THE FATHER’S GIFT

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months
he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his
father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his
father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father
called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have
such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a
beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and
found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man’s name embossed in
gold. Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, “With all your money you
gave me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He
had a beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realized that his father was very
old, and thought perhaps that it was time that he should go to him. He had not
seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he
received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his
possessions to his only son. He realized that needed to come home immediately
and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his
heart. He began to search through his father’s important papers left in his private
study room and saw the still gift-wrapped Bible, just as he left it twenty years
ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and begun to turn the pages. His father had
carefully underlined a verse, Matthew 7:11 “And if you, being evil, know how
to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father
which is in Heaven, give to those who ask Him?” As he read those words,
a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer’s name,
the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date
of his graduation, and the words . . . PAID IN FULL.

No matter what you expect, be grateful for what you are given. It may be
more of a blessing than you think.

How many times do we miss God’s blessings because they are not packaged as
we expected?

How many times do we miss God’s blessings because we cannot see past our
own desires?
“Life Advice:

Always be the best person you can be.

Be kind even when you are tired.
Be understanding even you are angry.
Do more than you are asked, and do not ask
for anything in return. Do not silently
expect anything either. Listen when
someone talks, and really listen too,
stop just thinking of how you will reply.
Tell people that you love them and that
you appreciate them. Go out of your way
to do things for people. Be the greatest
person you can possibly be and when
you mess up, make up for it in the next
moment or minute or day. One thing you
should never do? Never spend your time
trying to prove to anybody that you are
great, your actions will speak for
themselves and we have only limited
time on this earth, do not waste it.
If someone does not see your light,
do not worry. Like moths, good people
are attracted to flame and to light,
and they will come.”

5 Cardinal Rules For Life

1) Make peace with your past

so it won’t disturb your present.

2) What other people think of you

is none of your business.

3) Time heals almost everything.

Give it time.

4) No one is in charge of your happiness.

Except you.

5) Do not compare your life to others

and do not judge them, you have no
idea what their journey is all about.
Forgive
anyone who
has caused
you pain or harm.

Keep in mind that forgiving

is not for others. It is for you.
Forgiving is not forgetting. It is
remembering without anger. It frees up
your power, heals your body, mind and spirit.
Forgiveness opens up a pathway
to a new place of peace where
you can persist despite what
has happened to you.

- Les Brown

Apology
A good apology has 3 parts:

1) I’m sorry.

2) It’s my fault.

3) What can I do to make it right?

Most people forget the third part.

“A mistake that makes you humble is better than

an achievement that makes you arrogant.”
If you made a mistake, apologize.
If you are thankful, say it.
If you are confused, ask questions.
If you learn something, teach it.
If you are stuck, ask for help.
If you are wrong, admit it.
If you can unselfishly give, give.
If you love someone, tell them now.

Sometimes You Must

Hurt in order to Know,
Fall in order to Grow,
Lose in order to Gain,
Because most of Life’s
greatest lessons are
Learned through Pain.
 We Remember Them
In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
we remember them.

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,

we remember them.

In the warmth of the sun and the peace of summer,

we remember them.

In the rustling of the leaves and the beauty of autumn,

we remember them.

In the beginning of the year and when it ends,

we remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength,

we remember them.

When we are lost and sick at heart,

we remember them.

When we have joys we yearn to share,

we remember them.

So long as we Iive, they too shall live,

for they are now part of us,
as we remember them.

(a Jewish Remembrance)
Earth Teach Me to Remember

Earth teach me stillness

as the grasses are stilled with light.
Earth teach me suffering
as old stones suffer with memory.
Earth teach me humility
as blossoms are humbled with beginning.
Earth teach me caring
as the mother who secures her young.
Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands alone.
Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.
Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.
Earth teach me to forget myself
as melted snow forgets its life.
Earth teach me to remember kindness
as dry fields weep in the rain.

Ute, North American