Icecream is GOD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would thank you even more if Mom gets us Ice Cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all! Amen!" Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for Ice Cream! Why, I never!" Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?" As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer." "Really?", my son asked. "Cross my heart", then in theatrical whisper he added (indicating to the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "too bad she never asks God for Ice Cream. A little Ice Cream is good for the soul sometimes." Naturally, I bought my kid Ice Cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life. He picked up his Sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice Cream is good for the soul sometimes and my soul is good already!" -- Author unknown
Puppies For Sale Dan Clark "Weathering the Storm" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale." Signs like that have a way of attracting small children and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the store owner's sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked. The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50." The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?" The store smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur. One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The store owner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame. The little boy became excited. "That is the little puppy that I want to buy." The store owner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll just give him to you." The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the store owner's eyes, pointing his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for." The store owner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies." To this, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the store owner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"
Two Nickels and Five Pennies ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When an ice cream sundae cost much less, a boy entered a coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table, and the waitress was impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she said angrily. The little boy again counted the coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream." The waitress brought the ice cream and walked away. The boy finished, paid the cashier, and departed. When the waitress came back, she swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies--her tip.
Don't dance so fast ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round, or listened to rain slapping the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight, or gazed at the sun fading into the night? You better slow down, don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last. Do you run through each day on the fly, When you ask "How are you?", do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed, with the next hundred chores running through your head? You better slow down, don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last. Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow, and in your haste not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, let a good friendship die, 'cause you never had time to call and say "hi"? You better slow down, don't dance so fast, time is short, the music won't last. When you run so fast to get somewhere, you miss half the fun of getting there? When you worry and hurry through your day, it's like an unopened gift thrown away. Life is not a race, so take it slower, hear the music before the song is over. (Author Unknown)
A PRAYER FOR CHILDREN ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We pray for children Who sneak Popsicles before supper, Who erase holes in math workbooks, Who can never find their shoes, And we pray for those Who stare at photographers from behind barbed wire, Who can't bound down the street in a new pair of sneakers, Who never "counted potatoes," Who are born in places we wouldn't be caught dead in, Who never saw a circus, Who live in an X-rated world. We pray for children Who bring sticky kisses and fistful of dandelions, Who hug us in a hurry and forget their lunch money. And we pray for those Who never get dessert, Who have no security blanket to drag behind them, Who watch their parents watch them die, Who can't find any bread to steal, Who don't have any rooms to clean up, Whose pictures aren't on anybody's dresser, Whose monsters are real. We pray for children Who spend all their allowance before Tuesday, Who throw tantrums in the grocery store and pick at their food, Who like ghost stories, Who shove their dirty clothes under the bed And never rinse out the tub, Who get visits from the tooth fairy, Who don't like to be kissed in front of the car pool, Who squirm in the church or temple, and scream into the phone, Whose tears we sometimes laugh at, And whose smiles can make us cry, And we pray for those, Whose nightmares come in the daytime, Who will eat anything, Who have never seen a dentist, Who aren't spoiled by anybody, Who go to bed hungry, and cry themselves to sleep, Who live and move, but have no being, We pray for children who want to be carried, And for those who must be, For those we never give up on, and For those who never get a second chance, For those we smother, And for those who will grab the hand of Anybody kind enough to offer it. (Ina J. Hughs) Drinking From The Saucer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I've never made a fortune, and I'll never make one now. But it really doesn't matter 'cause I'm happy anyhow. As I go along my journey I'm reaping better than I've sowed. I'm drinking from the saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed. I don't have a lot of riches, And sometimes the going's tough But with kin and friends to love me I think I'm rich enough. I thank God for the blessings That His mercy has bestowed. I'm drinking from the saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed. He gives me strength and courage When the way grows steep and rough. I'll not ask for other blessings for I'm already blessed enough. May we never be too busy To help bear another's load. Then we'll all be drinking from the saucer When our cups have overflowed. (Anonymous) Message of the Day ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I want to be six again. I want to go to McDonald's and think it's the best place in the world to eat. I want to sail sticks across a fresh mud puddle and make waves with rocks. I want to think M&Ms are better than money 'cause you can eat them. I long for the days when life was simple. When all you knew were your colors, the addition tables, and simple nursery rhymes, but it didn't bother you because you didn't know what you didn't know, and you didn't care. I want to go to school and have snack time, recess, gym, and field trips. I want to be happy because I don't know what should make me upset. I want to think the world is fair, and everyone in it is honest and good. I want to believe that anything is possible. Sometime, while I was maturing, I learned too much. I learned of nuclear weapons, starving and abused kids, and unhappy marriages. I want to be six again. I want to think that everyone, including myself, will live forever because I don't know the concept of death. I want to be oblivious to the complexity of life, and be overly excited by the little things again. I want television to be something I watch for fun, not something I use for escape from the things I should be doing. I want to live knowing the little things I find exciting will always make me as happy as when I first learned them. I want to be six again. I remember not seeing the world as a whole, but rather being aware of only the things that directly concerned me. I want to be naive enough to think that if I'm happy, so is everyone else. I want to walk down the beach and think only of the sand beneath my feet, and the possibility of finding that blue piece of sea glass I'm looking for. I want to spend my afternoons climbing trees and riding my bike, letting the grownups worry about time, the dentist, and how to find the money to fix the car. I want to wonder what I'll do when I grow up, not worry what I'll do if this doesn't work out. I want that time back. I want to use it now as an escape, so that when my computer crashes, or I have a mountain of paperwork, or two hurting friends, or second thoughts about so many things, I can travel back and build a snowman without thinking about anything except whether the snow sticks together and what I can possibly use for the snowman's mouth. I want to be six again. (From The Art(hritis) Link Letter) LIFE ~~~~ Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400, carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every morning cancels whatever part of the amount you had failed to use during the day. What would you do? Draw out every cent, of course! Well, everyone has such a bank. It's name is TIME. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night it writes off, as lost, whatever you have failed to invest to good purpose and carries over no balance. It allows no overdraft. Each day it opens a new account for you. Each night it burns the records of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours. There is no going back. There is no drawing against "tomorrow". You must live in the present on the day's deposits. Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and success! The clock is running. Make the most of today. To realize the value of ONE YEAR Ask a student who has failed her CHEM exam. To realize the value of ONE MONTH ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby. To realize the value of ONE WEEK ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. To realize the value of ONE DAY ask a daily wage laborer who has ten kids to feed. To realize the value of ONE HOUR ask the lovers who are waiting to meet. To realize the value of ONE MINUTE ask a person who has missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND ask a person who has survived an accident. To realize the value of ONE MILLI-SECOND ask the person who has won a silver medal in the olympics. Treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it with more because you have shared it with someone special... special enough to have your time... and remember time waits for no one. (Author Unknown) If I Had My Life To Live Over ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I would have talked less and listened more. I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded. I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace. I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth. I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed. I would have burned the rose sculpted pink candle before it melted in storage. I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains. I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life. I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband. I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day. I would have never bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil or was guaranteed to last a lifetime. Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle. When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later, Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love yous," more "I'm sorrys," but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it, live it, and never give it back. (Erma Bombeck) A Mother's Prayer ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Lord, it's such a hectic day With little time to stop & pray For life's been anything but calm Since you called me to be a mom. Running errand's, matching sock's Building dreams with matching blocks Cooking, cleaning finding shoe's And other stuff that children lose Fitting lids on bottled bugs, Wiping tears and giving hugs, A stack of last weeks mail to read So where's the quiet time I need? Yet when I steal a moment, Lord Just at the sink or ironing board To ask the blessings of Your grace I see them in my small one's face That you have blessed me All the while And I stoop to kiss That precious smile (Author Unknown) Only One Childhood ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I stopped to watch my little girl busy playing in her room. In one hand was a plastic phone; in the other a toy broom. I listened as she was speaking to her make believe little friend and I'll never forget the words she said, even though it was pretend. She said, "Suzie's in the corner cuz she's not been very good. She didn't listen to a word I said or do the things she should." In the corner I saw her baby doll all dressed in lace and pink. It was obvious she'd been put there to sit alone and think. My daughter continued her "conversation," as I sat down on the floor. She said, "I'm all fed up I just don't know what to do with her anymore? She whines whenever I have to work and wants to play games, too; she never lets me do the things that I just have to do? She tries to help me with the dishes, but her arms just cannot reach and she doesn't know how to fold the towels and I don't have the time to teach. I have a lot of work to do and a big house to keep clean. I don't have the time to sit and play -- don't you know what I mean?" And that day I thought a lot about making some changes in my life; as I listened to her innocent words that cut me like a knife. I hadn't been paying enough attention to what I hold most dear. I'd been caught up in responsibilities that increased throughout the year. But now my attitude has changed, because, in my heart, I realize I've seen the world in a different light through my little darling's eyes. So, let the cobwebs have the corners and the dustbunnies rule the floor, I'm not going to worry about keeping up with them anymore. I'm going to fill the house with memories of a child and her mother for God grants us Only One Childhood, and we will never get another. (Author Unknown) No Charge ~~~~~~~~~ My little boy came into the kitchen this evening while I was fixing supper, And handed me a piece of paper he'd been writing on. So, after wiping my hands on my apron, I read it, and this is what it said: For mowing the grass, $5 For making my own bed this week, $1. For going to the store $.50. For playing with baby brother while you went shopping, $.25. For taking out the trash, $1. For getting a good report card, $5. And for raking the yard, $2. Well, I looked at him standing there expectantly, and a thousand memories flashed through my mind. So, I picked up the paper, and turning it over, this is what I wrote: For the nine months I carried you, growing inside me, No Charge, for the nights I sat up with you, doctored you, prayed for you, No Charge, for the time and the tears, and the cost through the years, No Charge. For the nights filled with dread, and the worries ahead, there's no charge. For advice and the knowledge, and the cost of your college, No Charge. For the toys, food and clothes, and for wiping your nose, there's No Charge Son. When you add it all up, the full cost of my love is No Charge. Well, when he finished reading, he had great big tears in his eyes. And he looked up at me and he said, "Mama, I sure do love you." Then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote, PAID IN FULL. When you add it all up, the cost of real love is No Charge. (Melba Montgomery) The Most Beautiful Flower ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown, For the world was intent on dragging me down. And if that weren't enough to ruin my day, A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play. He stood right before me with his head tilted down And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!" In his hand was a flower what a pitiful sight, With its petals all worn not enough rain, or too little light. Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play, I faked a small smile and then shifted away. But instead of retreating he sat next to my side And placed the flower to his nose and declared "It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too. That's why I picked it; here, it's for you." The weed before me was dying......or dead. Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red. But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave. So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need." But instead of him placing the flower in my hand, He held it mid-air without reason or plan. It was then that I noticed for the very first time That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind. I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun As I thanked him for picking the very best one. "You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play, Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day. I sat there and wondered how he managed to see a self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree. How did he know of my self-indulged plight? Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight. Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see The problem was not with the world, the problem was me. And for all of those times I myself had been blind, I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine. And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful Rose And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man. (unknown author) When God Made Fathers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When the good Lord was creating Fathers, he started with a tall frame. A female angel nearby said, "What kind of a Father is that? If you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Father up so high? He won't be able to shoot marbles without kneeling, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without stooping" God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child size, who would children have to look up to?" And when God made a Father's hands, they were large. The angel shook her head and said, "Large hands can't manage diaper pins, small buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused from baseball bats." Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold everything a small boy empties from his pockets, yet small enough to cup a child's face in them." Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders. "Do you realize you just made a Father without a lap?" The angel chuckled. God said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father needs strong shoulders to pull a sled, to balance a boy on a bicycle, or to hold a sleepy head on the way home from the circus." When God was in the middle of creating the biggest feet anyone had ever seen, the angel could not contain herself any longer. "That's not fair. Do you honestly think those feet are going to get out of bed early in the morning when the baby cries, or walk through a birthday party without crushing one or two of the guests?" God again smiled and said, "They will work. You will see. They will support a small child who wants to ride to Branbury Cross or scare mice away from a summer cabin, or display shoes that will be a challenge to fill." God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative voice; eyes that see everything, but remain calm and tolerant. Finally, almost as an after thought, He added tears. Then he turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied he can love as much as a Mother can?" The angel said nothing more. (Erma Bombeck) When God created Mothers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When the good Lord was creating mothers, he was into his 6th day of overtime, when the angel appeared and said "You're doing alot of fiddling around on this one!" And the Lord said, "Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic; Have 180 movable parts...all replaceable; Run on black coffee and leftovers; Have a lap that disappears when she stands up; A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair; and six pairs of hands". The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands..no way" "It's not the hands that are causing me the problems" said the Lord. "It's the 3 pairs of eyes that mothers have to have." "That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. The Lord nodded. "One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word" "Lord" said the angel, touching his sleeve gently, "Come to bed. Tomorrow...." "I can't" said the Lord. "I am so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one that heals herself when she is sick... can feed a family of 6 on one pound of hamburger meat...... and can get a nine year old to stand under the shower". The Angel circled the model of a mother very slowly, "It's too soft" she sighed. "But tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You cannot imagine what this mother can do or endure" "Can it think?" asked the angel. "Not only think but it can reason and compromise" said the creator. Finally, the angel bent over and ran her fingers across her cheek. "There's a leak" she pronounced. "I said you were trying to put too much into this model." "It's not a leak" said the Lord, "It's a tear." "What's that for?" "It is for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness and pride." "You are a genius" said the angel. The Lord looked somber. "I didn't put it there." (unknown) Heaven's Grocery Store ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was walking down life's highway a long time ago. One day I saw a sign that read, "HEAVEN'S GROCERY STORE". As I got a little closer the door came open wide, And when I came to myself I was standing inside. I saw a host of ANGELS. They were standing everywhere. One handed me a basket and said, "My Child shop with care". Everything a Christian needed was in that grocery store. And all you couldn't carry, you could come back the next day for more. First I got some PATIENCE: LOVE was in the same row. Further down was UNDERSTANDING: you need that everywhere you go. I got a box or two of WISDOM, a bag or two of FAITH. I just couldn't miss the HOLY GHOST, for He was all over the place. I stopped to get some STRENGTH and COURAGE to help me run this race. By then my basket was getting full, but I remembered I needed some GRACE I didn't forget SALVATION, for SALVATION was free, So I tried to get enough of that to save both you and me. Then I started up to the counter to pay my grocery bill, for I thought I had everything to the MASTERS will. As I went up the aisle, I saw a PRAYER: and I just had to put that in, For I knew when I stepped outside, I would run into sin. PEACE and JOY were plentiful; they were last on the shelf. SONG and PRAISE were hanging near, so I just helped myself. Then I said to the Angel, "Now, how much do I owe?" He smiled and said, "Just take them everywhere you go." Again, I smiled and said, "How much do I really owe?" He smiled again and said, "MY CHILD, JESUS PAID YOUR BILL A LONG, LONG TIME AGO." Footprints ~~~~~~~~~ One night I had a dream-- I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. "I don't understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." IF ONLY I KNEW ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep. If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more. If I knew it would be the last time I'd hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day. If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say "I love you," instead of assuming, you would know I do. If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I'm sure you'll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away. For surely there's always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right. There will always be another day to say our "I love you's", And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's?" But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I'd like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget, Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight. So if you're waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today? For if tomorrow never comes, you'll surely regret the day... That you didn't take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, what could be their one last wish. So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear. Take time to say "I'm sorry," "please forgive me," "thank you" or "it's okay". And if tomorrow never comes, you'll have no regrets about today. Nothing is worse than the wonder, IF ONLY I HAD KNOWN! (original author, unknown) Death of an Innocent ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I went to a party, Mom, I remembered what you said. You told me not to drink, Mom, So I drank soda instead. I really felt proud inside, Mom, The way you said I would. I didn't drink and drive, Mom, Even though the others said I should. I know I did the right thing, Mom, I know you are always right. Now the party is finally ending, Mom, As everyone is driving out of sight. As I got into my car, Mom, I knew I'd get home in one piece. Because of the way you raised me, So responsible and sweet. I started to drive away, Mom, But as I pulled out into the road, The other car didn't see me, Mom, And hit me like a load. As I lay there on the pavement, Mom, I hear the policeman say, "The other guy is drunk," Mom, And now I'm the one who will pay. I'm lying here dying, Mom.... I wish you'd get here soon. How could this happen to me, Mom? My life just burst like a balloon. There is blood all around me, Mom, And most of it is mine. I hear the medic say, Mom, I'll die in a short time. I just wanted to tell you, Mom, I swear I didn't drink. It was the others, Mom. The others didn't think. He was probably at the same party as I. The only difference is, he drank And I will die. Why do people drink, Mom? It can ruin your whole life. I'm feeling sharp pains now. Pains just like a knife. The guy who hit me is walking, Mom, And I don't think it's fair. I'm lying here dying And all he can do is stare. Tell my brother not to cry, Mom. Tell Daddy to be brave. And when I go to heaven, Mom, Put "Daddy's Girl" on my grave. Someone should have told him, Mom, Not to drink and drive. If only they had told him, Mom, I would still be alive. My breath is getting shorter, Mom. I'm becoming very scared. Please don't cry for me, Mom. When I needed you, you were always there. I have one last question, Mom. Before I say good bye. I didn't drink and drive, So why am I the one to die? Elizabeth Beeson The Girl I Used to Be ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ She came tonight as I sat alone, the girl I used to be, And she gazed at me with her earnest eyes, and questioned reproachfully, Have you forgotten the many plans, and hopes I had for you? The great career, the splendid fame, all the wonderful things to do? Where is the mansion of stately height, with all of its gardens rare? The silken robes that I dreamed for you, and the shining jewels in your hair? And as she spoke, I was very sad, for I wanted her pleased with me, This slender girl from the shadowy past, the girl I used to be. So gently rising, I took her hand and guided her up the stairs, Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay, innocent, sweet and fair, And I told her that these are my only gems, and precious they are to me, That silken robe is my motherhood, of costly simplicity, And my mansion of stately height is love, and the only career I know, Is serving each day in these sheltered walls, for the dear ones who come and go, And as I spoke to my shadowy guest, she smiled through her tears at me, And I saw the woman that I am now, pleased the girl that I used to be! Author Unknown The Little Girl ~~~~~~~~~~~~ There came a frantic knock at the doctor's office door, A knock, more urgent than he had ever heard before, "Come in, Come in," the impatient doctor said, "Come in, Come in, before you wake the dead." In walked a frightened little girl, a child no more than nine, It was plain for all to see, she had troubles on her mind, "Oh doctor, I beg you, please come with me, My mother is surely dying, she's as sick as she can be." "I don't make house calls, bring your mother here," "But she's too sick, so you must come or she will die I fear," The doctor, touched by her devotion, decided he would go, She said he would be blessed, more than he could know. She led him to her house where her mother lay in bed, Her mother was so very sick she couldn't raise her head, But her eyes cried out for help and help her the doctor did, She would have died that very night had it not been for her kid. The doctor got her fever down and she lived through the night, And morning brought the doctor signs, that she would be all right, The doctor said he had to leave but would return again by two, And later he came back to check, just like he said he'd do. The mother praised the doctor for all the things he'd done, He told her she would have died, were it not for her little one, "How proud you must be of your wonderful little girl, It was her pleading that made me come, she is really quite a pear! "But doctor, my daughter died over three years ago, Is the picture on the wall of the little girl you know?" The doctors legs went limp for the picture on the wall, Was the same little girl for whom he'd made this call. The doctor stood motionless, for quite a little while, And then his solemn face, was broken by his smile, He was thinking of that frantic knock heard at his office door, And of the beautiful little angel that had walked across his floor. Interview with God ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I dreamed I had an interview with God. "Come in," God said. "So, you would like to interview Me?" "If you have the time," I said. God smiled and said: "My time is eternity and is enough to do everything; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?" "What surprises you most about mankind?" God answered, "That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived..." God's hands took mine and we were silent for while and then I asked..."As a parent, what are some of life's lessons you want your children to learn?" God replied with a smile: "To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. What they can do is to let themselves be loved. To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives. To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. All will be judged individually on their own merits, not as a group on a comparison basis! To learn that a rich person is not the one who has the most, but is one who needs the least. To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them. To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness. To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to express or show their feelings. To learn that money can buy everything but happiness. To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see it totally different. To learn that a true friend is someone who knows everything about them...and likes them anyway. To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they have to forgive themselves." People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.