Widowed And Scarred Mother

A widowed mother leaves her house and went to fetch water, leaving her only child asleep. On her return, she found a large crowd around her burning house. On the inside, her son is about to die in the fire. Throwing her bowl of water on the floor and crying, she wants to get into the burning house to look for her son. Everyone keeps saying, “You are going to die too fire is very great.”

Escaping from their hands, she enters the fire and wrapped her son in a blanket. The child, tight against her breast, is not touched by the fire. Mummy comes out severely burnt & is only narrowly saved; thanks to the care of the hospital, but she lives with scars and unrecognizable.

Many years passed. The child, under the guidance of his mother, completed his studies & was appointed minister. He organized a party at his villa on his appointment, and invited all the dignitaries of the city and his friends.

While they were in the party, noises were heard at the door of the entrance to the villa. The son was forced to go and resolve the situation. He found that the security officers were preventing his mother from joining the party. He had not invited her but she also wanted to join the party.

Faced with this situation in front of his guests, he said tenderly to his mother: “Please, Mom, I would be ashamed to have you appear before my friends. We can have a meeting later. “And in secret, he ordered the security services to throw out his mother because of her scars and went into continue partying.

This woman represents Jesus who sacrificed himself for us. He saved us by sacrificing his life. It is He who has received the scars because of us.

Today, what place do we give him in our life? How do we treat him? Are we ashamed of His scars? Do we receive him into our heart & life in our good times? Are we happy to introduce our Master to our “wealthy” friends?” Are we ready to witness him?

“If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” Mk 8:38 (Mt 10:33; 2Tim 2:12)

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Pray To God For Direction !

There were three ships which were nearby when the Titanic sunk.

One Ship was known as Sampson. It was seven miles away from the Titanic and they saw the white flares signaling danger, but because the crew had been hunting seals illegally and didn’t want to be caught, so they turned and took opposite direction, away from the Titanic.

This ship represents people like us who are so busy looking inward at our own sin and lives that we can’t recognize when someone else is in need.

The next ship was the Californian. This ship was only 14 miles away from the Titanic, but they were surrounded by ice fields and the captain looked out and saw the white flares, but because the conditions weren’t favorable and it was dark, he decided to go back to bed and wait until morning. The crew tried to convince themselves that nothing was happening.

This ship represents those  who say I can’t do anything now. The conditions aren’t right for it and so we wait until conditions are perfect before going out.

The last ship was the Carpathia. This ship was actually headed in a southern direction 58 miles away from the Titanic when they heard the distress cries over the radio. The captain of this ship knelt down, prayed to God for direction and then turned the ship around and went full steam ahead through the ice fields. This was the ship that saved the 705 survivors of the Titanic.

When the captain looked back at the ice fields they had come through, he said Someone else hands must have been at the helm of this ship!

This ship represents those who would pray to God for direction and then go without hesitation.

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Life whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart. We need to take time to listen to these whispers and take heed.

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Honesty That Paid!

At the point of death, a man, Tom Smith, called his children and advised them to follow his footsteps so that they can have peace of mind in all that they do.

His daughter, Sara, said, "Daddy, its unfortunate you are dying without a penny in your bank. Other fathers' that you tag as being corrupt, thieves of public funds left houses and properties for their children; even this house we live in is a rented apartment. Sorry, I can't emulate you, just go, let's chart our own course.

Few moments later, their father gave up the spirit.

Three years later, Sara went for an interview in a multinational company. At interview the Chairman of the committee asked, "Which Smith are you?"

Sara replied, "I am Sara Smith. My Dad Tom Smith is now late." Chairman cuts in, "O my God, you are Tom Smith's daughter?"

He turned to the  other members and said, "This Smith man was the one that signed my membership form into the Institute of Administrators and his recommendation earned me where I am today. He did all these free. I didn't even know his address, he never knew me. He just did it for me." He turned to Sara, "I have no questions for you, consider yourself as having gotten this job, come tomorrow, your letter will be waiting for you."

Sara Smith became the Corporate Affairs Manager of the company with two Cars with Drivers, A duplex attached to the office, and a salary of £1,00,000 per month excluding allowances and other costs.

After two years of working in the company, the MD of the company came from America to announce his intention to resign and needed a replacement. A personality with high integrity was sought after, again the company's Consultant nominated Sara Smith.

In an interview, she was asked the secret of her success. With tears, she replied, "My Daddy paved these ways for me. It was after he died that I knew that he was financially poor but strikingly rich in integrity, discipline and honest".

She was asked again, why she is weeping since she is no longer a kid as to miss her dad still after a long time.

She replied, "At the point of death, I insulted my dad for being an honest man of integrity. I hope he will forgive me in his grave now. I didn't work for all these, he did it for me to just walk in".

So, finally she was asked, "Will you follow your father's foot steps as he requested ?"

And her simple answer was, "l now adore the man, I have a big picture of him in my living room and at the entrance of my house. He deserves whatever I have after God".

Are you like Tom Smith? It pays to build a name, the reward doesn't come quickly but it will come however long it may take & it lasts longer.

Integrity, discipline, self control and fear of God makes a man wealthy, not the fat bank account.

Leave a good heritage for your children.

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Never Judge Anyone !

A doctor entered the hospital in hurry after being called in for an urgent surgery. He answered the call asap, changed his clothes and went directly to the surgery block. He found the boy’s father pacing in the hall waiting for the doctor. On seeing him, the dad yelled: "Why did you take all this time to come? Don’t you know that my son’s life is in danger? Don’t you have any sense of responsibility?”

The doctor smiled and said: “I am sorry, I wasn’t in the hospital and I came as fast as I could after receiving the call. And now, I wish you’d calm down so that I can do my work”.

“Calm down?! What if your son was in this room right now, would you calm down? If your own son dies now what will you do?" said the father angrily.

The doctor smiled again and replied:  "I will say what Job said in the Holy Book-From dust we came and to dust we return, blessed be the name of God”. Doctors cannot prolong lives. Go and intercede for your son, we will do our best by God’s grace.

“Giving advises when we are not concerned is so easy” Murmured the father.

The surgery took some hours after which the doctor went out happy, “Thank goodness!, your son is saved!” And without waiting for the father’s he carried on his way running. "If you have any question, ask the Nurse!!"

"Why is he so arrogant? He couldn't wait some minutes so that I ask about my son's state." Contented the father when seeing the nurse minute after the doctor left. The nurse answered, tears coming down her face: "His son died yesterday in a road accident, he was in the burial when we called him for your son’s surgery. And now that he saved your son’s life, he left running to finish his son’s burial.”

Moral – “Never judge anyone because you never know how their life is & what They are going through."

God so loved the world that he sent his only Son that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life. (Jn. 3.16)

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No One Can Hurt Us

On his first day in the office, the President Abraham Lincoln entered in the hall to give his inaugural address. One rich Aristocrat stood up and said, "Mr. Lincoln, you should not forget that your father used to make shoes for my family" and the whole Senate laughed.

They thought they had made a fool of Lincoln. But certain people are made of a totally different mettle.

Lincoln looked at the man directly in the eyes and said, ​"Sir, I know that my father used to make shoes for your family, and there will be many others here, because he made shoes the way nobody else can."

He was a creator. His shoes were not Just shoes. He poured his whole soul into them.I want to ask you.have you any complaint? Because I know how to make shoes myself. If you have any complaint I can make you another pair of shoes. But as far as I know, nobody has ever complained about my father's shoes. He was a genius, a  great creator and I am Proud of my father.

The whole Senate was struck dumb.​The could not understand what kind of man Abraham Lincoln was.

He was proud because his father did his job so well that not even a single complaint had ever been heard.

Remember: "No one can hurt us without  our consent". "It is not what happens to us that hurt us. It is our response that hurt us".

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Small Gesture, Big Reward !

This story is about a person working with a freezer plant. It was almost the day end. Everyone had packed up to check out. A technical snag developed in the plant & he went to check. By the time he finished it was late. The doors were sealed and the lights were off.

Trapped inside the ice plant for the night without air and light, an icy grave was almost sure for him. Hours passed thus. Suddenly he found someone opening the door. Was it a miracle? The security guard entered there with a torch and helped him to come out.

On the way back the person asked the security guard, “How did you know that I was inside? Who informed you?” The guard said, “No one sir, this unit has about 50 people. But you are the only one who says "Hello" to me in the morning and "Bye" in the evening.

You had reported in morning with your 'Hallo' but I did not receive your 'Bye' and that made me suspicious to check the freezer plant.

He never knew a small gesture of greeting someone would prove to be a lifesaver for him.

Remember to greet when you meet someone, of course, with a warm smile.You never know - it may work a miracle in your life too.

"Education is not a degree or a certificate that can be shown to others as proof. It is our attitude, our actions, our language and behaviour with others in real life!"

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The World Is Mine

Today, upon a bus, I saw a very beautiful woman
and wished  were as beautiful.
When suddenly she rose to leave,
I saw her hobble down the aisle.
She had one leg and used a crutch.
But as she passed, she passed a smile.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two legs; the world is mine.

I stopped to buy some candy.
The lad who sold it had such charm.
I talked with him, he seemed so glad.
If I were late, it'd do no harm.
And as I left, he said to me,
"I thank you you've been so kind.
It's nice to talk with folks like you.
You see," he said, "I'm blind."

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two eyes; the world is mine.

Later while walking down the street,
I saw a child I knew.
He stood and watched the others play,
but he did not know what to do.
I stopped a moment and then I said,

Why don't you join them dear?"
He looked ahead without a word.
I forgot, he couldn't hear.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I have two ears; the world is mine.

With feet to take me where I'd go.
With eyes to see the sunset's glow.
With ears to hear what I'd know.

Oh, God, forgive me when I whine.

I've been blessed indeed, the world is mine.

If this poem makes you feel thankful, just forward it to your friends. After all, it's just a simple reminder that we have so much to be thankful for! Give the gift of love. It never comes back empty!

I have been truly blessed with some very beautiful people in my life. And this comes as a token of thanks!

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Create An Awesome Life !

I watched a local football match in a school playing ground. As I sat down, I asked one of the boys what  the score was.

With a proud smile, he replied: "They are leading us by 3-0" ! REALLY ! I have to say you don't look discouraged.

"Discouraged?" The boy asked with a puzzled look. Why should I be discouraged when the referee has not blown the final whistle ?

Truly, I didn't have an answer to this question! As I got back home that night, his question became a course in my stay in life indeed.

Life is like a game why should you be discouraged when your referee, the Almighty has not blown the final whistle on your life?

The truth is that as long as there is life, there is hope, nothing is impossible & it is never too late for you.

Half time is not full time & His calendar is not mine.

So don't blow the whistle yourself. Create an awesome life.

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The Black Spot

One day a professor entered the classroom and asked his students to prepare for a surprise test. They waited anxiously at their desks for the test to begin. The professor handed out the question paper, with the text facing down as usual. Once he handed them all out, he asked his students to turn the page and begin. To everyone’s surprise, there were no questions..just a black dot in the center of the page. The professor seeing the expression on everyone’s face, told them the following:

“I want you to write what you see there.”

The students confused, got started on the inexplicable task.

At the end of the class, the professor took all the answer papers and started reading each one of them aloud in front of all the students. All of them with no exceptions, described the black dot, trying to explain its position in the middle of the sheet, etc. etc. etc. After all had been read, the classroom silent, the professor began to explain:

“I am not going to grade on you this, I just wanted to give you something to think about. No one wrote about the white part of the paper. Everyone focused on the black dot–and the same happens in our lives. We have a white paper to observe and enjoy, but we always focus on the dark spots. Our life is a gift given to us by God, with love and care, and we always have reasons to celebrate–nature renewing itself everyday, our friends around us, the job that provides our livelihood, the miracles we see everyday…

However we insist on focusing only on the dark spots –the health issues that bother us, the lack of money, the complicated relationship with a family member, the disappointment with a friend etc

The dark spots are very small compared to everything we have in our lives, but they are the ones that pollute our minds.

Take your eyes away from the black spots in your life. Enjoy each one of your blessings, each moment that life gives you.

Be happy and live a life positively!

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Never Quit On Yourself !

One day I decided to quit. I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality. I wanted to quit my life. I went to have one last talk with my mentor. I said, "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?"

The answer surprised me, "Look around. What do you see?” I saw a fern & bamboo seeds?"

My mentor replied, When the fern & the bamboo seeds were planted, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant & plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit.

Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small & insignificant. But just six months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It took almost  five years for growing roots & those roots made it strong & gave it what it needed to survive.

Life does not give anyone a challenge they can not handle.

Did you know that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots? I did not quit on the bamboo. Never quit on yourself.

Don't compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern & yet, they both make the forest beautiful.

Your time will come. You will rise high! How high should you rise? How high will the bamboo rise? As high as it can. So you should rise as high as you can. Never regret a day in your life.

Remember:

• Good days give you Happiness.

• Bad days give you Experiences.

• Both are essential to life.

• Happiness keeps you Sweet.

• Trials keep you Strong.

• Sorrows keep you Human.

• Failures keep you Humble.

• Success keeps You Glowing.

• But only your faith keeps you going!

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Attitude Is A Decision !

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only three strands of hair on her head.

Well, she said, "I think I’ll braid my hair today?" So she did & she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two strands of hair on her head.

‘H-M-M,’ she said, "I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today?" So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one strand of hair on her head.

Well, she said, "today I’m going to wear my hair in a pony tail." So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked into the mirror and noticed that there wasn’t a single strand of hair on her head. ‘YEAH!’ she exclaimed, "I don’t have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain!

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Love People Use Things !

A man was polishing his new car; his 4 yr old son picked up a stone and scratched on the side of the car. In anger, the furious man took his child's hand and hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench.       

At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father with painful eyes he asked, ‘Dad when will my fingers grow back?' The man was speechless.

He went back to the car and kicked it many times. Shocked by his own actions, he looked at the scratches his son had made. His son had scratched 'I LOVE YOU DAD' on to the car. 

Always remember, Anger and Love has no limits. "Things are to be used and people are to be loved"

But the problem in today's world is. "People are being USED and Things are being LOVED"
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A Dream!

One night a man dreamt that he was walking along a beach with the Lord, across the sky flashed scenes of his past life. Each time he noticed that there were two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him and another to the Lord.

But he noticed that sometimes there was only one set of footprints. And he recalled that at just those times he had had the saddest and hardest days of his life. This bothered him and so he complained to the Lord and said, "Lord, you told me that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way. But now I have noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why you left me just at the times when I needed you mos

The Lord replied, "My child, I never left you at all during those times. You see only one set of footprints, because during those hard times I lifted you up and carried you."

In Matthew 11: 30 Jesus says: "My yoke is easy and my burden is light.

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Be Thankful to God!

A rich man looked through his window and saw a poor man picking up something from his dustbin and he said, Thank GOD I'm not poor.

The poor man looked around and saw a naked man misbehaving on the street and he said, Thank GOD I'm not mad.

The mad man looked ahead and saw an ambulance carrying a patient and he said, Thank GOD  I am not sick.

Then a sick person in the hospital saw a trolley taking a dead body to the mortuary and he said, Thank GOD I'm not dead.

Only a dead person cannot thank God. (Ps 115:17)

Why don't we thank GOD today for all His blessings and for the gift of life, and for another beautiful day.

After All What is LIFE ?

To understand life better, we must visit three places:

1. Hospital

2. Prison

3. Cemetery

*At the Hospital, we will understand that nothing is more beautiful than HEALTH.

*In the Prison, we'll see that FREEDOM is the most precious thing.

*And at the Cemetery, we will realize that life is worth nothing. The ground that we walk today will be our roof tomorrow.

Sad Truth : We all come with nothing and we will go with nothing.

Let us, therefore, remain humble and be thankful and grateful to God at all times for everything.

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A Glass of Milk (Paid In Full) !

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 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.

Years later that 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 the 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 began to read the following words: “Paid in full with one glass of milk” Signed, Dr. Howard Kelly.

 

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: “Thank You, God that your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.”

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Breakfast at McDonald

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree. The last class I had to take was Sociology. The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called "Smile." The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.... I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son. We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.

I did not move an inch... an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was "smiling". His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance. He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted. He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray. I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Thank you."

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope."

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope."

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give. We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share this?"

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class. She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald's, my husband, son, instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE!
Much love and compassion is sent to each and every person who may read this and learn how to..
LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS AND NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE!

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When A Lizard Can, Why Can't We?

This is a true story that happened in Japan. In order to renovate the house, someone in Japan breaks open the wall. Japanese houses normally have a hollow space between the wooden walls. When tearing down the walls, he found that there was a lizard stuck there because a nail from outside hammered into one of its feet. He sees this, feels pity, and at the same time curious, as when he checked the nail, it was nailed 10 years ago when the house was! First built.

What happened? The lizard has survived in such position for 10 years! In a dark wall partition for 10 years without moving, it is impossible and mind-boggling. Then he wondered how this lizard survived for 10 years! without moving a single step–since its foot was nailed! So he stopped his work and observed the lizard, what it has been doing, and what and how it has been eating. Later, not knowing from where it came appears another lizard, with food in its mouth. Ah! He was stunned and touched deeply. For the lizard that was stuck by nail, another lizard has been feeding it for the past 10 years. ; Imagine? it has been doing that untiringly for 10 long years, without giving up hope on its partner. Imagine what a small creature can do that a creature blessed with a brilliant mind can’t.

Lesson from the Story: Please never abandon your loved ones. Never Say U R Busy When They Really Need You. You May Have The Entire World At Your Feet. But You Might Be The Only World To Them. A Moment of negligence might break the very heart which loves you thru all odds. Before you say something just remember. It takes a moment to Break but an entire life to make. To Live Use Heart and to Survive use Brains.

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Peace of Mind

Once Buddha was traveling with a few of his followers. While they were passing a lake, Buddha told one of his disciples, “I am thirsty. Do get me some water from the lake.”

The disciple walked up to the lake. At that moment, a bullock cart started crossing through the lake. As a result, the water became very muddy and turbid.

The disciple thought, “How can I give this muddy water to Buddha to drink?” So he came back and told Buddha, “The water in there is very muddy. I don’t think it is fit to drink.”

After about half an hour, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back to the lake.

The disciple went back, and found that the water was still muddy. He returned and informed Buddha about the same.

After sometime, again Buddha asked the same disciple to go back.

This time, the disciple found the mud had settled down, and the water was clean and clear.

So he collected some water in a pot and brought it to Buddha.

Buddha looked at the water, and then he looked up at the disciple and said, "See what you did to make the water clean. You let it be, and the mud settled down on its own, and you have clear water.”

Your mind is like that too ! When it is disturbed, just let it be. Give it a little time. It will settle down on its own.

You don’t have to put in any effort to calm it down. It will happen. It is effortless.” 

Having ‘Peace of Mind’ is not a strenuous job, it is an effortless process so keep your mind cool and have a great life ahead. Treat everyone with politeness even those who are rude to you, not because they are not nice but because you are nice.

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Add God’s Name !

Add God’s Name in our daily life. Have you ever come across problems in life that are seemingly insurmountable? Then read on.

One rich man owned 19 horses when he died. In his last will and testament he had written that upon his death, half the horses he owned should go to his only son; one fourth to the village temple and one fifth to the faithful servant. The village elders could not stop scratching their heads. How can they give half of the 19 horses to the son? You cannot cut up a horse. They puzzled over this dilemma for more than two weeks and then decided to send for a wise man who was living in a neighboring village.
 

The wise man came riding on his horse and asked the villagers if he can be of any help to them. The village elders told him about the rich man’s last will and testament which stated that half of the (19) horses must be given to his only son; one fourth must go to the temple and one fifth to the faithful servant.

The wise man said he will immediately solve their problem without any delay whatsoever. He had the 19 horses placed in a row standing next to one another. Then he added his own horse as the 20th horse. Now he went about giving half of the 20 horses that is ten horses to the son. One fourth of 20-that is 5 horses were given to the temple committee. One fifth of twenty-that is 4 horses were given to the faithful servant. Ten plus five plus four made 19 horses. The remaining 20th horse was his own which he promptly mounted, spoke a few inspiring words, and rode back home.

The villagers were simply dumbfounded, full of disbelief and filled with admiration. And the parting words of the wise man were inscribed in their hearts and minds which they greatly cherished and passed on to their succeeding generations till today.

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The wise man said: In our daily lives, in our daily affairs, simply add God’s name and then go about facing the day’s happenings. Ever come across problems in life that are seemingly insurmountable? (Like the villagers, do we feel that such problems cannot be solved?).

The wise man continued: Add the God Principle in our daily lives and the problems will become lighter and eventually will disappear. In the manner of the ice which, with the addition of the heat principle will turn into water and that will eventually evaporate as steam and disappear.

And how do we add God’s name in our daily lives?

Through prayers, filled with true love and devotion with sincerity of purpose and dedication that only total faith can bring about. Meditation is a powerful means of directing the mind God-ward. But without true love and devotion entering into it, it remains like a boat without water. It is not difficult to push a boat that is floating in water, but extremely hard to drag the same boat on dry land. So start adding God’s Name in our daily lives.

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Change your nature !

One day all the disciples went to their master and said, "Master, Master, we all are going on a pilgrimage.

Master: Why you want to go on a pilgrimage trip?

Disciples: So that we can improve our devotion.

Master: OK. Then do me a favour. Please take this karela (bitter gourd) along with you and wherever you go and whichever temple you visit, place it at the alter of the Deity, take the blessings and bring it back. 

So, not only the disciples but the Karela also went on pilgrimage, temple to temple. 

And finally when they came back, the Master said, "cook that karela and serve it to me." 

The disciples cooked it and served it to the master. 

After having the first bite, the master said, "Surprising"!

Disciples: What's so surprising?

Master: Even after the pilgrimage the karela is still bitter, How come?'

Disciples: But that's the very nature of the Karela, Master.

Master: That's what I am saying. Unless you change your nature, pilgrimage will not make any difference. 

So, you and I, if we do not change ourselves, no teacher or guru can make a difference in our lives.

If you think positively,

Sound becomes music, 

Movement become dance,

Smile becomes laughter,

Mind becomes meditative and

Life becomes a celebration.

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All people are significant !

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”
 

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor.

“In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say “hello.” I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

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Who is happy?

A crow lived in the forest ans was absolutely satisfied in life. But one day he saw a swan. This swan is so white & I am so black, the crow thought.

This swan must be the happiest bird in the world. He expressed his thoughts to the swan."Actually," the swan replied, "I was feeling that I was the happiest bird around until I saw a parrot which has two colours. I now think the parrot is the happiest bird in creation." 

The crow then approached the parrot. The parrot explained, "I lived a very happy life until I saw a peacock. I have only two colors, but the peacock has multiple colours." 

The crow then visited a peacock in the zoo and saw the hundreds of people had gathered to see him. 

After the people had left, the crow approached the Peacock.

Dear Peacock, You are so beautiful. Every day thousands of people come to see you. When people see me, they immediately shoo me away. I think you are the happiest bird on the planet.

The peacock replied, "I always thought that I was the most beautiful and happy bird on the planet.But because of my beauty, I am entrapped in this zoo."

I have examined the zoo very carefully and I have realized that the crow is the only bird not kept in a cage. 

So for past few days I have been thinking that if I were a crow, I could happily roam everywhere.

That is our problem too. We make unnecessary comparison with others & become sad. 

We don't value what God has given to us. This all leads to the vicious cycle of unhappiness. 

Value the things God has given to us. Learn the secret of being happy and discard the comparison which leads only to unhappiness.

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Am I my brother’s keeper?

A rat looked through a crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife opening a package. What food might it contain? He was aghast to discover that it was a rat trap. Retreating to the farmyard the rat proclaimed the warning; “There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!”
 

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, “Excuse me, Mr. Rat, I can tell this is a grave concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.”

The rat turned to the pig and told him, “There is a rat trap in the house, a rat trap in the house!”

“I am so very sorry Mr. Rat,” sympathized the pig, “but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured that you are in my prayers.”

The rat turned to the cow. She said, “Like wow, Mr. Rat. A rat trap. I am in grave danger. Duh?” So the rat returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s rat trap alone.

 

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house, like the sound of a rat trap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see that it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife.

The farmer rushed her to the hospital. She returned home with a fever. Now everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.

His wife’s sickness continued so that friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer’s wife did not get well. She died, and so many people came for her funeral that the farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide meat for all of them to eat.

So the next time you hear that someone is facing a problem and think that it does not concern you, remember that when there is a rat trap in the house, the whole farmyard is at risk.

                                   “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9d)

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