A man and what he sees

In my life, I see so many beautiful things. I see the birds singing and flying around with great ease. I see the bluest of blue skies, sometimes coupled with white clouds floating like cotton balls in the sky. I see beautiful people all around me, smiling at me, and wanting to help me.

At night, I can see the beautiful sky, lit up with amazing stars that glow in the midnight hour. When I am enjoying the beautiful ocean, I can see the large foamy crests on top of the waves, as they crash down onto a wonderful beach, full of the finest tan sand.

In the spring, I see the fields full of rain and mud in the month of April, that make possible the blossoming of the most beautiful colorful flowers that are so picturesque when the golden rays of the sun shine down on them in the month of May.

Summertime is lots of fun for me. Mostly every day, I see the sun and its pretty yellow color, shine down on me, and turn my skin a light shade of brown and sometimes red, if I stay out in it too long. The sun tends to dry up the little pond in my backyard and turns it into a barren, weed filled circle. Thank goodness I got my beautiful gold and white fish into the house before they pass from lack of water.

In the fall, I see the trees turning an assortment of exquisite colors ranging from a red hue, all the way to yellow and brown. As the leaves fall from the trees, and I watch them float to the ground, I sometimes see a speckle of small snowflakes accompany them on a cloudy brisk afternoon. I can tell when it is going to snow out, because the clouds appear to be fluffy and gray.

Boy do I love the snow... So many young children in the neighborhood come to my house because I have an extremely large front yard. They come to my house to build snowmen and they dress them up like Frosty the Snowman. They put the coal for his eyes, and they make sure that the top-hat is on firmly, for winter time usually gets a little windy. The corn cob pipes are rather large and sometimes fall out of his mouth, so I give the children some of my smaller pipes to use.

I am very fortunate that I have the ability to see everything in my life through my heart and mind. You see, I am a blind man, and have been blind from birth.

I see more good in my life, on a daily basis, than some people that can really see.

I let nothing stop me from seeing the beautiful and the wonderful. I let nothing get in the way of my happiness and completeness.

I may be a blind man, but I will not be blind.

Make everything in your life beautiful and happy. Never let anything or anyone stand in your way. Never let something sidetrack you from what you really should see - the good in everything and everyone.

A Letter From Mom And Dad

Please watch this video, your eyes may fill in after watching this video, but still I would request you to do so?... The letter is so touching. Most of you have seen this already, but some might need to be reminded. Our parents deserve love and respect, and they deserve to be taken care of. At least old age orphanage would reduce, increasing day by day. So friends, please show your parents how much you love them, and please give back to them, before it’s too late. You might not have another chance.

Giving when it counts

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it if it will save her.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”.

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

Remember those who serve

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

“How much is an ice cream sundae?” he asked. “50¢,” replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it.

“Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?” he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. “35¢!” she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. “I’ll have the plain ice cream,” he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left.

When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies. You see, he couldn’t have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

Respect People who spare their time for you

ANGELS

Barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak, she never said a word. Many people passed, but never did one person stop.

Just so happens the next day I decided to go back to the park, curious if the little girl would still be there.

Right in the very spot as she was yesterday she sat perched on high, with the saddest look in her eyes. Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. As we all know a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play.

As I began walking towards her I could see the back of the little girl’s dress indicated a deformity. I figured that was the reason the people just passed by and made no effort to help. As I got closer, the little girl slightly lowered her eyes to avoid my intent stare. I could see the shape of her back more clearly. It was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form. I smiled to let her know it was ok, I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple Hello. The little girl acted shocked and stammered a "hi" after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked ’til darkness fell and the park was completely empty. Everyone was gone and we were alone. I asked the girl why she was so sad. The little girl looked at me and with a sad face said “Because I’m different.”

I immediately said “that you are!” and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder, she said, "I Know".

“Little girl,” I said, “you remind me of an angel, she stood to her feet, and said, “Really?”

“Yes, ma’am, you’re like a little guardian angel sent to watch over all those people walking by.” She nodded her head yes and smiled, and with that she spread her wings and said with a twinkle in her eye, “I am.” I was speechless, sure I was seeing things. She said, “And since you thought of someone other than yourself, my job here is done.”

Immediately I stood to my feet and said, “Wait, so why did no one stop to help an angel?” She looked at me and smiled, “You’re the only one who could see me, and you believe it in your heart.” And She was gone. And with that my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you’re all you have, remember, there is an angel always watching over you.

Pass this to everyone that means anything at all to you…. to let them know you’re glad they care about you… like the story says we all need someone.

Unknown Author

LIFE

Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become.

You never know who these people may be – a roommate, a neighbor, a professor, a friend, a lover, or even a complete stranger – but when you lock eyes with them, you know at that very moment they will affect your life in some profound way.

Sometimes things happen to you that may seem horrible, painful, and unfair at first, but in reflection you find that without overcoming those obstacles you would have never realized your potential, strength, willpower, or heart.

Illness, injury, love, lost moments of true greatness, and sheer stupidity all occur to test the limits of your soul. Without these small tests, whatever they may be, life would be like a smoothly paved straight flat road to nowhere. It would be safe and comfortable, but dull and utterly pointless.

The people you meet who affect your life, and the success and downfalls you experience, help to create who you are and who you become. Even the bad experiences can be learned from. In fact, they are sometimes the most important ones.

If someone loves you, give love back to them in whatever way you can, not only because they love you, but because in a way, they are teaching you to love and how to open your heart and eyes to things.

If someone hurts you, betrays you, or breaks your heart, forgive them, for they have helped you learn about trust and the importance of being cautious to whom you open your heart.

Make every day count. Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again. Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and listen to what they have to say.

Let yourself fall in love, break free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you.

You can make anything you wish of your life. Create your own life and then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

And if you love someone tell them, for you never know what tomorrow may have in store.

Learn a lesson in life each day that you live!

Today is the tomorrow you were worried about yesterday.

Think About it? Was it worth it?

Juggle Balls - A Great thought from Bryan Dyso, CEO of Coca Cola

Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air. You name them – work, family, health, friends and spirit and you’re keeping all of these in the air. You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. But the other four balls – family, health, friends and spirit are made of glass. If you drop one of these, they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered. They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for balance in your life. How?

• Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others. It is because we are different that each of us is special.

• Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important. Only you know what is best for you.

• Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart. Cling to them as you would your life, for without them, life is meaningless.

• Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or for the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live ALL the days of your life.

• Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.

• Don’t be afraid to admit that you are less than perfect. It is this fragile thread that binds us each together.

• Don’t be afraid to encounter risks. It is by taking chances that we learn how to be brave.

• Don’t run through life so fast that you forget not only where you’ve been, but also where you are going.

• Don’t forget that a person’s greatest emotional need is to feel appreciated.

• Don’t be afraid to learn. Knowledge is weightless, a treasure you can always carry easily.

• Don’t use time or words carelessly. Neither can be retrieved. Life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.

Always remember “Value has a value only if its value is valued” respect them…

The important ________ in life

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.

He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”

“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that 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, your car.

The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your 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 family, Partner, Play with your children, respect them. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.

Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”

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A Great thought from Bryan Dyso, CEO of Coca Cola

"Imagine life as a game in which you are juggling some five balls in the air.

You name them - Work, Family, Health, Friends and Spirit and you're keeping all of these in the Air.

You will soon understand that work is a rubber ball.

If you drop it, it will bounce back.

But the other four Balls - Family, Health, Friends and Spirit - are made of glass.

If you drop one of these; they will be irrevocably scuffed, marked, nicked, damaged or even shattered.

They will never be the same. You must understand that and strive for it."

The Little Boy and the Vase

There is a beautiful story about a child playing with a vase his mother had left on the table for a few moments. When the mother turned at the sound of her son crying she saw that his hand was in the vase and apparently stuck. She tried to help him and pulled and pulled until the child cried out in pain but the hand was stuck fast.

How would they get it out? The father suggested breaking the vase but it was quite valuable And the child's hand might be cut in the process. Yet he knew that if all else failed there would be no other alternative so he said to the boy, NOW, let's make one more try. Open your hand and stretch your fingers out straight like I'm doing, and then pull

"But Dad," said the boy, "If I do that I'll lose my penny.
The boy had a coin in his hand all the time and was holding it securely in his tight little fist.

He wasn't prepared to open his hand and lose the penny,

but once he opened his hand His hand came out of the vase easily. What are you holding onto so tightly as to hinder your walk with Jesus

That vase can be likened to the entrance to the kingdom of GOD. It is narrow, but quite easy to pass in.

First you must "OPEN" your hand to GOD and allow earthly things to fall. If we keep our fists closed and hold fast to what we have, and keep it for ourselves we will be unable to take hold of the "Hand of GOD".

We arrived with nothing and will depart the same way.
Jesus told the parable of the rich man who wanted to build bigger barns to store his grain and goods, but God said to him,
You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.

Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?
We need to be on guard or the things we own will begin to own us. It is our own clenched fist that makes us a prisoner

Open your hand to the hand of God. Everyone needs recognition for his accomplishments, but few people make the need known quite as clearly as the little boy who told his father he didn't want to lose his penny

Horse Sense

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if one stops the car, or is walking by, one will notice something quite amazing.

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This alone is amazing.

Listening, one will hear the sound of a bell . Looking around for the source of the sound, one will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to her bridle is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, so he can follow her.
As one stands and watches these two friends, one sees how she is always checking on him, and that he will listen for her bell and then slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by God and those whom he places in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to see God.

"Good friends are like stars.....You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

- - - Unknown

THE GIFT

A blind girl 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 the world, I will 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 the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend left her in tears and days later wrote a note to her saying:

"Take good care of your eyes, my dear, before they were yours, they were mine."

This is how the human brain often works when our 'status changes'. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift Today

Before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't speak. Think of someone who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone who's crying out for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went too early to heaven.

Before you complain about your - Think of someone who desires children but they're barren. Before you argue about your dirty house someone didn't clean or sweep - Think of the people who are living in the streets.

Before whining about the distance you - Think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.

But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another - Remember that not one of us is without error and we all answer to the Lord

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on your face and Thank the Lord you're alive and still around.

The Stench of Hatred

A kindergarten teacher has decided to let her class play a game.

The teacher told each child in the class to bring along a plastic bag containing a few potatoes. Each potato will be given a name of a person that the child hates, so the number of potatoes that a child will put in his/her plastic bag will depend on the number of people he/she hates.

So when the day came, every child brought some potatoes with the name of the people he/she hated. Some had 2 potatoes; some 3 while some up to 5 potatoes.

The teacher then told the children to carry with them the potatoes in the plastic bag wherever they go (even to the toilet) for 1 week.

Days after days passed by, and the children started to complain due to the unpleasant smell let out by the rotten potatoes.

Besides, those having 5 potatoes also had to carry heavier bags. After 1 week, the children were relieved because the game had finally ended.

The teacher asked: "How did you feel while carrying the potatoes with you for 1 week?"
The children let out their frustrations and started complaining of the trouble that they had to go through having to carry the heavy and smelly potatoes wherever they go.

Then the teacher told them the hidden meaning behind the game. The teacher said: "This is exactly the situation when you carry your hatred for somebody inside your heart.

The stench of hatred will contaminate your heart and you will carry it with you wherever you go. If you cannot tolerate the smell of rotten potatoes for just 1 week, can you imagine what is it like to have the stench of hatred in your heart for your lifetime?"

Moral of the story:
Throw away any hatred for anyone from your heart so that you will not carry sins for a lifetime.

Forgiving others is the best attitude to take. "We need to learn to Forgive and Forget."

A Wise Doctor

A worried woman went to her gynecologist and said,

'Doctor, I have a serious problem and desperately need your help! My baby is not even one year old and I'm pregnant again. I don't want kids so close together.'

So the doctor said, 'Okay, and what do you want me to do?'

She said, 'I want you to end my pregnancy, and I'm counting on ur help with this.'

The doctor thought for a little and after some silence he said to the lady, 'I think I have a better solution for your problem. It's less dangerous for you, too.'

She smiled, thinking the doctor was going to accept her request.

Then he continued, 'You see, in order for you not to have to take care of two babies at the same time, let's kill the one in your arms. This way, you could rest some before the other one is born. If we're going to kill one of them, it doesn't matter which one it is. There would be no risk for your body if you chose the one in your arms.'

The lady was horrified and said, 'No, doctor! How terrible! It's a crime to kill a child!'

'I agree,' the doctor replied. 'But you seemed to be okay with it, so I thought maybe that was the best solution.'

The doctor smiled, realizing that he had made his point. He had convinced the mom there is no difference in killing a child that's already been born and one that's still in the womb. The crime is the same!

If you agree please share this story with others. Together we can help save precious lives!

Greetings to you this Monday Morning….

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Moral:

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime! Embrace all equally!

………………Make it a great week ahead!!!!

The Haircut

One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was pleased and left the shop. When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you , I'm doing community service this week.' The cop was happy and left the shop. The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Member of Parliament came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament was very happy and left the shop. The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen other Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

BOTH POLITICIANS AND DIAPERS NEED TO BE CHANGED OFTEN, AND FOR? THE SAME REASON!