A friend will go the distance

A friendship must go the distance.
It must have persistance.

This kind of friend will treat you right,
and won't find joy in a fight.

This friend won't walk away.
When you need help, this friend will stay.

A friend will love you for who you are.
Will look at you as if you're a star.

A friend won't talk behind your back,
and will be your defense in an attack.

I know that you're this kind of friend
who will go the distance until the end.

shared by : Irene Tan

Twinkies and Root Beer

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.

 

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

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

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?

"He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he's much younger than I expected."

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

 

~author unknown~

Share this story to people who have touched your life in a special way. Let them know how important they are. Have lunch with God!

And .......Thanks for touching my life!

 

Taken from : SINGINGMAN

The Most Beautiful Heart

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.

Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said, "Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine."

The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly, but full of scars, it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing. The people stared -- how can he say his heart is more beautiful, they thought?

The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed. "You must be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears."

"Yes," said the old man, "Yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love - I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared.

"Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges -- giving love is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?"

The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands.

The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges.

The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man's heart flowed into his. They embraced and walked away side by side.

 

~Author Unknown~

Friendship is a strange thing

We find ourselves telling each other the deepest details of our lives...
things we don't even share with the families who raised us.
But what is a FRIEND?
A confidant? A shoulder to cry on? An ear to listen? A heart to feel?
A friend is all these ... and more.

No matter where we met...
No matter how long we've been together...
I call you FRIEND.

A word so small, yet so large in feeling
A word filled with emotion
A word overflowing with love.

Truly great things come in small packages.
Once the package of friendship has been opened, it can never be closed.
It is a constant book always waiting... waiting to be read... and enjoyed.
We may have our disagreements... we may have our disappointments ...
we may argue ...we may have concern for one another...

Friendship is a unique bond that lasts through all tribulations.
A part of each of us goes into our friendships ...
Our humor ... our experiences... our tears.
Friendships are foundations... necessary for life... and love.

Friends .. you and me ...
You brought another friend and then we were three ...
we started our group ...our circle of friends...
there is no beginning .. there is no end.

Sometimes God wants us to meet many wrong people so that when the right one comes along, we will appreciate that person more.

Shared by : Alex Wee

Outside this window

Story :

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 of 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."

 

~Author Unknown~

Reflection:

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."

People will forget what you said....
People will forget what you did....
But people will never forget how you made them feel.

I would like that each of us could be as this blind man was. And that is by looking for ways to comfort and lift the spirits with encouragement for others. And most importantly, by sharing that love which God has placed in our hearts with every one we meet. I truly hope and pray that in some small way God can use us each day to bless each other. I know I'm not much but I want you all to know that I love you and wish only the best for you and I pray every day for God to watch over each and everyone of you, to comfort those of you who are hurting and fill each with the love and joy deep down in your hearts that only God can give.

 

God bless,

Linda

Are you a reason, a season or a lifetime?

Pay attention to what you read.  People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

 

When someone is in your life for a REASON. . .

 

It is usually to meet a need you have expressed.

They have come to assist you through a difficulty,

to provide you with guidance and support,

to aid  you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. 

They may seem like a godsend, and they are!

They are there for the reason you need them to be.

 

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part,

or at an inconvenient time,

this person will say or do something

to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die. 

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met,

our desire fulfilled, their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered. 

And now it is time to move on.

 

Then people come into your life for a SEASON.

 

Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. 

They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh. 

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. 

Believe it!  It is real! 

But, only for a season.

 

LIFETIME relationships ...

 

Teach you lifetime lessons

and things you must build upon

in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson,

love the person,

and put what you have learned

to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. 

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

 

Work like you don't need the money.

Love like you've never been hurt.

And dance like no one is watching.

 

Thanks for being a part of my life

 

~Author Unknown~

Old Phone

Story:

When I was quite young, my father had one of the first telephones in our neighborhood. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the wall.

The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an amazing person. Her name was "Information Please" and there was nothing she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone's number and the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer.  The pain was terrible, but there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear. "Information, please" I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear. "Information."

"I hurt my finger..." I wailed into the phone.  The tears came readily enough, now that I had an audience.

"Isn't your mother home?" came the question.

"Nobody's home but me," I blubbered.

"Are you bleeding?" the voice asked.

"No," I replied. "I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts."

"Can you open the icebox?" she asked.

I said I could.

"Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger," said the voice.

After that, I called "Information Please" for everything. I asked her for help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She helped me with my math. She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day before would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called, "Information Please," and told her the sad story. She listened, and then said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I asked her, "Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom of a cage?"

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, "Paul, always remember that there are other worlds to sing in."

Somehow, I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, "Information Please."

"Information," said in the now familiar voice. "How do I spell fix?" I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest. When I was nine years old.  We moved across the country to Boston. I missed my friend very much. "Information Please" belonged in that old wooden box back home, and I somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those childhood conversations never really left me.

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient, understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in Seattle. I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15 minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then, without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and said, "Information Please."

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well. "Information."

I hadn't planned this, but I heard myself saying, "Could you please tell me how to spell fix?"

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, "I guess your finger must have healed by now."

I laughed, "So it's really you," I said. "I wonder if you have any idea how much you meant to me during that time?"

"I wonder," she said, "if you know how much your calls meant to me?  I never had any children, and I used to look forward to your calls."

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years, and I asked if I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

"Please do", she said. "Just ask for Sally."

Three months later I was back in Seattle. A different voice answered, "Information." I asked for Sally.

"Are you a friend?" she said.

"Yes, a very old friend," I answered.

"I'm sorry to have to tell you this," she said. "Sally had been working part-time the last few years because she was sick. She died five weeks ago."

Before I could hang up she said, "Wait a minute.  Did you say  your name was Paul?"   "Yes." I answered.

"Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you called. Let me read it to you."

The note said, "Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He'll know what I mean."

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

 

~Author Unknown~

Reflection :

The above story is one you may have seen before. I do not know the original author. It serves as a reminder that we as adults can never really know when we might have a significant influence on a child. Even small seemingly inconsequential interactions can be of profound influence on a small child. Take time to really talk to a child. Listen to them and you will be amazed at what you might learn and at how easy it is for you to make an impression on their very open and impressionable minds.

 

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others.

Whose life have you touched today?

Why not pass this on? I just did....

Lifting you on eagle's wings.

May you find the joy and peace you long for.
Life is a journey ... NOT a guided tour ...

Taken from : SmithDRay's

Puppies 4 Sale

A store owner was tacking a sign above his door that read, "Puppies for Sale."

The signs have a way of attracting children. Soon a little boy appeared at the sign and asked, "How much are you gonna sell those puppies for?" The store owner replied, "Anywhere from $30 - $50." The little boy reached into his pocked and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37, can I look at them?" The store owner smiled and whistled. Out of the kennel came his dog named, Lady, running down the aisle of his store followed by five little puppies.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy. He asked, "What's wrong with that little dog?" The man explained that when the puppy was born the vet said that this puppy had a bad hip socket and would limp for the rest of his life. The little boy got really excited and said, "That's the puppy I want to buy!"

The man replied, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog. If you really want him, I'll give him to you." The little boy got upset. He looked straight into the man's eyes and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. He is worth every bit as much as the other dogs and I'll pay the full price. In fact, I will give you $2.37 now and 50 cents every month until I have him paid for."

The man countered, "You really don't want this puppy, son. He is never gonna be able to run, jump and play like other puppies."

The little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the man and said, "Well, I don't run so well myself and the little puppy will need someone who understands."

The man was now biting his bottom lip. Tears welled up in his eyes. He smiled and said, "Son, I hope and pray that each and every one of these puppies will have an owner such as you."

In life, it doesn't matter who you are, but whether someone appreciates you for what you are, accepts you and loves you unconditionally. A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks away.

Puppies 4 Sale from Laura Ann F. handmaiden.org

Tigers and piglets

This scores big on the "aaaaah" scale of things!

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, died shortly after birth. The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although she was fine physically.

The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment.

Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only "orphans" that could be found quickly were a litter of wiener pigs. The zookeepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger.

Flight of Geese

If between friends and partners we were geese... Ah!

The next season, when you see the geese migrating, going to a warmer place, to sort the winter...

Pay attention that they fly in a "V" formation.

Maybe you will be interested in knowing why they do it this way...

By flying in a "V" formation...
The whole flock increases the flight efficiency by 71%

Compared to just one bird flying alone.

Lesson 1:
Sharing the same direction and working as a team, get us to the destination quicker and easier. By helping ourselves, the accomplishments are greater!.

When a goose leaves the formation..

He feels the resistance of the air and the difficulties of flying alone....

Then, he quickly comes back to the formation to take advantage of the the flock's power in front of him ..

Lesson 2:
By staying in tune and united beside those who are going in the same direction, the effort will be less. It will be easier and pleasing to reach the goals, Everyone will be inclined to accept and give help.

When the leader goose gets tired of flying...

He goes to the end of the "V" formation. While another goose takes the lead.

Lesson 3:
To share the leadership, There must be mutual respect between us all the time... Sharing the hardest problems and tasks... Gathering our abilities and combining our faculties, talents and resources.

The geese flying on a "V" formation, they quack to encourage to the ones in the front. In that way, they keep the same speed.

Lesson 4:
When there is courage and encouragement, the progress is greater.. A timely word of encouragement, always motivates, helps and strengthens.. It produces the best of benefits...

When a goose gets sick, is injured or gets tired and he must leave the formation...

Other geese leave the formation too and they fly with him to help him out and protect him.

They remain with him until he dies or he is able to fly again. They reach their bevy or they just make another "V" formation.

Lesson 5:
Let's stay beside each other no matter what the differences. Specially in times of difficulty and great challenges.. If we bond together and support each other.. If we make true the spirit of teamwork.. Regardless of our differences, we can rise to meet our challenge.

If we understand the real value of friendship..
If we are aware of the feeling of sharing..

LIFE WILL BE EASIER AND THE PASSING OF YEARS MORE FULFILLING ..

MY FRIENDS AND PARTNERS...
LET'S BE LIKE THE GEESE!!!

The Hippo and the Tortoise Who Became Friends After the Tsunami

Hi friend,

This story and pictures tell of a baby hippopotamus and a giant tortoise who linked up as friends after being displaced by the tsunami waves in Kenya, Africa

This odd pairing really did happen. According to numerous news accounts the hippo and the tortoise found each other at a wildlife refuge where they were taken after being stranded by the tsunami disaster.

According to the BBC, the hippo is about 1 year old and was found alone and dehydrated near the Indian Ocean in Kenya. He was taken to a wildlife enclosure near Mombassa where keepers have named him Owen. He and a 100-year-old tortoise named Mzee struck up a friendship and have been partners ever since.

Keepers say they are inseparable and that the tortoise has been mothering the baby hippo.
=================
NAIROBI (AFP) - A baby hippopotamus that survived the tsunami waves on the Kenyan coast has formed a strong bond with a giant male century-old tortoise, in an animal facility in the port city of Mombassa , officials said.

The hippopotamus, nicknamed ! Owen and weighing about 300 kilograms (650 pounds), was swept down Sabaki River into the Indian Ocean , then forced back to shore when tsunami waves struck the Kenyan coast on December 26, before wildlife rangers rescued him.

"It is incredible. A-less-than-a-year-old hippo has adopted a male tortoise, about a century old, and the tortoise seems to be very happy with being a 'mother'," ecologist Paula Kahumbu, who is in charge of Lafarge Park , told AFP.

"After it was swept and lost its mother, the hippo was traumatized. It had to look for something to be a surrogate mother. Fortunately, it landed on the tortoise and established a strong bond. They swim, eat and sleep together," the ecologist added.

"The hippo follows the tortoise exactly the way it follows its mother. If somebody approaches the tortoise, the hippo becomes aggressive, as if protecting its biological mother," Kahumbu added.

"The hippo is a young baby, he was left at a very tender! age and by nature, hippos are social animals that like to stay with their mothers for four years," he explained.

Source : TruthOrFiction.com © 1998- 2006 All rights reserved (Please include this line to forward the message)

tiny FROG

Once upon a time there was a bunch of tiny frogs....

who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants.... and so the race began....

Honestly: No one in the crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as:
"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"
"They will NEVER make it to the top."
or: "Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one... Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher... The crowd continue to yell, It's too difficult!!! No one will make it!" More tiny frogs got tired and gave up...

But ONE CONTINUED higher and higher and higher...

This one wouldn't give up! At the end everyone else had given up climbling the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who after a big effort was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestand asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out....

That the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is : Never listen to other people's tendencies to be negative or pessimistic... because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you - the ones you have on your heart!

Always think of the power words have. Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore: ALWAYS be ... POSITIVE
And above all: Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Always think: God and I can do this!
Pass this message on to other "tiny frogs" you care about. Give them some motivation!!!

Most people walk in and out of your life... but FRIENDS leave footprints in your heart.

Tomorrow will be yesterday. TODAY is no special day and I have no particular reason for writing to you... I have no news to tell you... nor any problems to discuss with you... It's only ONE of those happy moments when I thought of you... and I'd like to share these thoughts with you...

MANY SMILES BEGIN BECAUSE OF ANOTHER SMILE...

To the world you might be one person... but to one person you might be the world.

You have been tagged by the FROGGY which means you are a GREAT FRIEND !!!

So remember always... If you fall down 10 times... stand up 11 :)

HAVE A BLESSED DAY,

Linda

shared by : Suzanne, October 05, 2006