BEGIN WITH A BLANK PAGE

If you could start your life all over what would be different? What would you change now if you were able to wave a magic wand and start from scratch?

Just imagine you have no ties, no burdens, no limits, no memories, and no past.

What would your life look like? If the answer that comes to your mind is different than what you are doing, why is that? Is it because of someone else's opinion? A spouse, a parent - or maybe your children?

The ultimate test of your life is to close your eyes and think of yourself on your deathbed. Lying there, preparing yourself to leave, look back at your life as you are currently living it.

How do you feel? Are you satisfied you lived completely? Or do you wish you had done differently? Very few of our senior citizens look back on their life and say, "I sure wish I had spent more time at the office!" Nobody says, "I wish I had watched more TV!"

This is what they say. "I wish I had been bolder. I wish I had given more. I wish I had tried harder to see more, do more and feel more." People wish that they had lived more.

I, for one, have to admit to a certain amount of holding back on dreams and goals because of our two boys. As my life progresses I realize there is no reason to hold back.

We have not been exactly standing still either. We have done our best to live our dreams. We built a sailboat and sailed for 7 years traveling on the open ocean. We lived in the snow in Aspen Colorado, and on the beach in South Carolina. An old brick mill was our home in Long Island, versus a boat dock in Palm Beach Florida. We are writers of books and music, actors in the theater, and we home- school the boys. We have built a horse farm, and businesses! Yet, there is so much more we want to do!

It is a balancing act. We all must have sufficient finances to support a comfortable lifestyle, (although most of us tend to spend way too much on that!) Part of this balancing act is understanding what we are passionate about doing so that work becomes a joy instead of a job.

Is this not a major reason of lost dreams and goals? Many people find work, call it a job and make a living at it. But they begrudge every minute of it, going as far as using the job as a reason for playing the martyr. Find something else!

There are many, many teachers of the attraction philosophies of "making a life". With as many opportunities today in every field imaginable, somewhere, something is calling to you.

Another part of the balancing act is to include those around you in frank and open discussions in what it is you want. I find some of my coaching clients have kept their wants and needs bottled up inside them forever! They had already decided for the other person in their lives there was no interest in whatever it was they themselves wanted to do! How absurd! How can we possibly know what someone else wants!

Would it not be tragic to spend your life in a big city for 40 years, working at a job you despise because you thought your spouse liked it, even though you wanted to live in the country and be a farmer? Then one day you overhear your spouse tell her best friend all she ever wanted to do was live in the country? 40 years!

Sure this is a bit far fetched - but you would be amazed at what I hear!

Make an attempt today to start with a brand new page of your life. Create your life story how you want it. If there are others in your life to be involved, have them do the same exercise. Then compare what your notes. If this matches your current life, congratulations! You are one of the few. Now make it better.

However, if your written life stories sound like someone completely different, then you are living a life of conflict.

Here is the good news. Your life is your life. No one can take that away from you. You are not indentured. You are not a slave. You are free to go, do, and be whomever you wish.

It might not be easy, but it sure might be worth it. I coach people daily who are changing their lives. There are so many things to be grateful for, and so many things open to us. We owe it to all the ones before us who gave us this opportunity to take advantage of it.(Miami Phillips).

EARN RESPECT WITH THE TRUTH

The crowd cheered as the young man walked across the stage to claim his award as the company’s top producer. He accepted the microphone, looked over the audience and faltered, an obvious, pregnant pause that brought a hush to the room.

I watched him confront his fear, wrestle with the doubt that invariably creeps in. It took him a moment to re-commit.

"The last three months hit me pretty hard," he began. "And I feel the need to share a piece of my story—though I’m not sure why."

His usually confident, even cocky demeanor, shed its bluster.

"About four months ago, one of my colleagues called me about this new marketing system, an outbound fax blaster that could reach thousands of potential customers at very little cost." He paused. "I checked it out, got excited and signed up. Long story short—after thousands of faxes, a process server showed up to deliver some papers. It seems that what I did was illegal. One of the companies that received a blast complained to the attorney general who filed a lawsuit against me—not just for that fax, but with a dollar punishment for every one sent out."

The crowd gasped.

"I failed to do proper research, didn’t pay attention to the details and now face prosecution with enormous potential liability."

200 people sat riveted to their chairs.

"As some of you know, I recently moved up here from down south." He ran his fingers through his hair.

"I stored my stuff in my old office, which we closed down. When I drove back to pick it all up, I found that everything except my computer and the clothes I brought with me, was gone. Every memento, every memory and every possession had been stolen."

No one budged. "It gets better. As some of you know, I drive a sports car—black on black convertible with the works, my pride and joy. I love that car."

His voice cracked a little.

"No more," he added.

A memory flooded his mind.

"As sometimes happens, a guy cut my car off. Instead of letting it go, my ego kicked in. Coming up an on ramp I stomped on the accelerator, missed the final turn, lost control at 85 miles an hour, spun across three lanes, hit the guard rail and bounced back across two—in the middle of rush hour. I totaled the car and by some weird fate, walked away without a scratch."

The room sighed with relief.

"Because I had been on the road, I didn’t open my mail and missed an insurance payment. I don’t know what’s going to happen."

Heads shook in dismay.

"In three months, I got sued, lost everything I owned, wrecked my car."

He gathered himself.

"We all face challenges," he smiled, “some tougher than others. I guess I wanted to share mine with you. Thanks for listening."

He left to a standing ovation.

Standing in the back of the room, I realized how much respect that young man earned. He confronted his fear, publicly admitted his mistakes and never quit, despite the obstacles.

That day, he won much more than a trophy.
>

BUILD A BOX OF FRIENDSHIP

Into a box of friendship
To insure that it is strong
First a layer of respect
On the bottom does belong
Then to the sides attach
In the corners where they meet
Several anchors full of trust
Devoid of all deceit
The height of friendship can be measured
By the sides of four
So make them all a larger cut
And the box will hold much more
Now fill it up with courtesy
Honor and esteem
Understanding, sympathy
And passion for a dream
Add to that your honesty
Emotions joy and love

And since they're so important
Place them up above
But leave the box wide open
So all can see inside
To learn what makes a friendship work
From the box you built with pride.
Author: Chuck Pool

REACHING THE NEXT LEVEL

Late one night, I was in the studio painting Michael Jordan's portrait when my agent Jack Krasula phoned me, to ask me what I was working on. When I replied I was studying sweat, the phone went silent. After a brief pause he politely hung up. "Leave it to an artist," I could hear him say, as he set down the receiver.

But it was true. At that moment, for some unexplained reason, the study of perspiration on Michael Jordan's forehead intrigued me. I noticed the multiple colors that made up each individual droplet. But, what I found most fascinating was the variety of different colors, and the sizes, assortment and spectrum I found within each droplet.

What makes Michael Jordan so successful? A passion succeed and the commitment necessary to run the race Odd, I must confess, but the minuteness of it all intrigued me.

I, like all great scientists, (pun intended) wanted the answer to what seemed to me, to be perhaps one of the most profound questions of our day:

How many colors describe this divine substance we call sweat? I had begun a strange journey that would ultimately lead me to my answer.

I found myself reaching for the television remote control and began flipping through the channels, when I paused in one of the most unlikely places. Somewhere between TV-Land and the Cartoon Network, my answer came. Who could forget the classic, memorable television commercial from the 1960's featuring a cartoon turtle asking Mr. Owl, "Mr. Owl, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie-Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?"

The ever-wise, omniscient Owl, in the process of licking the tootsie pop declared in a crackling voice, "One, two, three." And then came the resounding crunch of, "The world may never know!"

I had my answer. The answer was, the world may never know what it takes to create a drop of perspiration, but as America's Premier Sports Artist, I aimed to find out. It was the secret behind the mystery of what made Michael Jordan tick. The universe wanted me to understand-- it had nothing to do with the kind of sweat that gathers on the forehead of a super-star athlete; it was all about the kind of sweat that follows a passion to succeed and the commitment necessary to run the race. The kind of sweat that tells us we have earned the right to a successful life.

On more than one occasion Jack Krasula had confided to me that he chose Jordan as his number one athlete of all time because, to quote Jack, "Who else can defy the laws of gravity?"

As I set down my cup of pure Columbian-brewed coffee, I suddenly realized that when we demand more from ourselves, even gravity has to relent. The sweat on Michael Jordan's forehead was achieved by his single-minded dedication to excellence. No one could deny Michael Jordan graciously gave us every drop of sweat he had. But it was during my own pursuit for the answer to those miniscule droplets dangling on his forehead, that I had unwittingly stumbled across something else-- I realized what every drop of sweat could mean.

All of us know about Michael's leaping ability, but not everyone is aware that Michael Jordan exhibited super-powers of a sort throughout his career. At times, if Jordan decided to, he could suspend himself in mid-air, floating above the net. It's not that he jumped higher than anyone else. He just stayed up there longer. How was that possible? How can a man defy gravity? Apparently gravity had little effect on his desire for excellence and determination to reach a higher level. We can each reach this new level of achievement by drawing on the strength of our experience.

For the time being, the realm of flight might remain Jordan's, but sooner or later we can all get there. Where a high level of achievement is expected, a new level of excellence will be experienced. True to form, Michael is still hanging in the air as to whether or not he will come down and become a team owner.

Regardless of what he decides to do, gravity will be waiting.

The Little Cracked Pot

There was once a water bearer who had two large pots, one hung on each end of a pole which, he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, but the other pot was perfect, and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, while the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was very ashamed of its imperfection, and was miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do or so it thought.The cracked pot, after two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

I am very ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you.

Why?asked the water bearer. What are you ashamed of?

For the past two years, I have only been able to deliver half of my real capacity, because this crack in my side allows water to leak out all the way back to the master's house.

Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts, the cracked pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and compassionately said, As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path.

As they went up the hill, the old cracked pot did notice the sun shining on the beautiful wild flowers growing along his side of the path, and this cheered it some. However, at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had again leaked out half its load, and so it apologized to the water bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and put it to good use. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path (for the return trip), and every day while we walk back from the stream, you've watered them. For over two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. If you weren't the way you are, he wouldn't have the flowers for his house.

BECOME WHAT YOU WANT TO BE

Let me tell you about a little girl who was born into a very poor family in a shack in the Backwoods of Tennessee. She was the 20th of 22 children, prematurely born and frail. Her survival was doubtful. When she was four years old she had double pneumonia and scarlet fever - a deadly combination that left her with a paralyzed and useless left leg. She had to wear an iron leg brace. Yet she was fortunate in having a mother who encouraged her.

Well, this mother told her little girl, who was very bright, that despite the brace and leg, she could do whatever she wanted to do with her life. She told her that all she needed to do was to have faith, persistence, courage and an indomitable spirit.

So at nine years of age, the little girl removed the leg brace, and she

took the step the doctors told her she would never take normally. In four years, she developed a rhytmic stride, which was a medical wonder. Then this girl got the notion, the incredible notion, that she would like to be the world's greatest woman runner. Now, what could she mean - be a runner with a leg like that?

At age 13, she entered a race. She came in last - way, way last. She entered every race in high school, and in every race she came in last. Everyone begged her to quit! However, one day, she came in next to last. And then there came a day when she won a race. From then on, Wilma Rudolph won every race that she entered.

Wilma went to Tennessee State University, where she met a coach named Ed Temple. Coach Temple saw the indomitable spirit of the girl, that she was a believer and that she had great natural talent. He trained her so well that she went to the Olympic Games.

There she was pitted against the greatest woman runner of the day, a German girl named Jutta Heine. Nobody had ever beaten Jutta. But in the 100-meter dash, Wilma Rudolph won. She beat Jutta again in the 200-meters. Now Wilma had two Olimpic gold medals.

Finally came the 400-meter relay. It would be Wilma against Jutta once again. The first two runners on Wilma's team made perfect handoffs with the baton. But when the third runner handed the baton to Wilma, she was so excited she dropped it, and Wilma saw Jutta taking off down the track. It was impossible that anybody could catch this fleet and nimble girl. But Wilma did just that! Wilma Rudolph had earned three Olympic gold medals.

BUILD A BOX OF FRIENDSHIP

Into a box of friendship
To insure that it is strong
First a layer of respect
On the bottom does belong
Then to the sides attach
In the corners where they meet
Several anchors full of trust
Devoid of all deceit
The height of friendship can be measured
By the sides of four
So make them all a larger cut
And the box will hold much more

Now fill it up with courtesy
Honor and esteem
Understanding, sympathy
And passion for a dream
Add to that your honesty
Emotions joy and love
And since they're so important
Place them up above
But leave the box wide open
So all can see inside
To learn what makes a friendship work
From the box you built with pride. (Chuck Pool
)

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

Sweet Words are easy to say
Sweet things are easy to buy
Sweet people are difficult to find
Life ends when you stop dreaming
Hope ends when you stop believing
Love ends when you stop crying
Friendship ends when you stop sharing
So, share this with whoever you consider a friend
To love without condition
To talk without intention
To give without reason
And to care without expectation
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2008

SELAMAT TAHUN BARU 2008

Wish All Over The World In Their Language :
1. Chinese Cantonese = Sun Nien Fai Lok 2008
2. Chinese Mandarin = Xin Nien Yu Kuai 2008
3. Danish = Godt Nytâr 2008
4. Dutch = Gelukkig Nieuwjaar 2008
5. English = Happy New Year 2008
6. Farsi = Aide Shoma Mobarak 2008
7. French = Bonne Année 2008
8. Gailic = Aith-Bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit 2008
9. German = Gutes Neues Jahr 2008
10. Hawaiian = Hauoli Makahiki Hou 2008

11. Hebrew = Shanah Tovah 2008
12. Hindi (Indian) = Nav Varsh Ki Badhaai/Naya Saal Mubarak Ho 2008
13. Hmong = Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab 2008
14. Italian = Buon Capo d'Anno 2008
15. Japanese = Akemashite Omedeteu Gozaimasu 2008
16. Norwegian = Godt Nyttâr 2008
17. Philipino (Tagalog) = Maligayang Bagong Taon 2008
18. Polish = Szczesliwego Nowego Roku 2008
19. Portuguese = Feliz Ano Novo 2008
20. Romanian = La Multi Ani 2008
21. Russian = S Novym Godom 2008
22. Spanish = Feliz Año Nuevo 2008
23. Sudanese = Wilujeng Tahun Baru 2008
Swedish = Gott Nytt Âr 2008
Turkish = Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun 2008
Welsh = Blwyddyn Newydd Dda 2008

CHOOSE HOW TO START YOUR DAY

Jerry is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, If I were any better, I would be twins!He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, I don't get it! You can't be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?

Jerry replied, Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood. I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.

Yeah, right, it's not that easy, I protested.

Yes it is, Jerry said. Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It's your choice how you live life.

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.

Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center.

After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body.

I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, If I were any better, I'd be twins. Wanna see my scars?

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. the first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,Jerry replied. Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or I could choose to die. I chose to live.

Weren't you scared? Did you lose consciousness? I asked.

Jerry continued, the paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read he's a deadman. I knew I needed to take action.

What did you do?I asked.

Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me, said Jerry. She asked if I was allergic to anything. Yes I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, Bullets!Over their laughter, I told them, I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead...

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

THE BEAUTY OF WOMAN

The beauty of a woman
Is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries,
Or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman
must be seen from in her eyes,

Because that is the doorway to her heart,
the place where love resides.

The beauty of a woman
is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman
Is reflected in her soul.

It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
the passion that she shows

And the beauty of a woman
With passing years-only grows

SEEDS OF LIFE

Two seeds lay side by side in the fertile spring soil
The first seed said;I want to grow! I want to send my roots in the soil beneath me, and thrust my sprouts through the earth's crust above me.I want to unfurl my tender buds like banners to announce the arrival of spring I want to feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the blessing of the morning dew on my petals.

And so she grew
The second seed said; I am afraid if I send my roots into the ground below..I dont know what I will encounter in the dark. If I push my way through the hard soil above me I may damage my delicate sprouts what if I let my buds open and a snail tries to eat them? And if I were to open my blossoms, a small child may pull me from the ground. No, it is much better for me to wait until it is safe.
And so she waited..
A yard hen scratching around in the early spring ground for food found the waiting seed and promptly ate it.

MORAL OF THE STORY
Those of us who refuse to risk and grow get swallowed up by life.

MERRY CHRISTMAS 25 DECEMBER 2007

Thanks for you to visit my blog's..
Just wanna say :
"Merry Christmas 25 December 2007"

CHANCE

Lainie's career flourished after her move to California. She loved her job, the mild weather, and the circle of close friends she acquired. At 35 years of age, Lainie was content with everything in her life, except the deafening tick of her biological clock!

Lainie's last few birthdays had been dreaded reminders that she was still single and childless. Being the product of a large family, five siblings to be exact, she yearned to have a child of her own. She worried, she stewed, and studied her financial situation. Once sure she could handle all aspects of being a single mother, she discussed the situation with close friends, as well as her mother. After a bit more deliberation, she opted to go for it. As if by design, her first attempt at invitro fertilization was successful. Lainie was thrilled!

The first 27 weeks of Lainie's pregnancy were perfect and each day her excitement soared. At 28 weeks things changed in a heartbeat; the situation became critical and she was terrified. When preeclampsia reared its ugly head, an emergency C-section was the only option. Moreover, it came with no promise of survival for Mother or child. Lainie had already named her unborn son, Chance, and she prayed to God for just that a chance of survival for her child.

Weighing in at 1 pound and 15 ounces, the premature baby boy had been aptly named, for he was given a 50-50 chance of making it through his first night. Should he survive, he faced the probability of numerous health problems: mental retardation, cerebral palsy, blindness, and cystic fibrosis, to name only a few. The doctors were straightforward and not encouraging.

Lainie remained in intensive care for 10 anxiety-ridden days while her tiny son struggled to live. She held him for the first time when he was one week old. After three months in Neonatal Intensive Care, an overjoyed, yet fearful Mother took her still-fragile infant home. Lainie's mother traveled from Kansas to aid her youngest daughter and brand new grandson.

Due to chronic lung disease in premature babies, Chance would not be a daycare candidate for 2 years and Lainie was forced to make several major decisions. She left California and moved into her mother's roomy home in Kansas. Mom was more than willing to provide the emotional support Lainie needed and to help care for her young grandson.

Lainie was unable to continue her established career path in Kansas. Instead, her employment took the route of temporary jobs. Chance's therapy sessions and endless doctor appointments required her schedule to be flexible.

At 18 months of age Chance lags behind developmentally for a child his age, but he makes progress daily. It appears he has avoided all of the possible maladies that once loomed in his future. Furthermore, Chance dodged two additional obstacles that were thrown in his path those being, kidney and heart surgery. Both issues resolved themselves with no logical or scientific explanation! Since birth, it seems Chance has been cradled in God's loving hands.

When I last visited Chance, his bright eyes danced and he giggled while giving grandma high fives one after the other. In addition, the smile that graced grandma's proud face was priceless.

Despite all adjustments and challenges encountered, Chance fills Lainie's life with love, light, and joy daily. With mountains of love, a multitude of prayers, and the grace of God, chances are that Chance will lead a completely normal life...(Kathleene S. Baker)

A LOVE STORY

Someone got me upset and I was talking to my friend about it, and she said that I should sit down and write a love story; maybe it would make me feel better, so I did...

I miss my baby so but he's not here any more. And it's true, he's the one, who if I was getting worked up, he'd probably say something so that my anger would be directed towards him instead.

My heartthrob and soul; I miss the new meaning he puts in my life when he is around. The passage of time has made our bond stronger; our understanding of each other more deeper; our arguments longer because time has increased our knowledge of each other; our laughter more rich; our happiness more profound; our tears more poignant; our memories more nostalgic; our lives more rich because of the joy that a friendship as vibrant and fulfilling as ours brings; a friendship devoid of the illusions that lust gives, but yet filled with the mystery of love and undeniable attraction.v And yet, this is more of a dream than reality, because distance has become my worst enemy; the arm that twists the hands of fate and destiny. The realization that separation is not always a choice, but can be determined by miles and oceans, and countries and continents. The painful reality that life is not always fair and dreams are not always realized, but then the acknowledgement that all things will work out as they ought to, everything happens for a reason and maybe or maybe not, fate will unravel its cords in my favor. After all, it's no. (Dinah Hanson
)

A Dream Cannot Be Sold

Jehdi and Hassan were two merchants who were very close friends. Jehdi was a cheerful person, almost frivolous, whereas Hassan was very serious, perhaps too cautious and careful. But an unbreakable bond of friendship tied them together and this made their journey for business happy, for they never had any dispute.

One time they started together toward the city of Touria.

They arrived at the outskirts of a forest where the big trees, moist rocks and cool shade invited them to take a well-deserved rest. Within a minute Jehdi fell asleep.

Hassan looked at his friend with a sigh and told himself, "He sleeps peacefully in nature, as if he were in his own house. I am afraid of someone robbing me. Even though the thief might get very little, I am too apprehensive and I prefer to be cautious. After all, one never knows what might happen".

Hassan was ruminating over his anxiety when suddenly he saw a wasp coming out of Jehdi's left nostril. Its enigmatic dance surprised him. It flew toward a single pine tree standing on a rock, circled the tree 3 times, and then returned to the sleeping Jehdi and disappeared into his right nostril.

Just at that moment Jehdi woke up, sat up laughing and said, "Hassan, you will never believe me. I just had a marvelous dream. Just imagine that there is big pine tree standing on a high rock, exactly like the one you see there. A wasp droned around the trunk and its wings buzzed as if to say, "You must dig in this place, you must dig in this place!" I started digging and I found a big pot full of gold coins. I have never in my life seen so much money...!"

"Yes, truly it is a strange dream," replied Hassan. "If I were in your place, I would have dug around the pine tree there."

"My poor friend, how na?ve you are. I would never take a dream seriously. It is so hot here, to dig would be torture! Please, let us continue our journey.."

But Hassan insisted, "Jehdi, a dream like this surely has a meaning. If you do not want to dig, I will try instead. Do you know what I propose to you? Sell your dream to me."

Jehdi began laughing loudly. "This is a good piece of business for me! How much will you pay?"

"You have said that there is a big pile of gold coins. I am your friend and I do not want to wrong you. You tell me how much you estimate to be the price of your dream."

After a brief discussion, they agreed to the sum of 300 coins.

"Never have I made such a business deal. So much money for a simple dream of no value. How gullible you are, Hassan!"

The 2 friends then went under the pine tree which the wasp had shown in the dream. Jehdi was amused to see Hassan perspiring profusely and breaking his back with the shovel. He continued on until the shovel made a dull sound as if it had struck something hard.

What a surprise for the 2 merchants when they uncovered an earthen pot full of gold coins! Before breaking it, Hassan noted an inscription near the handle: "the first of seven."

"The first of 7. That means there should be 6 more pots buried," Jehdi understood, starting to regret the deal he had concluded too quickly.

This time both of them dug with energy and, sure enough, they found the 6 pots, one after another, each one filled to the brim with gold coins.

Hassan built a huge inn in the city and named it The Bulging Pot. He lived as a rich and satisfied man until his death.

Jehdi often came to visit him and greeted his friend with the words, "Well, Hassan, how are you? I have come to see what has happened to my dream." And the 2 comrades patted each other on the back laughing. But every time Jehdi returned home sadder, for he knew that he could never buy back his dream.(unknown)

A FRIEND

A Friend....
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally

(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffer support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

A Piece of My Heart

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.

Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said "Why, your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine." The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly, but it was full of scars. It had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing.

The people stared -- how can he say his heart is more beautiful, they thought? The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed. "You must be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine. Mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."

"Yes," said the old man, "yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love - I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared."

"Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges -- giving love, is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?"

The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands. The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges. The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man's heart flowed into his.

The Secret of Happiness

The old man shuffled slowly into the restaurant. With head tilted, and shoulders bent forward, he leaned on his trusty cane with each unhurried step.

His tattered cloth jacket, patched trousers, worn out shoes, and warm personality made him stand out from the usual Saturday morning breakfast crowd. Unforgettable were his pale blue eyes that sparkled like diamonds, large rosy cheeks, and thin lips held in a tight, steady smile.

He stopped, turned with his whole body, and winked at a little girl seated by the door. She flashed a big grin right back at him. A young waitress named Mary watched him shuffle toward a table by the window.

Mary ran over to him, and said, "Here, Sir. Let me give you a hand with that chair."

Without saying a word, he smiled and nodded a thank you. She pulled the chair away from the table. Steadying him with one arm, she helped him move in front of the chair, and get comfortably seated. Then she scooted the table up close to him, and leaned his cane against the table where he could reach it.

In a soft, clear voice he said, "Thank you, Miss. And bless you for your kind gestures."

"You're welcome, Sir." She replied. "And my name is Mary. I'll be back in a moment, and if you need anything at all in the mean time, just wave at me!"

After he had finished a hearty meal of pancakes, bacon, and hot lemon tea, Mary brought him the change from his ticket. He left it lay. She helped him up from his chair, and out from behind the table. She handed him his cane, and walked with him to the front door.

Holding the door open for him, she said, "Come back and see us, Sir!"

He turned with his whole body, winked a smile, and nodded a thank you. "You are very kind." he said softly.

When Mary went to clean his table, she almost fainted. Under his plate she found a business card and a note scribbled on a napkin. Under the napkin was a one hundred dollar bill.

The note on the napkin read...

"Dear Mary, I respect you very much, and you respect yourself too. It shows by the way you treat others. You have found the secret of happiness. Your kind gestures will shine through those who meet you."

The man she had waited on was the owner of the restaurant where she worked. This was the first time that she, or any of his employees had ever seen him in person.(Steve Brunkhorst)

I Can't, I Can

I know that motivational speakers and therapists discourage the use of the phrase, "I can't". They think it is too negative. But it's true, I really can't!

Sure, there are occasions when I can respond with a hearty "I can!" For example, I can brush my teeth. I can make a cheese sandwich. I can cuddle up with my dogs.

However, when it comes to the really big and important things, it seems that I have to respond with, "I CAN'T!" It's less of being negative than it is of being absolutely truthful. I CAN'T change a person's heart. I CAN'T feed all the hungry children in my neighborhood. I CAN'T mend a soul that's been wounded. I CAN'T fill an unloved person with love.

My hands are too weak. I can't. My heart is too timid. I can't. My will is too distracted. I can't. I can't. I can't!

It is then that I find the verse Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." All things? I can do things bigger than making a cheese sandwich? If I believe that verse is true, and I do, then I CAN!

More accurately, WE CAN! I don't mean you the reader and me the writer. I mean Jesus and I CAN. I mean Jesus and you CAN. I really mean Jesus, you and I CAN!

It is not conventional to announce one's weakness. Usually we try to hide them. When it comes to Christ, something amazing happens when we acknowledge and broadcast our own weakness. Consider 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."

When I stand out in the yard, and tell God and the world how weak I am, all of a sudden it is like my shirt changes to a superhero shirt, and I am wearing a red cape. With God in charge, I truly CAN DO ALL THINGS! So can you!

Jesus said in Matthew 17:20 "...for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." I guess it is a good thing that I like the mountains just where they are!

When you and I allow Jesus to take charge of our hands, He will do truly amazing and impossible things with them. Things that are so tremendous that our imaginations aren't big enough to picture them before they happen.

Has God been calling for you? Has He asked you for your hands and obedience? Have you responded with, "I can't." or "I am too weak."? Have you answered, "Not me God, pick someone stronger, more qualified."? Good. We honestly can't. We are honestly too weak. We are woefully under qualified. Now let God fill you, your heart and your hands, and get prepared to do great things. Be prepared to watch God use your hands to change hearts and minds. Be ready to be awed as God uses your hands to feed the hungry and love the unloved. Be ready to be touched as God uses your hands to bandage wounded souls.

James 4:7a, "Submit yourselves therefore to God." Then fasten your seatbelt, because God is going to do something great!