THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - GIVING

"Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love."



Lao Tzu

GIVING

Our Lord Jesus spelled real human greatness when He said, "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." (John 15:13). This is one measure of greatness, which is truly universal. It is a measure that goes beyond race, color of skin, culture, age, sex, wealth and what have you. Anyone can lay his life down for his friends. All it takes is that greater love one puts into it, a love which is greater than one's own self, a love which is capable of giving till "it hurts."

In any state of life, the crucial point is really one's ability to die to self, to lay down one's life so that one's friends, the person one loves, might have fuller and more meaningful lives.

Kahlil Gilbran, the famous philosopher, once said, "You give little when you give your possessions. It is when you give yourself, that you truly give." What does he mean?

S. Silverstein has a beautiful story about service which he entitles, "The Giving Tree." Read the story and share your thoughts --

THE GIVING TREE

by

S. Silverstein

Once there was a young boy who often played under a tree. He gathered its leaves and made them into crowns so he could pretend he was king of the forest. He would swing from the tree's branches and eat its apples, too. When he was tired, he would sleep under its shade. The tree loved the boy and they boy loved the tree. And the tree was happy.

The boy grew older, as boys do and the tree was often alone. One day, the boy came back. The tree smiled, "come swing from my branches, eat my apples, play in my shade, and be happy."

"I'm too big," said the boy. "I want to buy things and be happy. I need some money."

The tree replied, "take my apples and sell them in the city, then you will have money and be happy." So the boy gathered the apples and carried them away. And the tree was happy. And as boys do, the boy became a man. He returned to the tree.

The tree shook with joy. [It] pleased with the [man]. "Come swing from my branches."

"I'm too busy," replied the [man]. "I want a house to keep me and my loved ones warm. Can you give me a house?"

The tree replied, "you may cut my branches and build a house." And the tree was happy.

Many years passed and the [man], as boys do, became an old man. He returned and the tree was happy. It begged the [man] to play. "I'm too old and sad to play," said the [old man]. "I want a boat to take me very far from here."

"Cut down my trunk and make a boat and then you can sail away and be happy," said the tree.

After a time, the [old man] returned, as boys do. He had become a very old man. "I'm sorry, but I don't have anything left to give you," said the tree. "I am just an old stump."

"I don't need very much now," said the old man. "Just a quiet place to sit and rest."

"Well," said the tree, "an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come sit and rest."

The [old man] did and the tree was happy.

INSPIRATIONAL SAYING

A giant tree in an uninhabited jungle, a saying goes, doesn't make any noise when it falls. The giant tree makes no noise because there is no one who hears it fall.

Yes, a man who lives by and for himself alone would be like that giant tree in the jungle. When he dies who would miss him? Who would remember him? What would be his life's worth?

SUPER LAFF IN

Watch the pictures change!

Courtesy of Pareng Beto and Mareng Myrna

LET THE TEACHERS BEWARE!

Strange News


Teacher should avoid humiliating
and punishing pupils.

The old proverb "what goes around comes around" is pretty much true at times, learned a 50-year old teacher, who was left black and blue for mistreating a pupil some 30 years ago.

The former pupil lashed out at the teacher after they randomly met at a recent wedding saying he suffered immensely at his hands. Guests broke up the fracas and allowed the teacher, who was badly beaten to escape from the wedding hall. It later transpired that the teacher had taught the man in the early 80s and that he would often beat him and ridicule him in front of classmates. It also emerged that the teacher used to pick on the man knowing he was an orphan and that no one should defend him.

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU

a deep sense of peace

Learning how to let go when solutions to problems aren't immediately apparent can go a long way toward reducing worry and anxiety in life. Peace of mind is what develops in the absence of such anxiety, a result of feeling a deep, abiding sense of security and safety.

There is much security and control through a complete understanding that there is no problem or difficulty that cannot be resolved through the help of God. The more we put our trust in Him, the easier it becomes to deal without fear or worry with the inevitable challenges life brings.

MYTH - FACT - ABORTION

Myth

Abortion empowers women and let them make their own choices.

Fact

Study has shown that women are pressured by their husbands or boyfriends or by their parents to abort their baby. The only people who are empowered are men. They can have sex without any responsibility to their partner or their unborn children.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - MEMORY

"Forgiving does not erase the bitter past.
A healed memory is not a deleted memory.
Instead, forgiving what we cannot forget
creates a new way to remember. We
change the memory of our past
into a hope for our future."



Lewis B. Smedes

A MESSAGE TOO LATE!

Read an article about a letter that lost its way and only made to the address on the envelope after 90 years. The mail must have made the rounds of the world several times before it reached its final destination.

This news awakened old memories. It reminded me of a letter I received from a very dear sister, who was already dead many months before. She died after a long illness. It was just too much to bear because I didn't get to see her funeral. Her letter was written on a pink perfumed stationery. It seemed as though she was beside me, reading each word aloud. I could sense her thoughts, sentiments, pains, and prayers for complete healing of mind, body, and spirit. I could feel as if she was crying for help from the very depth of her soul. The most revealing part of her message was discovering her husband cheating on her, which was a big blow to her.

It's a tragedy on its own that a letter with a clear addressee and sender reached its destination after several months. It could have reached me at least days or weeks before she left this world. I could have done something to be with her and lent a helping hand. Obviously, it sat some place, or could have been stuck somewhere else.

JOKE TIME - T-G-I-F vs S-H-I-T

an elevator scene

A man got on an elevator.

When he entered, there was a blonde already inside, who greeted him with a bright, "T-G-I-F!"

He smiled at her and replied, "S-H-I-T!"

She look puzzled and repeated, "T-G-I-F," more slowly.

He again answered, "S-H-I-T!"

The blonde was trying to keep it friendly, so she smiled her biggest smile, and said as sweetly as possible, "T-G-I-F!"

The man smiled back to her and once again said, "S-H-I-T!"

The exasperated blonde finally decided to explain.

"T-G-I-F" means "Thank Goodness It's Friday!" Get it, duuuhhh?

The man answered, "S-H-I-T" means "Sorry, Honey, It's Thursday!"

Live! ... Love! ... Laugh!

TRIVIA - YANOMAMO INDIANS

In the rain forests near the border of Brazil and Venezuela, the Yanomamo tribe had a unique practice: Until a woman gave birth to a son, she killed her female infants, and she could do away with all unwanted children, regardless of sex, once the first son was born.

THE WEDDING GIFT

Do you show appreciation for the gifts you received on your wedding day, be it big or small, cheap or expensive? Most of the time money is an issue when choosing a wedding gift. If budget is an issue, we can still get something special, like personalized gift items.

There is no doubt that we all wish to give the best wedding gift, but we have to realize that the bride and groom would not want us to go overboard and give them something beyond our means.

But it is not case with a groom, who was outraged when he opened an envelope at his wedding celebration and to find one of his friends had given him only one, lonely little 50-riyal bill. So little that he was incensed at this tightwad behavior and decided to confront his friend right then and there.

The following is a rough outline of the argument:

Groom: "What's the matter with you? I gave you 1,500 riyals for your wedding!

Stingy guest: "Yes, and I gave you 1,500 riyals cash at your first wedding!" But this is your second wedding, and for your second wedding you get 50 riyals."

It was about here when the two men went after each other with punches and slaps until the groom's father took control of the situation and calmed the men down.

No matter what gifts you received on your wedding day, it is very important to show your appreciation to those who attended your wedding. Gifts are there only to remind you of the role they have played in one of the most important days of your life.

SAFE LITTLE WORLD BECOMES A BATTLEGROUND

We cannot hide all traces of marital conflict from children. It is impossible, and not seem good idea. A husband and wife who are always sniping at one another are not the only ones who suffer from perpetual friction. Children cannot help being upset and frightened when they see their parents fighting constantly. Parents fighting hurts children. Constant bickering and other abusive acts have intense effect on them. Their safe little world becomes a battleground. Feeling of insecurity sets in.

By watching how their parents interact, children learn that conflict is a part of marriage. What is important is how that conflict is expressed. No one would argue that a child would be frightened by witnessing outright violence between parents. But to observe them constantly badmouthing can also have a damaging effect.

It's better for kids to see their parents have a fight in which each of them is expressing his or her personality. That way a child knows that fighting is sometimes a natural part of relationships, and that things can be resolved. Constant arguing, on the other hand, is "like wallpaper--it's always there!"

PAGES FROM THE PAST - STRANGE WISHES

The great Greek king, Alexander, after conquering many kingdoms, was returning home. On the way, he fell ill and he was bedridden for months. With death drawing close, Alexander realized how his conquests, his great army, his sharp sword and all his wealth were of no use.

He called his generals and said, "I will depart from this world soon. But I have three wishes. Please fulfill my wishes without fail." With tears flowing down their cheeks, the generals agreed to abide by their king's last wishes.

"My first desire is that," said Alexander, "my physicians alone must carry my coffin." "Secondly, when my coffin is being carried to the grave, the path leading to the graveyard should be strewn with gold, silver and precious stones, which I have collected in my treasury." "My third and last wish is that both my hands should be kept dangling out of my coffin." The people who had gathered there wondered at the king's strange wishes. But no one dared to question. Alexander's favorite general kissed his hand and pressed them to his heart. "O king, we assure you that your wishes will all be fulfilled. But tell us why do you make such strange wishes?"

At this Alexander took a deep breath and said, "I would like the world to know of the three lessons I have just learnt. I want my physicians to carry my coffin because people should realize that no doctor can really cure anybody. They are powerless and cannot save a person from the clutches of death. So let not people take life for granted.

The second wish of strewing gold, silver and other riches on the way to the graveyard is to tell people that not even a fraction of gold can be taken by me. Let people realize that it is a sheer waste of time to chase wealth.

And about my third wish of having my hands dangling out of the coffin, I want people to know that I came empty handed into the world and empty handed to go out of this world."

Alexander's last words: "Bury my body, do not build any monument, keep my hands outside so that the world knows the person who won the world had nothing in his hands when dying."

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - MARRIAGE

"It takes two to make a marriage a
success and only one to make a failure."



Sir Herbert Samuel

I'M 80, YOU'RE 70, LET'S GET MARRIED!

Who says that old age is a hindrance to a happy marriage. Not so for a lovey-dovey couple, who are so much in love.

A man in his 80s celebrated his marriage to a woman in her 70s after passing the premarital medical test. Witnesses said that the families of both the bride and the groom attended the lavish wedding. The banquet hall was crowded with golden oldies who had known the bridal couple for years. Both newly weds have children and grandchildren from previous marriages.

While writing this, my piano student asked, "did they elope?"
Did they? I'm going to find that out ja ja ja!!!

Falling in love is a magical experience, yet it lasts only a short time. Often it burns out, leaving the once love-struck person wondering how and why it all happened. If the love prospers, love changes from a passionate love to a compassionate love. The person who does not reach out for the hand of another, or whose extended hand is not grasped by another, is cut adrift. The isolated individual may become lonely or depressed. But the person whose life includes love and intimacy is a person whose life is enriched.

A DREAM WITHIN A DREAM

A Dream Within A Dream

by Edgar Allan Poe


Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow--
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the road
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand--
How few! yet how they creep
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?

GREEN WORLD - BAOBAB TREE

Seeds of the African baobab tree sprout more easily if they are first eaten by a baboon and passed through its digestive tract. Apparently, the baboon's digestive juices erode the tough seed coat, permitting water to penetrate more readily.

baobab tree

A TIME OF JOY, A TIME OF PAIN!

The breakup of a marriage can be devastating and life disrupting and is bound to have an emotional impact on one or both partners. Whatever the reason or circumstances that led up to it, the clear basis for any divorce work is the idea that the breakup of marriage is a loss.

... A mother and daughter were left distraught after being divorced on the same day ...

The 17-year old daughter had only been married for a few days when she was divorced. Her husband alleged that she had been speaking intimately with other men on her cellphone. The mother tried to resolve the disagreement, but a few hours later had her own crisis. She had been involved in a bitter divorce battle herself for the past couple of months and coincidentally, the judge made her divorce official only hours after her daughter had been divorced.

Both mother and daughter returned to their respective father's homes wondering if the irony of the situation was a sign that perhaps what happened, happened for the best.


... A woman shouts "hooray!" after divorce ...

In another courtroom, a judge was startled when, immediately after granting a divorce, a woman shouted with joy. The judge ordered the woman to be quiet. She explained that she was so happy to finally have been freed from a miserable marriage that she couldn't contain herself at the discharge.



...free again, independently free again...

THE DIFFICULTY OF LETTING GO!

Adolescence is not an easy time.

People in the twelve to twenty age group often face a variety of difficulties. While one person is straining to compete successfully for academic honors another is about to quit school in spite of opposition from parents, and a third may be depressed and thinking of suicide. Some problems center around the individual adolescent's psychological state, but most center around the adolescent's relations with peers, authority figures, and the largest society in general.

Few adolescents have totally smooth relations with their parents. Conflicts seem to arise over the simplest matters. You may have said or heard some of the following statements:

"When I was your age..."
"You spend money like water."
"You must get good grades if you want to amount to something."
"If you quit now, you'll be sorry for your life."
"Why don't you trust me?"
"You can't stay late outside, be home by ... "
"Don't go with the wrong group!"
"You are grounded!"
"Leave me alone!"

Sometimes these problems have a common source, the difficulty of letting go. Parents know their son or daughter will soon be independent, so sometimes they need to say and sometimes to show "I'm still in charge." Sometimes parents go too far by exercising control that are too rigid.

The difficulty of letting go affects young people as well. An adolescent sometimes expects full adult privileges without being willing to accept adult responsibilities. Other times, the young person is ready, but society refuses to grant adult responsibility. It is not unusual situation for young people to want to be free of parental control, but still to want parental support. This sets up difficult expectations for parents to meet.

A TOUCHING LUMPIA STORY

Many thanks to Pareng Beto and Mareng Myrna of Manitoba, Canada, for sharing this story to me. I decided to make good servings of lumpia rolls at our prayer meeting tonight!




Lumpia rolls

This is for all the Filipinos out there, and those who are lucky enough to have Filipino friends, those who have Filipino spouses and those who have Filipino next door neighbors.

The story goes like this:

An elderly foreigner lay dying in his bed. While suffering the agonies of impending death, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite food, Filipino Lumpia.

Gathering his remaining strength, he lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort, gripping the railing with both hands he crawled to the kitchen.

With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame gazing into the kitchen. Were it not for death’s agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven. For there, spread out upon waxed paper on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite food, LUMPIA.

Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted Filipino wife of sixty years, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?

Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself towards the table, landing on his knees in a crumpled posture…his parched lips parted, the wondrous taste of the lumpia was already in his mouth, seemingly bringing him back to life.

The aged and withered hand trembled on to a lumpia, when he was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife:

“Git out op here!” she shouted. “dis are por your puneral!”

nnngggeeekkk!!!

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - SELF DISCOVERY

"We have five senses in which we glory and which we recognize and celebrate, senses that constitute the sensible world for us. But there are other senses--secret senses, sixth senses, if you will--equally vital, but unrecognized, and unlauded."



Oliver Sacks

DEFEATISM

If you cringe before the pitiful mental picture of yourself in your mind, you defeat yourself before you start.

What most people fail to recognize is that within each one lies a reservoir of power. The quality of our life depends upon our determination to win a total victory over the dark fears within that consign us to be weak and fearful.

The renowned lecturer and author, Norman Vincent Peale, has this advice: "you have to humble yourself." You should learn to accept the kind of person that you are. Through self-discovery you will be able to appreciate the person that you really are. Self-discovery is a confrontation with your own self. Naturally, you will never like yourself when you suffer continuing inner conflicts and frustrations that take the joy of life or when a sense of guilt haunts you.

"Defeatism is our major
enemy in life."

DARK PINK ROSE

DARK PINK ROSE

the symbol of
appreciation
gratitude
thankfulness
friendship, happiness
grace, glamour
"thank you"

JOKE TIME - THE BREAST STROKE SWIMMERS

Three women, a blonde, a brunette and a redhead competed in the breast stroke division of an English Channel swim competition - the brunette came in first, and the redhead was a close second. Much later, the blonde finally reached the shore, completely exhausted and near the point of drowning.

After being revived with blankets and coffee, she muttered, "I don't want to sound like a sore loser, but I think those other two girls used their arms."

ja ja ja ja ja!!!

TRIVIA - ANTS' CONDO

If they lived on the ground, ants in the flood regions of the Amazon and its tributaries would drown by the millions every year, for the water level rises often by several yards. The ants live in the "upper stories" of the forest, building their nests in trees, and are secure from flood.

MODELS TO CHOOSE FROM

One of the most trying things in our life is a stage where one has to choose what values and beliefs to live and die for. Human society is full of models and examples of persons who have embraced their own values, and what is awful is that today's young man or woman is left alone to choose.

We need not look beyond or outside ourselves, instead, we should look into our own hearts. If we do, we will surely discover passions and drives that are either constructive or destructive: our capacity to love or hate, to give or possess, to build or destroy, to forgive or avenge. When we choose what is positive and shun what is negative, we will naturally discover what model or example to embrace, and there we will discover the true meaning of values in our lives.

FOOD FOR THE SOUL

Thinking the best of other people
is necessary if we wish to grow in love.

The Holy Scriptures say that "he who judges his neighbor favorably will be judged favorably by God." But why is judgmentalism still very common even among those who call themselves Christians? Everybody is a critic, but nobody wants to be judged or condemned.

How easy it is to misjudge and how difficult it is to be impartial in judgment. Our judgment of others is usually "off the mark" because we can't see inside the person, or we don't have access to all the facts, or we are swayed by instinct and unreasoning reactions to people. How easy it is to find fault in others than in oneself.

The Lord knows our faults and He sees all, even the imperfections and sins of the heart, which we cannot recognize in ourselves. Like a gentle father and a skillful doctor, He patiently draws us to his seat of mercy and removes the cancer of sin, which inhabits our hearts.

Ref: Christian Living

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - DECISION

"It does not take much strength
to do things, but it requires great
strength to decide on what to do."




Elbert Hubbard

IT'S NOW OR NEVER!

A bad decision can often prove costly. It can affect our career, image and work relations. Change in perspective is required to overcome this obstacle. Remember that we will never learn if we do not make an attempt. We cannot prevent the situation for a long time and some day we have to face the situation. So let us do it now. Decision is a choice; it's either you make it right, or resent the outcome. All of us are making decisions everyday. Even young children are no exceptions.

"Each indecision brings its own delays
and days are lost lamenting over lost days.
What you can do or think you can do,
begin it. For boldness has magic,
power, and genius in it."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A DISTANT GLIMMER FROM A STAR

One of the most elusive of all human experiences is joy; it's like a distant glimmer from a star. It comes when you least expect it. You can't catch it when you want it, and you lose it even when you are already touching it with your fingertips. But when you give up chasing it, it alights on your head, like a butterfly, and changes the world for you; the ordinary becomes extraordinary, dull moments become colorful, and everything seems special. Joy is like the rain, free, ever flowing, and it's more than just happiness to behold.

Joy isn't something we have to strive for. It's one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. It's ours to receive if we abide in Him.