Two Angels

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a
wealthy family.

The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the
mansion's guest room.

Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole
in the wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied,

"Things aren't always what they seem"

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but
very hospitable farmer and his wife.

After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels
sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and
his wife in tears.

Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in
the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel how could
you have let this happen?
The first man had everything, yet you helped him, she accused.

The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and
you let the cow die..

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.

"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was
gold stored in that hole in the wall.

Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his
good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."

"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death
came for his wife I gave him the cow instead.

Things aren't always what they seem."

Sometimes that is exactly what happens when things don't turn out
the way they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that
every outcome is always to your advantage. You just might not know it
until some time later...

Some people come into our lives and quickly go..
Some peoplebecome friends and stay awhile...


leaving beautiful footprints on our hearts...
and we are never quite the same because we have made a good friend!!

Yesterday is history.
Tomorrow a mystery.
Today is a gift.
That's why it's called the present!

Playing A Violin With Three Strings

On Nov. 18, 1995, Itzhak Perlman, the violinist, came on stage to give a concert at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in New York City.

If you have ever been to a Perlman concert, you know that getting on stage is no small achievement for him. He was stricken with polio as a child, and so he has braces on both legs and walks with the aid of two crutches. To see him walk across the stage one step at a time, painfully and slowly, is an awesome sight.

He walks painfully, yet majestically, until he reaches his chair. Then he sits down, slowly, puts his crutches on the floor, undoes the clasps on his legs, tucks one foot back and extends the other foot forward. Then he bends down and picks up the violin, puts it under his chin, nods to the conductor and proceeds to play.

By now, the audience is used to this ritual. They sit quietly while he makes his way across the stage to his chair. They
remain reverently silent while he undoes the clasps on his legs. They wait until he is ready to play.

But this time, something went wrong. Just as he finished the first few bars, one of the strings on his violin broke. You
could hear it snap - it went off like gunfire across the room. There was no mistaking what that sound meant. There was no mistaking what he had to do.

We figured that he would have to get up, put on the clasps again, pick up the crutches and limp his way off stage - to either find another violin or else find another string for this one. But he didn't. Instead, he waited a moment, closed his eyes and then signaled the conductor to begin again.

The orchestra began, and he played from where he had left off. And he played with such passion and such power and such purity as they had never heard before.

Of course, anyone knows that it is impossible to play a symphonic work with just three strings. I know that, and you know that, but that night Itzhak Perlman refused to
know that.

You could see him modulating, changing, re-composing the piece in his head. At one point, it sounded like he was de-tuning the strings to get new sounds from them that they had never made before.

When he finished, there was an awesome silence in the room. And then people rose and cheered. There was an extraordinary outburst of applause from every corner of the auditorium. We were all on our feet, screaming and cheering, doing everything we could to show how much we appreciated what he had done.

He smiled, wiped the sweat from this brow, raised his bow to quiet us, and then he said - not boastfully, but in a quiet, pensive, reverent tone - "You know, sometimes it is the artist's task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left."

What a powerful line that is. It has stayed in my mind ever since I heard it. And who knows? Perhaps that is the definition of life - not just for artists but for all of us.

Here is a man who has prepared all his life to make music on a violin of four strings, who, all of a sudden, in the middle of a concert, finds himself with only three strings; so he makes music with three strings, and the music he made that night with just three strings was more beautiful, more sacred, more memorable, than any that he had ever made before, when he had four strings.

So, perhaps our task in this shaky, fast-changing, bewildering world in which we live is to make music, at first with all that we have, and then, when that is no longer possible, to make music with what we have left.

article by Jack Riemer (received via email)

Unless You Let It In

All the water in the world
However hard it tried,
Could never, never sink a ship
Unless it got inside.
All the evil in the world,
The wickedness and sin,
Can never sink your soul's fair craft
Unless you let it in.
All the hardships of this world,
Might wear you pretty thin,
But they won't hurt you, one least bit…
Unless you let them in.

- Barbara Johnson

A Software Engineer's Feelings...

Nice one, please take the time and read it.... Time gone by are times that
never come again there are not many second chances to take...

A Software Engineer's feelings.....

It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds gathered in the sky and
nature was in its ominous best. I took a break from my work and went
to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. I had a sip and went near the
window to see the rain pouring down heavily outside the glass
structure. I was inside our huge office building, unruffled by even
the fierceness of the nature.

Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying
to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her.
I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar
pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a
software engineer.
I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status,
respect, you name it I have it. I always wanted to be software
professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the
world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my
palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past,
basked in the warmth of the sun shine.

My childhood was so much of fun. I vividly remember those rainy days,
when I hugged my mother tightly during sleeping listening to all the
stories told by her. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just
a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I
have a cell phone to talk to them everyday, but then I really miss
those dinners which I had with my family everyday. I could easily
afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of
food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food
prepared by my mother.

I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then
they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly
brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on
my face. The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period
just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can
never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these
days.

The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I
fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far
away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am
sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Everyday I meet
new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend.

It's true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no
time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The
latest designer clothes, but a worn out body . Quite a few to flirt,
but no one to love. Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for
the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant
and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest
distance.

Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with
her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts
which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a
long time back.

I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the
expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to
again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with
the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut
it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly
opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an
attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I
have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get
bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I
ignored the mail and went to the rest room. After a couple of minutes,
the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the
perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing,

Hi XYZ,
I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD.
Regards,
Software Engineer.

Excellent right!!!!!!!

received via email

Self Appraisal... Highly Recommended

A little boy went into a drug store, reached for a
soda carton and pulled it over to the telephone. He
climbed onto the carton so that he could reach the
buttons on the phone and proceeded to punch in seven
digits (phone numbers).

The store-owner observed and listened to the
conversation:

Boy: "Lady, Can you give me the job of cutting your
lawn?
Woman: (at the other end of the phone line): "I
already have someone to cut my lawn."

Boy: "Lady, I will cut your lawn for half the price of
the person who cuts your lawn now."
Woman: I'm very satisfied with the person who is
presently cutting my lawn.

Boy: (with more perseverance) : "Lady, I'll even sweep
your curb and your sidewalk, so on Sunday you will
have the prettiest lawn in all of Palm beach , Florida
."
Woman: No, thank you.

With a smile on his face, the little boy replaced the
receiver. The store-owner, who was listening to all
this, walked over to the boy.

Store Owner: "Son... I like your attitude; I like that
positive spirit and would like to offer you a job."
Boy: "No thanks,

Store Owner: But you were really pleading for one..
Boy: No Sir, I was just checking my performance at the
job I already have. I am the one who is working for
that lady, I was talking to!"

This is what we call "Self Appraisal"

Highly Recommended.....

Do Good....

At times we find that people around us are cheating us, fooling us or back stabbing us. And most of the times we are tempted to return the favor as and when we get a chance.

 

Lets try a different path next time though, Be on guard from such people, don’t let them succeed in their motives and harm you but don’t cheat, fool or back stab them. Help them if you can. There’s a verse in Hindi:

“ Jo tako kaanta boye,

        tahe boye tu fool,

           Tako fool k fool hain,

                   Wako hai trisul.”

 

Meaning, if someone sows thorns on your path let him do that. You still sow flowers on his path, you will get flowers as you sowed and  he’ll get a Trishul  a weapon with three sharp ends on one side.

 

So you keep your karma good. Remember, As you sow, so shall you reap. Don’t try to harm anyone and God will protect you from any harm. “ Neki kar dariya mein dal”, means do good and forget it or throw it in the sea or river, don’t expect someone to return the favor but still you be good to everyone. Some people might think you are being foolish but let them think what they want. You don’t need a certificate of wisdom from anyone.

 

Seeing you some people around you will change, seeing them few others might change over a  period of time. Thus, the chain would continue. It’ll eventually make world a better place to win.

Do Good Anyway...

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 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, they may be jealous.
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 Teresa

Guy's Last Letter to Mom...

I went to a party Mom,
I remembered what you said.
You told me not to drink,
Mom,So I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom,
The way you said I would.
I didn't drink and drive, Mom,
Even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom,
I know you are always right.
Now the party is finally ending, Mom,
As everyone is driving out of sight.

As I got into my car, Mom,
I knew I'd get home in one piece.
Because of the way you raised me,
So responsible and sweet.

I started to drive away, Mom,
But as I pulled out into the road,
The other car didn't see me, Mom,
And hit me like a load.

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,
I hear the policeman say,
"The other guy is drunk," Mom,
And now I'm the one who will pay.

I'm lying here dying, Mom....
I wish you'd get here soon.
How could this happen to me, Mom?
My life just burst like a balloon.

There is blood all around me, Mom,
And most of it is mine.
I hear the medic say, Mom,
I'll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom,
I swear I didn't drink.
It was the others, Mom.
The others didn't think.

He was probably at the same party as I.
The only difference is, he drank
And I will die.

Why do people drink, Mom?
It can ruin your whole life.
I'm feeling sharp pains now.
Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,
And I don't think it's fair.
I'm lying here dying
And all he can do is stare.

Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.
Tell Daddy to be brave.
And when I go to heaven, Mom,
Put "GOOD BOY " on my grave.

Someone should have told him, Mom,
Not to drink and drive.
If only they had told him, Mom,
I would still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter, Mom.
I'm becoming very scared.
Please don't cry for me, Mom.
When I needed you, you were always there.

I have one last question, Mom.
Before I say good bye.
I didn't drink and drive,
So why am I the one to die?

******************************
Someone took the effort to write this poem. So please, forward this to as many people as you can. And see if we can get a chain going around the world that will make people understand that drinking and driving don't mix.
******************************************************************** 

received via email

Expectations Hurt

One of the main reasons for people being unhappy, sad or dissatisfied is that they expected something very strongly and it doesn’t happen. Degree of dissatisfaction depends on how significant and huge that expectation was.

Expectations might be from a friend or a family member, fiancée, or even something like a promotion, better job, salary hike, students expecting results etc.. And when you don’t get what you have been dreaming of with your eyes open, it really hurts. All the dependent plans fail and an avalanche of shattered dreams is all that is left in the heart.

One can escape a lot of tension, unhappiness, dissatisfaction by ceasing to expect. Expect nothing. Don’t expect your friend to be by your side when you are in trouble, don’t expect a promotion, a better job, a pay hike etc. when you wont expect you wont be hurt if your friend doesn’t come to see you when you are sick. You wont be depressed when you don’t get a promotion or a pay hike or a better job. Thus you will escape a lot of  mental stress, unhappiness, dissatisfaction. It’ll keep you and people around you happier. At the same time you give the world your best, be a good friend, a good husband, a good father, a good employee but don’t expect any favors in return. I’ll write on this soon… 

Till then remember, don’t expect, expectations hurt. When you don’t expect anything everything comes as a surprise and surprises will usually make you happy. 

Make Your City a Better Place

It was evening time and roads were crowded with vehicles. Honking horns and loud vehicle noises irritated one and all. I was traveling in a shared auto rickshaw. My friend, myself and a lady with her around three years old daughter on her lap were the three occupants of the auto.

As the frustrated auto driver drove through the heavy evening traffic, he sweared at the rash drivers. His frustration was clearly visible to us. A little later the lady got down. She paid the driver. As she held the hand of her little daughter to start walking we heard a sweet voice, “thank you uncle”. The little girl thanked the driver. He smiled back at her and ran his fingers on her cheeks.

It seemed as if the “thank you” cooled him down. He didn’t swear again till we reached our lane. I told my friend to notice the effect of the small “thank you”.

In a days work if you appreciate someone’s work or thank him/her, you might just improve his mood, make him happy and relieve his frustration or tension to some extent. This would in turn prevent him from taking his frustration out on others which would eventually prevent many other bad tempers in your city or to be more precise around you.

Just think about this, if you can succeed in improving the moods of ten people, these ten people will in turn be nice to others they meet and the chain so formed will spread the happiness in your city. Your words of thankfulness and appreciation can actually make a difference to your city. You loose nothing by trying it out. So try it out…

One Bedroom Flat.... think over it...

Every person those who are far away from their parents for jobs shouldhave to read this !!!
ONE BEDROOM FLAT... WRITTEN BY AN INDIAN SOFTWARE ENGINEER..

A Bitter Reality, As the dream of most parents I had acquired a degree in Software Engineering and joined a company based in USA , the land of braves and opportunity. When I arrived in the USA , itwas as if a dream had come true.
Here at last I was in the place where I want to be. I decided I would be staying in this country for about Five years in which time I would have earned enough money to settle down in India ..
My father was a government employee and after his retirement, the only asset he could acquire was a decent one bedroom flat.
I wanted to do some thing more than him. I started feeling homesick and lonely as the time passed. I used to call home and speak to my parents every week using cheap international phone cards. Two years passed, two years of Burgers at McDonald's and pizzas and discos and 2 years watching the foreign exchange rate getting happy whenever the Rupee value went down.

Finally I decided to get married. Told my parents that I haveonly 10 days of holidays and everything must be done within these 10 days. I got my ticket booked in the cheapest flight.

Was jubilant and was actually enjoying hopping for gifts for all my friends back home. If I miss anyone then there will be talks. After reaching home I spent home one week going throug hall the photographs of girls and as the time was getting shorter I was forced to select one candidate.

In-laws told me, to my surprise, that I would have to get married in 2-3 days, as I will not get any more holidays. After the marriage, it was time to return to USA , after giving some money to my parents and telling the neighbors to look after them, we returned to USA ... My wife enjoyed this country for about two months and then she started feeling lonely. The frequency of calling India increased to twice in a week sometimes 3 times a week. Our savings started diminishing.

After two more years we started to have kids. Two lovely kids, a boy and a girl, were gifted to us by the almighty. Every time I spoke to my parents, they asked me to come to India so that they can see their grand-children.. Every year I decide to go to India … But part work part monetary conditions prevented it. Years went by and visitingIndia was a distant dream. Then suddenly one day I got amessage that my parents were seriously sick. I tried but I couldn't get any holidays and thus could not go to India .... The next message I got was my parents had passed away and as there was no one to do the last rights the society members had done whatever they could. I was depressed. My parents had passed away without seeing their grand children.

After couple more years passed away, much to my children's dislike and my wife's joy we returned to India to settle down.

I started to look for a suitable property, but to my dismay my savings were short and the property prices had gone up during all these years. I had to return to the USA ...My wife refused to come back with me and my children refused to stay in India ..... My 2 children and I returned to USA after promising my wife I would be back for good after two years.

Time passed by, my daughter decided to get married to an American and my son was happy living in USA ... I decided that had enough and wound-up every thing and returned to India .... I had just enough money to buy a decent 02 bedroom flat in a well-developed locality.

Now I am 60 years old and the only time I go out of the flat is for the routine visit to the nearby temple. My faithful wife has also left me and gone to the holy abode. Sometimes I wonder was it worth all this?

My father, even after staying in India , Had a house to his name and I too have the same, nothing more.

I lost my parents and children for just ONE EXTRA BEDROOM.

Looking out from the window I see a lot of children dancing.
This damned cable TV has spoiled our new generation and these children are losing their values and culture because of it. I get occasional cards from my children asking I am alright.
Well at least they remember me.

Now perhaps after I die it will be the neighbors again who will be performing my last rights, God Bless them..But the questionstillremains 'was all this worth it?

'I am still searching for an answer..................!!!

START THINKINGIS IT JUST FOR ONE EXTRA BEDROOM??? LIFE IS BEYOND THIS …..DON'T JUST LEAVE YOUR LIFE ……..START LIVING IT …….LIVE ITAS YOU WANT IT TO BE …….

RAJ...

Spend Time With Your Friends and Family...

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.
SON: "Daddy, may I ask you a question?"
DAD: "Yeah sure, what is it?" replied the man.
SON: "Daddy, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?" the man said angrily.
SON: "I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?"
DAD: "If you must know, I make Rs.100 an hour."
"Oh," the little boy replied, with his head down.
Looking up, he said, "Daddy, may I please borrow Rs.50?"
The father was furious, "If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed.
Think about why you are being so selfish. I work hard everyday for such this childish behavior.

"The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that Rs.50 and he really didn't ask for money very often. The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.
"Are you asleep, son?" He asked.
No daddy, I'm awake," replied the boy.
"I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier," said the man.
"It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the Rs.50 you asked for." The little boy sat straight up, smiling. "Oh, thank you daddy!" He yelled.

Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man, seeing that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father.
"Why do you want more money if you already have some?" the father grumbled.
"Because I didn't have enough, but now I do," the little boy replied.
"Daddy, I have Rs.100 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you."
Share this story with someone you like....

But even better, share Rs.100 worth of time with someone you love. It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

SHAY all the Way...

Lovely story.. Before we start my question to all of you is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fund-raising dinner for a school that serves learning disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered a question "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?" The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. "I believe that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes, in the way other people treat that child." Then he told the following story: Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps. Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked if Shay could play, not expecting much! The boy looked around for guidance and a few boys nodded approval, why not? So he took matters into his own hands and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning." Shay struggled over to the team's bench put on a team shirt with a broad smile and his father had a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible 'cause Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing the other team putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least be able to make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over, but the pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the head of the first baseman, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever ran that far but made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to second base. By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team, who had a chance to be the hero for his team for the first time. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions and he too intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay" Shay reached third base, the opposing shortstop ran to help him and turned him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams and those watching were on their feet were screaming, Shay, run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the "grand slam" and won the game for his team. That day," said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world." Shay didn't make it to another summer and died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy and coming home and seeing his mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

If you're thinking about forwarding this message, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people on your address list that aren't the appropriate ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who wrote this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up that opportunity, leaving it and making the world a little colder in the process?

A wise man once said "every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them".

received via email

The Hospital Window

A great note for all to read it will take just 37 seconds to read this and change your thinking
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by.
Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside.
He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window

The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.

She said, 'Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you.'

Epilogue:

There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.

Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.

If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.

'Today is a gift, that's why it is called the present.'

The origin of this letter is unknown, but it brings continued blessings to everyone who passes it on.
Just forward it to your friends to whom you wish blessings.

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THE BRICK

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed downwhen he thought he saw something. As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money Why did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'
Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.' Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy! push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home. It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.
Thought for the Day:
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.
If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about you!

Send this to every 'beautiful person' you wish to bless.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
received by email

Life is Fair...

One of the things Maria Shriver mentions in her book “Ten Things I Wish I Had Known Before Going Into The Real World” is that life isn’t fair…

We see around us, many times the bad guy wins, a very good person dies early, a corrupt politician wins the election and lives a very long life though he indulged in dirty politics which never did any good to anyone, some people work very hard and still don’t get the returns they deserve. So it seems “life isn’t fair”.

But actually life is fair. It seems unfair because we always look at it from the same angle. You would say the bad guy won, but how can you be sure that he is bad? Maybe he isn’t bad and you don’t know him completely or maybe the win was an invitation to new problems for him. You don’t know the inside story.

As far as the corrupt politician is concerned you only know about his professional life, you know him only through what media wrote about him or what you heard from others. His family life might be on rocks. He might be having all possible differences with his near and dear ones and believe me nothing is worse than that. His long life is a curse for him.

I just gave two examples to you. If you observe carefully, the lives of your family and friends around you, you will surely find many such examples which will prove that life isn’t unfair. So don’t ever be evil.

Life is fair…