One Day The Little Orphan Boy example essay topic

Little drops of water, little grains of sand, Make the mighty ocean, and the pleasant land: So the little minutes, humble though they be, Make the mighty ages of eternity. Little deeds of kindness, little words of love, Help to make earth happy, like Heaven up above. -- Julia Carney People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered; forgive them anyway. If you are kind, People may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, there may be jealousy; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you " ve got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway. - Mother Theresa Be of good cheer. Do not think of today's failures, but of the success that may come tomorrow. You have set yourselves a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere; and you will find joy in overcoming obstacles. Remember, no effort that we make to attain something beautiful is ever lost.

- Helen Keller There's work to do, deadlines to meet, you " ve got no time to spare, but as you hurry and scurry, always say a prayer. In the midst of family chaos, 'quality time' is rare. Do your best; let God do the rest: always say a prayer. It may seem like your worries are more than you can bear.

Slow down and take a breather always say a prayer. God knows how stressful life is; He wants to ease our cares, and He " ll respond A.S.A.P. ; Always Say A Prayer! The Oak and The Willow There is an old fable in which the mighty oak tree which stood for over one hundred years finally was blown over by a storm. The tree fell into a river that floated it downstream until it came to rest among the reeds growing along the riverbank. The fallen giant asked the reeds in amazement, 'How is it that you were able to weather the storm that was too powerful for me, an oak tree, to withstand?' The reeds replied, 'All these years you stubbornly resisted the winds that swept your way.

You took such pride in your strength that you refused to yield, even a little bit. We, on the other hand, have not resisted the winds, but have always bent with them. We recognized the superior power of the wind and so, the harder the wind blew the more we humbled ourselves before it. ' Be Happy Today! We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another. Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we " ll be more content when they are.

After that, we " re frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges.

It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time with... and remember that time waits for no one. So, stop waiting -- until your car or home is paid off -- until you get a new car or home -- until your kids leave the house -- until you go back to school -- until you lose ten pounds -- until you gain ten pounds -- until you finish school -- until you get a divorce -- until you get married -- until you have kids -- until you retire -- until summer -- until spring -- until winter -- until fall -- until you die There is no better time than right now to be happy. Happiness is a journey, not a destination.

So -- work like you don't need money, Love like you " ve never been hurt, And dance like no one's watching. ~Meanings~Standing for what you believe in, Regardless of the odds against you, and pressure that tears at your resistance, ... means courage Stopping at nothing, And doing what's in your heart, You know is right, ... means determination Keeping a smile on your face, When inside you feel like dying, For the sake of supporting others, ... means strength Helping a friend in need, No matter the time or effort, To the best of your ability, ... means loyalty Doing more than is expected, To make another's life more bearable, Without uttering a single complaint, ... means compassion Giving more than you have, And expecting nothing But nothing in return, Lesson One During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. 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's u rely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50's, 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've also never forgotten her name was Dorothy. Make It A Great Day? I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the day ends. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or... I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free. Today I can grumble about my health or... I can rejoice that I am alive. Today I can mourn my lack of friends or... I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or... I can shout for joy because I have a job to do. Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or... I can feel honored because Life has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping. What today will be like is up to me.

I get to choose what kind of day I will have! Why not make it a GREAT day? - author unknown Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that amateurs built the ark. Professionals built the Titanic. The Trouble Tree hired a plumber to help me restore an old farmhouse, and after he had just finished a rough first day on the job, a flat tire made him lose an hour of work & his electric drill quit, his ancient one ton truck refused to start.

As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. On arriving he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked toward the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. Upon opening the door he had undergone an amazing transformation.

His tanned face was wreathed in smiles and he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss. Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do at the little tree. 'Oh, that's my trouble tree,' he replied. 'I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, those troubles don't belong in the house with my wife and the children.

So I just hang them up on the tree every night when I come home and ask God to take care of them. Then in the morning I pick them up again. ' Funny thing is,' he smiled, 'when I come out in the morning to pick them up, there aren't nearly as many as I remember hanging up the night before. ' He was in the first third grade class I taught at Saint Mary's School in Morris, Minn.

All 34 of my students were dear to me, but Mark Eklund was one in a million. Very neat in appearance, but had that happy-to-be-alive attitude that made even his occasional mischievousness delightful. Mark talked incessantly. I had to remind him again and again that talking without permission was not acceptable. What impressed me so much, though, was his sincere response every time I had to correct him for misbehaving - 'Thank you for correcting me, Sister!' I didn't know what to make of it at first, but before long I became accustomed to hearing it many times a day. One morning my patience was growing thin when Mark talked once too often, and then I made a novice teacher's mistake.

I looked at Mark and said, 'If you say one more word, I am going to tape your mouth shut!' It wasn't ten seconds later when Chuck blurted out, 'Mark is talking again. ' I hadn't asked any of the students to help me watch Mark, but since I had stated the punishment in front of the class, I had to act on it. I remember the scene as if it had occurred this morning. I walked to my desk, very deliberately opened my drawer and took out a roll of masking tape.

Without saying a word, I proceeded to Mark's desk, tore off two pieces of tape and made a big X with them over his mouth. I then returned to the front of the room. As I glanced at Mark to see how he was doing, he winked at me. That did it!

I started laughing. The class cheered as I walked back to Mark's desk, removed the tape, and shrugged my shoulders. His first words were, 'Thank you for correcting me, Sister. ' At the end of the year, I was asked to teach junior-high math.

The years flew by, and before I knew it Mark was in my classroom again. He was more handsome than ever and just as polite. Since he had to listen carefully to my instruction in the 'new math,' he did not talk as much in ninth grade as he had in third. One Friday, things just didn't feel right. We had worked hard on a new concept all week, and I sensed that the students were frowning, frustrated with themselves and edgy with one another. I had to stop this crankiness before it got out of hand.

So I asked them to list the names of the other students in the room on two sheets of paper, leaving a space between each name. Then I told them to think of the nicest thing they could say about each of their classmates and write it down. It took the remainder of the class period to finish their assignment, and as the students left the room, each one handed me the papers. Charlie smiled. Mark said, 'Thank you for teaching me, Sister. Have a good weekend.

' That Saturday, I wrote down the name of each student on a separate sheet of paper, and I listed what everyone else had said about that individual. On Monday I gave each student his or her list. Before long, the entire class was smiling. Really?' I heard whispered. 'I never knew I that meant anything to anyone!' I didn't know others liked me so much. ' No one ever mentioned those papers in class again.

I never knew if they discussed them after class or with their parents, but it didn't matter. The exercise had accomplished its purpose. The students were happy with themselves and one another again. That group of students moved on. Several years later, after I returned from vacation, my parents met me at the airport. As we were driving home, Mother asked me the usual questions about the trip the weather, my experiences in general.

There was a lull in the conversation. Mother gave Dad a sideways glance and simply says, 'Dad?' My father cleared his throat as he usually did before something important. 'The Eklund's called last night,' he began. 'Really?' I said.

'I haven't heard from them in years. I wonder how Mark is. ' Dad responded quietly. 'Mark was killed in Vietnam,' he said.

'The funeral is tomorrow, and his parents would like it if you could attend. ' To this day I can still point to the exact spot on I-494 where Dad told me about Mark. I had never seen a serviceman in a military coffin before. Mark looked so handsome, so mature.

All I could think at that moment was, 'Mark, I would give all the masking tape in the world if only you would talk to me. ' The church was packed with Mark's friends. Chuck's sister sang 'The Battle Hymn of the republic. ' Why did it have to rain on the day of the funeral? It was difficult enough at the graveside.

The pastor said the usual prayers, and the bugler played taps. One by one those who loved Mark took a last walk by the coffin and sprinkled it with holy water. I was the last one to bless the coffin. As I stood there, one of the soldiers who acted as pallbearer came up to me. Were you Mark's math teacher?' he asked. I nodded as I continued to stare at the coffin.

'Mark talked about you a lot,' he said. After the funeral, most of Mark's former classmates headed to Chuck's farmhouse for lunch. Mark's mother and father were there, obviously waiting for me. 'We want to show you something,' his father said, taking a wallet out of his pocket.

They found this on Mark when he was killed. We thought you might recognize it. ' Opening the billfold, he carefully removed two worn pieces of notebook paper that had obviously been taped, folded and refolded many times. I knew without looking that the papers were the ones on which I had listed all the good things each of Mark's classmates had said about him. ' Thank you so much for doing that,' Mark's mother said. 'As you can see, Mark treasured it.

' Mark's classmates started to gather around us. Charlie smiled rather sheepishly and said, 'I still have my list. It's in the top drawer of my desk at home. ' Chuck's wife said, 'Chuck asked me to put his in our wedding album. ' I have mine too,' Marilyn said. 'It's in my diary.

' Then Vicki, another classmate, reached into her pocketbook, took out her wallet and showed her worn and frazzled list to the group. I carry this with me at all times,' Vicki said without batting an eyelash. 'I think we all saved our lists. ' That's when I finally sat down and cried. I cried for Mark and for all his friends who would never see him again.

The density of people in society is so thick that we forget that life will end one day. And we don't know when that one day will be. So please, tell the people you love and care for, that they are special and important. Tell them, before it is too late. Every Little Bit Counts An old man was walking along the beach, when he came upon a part of the sand where thousands of starfish had washed ashore. A little further down the beach he saw a young woman, who was picking up the starfish one at a time and tossing them back into the ocean.

'Oh you silly girl,' he exclaimed. 'You can't possibly save all of these starfish. There's too many. ' The woman smiled and said, 'I know. But I can save this one, ' and she tossed another into the ocean, 'and this one', toss, 'and this one... ' If you don't keep walking you will never get where your going.

Don't wait for someone to stop and carry you, you may weigh them down and you both could fall. When you think the walk is too steep, press on, for there is no mountain that can't be climbed. When you see someone fall along the way, lend your hand. If someone lends you a hand, reach for it, to help you get back up again. Hand in hand, together- each one helping the other can make this journey as precious as the place that we are all striving for.

The Women and The Stone A wise woman who was traveling in the mountains found a precious stone in a stream. The next day she met another traveler who was hungry, and the wise woman opened her bag to share her food. The hungry traveler saw the precious stone and asked the woman to give it to him. She did so without hesitation. The traveler left, rejoicing in his good fortune. He knew the stone was worth enough to give him security for a lifetime.

But a few days later he came back to return the stone to the wise woman. 'I've been thinking,' he said, 'I know how valuable the stone is, but I give it back in the hope that you can give me something even more precious. Give me what you have within you that enabled you to give me the stone. ' HAVE COURAGE When things go wrong as they sometimes will; When the road you " re trudging seems all uphill; When the funds are low, and the debts are high And you want to smile, but have to sigh; When care is pressing you down a bit-Rest if you must, but do not quit.

Success is failure turned inside out; The silver tint of the clouds of doubt; And you can never tell how close you are It may be near when it seems so far; So stick to the fight when you " re hardest hit-It's when things go wrong that you must not quit. Appreciate Others! (A.K.A.) do it anyways " Unless we can hear each other singing and crying, unless we can comfort each other's failures and cheer each other's victories, we are missing out on the best that life has to offer. The only real action takes place on the bridge between people. ' Return The Smile Did you know... that when you walk past a flower, whether it be in somebody's garden or on a vacant hillside, the flower will always smile at you.

The most polite way to respond, I've been told, is to cheerfully return the smile. ' Your Mission In Life You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand. ' -- - Woodrow Wilson 28th President of the United States I am only one am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something I can do.

- Edward Everett Hale American Author, Clergyman Do Your Best An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.

The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career. When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. 'This is your house,' he said, 'my gift to you.

' What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.

So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently. Think of yourself as the carpenter.

Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build.

Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity. The plaque on the wall says, 'Life is a do-it-yourself project. ' Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today. Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor.

Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.

- Mark Twain You Are Unique and Special! 'There will always be dreams grander or humbler than your own, but there will never be a dream exactly like your own... for you are unique and more wondrous than you know!' Everybody can be great... 'Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace.

A soul generated by love. Forever Friendship Sometimes in life, you find a special friend... Someone Someone who convinces you that there is an unlocked door just waiting for you to open it... Someone who changes your life simply by being a part of it... Someone who makes you laugh until you can't stop... Someone who makes you believe that there really is good in the world...

This is forever friendship and friendship has no end... (author- Unknown) 'A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. ' -Walter Winchell To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Our greatest happiness in life does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits. - Thomas Jefferson I am only one We don't need more money, we don't need greater success or fame, we don't need the perfect body or even the perfect mate.

Right now, at this very moment, we have a mind, which is all the basic equipment we need to achieve complete happiness. Stop the mindless wishing that things would be different. Rather than wasting time and emotional and spiritual energy in explaining why we don't have what we want, we can start to pursue other ways to get it. - Greg Anderson I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving: To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, -- but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor. - Oliver Wendell HolmesI'm Flying Once upon a time there was a little boy who was raised in an orphanage. The little boy had always wished that he could fly like a bird.

It was very difficult for him to understand why he could not fly. There were birds at the zoo that were much bigger than he, and they could fly. 'Why can't I?' he thought. 'Is there something wrong with me?' he wondered. There was another little boy who was crippled. He had always wished that he could walk and run like other little boys and girls.

'Why can't I be like them?' he thought. One day the little orphan boy, who had wanted to fly like a bird, ran away from the orphanage. He came upon a park where he saw the little boy, who could not walk or run, playing in the sandbox. He ran over to the little boy and asked him if he had ever wanted to fly like a bird. 'No,' said the little boy who could not walk or run. 'But I have wondered what it would be like to walk and run like other boys and girls.

' 'That is very sad,' said the little boy who wanted to fly. 'Do you think we could be friends?' he said to the little boy in the sandbox. 'Sure,' said the little boy. The two little boys played for hours.

They made sand castles and made really funny sounds with their mouths. Sounds which made them laugh real hard. Then the little boy's father came with a wheelchair to pick up his son. The little boy who had always wanted to fly ran over to the boy's father and whispered something into his ear.

'That would be OK,' said the man. The little boy who had always wanted to fly like a bird ran over to his new friend and said, 'You are my only friend and I wish that there was something that I could do to make you walk and run like other little boys and girls. But I can't. But there is something that I can do for you. ' The little orphan boy turned around and told his new friend to slide up onto his back. He then began to run across the grass.

Faster and faster he ran, carrying the little crippled boy on his back. Faster and harder he ran across the park. Harder and harder he made his legs travel. Soon the wind just whistled across the two little boys' faces. The little boy's father began to cry as he watched his beautiful little crippled son flapping his arms up and down in the wind, all the while yelling at the top of his voice, 'I'M FLYING, DADDY. I'M FLYING!' -- Roger Dean Kiser, Sr. -- A good deal happens in a man's life that he isn't responsible for.

Fortunate openings occur; but it is safe to remember that such 'breaks' are occurring all the time, and other things being equal, the advantage goes to the man who is ready. - Lawrence Downs When a work lifts your spirits and inspires bold and noble thoughts in you, do not look for any other standard to judge by: the work is good, the product of a master craftsman. - La BruyereHere is the prime condition of success, the great secret -- concentrate your energy, thought and capital exclusively upon the business in which you are engaged. Having begun on one line, resolve to fight it out on that line, to lead in it, adopt every improvement, have the best machinery, and know the most about it. Finally, do not be impatient, for as Emerson says, 'No one can cheat your out of ultimate success but yourself'.

- Andrew Carnegie When I examine myself and my methods of thought, I come to the conclusion that the gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge - Albert Einstein The most important thing I have learned over the years is the difference between taking one's work seriously and taking one's self seriously. The first is imperative, and the second disastrous. - Margaret Fonte y The Mountain Story 'A son and his father were walking on the mountains. Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: ' !! !' To his surprise, he hears the voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: ' !!

!' Curious, he yells: 'Who are you?' He receives the answer: 'Who are you?' And then he screams to the mountain: 'I admire you!' The voice answers: 'I admire you!' Angered at the response, he screams: 'Coward!' He receives the answer: 'Coward!' He looks to his father and asks: 'What's going on?' The father smiles and says: 'My son, pay attention. ' Again the man screams: 'You are a champion!' The voice answers: 'You are a champion!' The boy is surprised, but does not understand. Then the father explains: 'People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE. It gives you back everything you say or do. Our life is simply a reflection of our actions. If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.

If you want more competence in your team, improve your competence. This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life; Life will give you back everything you have given to it. ' YOUR LIFE IS NOT A COINCIDENCE. IT'S A REFLECTION OF YOU!' -- Unknown Author No pleasure philosophy, no sensuality, no place nor power, no material success can for a moment give such inner satisfaction as the sense of living for good purposes, for maintenance of integrity, for the preservation of self-approval. - Minot Simons Mozart has the classic purity of light and the blue ocean; Beethoven the romantic grandeur which belongs to the storms of air and sea, and while the soul of Mozart seems to dwell on the ethereal peaks of Olympus, that of Beethoven climbs shuddering the storm-beaten sides of a Sinai. Blessed be they both!

Each represents a moment of the ideal life, each does us good. Our love is due to both. - Henri Frederic Amiel " Righteousness, or justice, is, undoubtedly of all the virtues, the surest foundation on which to create and establish a new state. But there are two nobler virtues, industry and frugality, which tend more to increase the wealth, power and grandeur of the community, than all the others without them. ' - Benjamin Franklin The consciousness of loving and being loved brings a warmth and richness to life that nothing else can bring. - Oscar Wilde Opportunities are everywhere.

The recession might be drawing to a close, but its continuing legacy is employers' reliance on short-term staff. There may be fewer jobs for life, but there are more jobs in a lifetime. - Lucy Bennington The Door to Happiness When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has been opened for us. - Helen Keller Man does not live by a turkey in every oven or a color TV set in every home. Man lives by faith and hope and love, by the star on the horizon, by the trumpet that will not call retreat. - E. Merrill Root Always Have Faith It is not easy to live life sometimes And face the world with a smile when you " re crying inside. It takes a lot of courage to reach down inside yourself, Hold on to that strength that's still there, And know that tomorrow is a new day-with new possibilities.

But if you can just hold on long enough to see this through, You " ll come out a new person-stronger, With more understanding and with a new pride in yourself From knowing you made it. - Kathy Oba raThe glory of friendship is not the outstretched hand, nor the kindly smile, nor the joy of companionship; it is the spiritual inspiration that comes to one when he discovers that someone else believes in him and is willing to trust him with his friendship. - Ralph Waldo Emerson Subtract from the great man all that he owes to opportunity, all that he owes to chance, and all that he gained by the wisdom of his friends and the folly of his enemies, and the giant will often be seen to be a pygmy. - Charles Caleb Colton Strength and Courage: It takes strength to be certain, It takes courage to have doubts. It takes strength to fit in, It takes courage to stand out.

It takes strength to share a friend's pain, It takes courage to feel your own pain. It takes strength to hide your own pain, It takes courage to show it and deal with it. It takes strength to stand guard, It takes courage to let down your guard. It takes strength to conquer, It takes courage to surrender.

It takes strength to endure abuses, It takes courage to stop them. It takes strength to stand alone, It takes courage to lean on a friend. It takes strength to love, It takes courage to be loved. It takes strength to survive, It takes courage to live. May you find strength and courage in everything you do, And may your life be filled with Friendship and Love! We Grow Great By Dreams 'We grow great by dreams.

All big men are dreamers. They see things in the soft haze of a spring day or in the red fire of a long winter's evening. Some of us let these great dreams die, but others nourish and protect them; nurse them through bad days till they bring them to the sunshine and light which comes always to those who sincerely hope that their dreams will come true. ' -Woodrow Wilson 28th US President The joy is that we can take back our bodies, reclaim our health, and restore ourselves to balance. We can take power over what and how we eat. We can rejuvenate and recharge ourselves, bringing healing to the wounds we carry inside us, and bringing to fuller life the wonderful person that each of us can be.

- John Robbins It is cruel, you know, that music should be so beautiful. It has the beauty of loneliness and of pain: of strength and freedom. The beauty of disappointment and never-satisfied love. The cruel beauty of nature, and everlasting beauty of monotony.

- Benjamin Britten I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be honorable, to be compassionate. It is, after all, to matter: to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all. - Leo C. RostenNever lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful; for beauty is God's handwriting -- a wayside sacrament. Welcome it in every fair face, in every fair sky, in every fair flower, and thank God for it as a cup of blessing. - Ralph Waldo Emerson If there is one thing upon this earth that mankind love and admire better than another, it is a brave man, -- it is the man who dares to look the devil in the face and tell him he is a devil. - James A. Garfield There once was an oyster Whose story I tell, Who found that some sand Had got into his shell.

It was only a grain, but it gave him great pain. For oysters have feelings Although they " re so plain. Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate That had brought him To such a deplorable state? Did he curse at the government, Cry for election, And claim that the sea should Have given him protection?' No,' he said to himself As he lay on a shell, Since I cannot remove it, I shall try to improve it. Now the years have rolled around, As the years always do, And he came to his ultimate Destiny - stew. And the small grain of sand That had bothered him so Was a beautiful pearl All richly aglow.

Now the tale has a moral, for isn't it grand What an oyster can do With a morsel of sand? What couldn't we do If we'd only begin With some of the things That get under our skin. Class is an aura of confidence that is being sure without being cocky. Class has nothing to do with money. Class never runs scared. It is self-discipline and self-knowledge.

It's the sure footed ness that comes with having proved you can meet life. - Ann Landers Never Quit! When things go wrong as they sometimes will; When the road you " re trudging seems all uphill; When the funds are low, and the debts are high And you want to smile, but have to sigh; When care is pressing you down a bit- Rest if you must, but do not quit. The principles we live by, in business and in social life, are the most important part of happiness. We need to be careful, upon achieving happiness, not to lose the virtues which have produced it. Footprints on the HeartSome people come into our lives and quickly go.

Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts And we are never, ever the same New Day Every sunrise is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good.

What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something that you have left behind... Let it be something good. Make every new day count And have a wonderful day TODAY! Lessons to Learn Today I will learn that true happiness is not always to achieve my goals, but to learn to appreciate with what I have achieved.

I will learn that I should control my attitude, and not let my attitude control me. I will learn that to be rich is not to have the most, but to need the least. I will learn that it is futile to compare myself to others, because there is always someone better or worse than I am. I will learn that it takes years to build trust, and a few seconds to destroy it. I will learn that there are people who love me very much, but simply do not know how to show their feelings. I will learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.

I will learn that I cannot make anyone love me, but learn to let myself be loved. I will learn that what is most valuable is not what I have in my life, but who I have in my life. I will learn that it only takes a few seconds to hurt people I love, and that it can take years to heal. that I forgive myself. I will learn that money can buy everything but happiness. I will learn that while at times I may be entitled to be upset, that does not give me the right to upset those around me. I will learn that true friends are scarce, and when I have found one I have found a true treasure.

I will learn that it is not always important that I be forgiven by others, but I will learn that I am the master of what I keep to myself and the slave of what I say. I will learn that happiness is a decision, and decide to be happy today with what I am and what I have have, not die from envy and jealousy of what I lack. I will learn that those who are honest with themselves without considering the consequences succeed in life. I will learn that I will reap what I plant; if I plant gossip I will harvest suspicion, if I plant love I will harvest happiness. Make The Most Of Life Learn to make the most of life, Lose no happy day. Time can never bring you back Chances swept away.

Leave no tender word unsaid, Love while life shall last. The mill will never turn again, With water that has passed. Sunshine When I woke up this morning I found a ray of light Shining through my window To chase away the night... I tried to wrap it up to send The warmth and light to you...

But boxes don't hold sunshine So this wish will have to do: May the sun shine on your morning And brighten every day, May warmth and sunshine fill your life And chase your cares away! It's Up To You One song can spark a moment, One flower can wake the dream. One tree can start a forest, One bird can herald spring. One smile begins a friendship, One handclasp lifts a soul. One star can guide a ship at sea, One word can frame the goal. One vote can change a nation, One sunbeam lights a room, One candle wipes out darkness One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey, One word must start each prayer. One hope will raise our spirits, One touch can show you care. One voice can speak with wisdom, One heart can know what's true, One life can make the difference, You see, it's up to YOU! Never Give Up " The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher". T.H. HuxlyStrong People Strong people are made of opposition like kites that go up against the wind Frank Harris It is not because things are difficult, we do not dare It is because we do not dare that things are difficult". Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do So, throw off the bowlines. Explore, dream, discover!" -Mark Twain If we fill our hours with regrets of yesterday and with worries of tomorrow we will have no today in which to be thankful.

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you. A butterfly lights beside us like a sunbeam And for a brief moment its glory belong to our world but then it flies on again. And though we wish it could have stayed, We feel so lucky to have seen it Author Unknown Never bear more than one kind of trouble at a time. Some people bear three-all they have had, all they have now, and all they expect to have.

We are here on earth to do good to others. What the others are here for, I don't know-W H Auden " Let us be grateful to people who make us happy-they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom". Marcel Proust"A Cheerful temper, joined with innocence, will make beauty attractive, knowledge delightful, and wit good natured". -Joseph Addison Cheerfulness is contagious, but don't wait to catch it from others. Be a carrier! First ask yourself: What is the worst that can happen?

Then prepare to accept it. Then proceed to improve on the worst". Dale Carnegie The Water Pot A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do. After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream. 'I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you. ' 'Why?' asked the bearer.

'What are you ashamed of?' 'I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts,' the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his compassion he said, 'As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path. ' Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.

But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure. The bearer said to the pot, 'Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of your path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw, and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream, you " ve watered them.

For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house. ' Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We " re all cracked pots But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You " ve just got to take each person for what they are, and look for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there.

There is a lot of good in us! Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape. Remember to appreciate all of the different people in your life! Or as I like to think of it -- - if it hadn't been for the crackpots in my life, it would have been pretty boring and not so interesting... I said a prayer for you today And I know God must have heard- I felt the answer in my heart Although he spoke no word. I didn't ask for wealth or fame.

(I knew you wouldn't mind). I asked him to send treasures Of a far more lasting kind! I asked that he'd be near you At the start of each new day To grant you health and blessings And friends to share your way. I asked for happiness for you In all things great and small, But it was for his loving care prayed for the most of all. I asked god for strength... and he game me difficulties to make me strong. I asked god for wisdom...

And he game me problems to solve. I asked god for prosperity... And he gave me brain and brawn to work. I asked god for courage...

And he game me danger to overcome. I asked god for love... And he game me troubled people to help. I asked god for favors...

And he gave me opportunities. I received nothing I wanted... And I received everything I needed. Don't ever forget Your presence is a gift to the world, You " re unique and one of a kind.

Your life can be what you want it to be-Take it one day at a time. Count your blessings, not your troubles, And you " ll make it through what comes along. Within you are so man answers, Understand, have courage, be strong. Don't put limits on yourself, Your dreams are waiting to be realized. Don't leave your important decisions to chance-Reach for your peak, your goad, and your prize. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying-The longer a problem is carried, the heavier it gets.

Don't take things too seriously-Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets. Remember that a little love goes a long way-Remember that a lot goes forever. Remember that friendship is a wise investment, Life's treasures are people... together. Have health and hope and happiness, Take the time to wish on a star. And don't ever forget for even a day How very special YOU are! Angels all around you have you ever met a person who fulfilled you deep inside, Someone whose never failed you And stands right at your side.

Someone who gives all they have And brings sunshine all around, Always smiling and laughing, Never seeming down. Have you ever watched a sunset Across the ocean shore, And been filled with love and peace, Never needing more. Have you ever listened to the wind Blowing restless through the night, And heard angel's whispers helping you To see when you " ve lost sight? Have you heard a song that moves you And sets your soul free, And makes you forget your anger And makes you feel happy?

Have you ever given to someone When you didn't have it to spare, And feel so worthy inside, that you didn't have a care? Heavenly creatures surround you, So listen closely to what they say, They " ll bring you all of life's riches As they guide you along your way! Symptoms of Inner Peace An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. A tendency to think and act spontaneously, rather than on fears based on past experiences.

A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others and judging other people. A loss of interest in conflict. A loss of the ability to worry. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature. Frequent attacks of smiling.

An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it. Inner Peace is Contagious... Pass It On! Priceless Gifts Life holds so many priceless tings... The falling rain, the wind that sings. Each star on high, each shining moon, Each sunbeam dancing in your room.

The river as it rushes on, A sunset as when day is gone. No wealth can buy a mountain tall-These priceless things belong to all. An autumn tree lends beauty rare, With colored leaves piled everywhere, As nature wears a glowing smile To make each day a day worthwhile. Could anything be quite as dear As laughing children that we hear? The gift of friendship that is ours?

The miracle of growing flowers? Each magic moment, treasured time, These priceless gifts are yours and mine. Angels In My Life There have been angels in my life, while they haven't arrived with blast of trumpets Or a rustle of wings, I've known them just the same. They performed their acts in human guise, Sometimes borrowing the faces of family and friends, Sometimes in the form of a stranger lending a hand. You have known them, too, When just the right word was needed, When a tiny act of kindness made a great difference. Or perhaps you heard a voice whispering in the night of sorrow, The words not quite clear but the meaning unmistakable:" There is hope, There is hope".

May your angels watch over you And always keep you safe And whisper in your ear To banish hate and fear". Let us be grateful to people who make us happy-they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom". -Marcel Proust Live A Happier Life Next time you wake up, instead of dreading the day ahead, rise and shine and expect sometime wonderful to happen today! When you go outside, notice people going about their lives, and wonder to yourself what they " re thinking, and if they " re happy.

Feel the rain or wind on your face, don't hide from it. Isn't it refreshing? Smile at everyone you meet. It is a fact that people tend to respond to the look you are wearing on your own face! Wiggle y our toes if you are bored. Be happy that you have toes to wiggly!

Be polite, and say please and thank you. That girl taking your order at the fast food place is a human being too, be nice to her. When you are eating, really slow down and enjoy every bit of what you are eating! It's good... well, and even if you don't like it, isn't it great that you have food? Never underestimate yourself! You are always growing and learning.

Just because you didn't succeed at something in the past doesn't mean you can't get it right this time around! Stop complaining about your life. Never take for granted all the joys and freedoms you have. Remember those who have less. Tell everyone who is important to you how you feel about them! You don't ever want to spend your days regretting things you never told them.

And last but never least, remember that life is about love. Give love when you can, and it will be give to you! The Journey Of The Soul Your heart is filled with pain, Your mind cluttered with confusion. Pieces of your life fall around you Like raindrops in a storm. The path you chose so long ago Led you straight to hurts door. Now your weary feet struggle To find the road back home, Searching for the places That love and beauty hide.

Temptations lie in wait all around, Pulling at your every step, Waiting for you to slide back From the chosen, sought for, path. Emptiness surrounds you, Confusing your perceptions. It is difficult to carry on. I will do my best to fill your heart with joy, To clear the cobwebs of confusion, Help you find your purpose. I am good at catching pieces And I can chase away a storm. Let me walk your path beside you, I have walked this road before.

You can lean on me when the weariness comes. My shoulders are very strong. I can not fight your battles, Or chase away demons of the soul, But I can lend you my strength Until you find you own. I will help you find the courage To face each day anew.

I can not shorten the journey you must make, The road is just as long as before. But I can fill the emptiness And help you reach your center, The place where love and beauty hide. Take my hand, be my friend, Let me walk with you awhile. You Can If you think you are beaten, you are, If you think you dare not, you don't.

If you'd like to win, but you think you can't, It's almost a cinch you won't! If you think you " ll lose, you " ve lost, For out in the world you find Success begins with the will, Its all in the state of mind. If you think you " re outclassed, you are, You " ve got to think high to rise You " ve got to think of yourself before You can ever win the prize! Full many a race is lost Before ever a step is run; And many a coward fails, Before his work's begun.

Think big and your deeds will grow, Think small and you " ll fall behind, Think that you can and you will, It's all in the state of mind! Life's battles don't always go To the stronger or faster man; But sooner or later the man who wins Is the one who thinks he can! I Wish You wish you happiness deep within... I wish you serenity with each sunrise. I wish you success in every part of your life, I wish you knowledge and wisdom and grace. I wish you a bright day with much to be thankful for And special memories of all the yesterdays, And a bright path that leads to a beautiful tomorrow.

I wish you dreams that sometimes come true And appreciation of all the wonderful things about you! I wish you the caring of close friends And I wish you Love that never ends! A Prayer For You This morning when I wakened And saw the sun above, I softly said, 'Good morning, Lord, Bless everyone I love. ' Right away I thought of you And said a loving prayer, That He would bless you specially, And keep you free from care. I thought of all the happiness A day could hold in store, I wished it all for you because No one deserves it more. I felt so warm and good inside, My heart was all aglow.

I know God heard my prayers for you, He hears them all, you know. "Life is not so much a problem to be solved as a mystery to be lived". -AnonymousDon't Ever Forget Your presence is a gift to the world, You " re unique and one of a kind. Within you are so many answers, Understand, have courage, be strong. Don't leave your important decisions to chance -Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize. And don't ever forget for even a day...

How very special YOU are! Guardian AngelA Guardian Angel Flew down from above, To teach me a lesson About the powers of love. She whispers to me, Takes a hold of my hand, There are so many things I wish you to understand. About the powers of love, And all it can do, To someone who needs To share it with you. A pat on the back, A kind smile on your face, Can make someone's life, A much brighter place. It doesn't take much, To show someone you care, To give them the love, God gave you to share.

So please keep in mind, All the powers you possess, To grace someone's life, When they " re in distress. You " ve been put on this earth To bestow the powers of love, And with those final words, She disappeared up above. A Little Wisdom mirror is only as good As the reflection in it. Worry enough to anticipate trouble But not so much as to bring it about. Look back to where you have been For a clue to where you are going. Melt the icy fingers of fear With the sunshine of hope.

Step by gentle step, You can overcome the greatest sorrow. The sweetest grapes Are picked from the vineyard of friendship. Find something you truly believe in, And everything else will have meaning as well. DREAMS Dreams of the future... Dreams of hope... Dreams of what will come to pass...

A walk in the forest... A stroll by a stream... A chuckle in the twilight... A hug at midnight...

Romance in the firelight... Dreams of a love that will last... These dreams, oh Lord, grant to me. So I may find happiness at last. Tomorrow If we might have a second chance To live the day's once more, And rectify mistakes we " ve made To even up the score. If we might have a second chance to use the knowledge gained, Perhaps we might become at last As fine as God ordained.

But though we can't retrace our steps, However stands the score, Tomorrow brings another chance For us to try once more It's Up To You! One song can spark a moment, One flower can wake the dream. One vote can change a nation, One sunbeam lights a room. One candle wipes out darkness, One laugh will conquer gloom. One voice can speak with wisdom, One heart can know what's true.

One life can make the difference, You see, IT'S UP TO YOU! 'DON'T LOOK BACK " As you travel through life there are always those times When decisions just have to be made, When the choices are hard, and solutions seem scarce, And the rain seems to soak your parade. There are some situations where all you can do Is simply let go and move on, Gather your courage and choose a direction That carries you toward a new dawn. So pack up your troubles and take a step forward - The process of change can be tough, But think about all the excitement ahead If you can be stalwart enough! There might be adventures you never imagined Just waiting around the next bend, And wishes and dreams just about to come true In ways you can't yet comprehend!

Perhaps you " ll find friendships that spring from new things As you challenge your status quo, And learn there are so many options in life, And so many ways you can grow! Perhaps you " ll go places you never expected And see things that you " ve never seen, Or travel to fabulous, faraway worlds And wonderful spots in between! Perhaps you " ll find warmth and affection and caring And somebody special who's there To help you stay centered and listen with interest To stories and feelings you share. Perhaps you " ll find comfort in knowing your friends Are supportive of all that you do, And believe that whatever decisions you make, They " ll be the right choices for you. So keep putting one foot in front of the other, And taking your life day by day... There's a brighter tomorrow that's just down the road - Don't look back!

You " re not going that way! Sending You My AngelI am sending you my special angel On the wings of pure love One of exquisite beauty From heaven above. I am sending her to you Just so you will know I care so much about you And wanted to tell you so. Treasures There are treasures in life, but owners are few Of money and power to buy things brand new. Yet you can be wealthy and feel regal too, If you will just look for the treasures in you.

These treasures in life are not hard to find When you look in your heart, your soul, and your mind. For when you are willing to share what's within, Your fervent search for riches will end. The joy and the laughter, the smile that you bring; The heart unafraid to love and to sing; The hand always willing to help those in need; Ones quick to reach out, to labor and fee. So thank you for sharing these great gifts inside; The caring, the cheering, the hug when one cried. Thanks for the energy, encouragement too, And thank you for sharing the treasures in you. Simple Things Find joy in the simple things in life...

The smell of hot coffee and pancakes in the morning... Fireflies flickering in a clear night... The cool morning fog as the sun comes up and warms the day... The colors of a peaceful sunset... A bee buzzing in a patch of spring flowers...

The kindness in the smile of a stranger... The warm feeling of a hug from someone who loves you... The quiet sound of the ocean... The twinkling of the stars in the sky... A thought from someone who calls you friend. Thank you for being you!

Steps to Happiness Everybody Knows: You can't be all things to all people. You can't do all things at once. You can't do all things equally well. You can't do all things better than everyone else. Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's. So: You have to find out who you are, and be that.

You have to decide what comes first, and do that. You have to discover your strengths, and use them. You have to learn not to compete with others, Because no one else is in the contest of being you. Then: You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness. You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions. You will have learned to live with your limitations.

You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due. And you " ll be a most vital mortal. Dare To Believe: That you are a wonderful, unique person. That you are a once-in-all-history event. That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.

That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish. And you " ll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down. Words To Live By Just because some one doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. They say love hides behind every corner, then I must be walking in circles.

A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened. The More You Give The more you give, the more you get The more you do unselfishly The more you live abundantly.

The more of everything you share, The more you laugh, the less you fret. The more you " ll always have to spare. The more you love, the more you " ll find That life is good and friends are kind. For only what we give away, Enriches us from day to day. Women Deserve The Best woman will get only what she seeks Choose your goals carefully Know what you like and what you do not like Be critical about what you can do well Choose a career or lifestyle that interests you and work hard to make it a success but also have fun in what you do Be honest with people and do your best but don't depend on anyone to make life easy or happy for you (only you can do that for yourself) Be strong and decisive but remain sensitive Understand who you are and what you want in life When you are ready to enter a relationship make sure that the person is worthy of everything you are physically and mentally Strive to achieve all that you want Find happiness in everything you do Love with your entire being Love with an uninhibited soul Make a triumph of every aspect of your life AN ANGEL KISS We go through life so often, not stopping to enjoy the day. And we take each one for granted, As we travel on our way.

For in your pain and sorrow, An Angel's Kiss will help you through, This kiss is very private, For it is meant for only you. We never stop to measure, Anything we just might miss. But if the wind should blow by softly, You " ll feel an Angel's Kiss. A kiss that is sent from heaven, A kiss from up above.

A kiss that is very special, From someone that you love. So when, your hearts are heavy, And filled with tears and pain, And no one can console you, Remember once again... About the ones you grieve for, Because you sadly miss. And the gentle breeze you took for granted, Was just an Angel's Kiss.

Heart Prints Whatever our hands touch- We leave fingerprints! On walls, on furniture On doorknobs, dishes, books. There's no escape. As we touch we leave our identity.

Oh God, wherever I go today Help me leave heart prints! Heartprints of compassion Of understanding and love. Heartprints of kindness And genuine concern. May my heart touch a lonely neighbor Or a runaway daughter Or an anxious mother Or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Lord, send me out today To leave heart prints. And if someone should say, 'I felt your touch,' May that one sense YOUR LOVE Touching through ME. TIME If you had a bank that credited $86,400 to your account each morning, car.