Story: 3,900 SATURDAYS The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday morning.

Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the garage with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper... in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it: I turned the dial up into the phone portion of the band on my ham radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning swap net. Along the way, I came across an older sounding chap, with a tremendous signal and a golden voice. You know the kind; he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business. He was telling whomever he was talking with something about "a thousand marbles." I was intrigued and stopped to listen to what he had to say. "Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. It's too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital," he continued; "Let me tell you something that has helped me keep my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles." "You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years. Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3,900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now, stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part. It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail," he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy. So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round up 1,000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside a large, clear plastic container right here in the shack next to my gear. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away. I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There's nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight. Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure that if I make it until next Saturday

then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time. It was nice to meet you Tom. I hope you spend more time with your family, and I hope to meet you again here on the band. This is a 75 year old man, K9NZQ, clear and going QRT, good morning!" You could have heard a pin drop on the band when this fellow signed off. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to work on the antenna that morning, and then I was going to meet up with a few hams to work on the next club newsletter. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss. "C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. And hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

Story: The Blind Girl There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend "If I could only see I would marry you." One day someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend. He asked her,"Now that you can see wil...l you marry me?" The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw he was blind. The sight of his eyelids shocked her. The thought of looking at him for the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left in tears and in days later wrote her a note saying" Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine. ~ Author Unknown Our friend Kim submitted this story. It's a sad story but I chose to share it because my interpretation of this story is that LOVE needs to be unconditional.See More

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked... 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood befo...re me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940...'s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware. 'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said.. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated'. 'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?' 'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly. 'Oh, I don't mind,' she said. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. 'What route would you like me to take?' I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'... We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico. Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we

pulled up.. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair. 'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse. 'Nothing,' I said 'You have to make a living,' she answered. 'There are other passengers,' I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. 'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said. 'Thank you.' I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life... I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift.. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away? On a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware and beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one. PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL. You might help make the world a little kinder and more compassionate and reminding us that often it is the random acts of kindness that most benefit all of us . Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Story: Life Is Like A Cup Of Coffee A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain loo...king, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups have been taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups. Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does not define, nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. Savor the coffee, not the cups! The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Story: A Glass of Milk One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. ...

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?" You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness." He said ... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit. Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room. Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ... "Paid in full with one glass of milk"

I just read this. It's really cute and heart-warming and I wanted to share it with you. By now, most of you know I love 'cheesy love stories' even though this one is from an oldie tellie show, it's still adorable... Mom, listen, I havent been together with Topanga for 22 years, but we have been together for 16. Thats a lot longer than most couples have been together. I mean, when we were bo...rn, you told me that we used to take walks in our strollers together around the block. When we were two, we were best friends. I mean, I knew everything about this girl. I knew her favorite color, her favorite food. Then we became six, Eric made fun of me because it wasnt cool to have a best friend that was a girl or even

know a girl. So for the next seven years I threw dirt at her. I like to call those the lost years. Then when I was thirteen, mom, she put me up against my locker and she kissed me. I mean, she gave me my first kiss. She taught me how to dance. She always was talking about these crazy things and I never understood a word she said. All I understood was that she was the girl I sat up every night thinking about, and when Im with her, I feel happy to be alive. Like I can do anything. Even talk to you like this. So thats, thats what I think is love, mom. When Im better because shes here. - Cory Matthews, Boy Meets World

tory: A Letter from "Mom and Dad" My child, When I get old, I hope you understand and have patience with me. In case I break the plate, or spill soup on the table because Im losing my eyesight, I hope you dont yell at me. Older people are sensitive, always having self pity when you yell. When my hearing gets worse 'n I cant hear what youre saying, I hope you dont call me Deaf! Please rep...eat what you said or write it down. Im sorry, my child. Im getting older. When my knees get weaker, I hope you have the patience to help me get up. Like how I used to help you while you were little, learning how to walk. Please bear with me, when I keep repeating myself like a broken record, I hope you just keep listening to me. Please dont make fun of me, or get sick of listening to me. Do you remember when you were little and you wanted a ballon? You repeated yourself over and over until you get what you wanted. Please also pardon my smell. I smell like an old person. Please dont force me to shower. My body is weak. Old people get sick easily when theyre cold. I hope I dont gross you out. Do you remember when you were little? I used to chase you around because you didnt want to shower. I hope you can be patient with me when Im always cranky. Its all part of getting old. Youll understand when youre older. And if you have spare time, I hope we can talk even for a few minutes. Im always all by myself all the time, and have no one to talk to. I know youre busy with work. Even if youre not interested in my stories, please have time for me. Do you remember when you were little? I used to listen to your stories about your teddy bear. When the time comes, and I get ill and bedridden, I hope you have the patience to take care of me. Im sorry if I accidentally wet the bed or make a mess. I hope you have the patience to take care of me during the last few moments of my life. Im not going to last much longer, anyway. When the time of my death comes, I hope you hold my hand and give me strength to face death.

And dont worry... When I finally meet our creator, I will whisper in his ear to bless you. Because you loved your Mom and Dad. Thank you so much for your care. We love you. !

Story: STOP AND HEAR THE MUSIC Location: Washington, DC Metro Station on a cold January morning in 2007. A man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about forty five minutes. During that time approximately two thousand people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. ... After three minutes, a middle-aged man noticed there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds and then hurried to meet his schedule. 4 minutes later: The violinist received his first dollar; a woman threw the money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 6 minutes: A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 10 minutes: A three-year old boy stopped but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. Every parent, without exception, forced their children to move on quickly. 45 minutes: The musician played continuously. Only six people stopped and listened for a short while. About twenty gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32. 1 hour: He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed. No one applauded, nor was there any

recognition. No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth thirty-five million dollars. Two days before Joshua Bell sold out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100. This is a true story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post in 2007 as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and peoples priorities. The questions raised: In a commonplace environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context? If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made Its an important reminder about the power of our attention - its not about the beauty of the music, its about our willingness to hear it and appreciate it. How many other things are we missing? This picture is of Joshua Bell with his violin. This is a true story

Story: Solving an Unsolved Problem "I was a mathematics graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley. Arriving late to class as usual, I quickly copied the two math problems from the blackboard, assuming they were the homework assignment. When I sat down to work on them that evening, I found them to be the most difficult problems my professor had ever assigned. Night after night I w...orked, trying first to solve one then the other with no success. But I kept at it. "Several days later, I made a breakthrough and solved both problems. I took the homework to class the next day. The professor told me to leave it on his desk. It was piled so high with papers that I was concerned my homework would get lost in the clutter. Reluctantly, I dropped it off and went on my way. "Six weeks later, on a Sunday morning, I was awakened by a pounding on the door. I was startled to see it was my professor. 'George! George! he was shouting, 'You solved them!' " 'Yes, of course,' I said. 'Wasn't I supposed to?' The professor explained that the two problems on the

blackboard were not homework; they were two famous outstanding problems that leading mathematicians so far had not been able to solve. He could hardly believe that in only a few days I had solved them both. "If someone had told me that they were famous unsolved problems, I probably wouldn't have even tried to solve them. It goes to show the power of positive thinking." Written by: George Dantzig George Dantzig is a professor of Operations Research and Computer Science at Stanford University. On a Personal Note: This story reminds me of a quote by Mary Kay Ash, "Because of its tiny wings and heavy body, aerodynamically the bumblebee shouldn't be able to fly. But the bumblebee doesn't know that, so it flies anyway." In a perfect world, if nobody was there to tell you that you couldn't do something, your mind wouldn't know that and so therefore, it would accomplish and solve everything thrown its way. Since we don't live in a perfect world, all it means is we need to block out the negatives that are thrown our way so we could resolve and achieve anything and everything we set our minds to

ry: A Puppy Story Many months ago one of my friends sent me the following story. It is very touching and I absolutely love it. In fact, I will never forget this story. At times I send it via email as I meet new people and they end up becoming friends. "Danielle keeps repeating it over and over again. We've been back to this animal shelter at least five times. It has been weeks now since we s...tarted all of this," the mother told the volunteer. "What is it she keeps asking for?" the volunteer asked. "Puppy size!" replied the mother. "Well, we have plenty of puppies, if that's what she's looking for." "I know..... We have seen most of them", the mom said in frustration. Just then Danielle came walking into the office. "Well, did you find one?" asked her mom.

"No, not this time," Danielle said with sadness in her voice. "Can we come back on the weekend?" The two women looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed. "You never know when we will get more dogs. Unfortunately, there's always a supply," the volunteer said. Danielle took her mother by the hand and headed to the door. "Don't worry, I'll find one this weekend," she said. Over the next few days both Mom and Dad had long conversations with her. They both felt she was being too particular. "It's this weekend or we're not looking any more," Dad finally said in frustration. "We don't want to hear anything more about puppy size, either," Mom added. Sure enough, they were the first ones in the shelter on Saturday morning. By now Danielle knew her way around, so she ran right for the section that housed the smaller dogs. Tired of the routine, mom sat in the small waiting room at the end of the first row of cages. There was an observation window so you could see the animals during times when Visitors weren't permitted. Danielle walked slowly from cage to cage, kneeling periodically to take a closer look. One by one the dogs were brought out and she held each one. One by one she said, "Sorry, but you're not the one." It was the last cage on this last day in search of the perfect puppy. The volunteer opened the cage door and the child carefully picked up the dog and held it closely. This time she took a little longer. "Mom, that's it! I found the right puppy! He's the one! I know it!" She screamed with joy. "It's the puppy sighs!" "But it's the same size as all the other puppies you held over the last few weeks," Mom said. "No, NOT size... the sighs. When I held him in my arms, he sighed," she said. "Don't you remember? When I asked you one day what love is, you told me love depends on the sighs of your heart. The more you love, the bigger the sigh!" The two women looked at each other for a moment. Mom didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As she stooped down to hug the child, she did a little of both. "Mom, every time you hold me, I sigh. When you and Daddy come home from work and hug each other, you both sigh. I knew I would find the right puppy if it sighed when I held it in my arms," she said. Then, holding the puppy up close to her face, she said, "Mom, he loves me. I heard the sighs of his heart!" Close your eyes for a moment and think about the love that makes you sigh. I not only find it in the arms of my loved ones, but in the caress of a sunset, the kiss of the moonlight and the gentle brush of cool air on a hot day. They are the sighs of God. Take the time to stop and listen; you will be surprised at what you hear. "Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away."

I hope your life is filled with Sighs!!! Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! Life is too short and friends are too few. Life is too short to wake up with regrets. Love the people who treat you right and forget about the ones who don't!

Story: Handling Adversity, Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with wat...er. In the first, she placed carrots. In the second, she placed eggs and the last one, she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil without saying a word. In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, Tell me what you see? Carrots, eggs, and coffee, she replied. She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted they got soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, Whats the point, mom? Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversitythe boiling waterbut each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its insides became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water they had changed the water. Which one are you? she asked her daughter. When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like a coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

Story: Rose's Dream The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that that lit up her entire being. ... She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel." "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and share a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I

was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!" "There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eightyseven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change." "Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Story: Rose's Dream The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that that lit up her entire being. ... She said, "Hi, handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?" I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked. She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, have a couple of children, and then retire and travel." "No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age. "I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and share a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know." As we laughed she cleared her throat and began: "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. "You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it!" "There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eightyseven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding the opportunity in change."

"Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets." She concluded her speech by courageously singing The Rose. She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the years end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

True Story... The following incident took place when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home wearing clothes that were not modest. Here is the story as told by one of his daughters: When we finally arrived, the chauffeur escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged many hugs and kisses as we coul...d possibly give in one day. My father took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes and said, "Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is covered and hard to get to. Where do you find diamonds? Deep down in the ground, covered and protected. Where do you find pearls? Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a beautiful shell. Where do you find gold? Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock. You've got to work hard to get to them." He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too."

Story: Loving Burnt Biscuits When I was a kid, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work... On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad. I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did w...as reach for his

biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite! When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits." Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!" Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people. I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each others faults - and choosing to celebrate each others differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship. And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker! We could extend this to any relationship. In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship! "Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own." God Bless You Now and Always So please pass me a biscuit, and YES, the burnt one will do just fine!!! And PLEASE pass this along to someone who has enriched your life.

Story: Eight Lies of a Mother This story begins when I was a child: I was born poor. Often we hadnt enough to eat. Whenever we had some food, Mother often gave me her portion of rice. While she was transferring her rice into my bowl, she would say Eat this rice, son! Im not hungry. This was Mothers First Lie. ... As I grew, Mother gave up her spare time to fish in a river near our house; she hoped that from the fish she caught, she could give me a little bit more nutritious food for my growth. Once she had caught just two fish, she would make fish soup. While I was eating the soup, mother would sit beside me and eat

what was still left on the bone of the fish I had eaten, My heart was touched when I saw it. Once I gave the other fish to her on my chopstick but she immediately refused it and said, Eat this fish, son! I dont really like fish. This was Mothers Second Lie. Then, in order to fund my education, Mother went to a Match Factory to bring home some used matchboxes, which she filled with fresh matchsticks. This helped her get some money to cover our needs. One wintry night I awoke to find Mother filling the matchboxes by candlelight. So I said, Mother, go to sleep; its late: you can continue working tomorrow morning. Mother smiled and said Go to sleep, son! Im not tired. This was Mothers Third Lie. When I had to sit my Final Examination, Mother accompanied me. After dawn, Mother waited for me for hours in the heat of the sun. When the bell rang, I ran to meet her. Mother embraced me and poured me a glass of tea that she had prepared in a thermos. The tea was not as strong as my Mothers love. Seeing Mother covered with perspiration, I at once gave her my glass and asked her to drink too. Mother said Drink, son! Im not thirsty!. This was Mothers Fourth Lie. After Fathers death, Mother had to play the role of a single parent. She held on to her former job; she had to fund our needs alone. Our familys life was more complicated. We suffered from starvation. Seeing our familys condition worsening, my kind Uncle who lived near my house came to help us solve our problems big and small. Our other neighbors saw that we were poverty stricken so they often advised my mother to marry again. But Mother refused to remarry saying I dont need love. This was Mothers Fifth Lie. After I had finished my studies and gotten a job, it was time for my old Mother to retire but she carried on going to the market every morning just to sell a few vegetables. I kept sending her money but she was steadfast and even sent the money back to me. She said, I have enough money. That was Mothers Sixth Lie. I continued my part-time studies for my Masters Degree. Funded by the American Corporation for which I worked, I succeeded in my studies. With a big jump in my salary, I decided to bring Mother to enjoy life in America but Mother didnt want to bother her son; she said to me Im not used to high living. That was Mothers Seventh Lie.

In her dotage, Mother was attacked by cancer and had to be hospitalized. Now living far across the ocean, I went home to visit Mother who was bedridden after an operation. Mother tried to smile but I was heartbroken because she was so thin and feeble but Mother said, Dont cry, son! Im not in pain. That was Mothers Eighth Lie. Telling me this, her eighth lie, she died. YES, MOTHER WAS AN ANGEL! MOTHER M is for the Million things she gave me, O means Only that shes growing old, T is for the Tears she shed to save me, H is for her Heart of gold, E is for her Eyes with love-light shining in them, R means Right, and right shell always be. Put them all together, they spell MOTHER a word that means the world to me. For those of you who are lucky to be still blessed with your Moms presence on Earth, this story is beautiful. For those who arent so blessed, this is even more beautiful. Story written by Author Unknown

True Story: Drawing the Line Between Possible and Impossible A teacher in his early thirties has earned the attention of 11,000 international global warming experts by doing something previously deemed virtually "impossible" with current technology.

When Louis Palmer heard that scientists around the world were looking for ways to reduce emissions of heat-trapped gases by 20 percent over the next... few years, Palmer said, "We're aiming too low. I want to show that we can reduce emissions by 100 percent--that's what our world needs for the future." So Palmer became a man with a mission. He took a leave of absence from his teaching job and, with help from his Swiss engineers, built a 100 percent solar-powered two-seater car that travels up to 55 mph and covers 185 miles on a fully-charged battery. To show people that the impossible was both possible and practical, he then spent 17 months driving his car around the world, traveling through 38 countries for a total of 32,000 miles--all without using a single drop of oil or gas. Palmer's remarkable journey has already had an impact on thousands of delegates to the U.N. Climate Treaty Conference, as well as on major car-makers. Palmer says there's no reason why car companies couldn't make a much better version of his solar-powered car if they truly collaborated and set their minds to it. "We have to stop saying it's impossible," he says. "These new technologies are ready. It's ecological, it's economical, it is absolutely reliable. We can stop global warming." We can, if we will.

Seattle is a beautiful place, but in the 1980's I was living in a beat-up beach cabin. I had an old TV, a lumpy futon, and one of those white plastic Princess phones. I was basically broke, but my noisy old refrigerator was stuffed with fresh vegetables, eggs, fruit, beer and frozen pizza--and I had a spectacular view of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains and the Seattle skyline. That year, I vol...unteered to host a college exchange student from Guinea-Bissau, Africa. When I picked him up at the airport, Salvatore was easy to spot. He was 23, tall and regal-looking, with a huge smile and lustrous blue-black skin. He had lived his entire life as a barefoot fisherman in a small native village located on a big river deep in the jungle of Guinea-Bissau--and now his village had raised the money to send him to study U.S. Fisheries on their behalf. He had travelled directly from his African village to Seattle, and I could see he was astonished at what he saw as we drove through the beautiful city. When we arrived at my raggedy cabin, I worried that Salvatore might be disappointed with his new accommodations. He seemed somber as I showed him the little bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, TV and telephone. What was Salvatore thinking? I decided to take him out on the little deck to try to impress him with the view. The snow-clad mountains were spread out against the sky that day, and one of Seattle's majestic white ferries was gliding across the sparkling waters of Puget Sound. We stood there silently for awhile, and then Salvatore turned to me with his brow deeply in thought.

"You are a king?" he asked. "No," I laughed, "I'm just an everyday person like you." Salvatore was silent for a moment, and then he turned again and said quite clearly and emphatically, "You are a king." And it suddenly dawned on me that he was right. All these years I had been a king and not known it.

Story: When God takes your Picture A little girl walked daily to and from school. Though the weather that morning was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trip to school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning. The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school, and she... herself feared that the electrical storm might harm her child. Following the roar of thunder, lightning, through the sky and full of concern, the mother quickly got in her car and drove along the route to her child's school. As she did so, she saw her little girl walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up and smile. Another and another were to follow quickly, each with the little girl stopping, looking up and smiling. Finally, the mother called over to her child and asked, "What are you doing?" The child answered, smiling, "God just keeps taking pictures of me."

Story: The Emperors Seed An emperor in the Far East was growing old and knew it was time to choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his children, he decided something different. He called young people in the Kingdom together one day. He said, It is time for me to step down and choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you. ... The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. I am going to give each one of you a seed today, one very special seed. I want you to plant the seed, water it and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor! One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and

excitedly told his mother the story. She helped him get a pot and planting soil, and he planted the seed and watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about 3 weeks, some of the other youths began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow. Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants but Ling didnt have a plant, and he felt like a failure. Six months went by; still nothing in Lings pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling didnt say anything to his friends. He just kept waiting for his seed to grow. A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their plants to the emperor for inspection. Ling told his mother that he wasnt going to take an empty pot but his Mother said he must be honest about what happened. Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his Mother was right. He took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful, in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him and just said, Hey nice try. When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young people. Ling just tried to hide in the back. My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown, said the emperor. Today, one of you will be appointed the next emperor! All of a sudden, the emperor spotted Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. The emperor knows Im a failure! Maybe he will have me killed! When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. My name is Ling, he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him. The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He looked at Ling, and then announced to the crowd, Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling! Ling couldnt believe it. Ling couldnt even grow his seed. How could he be the new emperor? Then the emperor said, One year ago today, I gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds, which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor! If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.

If you plant goodness, you will reap friends. If you plant humility, you will reap greatness. If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory. If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony. If you plant hard work, you will reap success. If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation. If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy. If you plant patience, you will reap improvements. If you plant faith, you will reap miracles. But: If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust. If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness. If you plant pride, you will reap destruction. If you plant envy, you will reap trouble. If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation. If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation. If you plant greed, you will reap loss. If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies. If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles. If you plant sin, you will reap guilt.

Story: Just Five More Minutes While at the park one day, a woman sat down next to a man on a bench near a playground. Thats my son over there, she said, pointing to a little boy in a red sweater who was gliding down the slide. ... Hes a fine looking boy the man said. Thats my daughter on the bike in the white dress. Then, looking at his watch, he called to his daughter. What do you say we go, Melissa? Melissa pleaded, Just five more minutes, Dad. Please? Just five more minutes. The man nodded and Melissa continued to ride her bike to her hearts content. Minutes passed and the father stood and called again to his daughter. Time to go now? Again Melissa pleaded, Five more minutes, Dad. Just five more minutes.

The man smiled and said, OK. My, you certainly are a patient father, the woman responded. The man smiled and then said, Her older brother Tommy was killed by a drunk driver last year while he was riding his bike near here. I never spent much time with Tommy and now Id give anything for just five more minutes with him. Ive vowed not to make the same mistake with Melissa. She thinks she has five more minutes to ride her bike. The truth is, I get Five more minutes to watch her play. Life is all about making priorities, what are your priorities? Give someone you love 5 more minutes of your time today!

Plato's mentor was Socrates. Plato thought Socrates was the wisest person of this time and he passionately desired to learn all of Socrates' wisdom. Legend has it that one day Socrates and Plato were walking down the beach deep in conversation. At one point, Socrates said to Plato, "Walk with me into the ocean." They turned and walked into the sea together. Now, in your imagination, picture that... happening: Student and teacher, two of the greatest philosophers of history, striding into the surf side by side. The water started out around their ankles, then rose up to their knees. As the water got higher Plato wondered, "What is the lesson my master is trying to teach me?" When the water was about shoulder height, Socrates abruptly grabbed Plato's head and pushed him down under the water. As Plato was held down, he undoubtedly wondered again what this lesson was all about. After a time, when Plato ran out of air, he began to struggle to get his head above water. He punched and kicked and grabbed to get free, but Socrates was a strong man and held him down. Finally, Plato blacked out due to lack of oxygen. Socrates pulled him ashore and resuscitated him. When Plato regained consciousness, he angrily accused Socrates of trying to drown him. Socrates matter-of factly explained, "If that had been my intention, I would not have pulled you ashore." "Then why did you do that?" Plato demanded.

Socrates calmly replied, "When you desire my knowledge like you desired that breath of air, then you shall have it." So many people desire things. They wish for a wildly romantic long lasting relationship, for financial independence, for fame, or to make a difference in other people's lives, but for most people, they do not desire it like Plato wanted that breath of air. Only with a large hunger will you put up with the large discomfort and inconvenience required to be successful. This is the single biggest reason why people aren't more successful in life and work. They don't truly NEED it. Question: How bad do you want to achieve your goals? And what are you going to do in order to make that a reality?

Story: A Lesson In Holding On To The Unnecessary The way to catch a monkey is to use a box with a small opening at the top. Big enough for the monkey to slide its hand inside. Inside the box are nuts to lure the monkeys. ... The monkey will grab the nuts with its hand and forms a fist. When the monkey tries to get its hand out, the opening will be too small for the fist to come out. The monkey has a choice to either let go of the nuts in order to escape or to hang on to the nuts and get captured. It is sad that the monkey will hold on to the nuts and risks being caught. Lesson: We all have the habit to hold on to old things and ideas because we are afraid of the uncertainties the future may bring and so we refuse to change.

Story: Do You Have Your Priorities Straight? A man came home from work late again, tired and irritated, to find his 5 year old son waiting for him at the door.

Daddy, may I ask you a question? ... Yeah, sure, what is it? replied the man. Daddy, how much money do you make an hour? Thats none of your business! What makes you ask such a thing? the man said angrily. I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour? pleaded the little boy. If you must know, I make $20 an hour. Oh, the little boy replied, head bowed. Looking up, he said, Daddy, may I borrow $10.00 please? The father was furious. If the only reason you wanted to know how much money I make is just so you can borrow some to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why youre being so selfish. I work long, hard hours every day and dont have time for such childish games. The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even madder about the little boys questioning. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think he may have been a little hard on his son. Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $10.00 and he really didnt ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boys room and opened the door. Are you asleep son? he asked. No daddy, Im awake, replied the boy. Ive been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier, said the man. Its been a long day and I took my aggravation out on you. Heres that $10.00 youve asked for. The little boy sat straight up, beaming. Oh, thank you daddy! he yelled. Then reaching under his pillow, he pulled out some more crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, then looked up at his father. Why did you want more money if you already had some? the father grumbled. Because I didnt have enough, but now I do, the little boy replied. Daddy, I have $20.00 now. Can I buy an hour of your time?

Story: Who I Am Makes A Difference

A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in high school by telling them the difference they each made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First, she told each of them how they made a difference to her and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon imprinted with gold letters which read, Who I ...Am Makes a Difference. Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a community. She gave each of the students three more ribbons and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom and report back to the class in about a week. One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, Were doing a class project on recognition, and wed like you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened. Later that day the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius. The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, Well, sure. The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his bosss jacket above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, Would you do me a favor? Would you take this extra ribbon and pass it on by honoring somebody else? The young boy who first gave me the ribbons, is doing a project in school and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it effects people. That night the boss came home to his 14-year-old son and sat him down. He said, the most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine. He think Im a creative genius. Then he put this blue ribbon that says, Who I Am Makes a Difference on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are really hectic and when I come home I dont pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school and for your bedroom being a mess, but somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. Youre a great kid and I love you! The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldnt stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, I was planning on committing suicide tomorrow, Dad, because I didnt think you loved me. Now I know you care. This is the happiest day Ive known.

The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch but made sure to let all his employees know that they made a difference. The junior executive helped several other people with career planning and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his lifeone being the bosses son. And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson. Who you are DOES make a difference. If you know anyone who makes a difference for you, let them know. You never know what kind of difference a little encouragement can make to a person.

Story: A Mayonnaise Jar and Two Beers When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers. A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then ask...ed the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous yes. The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. Now, said the professor as the laughter subsided, I want you to recognise that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important thingsyour family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passionsand if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything elsethe small stuff. If you put the sand into the jar first, he continued, there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.. Spend time with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls firstthe things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented. The professor smiled and said, Im glad you asked. The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, theres always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

Story: Why Do Dogs Leave Earth First? (a child answers) " Being a veterinarian, I have been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named, Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found that he was dying of Cancer. I told the family that we couldn't do anything ...more for Belker and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog, in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me that they thought it would be good for six-year-old, Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. The young boy, Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a long while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animals lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, " I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. what came out of his mouth stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. it has changed the way I try to live. He said, " People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life-- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, " Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.

Story: The Bird and the Cage Once upon a time, there was a bird. He was adorned with two perfect wings and with glossy, colorful, marvelous feathers. In short, he was a creature made to fly about freely in the sky, bringing joy to everyone who saw him.

... One day, a woman saw this bird and fell in love with him. She watched his flight, her mouth wide in amazement, her heart pounding, her eyes shining with excitement. She invited the bird to fly with her, and the two travelled across the sky in perfect harmony. She admired and venerated and celebrated that bird. But then she thought: He might want to visit far-off mountains! And she was afraid, afraid that she would never feel the same way about any other bird. And she felt envy, envy for the birds ability to fly. And she thought: Im going to set a trap. The next time the bird appears, he will never leave again. The bird, who was also in love, returned the following day, fell into the trap and was put in a cage. She looked at the bird every day. There he was, the object of her passion, and she showed him to her friends, who said: Now you have everything you could possibly want. However, a strange transformation began to take place: now that she had the bird and no longer needed to woo him, she began to lose interest. The bird, unable to fly and express the true meaning of his life, began to waste away and his feathers to lose their gloss; he grew ugly; and the woman no longer paid him any attention, except by feeding him and cleaning out his cage. One day, the bird died. The woman felt terribly sad and spent all her time thinking about him. But she did not remember the cage, she thought only of the day when she had seen him for the first time, flying contentedly amongst the clouds. If she had looked more deeply into herself, she would have realized that what had thrilled her about the bird was his freedom, the energy of his wings in motion, not his physical body. Without the bird, her life too lost all meaning, and Death came knocking at her door. Why have you come? she asked Death. So that you can fly once more with him across the sky, Death replied. If you had allowed him to come and go, you would have loved and admired him ever more; alas, you now need me in order to find him again.

tory: Hands by Albrecht Durer Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood. Despite their seemingly ...hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elders children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue

their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy. After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines. They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrechts etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works. When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrechts triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you. All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, No no no no. Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother for me it is too late. More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durers hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durers works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office. One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brothers abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply Hands, but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love The Praying Hands.

The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one no one ever makes it alone! We all need help!See More

Story: Why Do We Shout In Anger? A master asked his disciples: Why do we shout in anger? Why do people shout at each other when they are upset? ... The disciples thought for a while, and one of them said Because we lose our calm, we shout for that. But, why to shout when the other person is just next to you? Isnt it possible to speak to him or her with a soft voice? Why do you shout at a person when youre angry? The disciples gave him some other answers but none satisfied the master. Finally he explained: When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other through that great distance. Then the master asked: What happens when two people fall in love? They dont shout at each other but talk softly, why? Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is very small And he concluded: When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper and they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other and thats all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.

Story: The 57 Cent Church A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was 'too crowded.' 'I can't go to Sunday School,' she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by. ... Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand,

took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. Some two years later, this child lay dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kindhearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements. As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump. Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: 'This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School.' For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building. But the story does not end there... A newspaper learned of the story and published It It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands. When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents. Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide. Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends. When you are in the city of Philadelphia , look up Temple Baptist Church , with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit TempleUniversity, where thousands of students are educated. Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time. In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, 'Acres of Diamonds'.

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

A long time ago when I was young and VERY shy, I was at a function. The kind of event that's usually in a ballroom and there is assigned seating. Maybe a wedding, but I was alone. I remember that much. I also remember the low lighting and soft music playing. Everything that the light, from the small dim lamps, could not reach was illuminated by only a candle. The soft mus...ic matched this mood and it came from a small jazz trio hidden away in the corner. I was up walking around taking in this beautiful scene and made my way back to my table. Just before I reached to pull my chair out. A girl stopped me. I was stunned for a moment by her beauty. She asked me to dance. I was not much of a dancer, but the song that was playing was slow. So, I agreed and she pulled me by the arm through the maze of tables. We stopped at the dancing area and just looked at each other for a moment. Still stunned by her, I felt a sense of numbness. The kind where you don't know if your knees are going to give out and you feel little control over your legs and feet. So, We danced VERY slowly. She had these dark eyes that attracted every little bit of candlelight from the tables. It had this shimmering effect and I just stared into them. Feeling as if I was truly looking deeper within her, I became lost. This was totally unexpected. When the dance was over, she said "Thank you" and gave me a hug. I went back to my seat. I was flustered to say the least. I just couldn't think straight. I didn't know what to do next. My thought process was this. She was forward enough to ask me to dance. If she truly liked me, she would have said something more. So, what did I do? I let her go. We both left without meeting again. In fact, the last I saw of her was that last hug goodbye. In my peaceful times, this memory will eventually find me. Walking on the beach, looking over an empty field, even having coffee on the porch. I will always come across this replaying in my mind. This memory is the most beautiful memory I have. Yet, the ending thought is plagued by what I did. I cowered away in the face of love. Not only did I let love slip through my fingers, I literally turned my back on it. They say that love comes when you're not looking for it. But I will tell you this. When it DOES come, be ready. Story: The Cracked Jar An Indian legend tells of a man who carried water to his village every day, in two large jars tied to the ends of a wooden pole, which he balanced on his back. One of the jars was older than the other, and had some small cracks; every time the man covered the distance to his house, half of the water was lost.

... The younger jar was always very proud of its performance, safe in the knowledge that it was up to the mission it had been made for, while the other jar was mortified with shame at only fulfilling half of its allotted task. It was so ashamed that one day, while the man got ready to fetch water from the well, it decided to speak to him: I want to apologize, but because of the many years of service, you are only able to deliver half of my load, and quench half of the thirst which awaits you at your home. The man smiled, and said: When we return, observe carefully the path. And so it did. And the jar noticed that, on its side, many flowers and plants grew. See how nature is more lovely on your side? commented the man. I always knew you were cracked, and decided to make use of this fact. I planted flowers and vegetables, and you have always watered them. I have picked many roses to decorate my house with, I have fed my children with lettuce, cabbage and onions. If you were not as you are, how could I have done that? All of us, at some point, grow old and start to acquire other qualities. We can always make the most of each one of these new qualities and obtain a good result.