like the ones on the fence.

If you put a knife into a man and draw it out, it won't matter how many times you say you are sorry, the wound is still there and the man is badly hurt.

A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Friends are very rare and they make you smile and encourage you to succeed.

They lend an ear, and always want to open their hearts to you.

Always Be Friendly.

Don't Get Angry.

The Retiring Carpenter Story

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. He would get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.

When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front door key to the carpenter. "This is your house," he said, "my gift to you." The carpenter was shocked! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently.

So it is with us. We build our lives a day at a time, often putting less than our best into the building. Then, with a shock, we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we'd do it much differently. But we cannot go back. You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, erect a wall. "Life is a do-it-yourself project," someone has said. Your attitude and the choices you make today build the "house" you live in tomorrow.

Build Wisely!

Our Attitudes And Choices Determine Our Future.

Lisa Beamer on Good Morning America

If you remember, she's the wife of Todd Beamer who said "Let's Roll!" and helped take down the plane that was heading for Washington, D.C. She said it's the little things that she misses most about Todd, such as hearing the garage door open as he came home, and her children running to meet him. She is now the mom of a beautiful little girl, Mary.

Lisa recalled this story:

I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband died suddently of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came streaming in through the classroom windows and the class was nearly over, she moved a few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection on her face, she paused and said, "Class is over. I would like to share with all of you a thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important."

"Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None of us knows when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment. Perhaps this is the power's way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day."

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on. "So, I would like you all to make me a promise. From now on, on your way to school or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It doesn't have to be something you see. It could be a scent, perhaps of freshly baked bread wafting out of someone's house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves in the trees, or the way the morning light catches one autumn leaf as it falls gently to the ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them, for although it may sound trite to some, these things are the 'stuff' of life."

"The little things were put here on earth to enjoy, and these are the things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at anytime it can all be taken away."

The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and filed out of the room silently. That afternoon, I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole semester.

Every once in a while, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all of those things that sometimes we all overlook.

Take notice of something special you see on your lunch hour today. Go barefoot, or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double dip ice cream cone. For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn't do.

~Lisa Beamer, from an interview on Good Morning America

"Appreciate The Little Things In Life."

Apache Seasons

There was once 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 went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall. When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said “the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.” The second son said “no, it was covered with green buds and full of promise.” The third son disagreed; he said “it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing I have ever seen.” The last son disagreed with all of them; he said “it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.”

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life. He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up. “If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, the fulfillment of your fall.”

Do Not Judge Others By Just One Event Or "Season" In Their Lives.

Two Wolves

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

We Choose Our Own Attitudes And Outlook On Life.

Starfish

A small boy was walking along a beach at low tide, where countless starfish, having been washed up on the beach, were stranded and doomed to perish. A man watched as the boy picked up individual starfish and took them back into the water.

"I can see you're being very kind," said the watching man, "But there must be thousands of them; it can't possibly make any difference."

Returning from the water's edge, the boy said, "It will for that one."

Believe you can make a difference.

Gandhi and the Shoe

Gandhi was boarding a train one day with a number of companions and followers, when his shoe fell from his foot and disappeared in the gap between the train and platform. Unable to retrieve it, he took off his other shoe and threw it down by the first.

Responding to the puzzlement of his fellow travellers, Gandhi explained that a poor person who finds a single shoe is no better off - what's really helpful is finding a pair.

This Is An Example Of True Generosity And Thinking Of Others First.

The Two Mules

Two mules travelled regularly together with their loads, from their town to the city. The first mule, a humble beast, wore a tatty cloak, and carried sacks of oats for the miller. The second mule was an arrogant animal, who wore a fine coat with jingling bells. He carried gold and silver coins for the tax collector, and loved to brag about his responsibility and importance.

Running late one day, the second mule suggested taking a short-cut, off the main road, despite his companion's warnings about the risks of taking such a dangerous route. Sure enough, before too long, thieves attacked the second mule, stealing his valuable load, and leaving him injured by the roadside.

"But why me?" moaned the stricken animal, "I am attacked and robbed while the vagabonds leave you untouched?"

"I think even in this desperate place no thief would be interested in a poor miller's slave, or my humble load!" said the first mule, "But you ventured down this dangerous track and made a show of yourself - you have only yourself to blame."

Show-Offs Can Make Themselves A Target.

The Bath and the Bucket

A party of suppliers was being given a tour of a mental hospital. One of the visitors had made some very insulting remarks about the patients.

After the tour, the visitors were introduced to various members of staff in the canteen. The rude visitor chatted to one of the security staff, Bill, a kindly and wise ex-policeman. "Are they all raving loonies in here then?" said the rude man.

"Only the ones who fail the test," said Bill.

"What's the test?" said the man.

"Well, we show them a bath full of water, a bucket, a jug and an egg-cup, and we ask them what's the quickest way to empty the bath," said Bill.

"Oh I see, simple - the normal ones know it's the bucket, right?"

"No actually," said Bill, "The normal ones say pull out the plug. Should I check when there's a bed free for you?"

There Are Dangers In Judging Others.

Positive Reasoning

Allan applied for a new job, but as his self-esteem was low, and he considered himself as a failure and unworthy of success, he was sure that he was not going to get the job. He had a negative attitude towards himself, and believed that the other applicants were better and more qualified than him. Allan manifested this attitude, due to his negative past experiences with job interviews.

His mind was filled with negative thoughts and fears concerning the job for the whole week before the job interview. He was sure he would be rejected. On the day of the interview he got up late, and to his horror he discovered that the shirt he had planned to wear was dirty, and the other one needed ironing. As it was already too late, he went out wearing a shirt full of wrinkles.

During the interview he was tense, displayed a negative attitude, worried about his shirt, and felt hungry because he did not have enough time to eat breakfast. All this distracted his mind and made it difficult for him to focus on the interview. His overall behavior made a bad impression, and consequently he materialized his fear and did not get the job.

Jim applied for the same job too, but approached the matter in a different way. He was sure that he was going to get the job. During the week preceding the interview he often visualized himself making a good impression and getting the job.

In the evening before the interview he prepared the clothes he was going to wear, and went to sleep a little earlier. On the day of the interview he woke up earlier than usual, and had ample time to eat breakfast, and then to arrive to the interview before the scheduled time.

He got the job because he made a good impression. He had also of course, the proper qualifications for the job, but so had Allan.

When the attitude is positive we entertain pleasant feelings and constructive images, and see in our mind's eye what we really want to happen. This brings brightness to the eyes, more energy and happiness. The whole being broadcasts good will, happiness and success. Even the health is affected in a beneficial way. We walk tall and the voice is more powerful. Our body language shows the way we feel inside.