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