Face difficulties positively 27 comments

Posted at 10:28 pm in Moral stories

This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmers well. The farmer heard the mule praying or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together, told them what had happened, and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, HE WOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow. Shake it off and step upshake it off and step upshake it off and step up! He repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP! It wasnt long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him actually helped him . . . all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. THATS LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity

Temper control 32 comments

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didnt lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It wont matter how many times you say Im sorry, the wound is still there. Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later.
Learn from Mistakes

Thomas Edison tried two thousand different materials in search of a filament for the light bulb. When none worked satisfactorily, his assistant complained, All our work is in vain. We have learned nothing. Edison replied very confidently, Oh, we have come a long way and we have learned a lot. We know that there are two thousand elements which we cannot use to make a good light bulb.

DONT HOPE,DECIDE! 43 comments

While waiting to pick up a friend at the airport in Portland, Oregon, I had one of those lifechanging experiences that you hear other people talk about the kind that sneaks up on you unexpectedly. This one occurred a mere two feet away from me. Straining to locate my friend among the passengers deplaning through the jet way, I noticed a man coming toward me carrying two light bags. He stopped right next to me to greet his family. First he motioned to his youngest son (maybe six years old) as he laid down his bags. They gave each other a long, loving hug. As they separated enough to look in each others face, I heard the father say, Its so good to see you, son. I missed you so much! His son smiled somewhat shyly, averted his eyes and replied softly, Me, too, Dad! Then the man stood up, gazed in the eyes of his oldest son (maybe nine or ten) and while cupping his sons face in his hands said, Youre already quite the young man. I love you very much, Zach! They too hugged a most loving, tender hug. While this was happening, a baby girl (perhaps one or one-and-a-half) was squirming excitedly in her mothers arms, never once taking her little eyes off the wonderful sight of her returning father. The man said, Hi, baby girl! as he gently took the child from her mother. He quickly kissed her face all over and then held her close to his chest while rocking her from side to side. The little girl instantly relaxed and simply laid her head on his shoulder, motionless in pure contentment. After several moments, he handed his daughter to his oldest son and declared, Ive saved the best for last! and proceeded to give his wife the longest, most passionate kiss I ever remember seeing. He gazed into her eyes for several seconds and then silently mouthed. I love you so much! They stared at each others eyes, beaming big smiles at one another, while holding both hands. For an instant they reminded me of newlyweds, but I knew by the age of their kids that they couldnt possibly be. I puzzled about it for a moment then realized how totally engrossed I was in the wonderful display of unconditional love not more than an arms length away from me. I suddenly felt uncomfortable, as if I was invading something sacred, but was amazed to hear my own voice nervously ask, Wow! How long have you two been married? Been together fourteen years total, married twelve of those. he replied, without breaking his gaze from his lovely wifes face. Well then, how long have you been away? I asked. The man finally turned and looked at me, still beaming his joyous smile. Two whole days! Two days? I was stunned. By the intensity of the greeting, I had assumed hed been gone for at least several weeks if not months. I know my expression betrayed me. I said almost offhandedly, hoping to end my intrusion with some semblance of grace (and to get back to searching for my friend), I hope my marriage is still that passionate after twelve years!

The man suddenly stopped smiling. He looked me straight in the eye, and with forcefulness that burned right into my soul, he told me something that left me a different person. He told me, Dont hope, friend decide! Then he flashed me his wonderful smile again, shook my hand and said, God bless! - By Michael D. Hargrove and Bottom Line Underwriters, Inc. Copyright 1997

To Let Go 8 comments
Posted at 11:52 pm in Inspirational stories

To let go does not mean to stop caring, it means I cant do it for someone else. To let go is not to cut myself off, its the realization that I cant control another. To let go is not to enable, but to allow learning from natural consequences. To let go is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands. To let go is not to try to change or blame another, its to make the most of myself. To let go is not to care for, but to care about. To let go is not to fix, but to be supportive. To let go is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being. To let go is not to be in the middle arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect their own destinies. To let go is not to be protective, its to permit another to face reality. To let go is not to criticize, or regulate anyone, but to try to become what I dream I can do.

To let go is to fear less, and to love more.