Did You Have A Merry Christmas?
December 27, 2010
How was your Christmas? The lights and the tree is still happily shining, the gathering and meals are done (except for the cleaning up), the presents wrapped and opened, and hey, it’s boxing day already!
So how do you measure you Christmas? Here’s a thought for you.
Christmas is not about consuming, it’s about expressing and sharing hope and love. And that can be done in many different ways …
Christmas - Hope, Love, Joy and Peace
If this Christmas you have brought hope, love, joy and peace to someone, you could have been the bright and shining star on the Christmas Tree.
I would not worry so much about getting the perfect gift and cooking the perfect meal.
Time to get some perspectives – we have shifted the attention from the inner to the outer so much that we spent time and energy on the ceremonies rather than the essence.
I love Christmas gatherings and greetings, and I also want to soak in the spirit of the season.
Let’s do Christmas inside out.
To Use Or To Love?
October 10, 2009
I received another story that I thought is great to share and to reflect upon. And after you read this, I love to hear your thoughts on this story, so go ahead and leave a comment!
Story Begins Here
While a man was polishing his new car, his 4 year old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child’s hand and hit it many times not realizing he was using a wrench.
At the hospital, the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father, with painful eyes he asked, ‘Dad when will my fingers grow back?’ The man was so hurt and speechless; he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times.
Devastated by his own actions and sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; the child had written ‘LOVE YOU DAD’. The next day that man committed suicide.
Anger and Love have no limits; choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely life & remember this: Things are to be used and people are to be loved. The problem in today’s world is that people are used while things are loved.
Let’s try always to keep this thought in mind: Things are to be used, People are to be loved.
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character;
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
End Of Story
Reflection 1: We have many sophisticated and expensive toys: the iphone, that new designer’s evening gown or the suave car. It is easy to be too attached to these tools and forget that there are here to serve us.We also neglect to value the people around us, the people these tools are here to serve.
Those fingers will not grow again, and the scars in his heart will also remain. But a new car we can have anytime.
Reflection 2: Ending his own life did not help improve the situation, especially for the boy. This will leave a scar so deep in the child’s heart.
Often it takes greater courage to face our mistakes, and start afresh then to avoid dealing with the issues. Love for others will give us the courage to take the attention off ourselves and start over again for the sake of others – there is always a U turn. Yes, things will not be the same again, but the lesson learned will make us a better person.
Reflection 3: The secret to living an empowered life starts with having control over our thoughts. Nurture loving, empowering thoughts and we will live loving empowering lives.
Blessings and Love.
Leaeve a comment, share a thought
Cast Your Bread!
October 7, 2009
A friend shared this story with me and I wanted to pass this onto you. I do not know who wrote it and therefore cannot give due credit to the original author. However, I trust that the inspiration he/she passes on will be of great value to him/her.
Make up your context, the story here starts off rather abruptly. And after you finish reading ask yourself what are some ways you can bless someone today and go do it! May many be abundantly blessed by you!
Story Begins Here
"The man slowly looked up. This was a woman clearly accustomed to the finer things of life. Her coat was new. She looked like she had never missed a meal in her life. His first thought was that she wanted to make fun of him, like so many others had done before.
"Leave me alone," he growled. To his amazement, the woman continued standing. She was smiling — her even white teeth displayed in dazzling rows.
"No," he answered sarcastically. "I’ve just come from dining with the president. Now go away.
The woman’s smile became even broader.
Suddenly the man felt a gentle hand under his arm.. "What are you doing, lady?" the man asked angrily. "I said to leave me alone".
Just then a policeman came up. "Is there any problem, ma’am?" he asked.
"No problem here, officer," the woman answered. "I’m just trying to get this man to his feet. Will you help me?
The officer scratched his head. "That’s old Jack. He’s been a fixture around here for a couple of years. What do you want with him?"
"See that cafeteria over there?" she asked. "I’m going to get him something to eat and get him out of the cold for awhile.
"Are you crazy, lady?"
The homeless man resisted. "I don’t want to go in there!" Then he felt strong hands grab his other arm and lift him up". "Let me go, officer. I didn’t do anything".
"This is a good deal for you, Jack," the officer answered. "Don’t blow it."
Finally, and with some difficulty, the woman and the police officer got Jack into the cafeteria and sat him at a table in a remote corner. It was the middle of the morning, so most of the breakfast crowd had already left and the lunch bunch had not yet arrived.
The manager strode across the cafeteria and stood by his table. "What’s going on here, officer?" he asked."What is all this, is this man in trouble?
This lady brought this man in here to be fed," the policeman answered.
"Not in here!" the manager replied angrily. "Having a person like that here is bad for business.
Old Jack smiled a toothless grin. "See, lady. I told you so. Now if you’ll let me go. I didn’t want to come here in the first place.
The woman turned to the cafeteria manager and smiled. "Sir, are you familiar with Eddy and Associates, the banking firm down the street?
"Of course I am," the manager answered impatiently. "They hold their weekly meetings in one of my banquet rooms.
"And do you make a goodly amount of money providing food at these weekly meetings?"
"I, sir, am Penelope Eddy, president and CEO of the company …"
"Oh …"
The woman smiled again. She glanced at the cop who was busy stifling a laugh. "Would you like to join us in a cup of coffee and a meal, officer?"
"No thanks, ma’am," the officer replied. "I’m on duty …"
"Then, perhaps, a cup of coffee to go?"
"Yes, ma’am. That would be very nice."
The cafeteria manager turned on his heel. "I’ll get your coffee for you right away, officer."
The officer watched him walk away. "You certainly put him in his place," he said.
"That was not my intent … Believe it or not, I have a reason for all this." She sat down at the table across from her amazed dinner guest. She stared at him intently.
"Jack, do you remember me?"
Old Jack searched her face with his old, rheumy eyes. "I think so — I mean you do look familiar."
"I’m a little older perhaps," she said. "Maybe I’ve even filled out more than in my younger days when you worked here, and I came through that very door, cold and hungry."
"Ma’am?" the officer said questioningly. He couldn’t believe that such a magnificently turned out woman could ever have been hungry.
"I was just out of college," the woman began. "I had come to the city looking for a job, but I couldn’t find anything. Finally I was down to my last few cents and had been kicked out of my apartment. I walked the streets for days. It was February and I was cold and nearly starving. I saw this place and walked in on the off chance that I could get something to eat."
Jack lit up with a smile. "Now I remember," he said. "I was behind the serving counter. You came up and asked me if you could work for something to eat. I said that it was against company policy."
"I know," the woman continued. "Then you made me the biggest roast beef sandwich that I had ever seen, gave me a cup of coffee, and told me to go over to a corner table and enjoy it. I was afraid that you would get into trouble. Then, when I looked over and saw you put the price of my food in the cash register, I knew then that everything would be all right."
"So you started your own business?" Old Jack said. "I got a job that very afternoon. I worked my way up. Eventually I started my own business that, with the help of God, prospered."
She opened her purse and pulled out a business card. "When you are finished here, I want you to pay a visit to a Mr. Lyons. He’s the personnel director of my company. I’ll go talk to him now and I’m certain he’ll find something for you to do around the office." She smiled. "I think he might even find the funds to give you a little advance so that you can buy some clothes and get a place to live until you get on your feet. If you ever need anything, my door is always open to you."
There were tears in the old man’s eyes. "How can I ever thank you?" he asked. "Don’t thank me," the woman answered. "To God goes the glory. He led me to you."
Outside the cafeteria, the officer and the woman paused at the entrance before going their separate ways.. "Thank you for all your help, officer," she said.
"On the contrary, Ms. Eddy," he answered. Thank you. I saw a miracle today, something that I will never forget. And…And thank you for the coffee."
Have a Wonderful Day. May God Bless You Always and don’t forget that when you "cast your bread upon the waters," you never know how it will be returned to you. God is so big He can cover the whole world with his Love and so small He can curl up inside your heart.
When God leads you to the edge of the cliff, trust Him fully and let go. Only 1 of 2 things will happen, either He’ll catch you when you fall, or He’ll teach you how to fly.
God is going to shift things around for you today and let things work in your favor."
End of Story
Get ready. Open your arms to receive what has been prepared for you. Trust and continue to be a blessing. Be that flame still. See what the richest man on earth does to his bread.
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