"Kindness is an inner desire that makes us want to do good things even if we do not get anything in return. It is the joy of our life to do them. When we do good things from this inner desire, there is kindness in everything we think, say, want and do."
dawniscrazydawniscrazynoreally--Emmanuel Swedenborg
"How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these."
--George Washington Carver
Click Here for the "Two Wolves Poem"
Click Here for my friend Erin's "Inspirational Story"
Click Here for my friend Stephanie's "Inspirational Story"
Click Here for my friend John's "Inspirational Story"
Click Here for Dawn's "Turkey Soup" tribute to our Military
Updated September 2nd, 2008
This is great, take a moment to read it, it will make your day!
The ending will surprise you.
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 Gogh's, the Rembrandt's. 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
August 18th, 2008
Blessings
He gives me beauty for ashes
The oil of joy for mourning.
He drives all my fears away
He turns my morning into dancing.
He's the apple of my eye
My soul He will keep
He always makes me smile
He watches over me as I sleep.
He gives me peace in times of trouble
He loves me unconditionally
He fills my life with greater joy
He blessed me with life abundantly.
A new way He has shown me
His love I will make known
He planted my feet on a rock to stay
He found me and called me His own!
by Kathylina
August 11th, 2008
The Colors of Friendship
Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel.
All claimed that they were the best;
the most important,
the most useful,
the favorite
GREEN said:
"Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was
chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority."
BLUE interrupted:
"You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the
water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing."
YELLOW chuckled:
"You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun."
ORANGE started next to blow her trumpet:
"I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don't hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you."
RED could stand it no longer, he shouted out:
"I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life's blood! I bring fire into
the blood. I am willing to fight for a cause. I am the color of danger and of
bravery. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy."
PURPLE rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: "I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, cheifs, and bishops have always chosen me, for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey."
Finally INDIGO spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination: "Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace."
So the colors went on boasting,
each convinced of his or her own superiority.
Their quarreling became louder and louder.
Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening.
Thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly.
The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak: "You foolish colors,
fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest.
Don't you know that you were each made for a special purpose,
unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me."
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.
The rain continued:
"From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across
the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder
that you can all live in peace.
The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow."
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world,
and a Rainbow appears in the sky,
let us remember to appreciate one another.
by Unknown
August 4th, 2008
TIME GETS BETTER WITH AGE
I've learned that I like my teacher because she cries when we
sings "Silent Night".
Age 5
I've learned that our dog doesn't want to eat my broccoli
either.
Age 7
I've learned that when I wave to people in the country, they
stop what they are doing and wave back.
Age 9
I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it,
Mom makes me clean it up again.
Age 12
I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up, you should
try cheering someone else up.
Age 14
I've learned that although it's hard to admit it, I'm secretly
glad my parents are strict with me.
Age 15
I've learned that silent company is often more healing than
words of advice.
Age 24
I've learned that brushing my child's hair is one of life's
great pleasures.
Age 26
I've learned that wherever I go, the world's worst drivers
have followed me there.
Age 29
I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me,
I must live so that no one will believe it.
Age 30
I've learned that there are people who love you dearly but
just don't know how to show it.
Age 42
I've learned that you can make some one's day by simply
sending them a little note.
Age 44
I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt, the
greater his or her need to cast blame on others.
Age 46
I've learned that children and grandparents are natural allies.
Age 47
I've learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems
today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
Age 48
I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace" can lift my spirits
for hours.
Age 49
I've learned that motel mattresses are better on the side away
from the phone.
Age 50
I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man by the way he
handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and
tangled Christmas tree lights.
Age 51
I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden is worth a
medicine cabinet full of pills.
Age 52
I've learned that regardless of your relationship with your
parents, you miss them terribly after they die.
Age 53
I've learned that making a living is not the same thing as
making a life.
Age 58
I've learned that if you want to do something positive for
your children, work to improve your marriage.
Age 61
I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
Age 62
I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catchers
mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.
Age 64
I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you.
But if you focus on your family, the needs of others, your
work, meeting new people, and doing the very best you can,
happiness will find you.
Age 65
I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness,
I usually make the right decision.
Age 66
I've learned that everyone can use a prayer.
Age 72
I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be
one.
Age 82
I've learned that every day you should reach out and touch
someone. People love that human touch-holding hands, a warm
hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
Age 90
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
Age 92
July 28th, 2008
A Friend Like You
There's lots of things
With which I'm blessed,
Tho' my life's been both Sunny and Blue,
But of all my blessings,
This one's the best:
To have a friend like you.
In times of trouble
Friends will say,
"Just ask... I'll help you through it."
But you don't wait for me to ask,
You just get up
And you do it!
And I can think
Of nothing in life
That I could more wisely do,
Than know a friend,
And be a friend,
And love a friend... like you.
by Unknown
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