Someone sent me the Wooden Bowl!

Got this great piece from friend, it’s worth reading; please ensure you read to the end.A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl! When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence.

One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

On a positive note, I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:

A rainy day,

The elderly,

Lost luggage, and

Tangled Christmas tree lights.

I've learned that, regardless of your relationship with your parents,you'll miss them when they're gone from your life. I've learned that making a "living" is not the same thing as making a "life".I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back. I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you. I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just afriendly pat on the back. I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.!

Shalom.

Alphabets of one's life.

Got this piece from a long time friend who I have even lost contact with. This man was once a very good friend with whom I share thoughts, aspirations and dreams. A levelheaded person, the friendship dwindled when he had to move away with his wife and children to seek greener pasture elsewhere. I missed them a lot especially the little son David. I felt touched when all of a sudden I received this from him, I guess he is trying to tell me something, which I already know, I have been too neglecting.

Hey friend, if you are reading this, please forgive my omission, after going through this mail, I promise to be a true friend in words and deed.

Enjoy this piece;

True friends:

(A)ccept you
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)all you just to say "HI!"
(D)on't give up on you.
(E)nvision the whole of you (even the unfinished parts).
(F)orgive your mistakes.
(G)ive unconditionally.
(H)elp you.
(I)nvite you over
(J)ust to "be" with you.
(K)eep you close at heart.
(L)oves you for who you are.
(M)akes a difference in your life.
(N)ever Judges,
(O)ffers support,
(P)icks you up,
(Q)uiets your fears,
(R)aises your spirit,
(S)ays nice things about you,
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it,
(U)nderstands you,
(V)alues you,
(W)alks beside you,
(X)-plains thing you don't understand,
(Y)ells when you won't listen, and
(Z)aps you back.

True friends are the 'Alphabets' of one's life.

Desire

Desire is a longing or craving, as for something that brings satisfaction or enjoyment. It is that unquenchable thirst to have something, to do something or become something or someone. Desire is the starting point of success; it is an essential key to success, desire is the genesis of all achievement. When you want something so badly that the urge to possess it overcomes all other reason, then that desire will erase all thoughts of failure, doubts and uncertainty from your mind.
What do you desire? Success, financial breakthrough, good health, healing, good job, freedom from oppression, children, marriage, love? Your desire for any of these must be so great for you to have them, because no substitute or stand-in can take the place of desire. It is either you want it or you don’t. You must know what you want, and then you must want what you want with a passion so intense and so strong that failure or defeat remains an unavailable option. When you know this and practice it, then the sky is the limit for what you can achieve with the power of desire behind you.
I once read somewhere that no amount of adversity can hold back a success-conscious individual, the same, as one cannot prop up a failure-conscious individual. You win or lose because you commit to one or the other.

You decide!

The Modern wife.

It is a myth that when a son gets married and a new daughter-in-law arrives in the family, everything changes. Some daughters-in-law are well trained and well mannered....They don't come to change the family, they are here to..............................................(READ ON!)

The new wife was being welcomed at the husband's home in a traditional manner. As expected she gave a speech thus;

New wife: My dear family, I thank you for welcoming me in my new home and family, firstly, my being here does not mean that I would want to change your way of life, your routine .No, I will never do that, never in a million years.

Mother-in-law: What do you mean my dear?

New wife: What I mean dad is (looking at her in-laws);

Those who used to wash the dishes must carry on washing them.

Those who used to do the laundry must carry on doing it.

Those who cooked should not stop at my account, AND

Those who used to clean should continue cleaning!!!

Mother-in-law: And what are you here for?

New wife: AS FOR ME, I'M HERE JUST TO ENTERTAIN YOUR SON!!!!!

Bravo!

Thanks to Olaitan for this piece.

I refused to be discouraged.

Sometimes when people see how fervent, diligent and committed you are to a cause, they tend to want to put stumbling blocks in your way. It is then left for you as a person with an excellent spirit to see beyond the discouragement. If such obstacles are thrown your way, it could also enlighten you, give you a better understanding of your believe. Wallowing in self-pity cannot make the situation better. See beyond the set back, pick up your life and live it to the fullest. Here is a story to encourage you.
A young boy was sitting on a park bench with one hand resting on an open Bible and loudly exclaiming his praise to God. "Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God is great!" he yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not. Shortly after, along came a man who had recently completed some studies at a local university. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth and very eager to show this enlightenment, he asked the boy about the source of his joy. "Hey" asked the boy in return with a bright laugh, "Don't you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle."
The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and began to try to open his eyes to the "realities" of the miracles of the Bible. "That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10-inches deep at that time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across."
The boy was shocked. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible opened on his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened the poor, naive boy to the finer points of scientific insight, turned to go. Scarcely had he taken two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before.
The man turned to ask the reason for this resumed jubilation.
“ Wow!” exclaimed the boy happily, "God is greater than I even thought! Not only did He lead the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, He topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10-inches of water!"

ooh ho, he could not have been more fervent.

Ever been chased by a real Bad Dude?

An old fellow had been in the north woods for weeks by himself, camping out. Each night at dusk he built a campfire, boiled water for coffee, and took out his skillet to fry up some bacon for dinner. As he was sitting by the fire one night, the water boiling and the bacon sizzling, he heard a tremendous racket in the brush. The sound was like a roaring freight train, and as trees fell over and branches snapped, the biggest bear he’d ever seen lumbered into the clearing. On the bear’s back was a tough-looking hombre holding a seven-foot live rattlesnake in his hands.
The man shouted and screamed as he brought the bear to a skidding halt, bit the head off the rattlesnake, and flung it into the brush. Then he slid off the bear’s back, turned, and hit him between the eyes, knocking him unconscious. The camper was speechless as this wild-eyed renegade walked over to the fire, tossed the boiling coffee down his throat, drank the hot grease from the skillet, and ate all of the bacon in one bite. As he wiped his hands with poison ivy and slapped the bear back to consciousness, he turned to the camper and said, “Partner, I’m sorry I can’t stay around and visit with you a while, but I have got to keep moving ‘cause a real bad dude is chasing me!”