Second Chances

I was in fifth grade and about to take a science test. Since first grade I had always been good at school. I loved to read and remembered things easily.
Simple math was a breeze for me and I always did well on tests. When it came to fifth grade science, however, I was struggling. I couldn't seem to understand it no matter how hard I tried. I was scared. Mom and Dad had always been so proud of my good grades and I didn't want to let them down. Just before the test then I had written several of the answers on my desk top in barely legible pencil. I sat nervously as the teacher started to hand out the tests. I didn't want to get caught, but I didn't want to fail either.

As the teacher was starting down my row suddenly the fire alarm went off. It was an unscheduled fire drill. We all headed out the door and stood together waiting for the all clear signal. As I stood outside in the warm sunshine I realized what a fool I had been. I knew my Mom and Dad would be proud of me and love me no matter what my grades were. As soon as we were allowed back in I spit on my hand, walked to my desk, and wiped the answers away. I had been given a second chance and I wasn't going to waste it. I took the test, did my best, and felt at peace. I don't remember what my grade was but what happened that day has stayed in my heart and mind ever since.

I am not sure why God gave me a second chance that day. It wouldn't be the last time, though. God has given me more second, third, and fourth chances than any man deserves. His patience and love have been with me through all the mistakes, stumbles, and falls I have made. His second chances have allowed me to grow into the person I am today.

Life is full of second chances but you have to be willing to take them. You have to be willing to ask God's forgiveness and begin again. You have to be willing to release your mistakes and grasp your inner goodness. You have to be willing to give up your fear and just love. Every day when you wake up you are given a second chance at life. Embrace it! Cherish it! And use it wisely!

The Starfish

One day after a high tide, many starfish were brought to the shore. They started drying up in the sun. A boy, walking down the shore, started placing the starfish back into the sea one by one.

A stranger who saw what he was doing walked up to him and asked:

"Why are you doing this? Look around! There are millions of starfish; the shore is covered with them. Your attempts won't change anything!"

The boy picked up another starfish, thought for a moment, placed it into the sea and said:

"No, my attempt will change a lot... for this starfish."

I've Failed And Been Rejected So Many Times

I've Failed And Been Rejected So Many Times, And I Have Never Been Happier In My Life

Growing up as a kid, I was always scared of my own shadow. I lived in a constant state of self-consciousness and as a result repressed my human expression in all its rawness and uniqueness.

I was always calculating in my mind the most appropriate thing to say in social situations to avoid being judged and made fun of by other people. The fear of rejection by society was eating me up from inside out leaving very little room for my true self to express himself. The fear of failure was haunting me like a shadow in the dark. I didn't want to say the wrong thing or make mistakes and as a result I was afraid to try anything new where I would risk making mistakes and failing.

I knew deep down I had to overcome the fear of failure. I was so afraid of making mistakes that I decided to make it my mission in life to become a fearless soul. From there on, I started learning how to live outside my comfort zone and so a new chapter in my life began. I can tell you this, the minute you decide to step out of your comfort zone is the minute you declare a state of chaos and turmoil in your life. It is similar to throwing yourself to the wolves, and your mission is to come back leading them. You are about to experience a never ending battle with your own ego. You will experience failure and rejection more than most people around you because most people don't have the courage to try new things and put themselves out there in vulnerable situations where the odds or rejection and failure seem to be high, at least in the beginning.

You will start to question yourself in so many ways. Have I gone crazy? What drives me to take such chances? Maybe I should just shut my mouth and get back to my little protective shell to avoid embarrassment, failure, and rejection. Your ego will constantly try to bring you back to a fearful state of mind. And guess what, often times you will listen to your ego and get back to your little shell even after you tried to step outside your comfort zone. However, that little voice of courage deep within you, the one that drove you to step outside your comfort zone in the first place will come back and talk to you, and your job is to feed that courageous voice and force yourself to step outside your comfort zone once again and open yourself up for failure and rejection. There is a certain excitement that builds up within you each time you are about to do something new, a sweet little drug known as adrenaline which I happen to be addicted to. I like to call adrenaline the drug of courage and liberation. Adrenaline doesn't care if you succeed or fail, all it wants to do is protect you from a perceived physical or emotional danger, and that's where you become in a fight or flight state of mind. The trick is to train your mind and body to respond to adrenaline by fighting instead of flying. This means whatever scares you let that be talking to a girl, confronting someone, jumping out of an airplane or experiencing failure in any shape or form must be faced head on in order to train your subconscious to fight instead of flight in dangerous situations.

The more you expose yourself to seemingly dangerous situations, the more you fail and get rejected, the more you get out of your comfort zone, the more you realize these fears were simply illusions in your mind set there to limit your potential and capacity and keep you timid in a system that feeds on robotic and fearful behaviour. The adrenaline resides and eventually a fearful thought that was once your arch enemy becomes your best friend. But before you form that friendship with your fear, you have to go through chaos and inner turmoil, and you have to be prepared to make a lot of mistakes along the way before you conquer your fear of rejection and failure. Then, you will develop a love story with failure and your life will never be the same.

"Do the thing you fear the most, and the death of fear is certain." - Mark Twain

A Letter To My Daughter

My dear girl,

The day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through. If when we talk, I repeat the same thing a thousand times, don't interrupt to say:

"You said the same thing a minute ago"... Just listen, please. Try to remember the times when you were little and I would read the same story night after night until you would fall asleep.

When I don't want to take a bath, don't be mad and don't embarrass me. Remember when I had to run after you making excuses and trying to get you to take a shower when you were just a girl?

When you see how ignorant I am when it comes to new technology, give me the time to learn and don't look at me that way ... remember, honey, I patiently taught you how to do many things like eating appropriately, getting dressed, combing your hair and dealing with life's issues every day... the day you see I'm getting old, I ask you to please be patient, but most of all, try to understand what I'm going through.

If I occasionally lose track of what we're talking about, give me the time to remember, and if I can't, don't be nervous, impatient or arrogant. Just know in your heart that the most important thing for me is to be with you.

And when my old, tired legs don't let me move as quickly as before, give me your hand the same way that I offered mine to you when you first walked. When those days come, don't feel sad... just be with me, and understand me while I get to the end of my life with love. I'll cherish and thank you for the gift of time and joy we shared. With a big smile and the huge love I've always had for you, I just want to say, I love you ... my darling daughter.

God Knows What We Need

A woman was at work when she received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left her work and stopped by the pharmacy to get some medication for her daughter.

Upon returning to her car she found that she had locked her keys in the car. She was in a hurry to get home to her sick daughter.

She didn't know what to do, so she called her home and told the baby sitter what had happened and that she did not know what to do.

The baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse. She said, "You might find a coat hanger and use that to open the door." The woman looked around and found an old rusty coat hanger that had been thrown down on the ground, possibly by someone else who at some time or other had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this." So she bowed her head and asked God to send her some help.

Within five minutes an old rusty car pulled up, with a dirty, greasy, bearded man who was wearing an old biker skull rag on his head. The woman thought, "This is what you sent to help me?" But, she was desperate, so she was also very thankful.

The man got out of his car and asked her if he could help. She said, "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I stopped to get her some medication and I locked my keys in my car. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car?"

He said, "Sure". He walked over to the car, and in less than one minute the car was opened.

She hugged the man and through her tears she said, "Thank You So Much! You are a very nice man."

The man replied, "Lady, I am not a nice man. I just got out of prison yesterday. I was in prison for car theft and have only been out less than 24 hours."

The woman hugged the man again and with sobbing tears cried out loud, "Oh, Thank you God! You even sent me a Professional!"

God may not always send us what we expect, but He will always send us what we need. It's up to us to have the wisdom to recognize the difference and be thankful.

A Million Acts Of Love

It was the first day of 4-H camp. I was 10 years old and in the middle of a fist fight with another boy my age. I can no longer remember what the fight was even about, but I do remember that it wasn't going very well for me. 

I was fortunate then when the camp counselor suddenly showed up and stopped the fight. He made us apologize and shake hands to make up. You could tell by our eyes, however, that our hearts weren't in it.

It was the last day of 4-H camp. My Mom had arrived with a surprise for me and my brother. She had baked several homemade pizzas for us to share with our friends. As I was finishing up my last two slices I saw my opponent from day one sitting alone, outside, at the bottom of the stairs to our cabin. I don't know why but at that moment my heart opened. I walked down the steps and shared one of the pieces of pizza with him. It was just a little act of kindness, but it made the day brighter and healed any hurt feelings we still had between us.

It took me many years to realize just how important and vital those little acts of love and kindness are in this life. They matter more than our wealth and accomplishments. They matter more than any fame or popularity. They matter more than all the things this world holds so dear. In the eyes of Heaven they are priceless. In fact, they are the only things we get to take with us when we leave this world for the next.

When we get to meet God face to face and look back on our lives here, it will be these little acts of love that we will be looking at. Don't miss a single opportunity then to share your love and kindness with another. Don't miss a single chance to brighten this world with your inner light. Fill your life here with a million little acts of love and kindness and watch yourself grow closer to God and Heaven with each one.

A Story From My Mother That Changed How I Look At Life

My mom hasn't always been the the role model but its not like she's the worst person ever. She called me downstairs to talk with me about my future and tells me to start looking into colleges, which isn't anything out of the ordinary so I brush it off non-nonchalantly. 

But then she says something I wasn't expecting. "When you make it somewhere in life, make sure to try and give back to people in need." It came out of nowhere and didn't really get why she said that. Then she told me the story behind why she said that.

I have a god-mother who is always been close to the family, and her cousin(who we are also close to) came by to visit our family with this at about midnight last night. She has a daughter and I'm pretty sure is a single mother. Anyways, she found out that she has lupus after collapsing on the ground and going into a coma for a few days. She was put into a local hospital and treated for a week. While in there, her costs went over $5,000 and would end up totaling over $43,000 in all. Due to other circumstances, she isn't able to get help from the government either. And out of nowhere, a man came in one day, said he would pay it off. He paid off a total of $43,000 dollars and will be paying for the rest of her treatment until she gets better, then will be hosting a party in her honor. After getting out of the hospital, she met the man and found out he is one of the highest paid and most known players on our local NFL team. If a man like this can change a persons whole life with just a swipe of a card, then I want to at least be able to repay the favor in some way or another. It may not be for him, but one day I want to go out and help someone like this in hopes others pass it along the same way that I did. He is an inspiration to me now and I hope this story reaches headlines about how there really is good left in humanity.

Don’t Be Afraid

Here we are, afraid of losing what we have all the time, holding on to it so tight that not a soul can touch it. We think by hiding it from the world, it’s hidden and it’s ours. Nothing is. Nothing ever will be. For, nothing ever was.

If you think there is anything that you have, that’s yours, be it money, a house, a job, or a girlfriend… it’s nothing but an illusion. It’ll all disappear… in one blow. One blow, my man.

Here we are, so insecure that we are afraid of re-starting our lives, so we just carry on trying to sort out the current mess. The thought that we should give it all up and just start all over – with nothing – might cross our minds some time, sure, but we get scared and we push away anything that scares us.

There is nothing I can ever achieve or gain that I cannot lose, in a matter of seconds. You have never gained enough to not be able to lose it all, in just a few minutes. What you think is yours, was never yours and will never be yours. Whatever you make here, you leave here. You came naked and you’re going to go back naked.

So what are you afraid of?

Let all be lost. Let them take away everything. As long as you have your heart beating strong, as long as you have your nostrils working fine, as long as the blood flows in your veins, you will live, you will breathe and you can get it all back… again and again. For, if you can do it once, you can damn well do it again. It’s just a game we play – Life.

By Rohit Wadhwaney

The Smell of Rain

A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the Doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. Still groggy from surgery, her husband David held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news. 

That afternoon of March 10,1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24 weeks pregnant, to Danae Lu Blessing.

At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound and nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature. Still, the doctor’s soft words dropped like bombs. I don’t think she’s going to make it, he said, as kindly as he could. “There’s only a 10 percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one.” Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Danae would likely face if she survived. She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and on. “No! No!” was all Diana could say. She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four. Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away.

Through the dark hours of morning as Danae held onto life by the thinnest thread, Diana slipped in and out of sleep, growing more and more determined that their tiny daughter would live, and live to be a healthy, happy young girl. But David, fully awake and listening to additional dire details of their daughter’s chances of ever leaving the hospital alive, much less healthy, knew he must confront his wife with the inevitable. David walked in and said that we needed to talk about making funeral arrangements. Diana remembers, ‘I felt so bad for him because he was doing everything, trying to include me in what was going on, but I just wouldn’t listen, I couldn’t listen. I said, “No, that is not going to happen, no way! I don’t care what the doctors say; Danae is not going to die! One day she will be just fine, and she will be coming home with us!”

As if willed to live by Diana’s determination, Danae clung to life hour after hour, with the help of every medical machine and marvel her miniature body could endure. But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Danae’s under-developed nervous system was essentially raw, the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn’t even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love. All they could do, as Danae struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl. There was never a moment when Danae suddenly grew stronger.

But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there. At last, when Danae turned two months old, her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time. And two months later-though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero. Danae went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.

Today, five years later, Danae is a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life. She shows no signs, what so ever, of any mental or physical impairment. Simply, she is everything a little girl can be and more-but that happy ending is far from the end of her story.

One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving, Texas, Danae was sitting in her mother’s lap in the bleachers of a local ballpark where her brother Dustin’s baseball team was practicing. As always, Danae was chattering non-stop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby when she suddenly fell silent. Hugging her arms across her chest, Danae asked, “Do you smell that?” Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, “Yes, it smells like rain.” Danae closed her eyes and again asked, “Do you smell that?” Once again, her mother replied, “Yes, I think we’re about to get wet, it smells like rain. Still caught in the moment, Danae shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced, “No, it smells like Him. It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest.” Tears blurred Diana’s eyes as Danae then happily hopped down to play with the other children.

Before the rains came, her daughter’s words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along. During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Danae on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.

This is a real story.

A Thousand Marbles

The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. 

Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a steaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as atypical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time.

Let me tell you about it. I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know the kind, he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business himself. He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom". I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.

"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work sixty or seventy hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter's dance recital." He continued, "Let me tell you something Tom, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities." And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."

"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about seventy-five years. know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about seventy-five years."

"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Tom, I'm getting to the important part." "It took me until I was fifty-five years old to think about all this in any detail", he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be seventy-five, I only had about a thousand of them left to enjoy." "So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away." "I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight."

"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time."

"It was nice to talk to you Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!" You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show's moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about. I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.

"C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast." "What brought this on?" she asked with a smile. "Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."

-- Author Unknown

Good Things

1.) Hug your parents. Or whoever it is that makes sure you’re safe everyday. Tell them you love them. One day they won’t be here, and it will feel like you can’t breathe.

You will spend hours thinking of things you wish you had said. Don’t let that happen. Tell them you love them.

2.) You’re going to lose friends. Over petty stuff, and over serious stuff. And thats okay because you’re going to make new friends too. Eliminate the toxic people in your life. You owe yourself that much. 

3.) If they tell you they love you, take caution. Please for the love of God make sure their actions back up their words. If they make you cry more than they make you laugh, leave. If they lay a hand on you, leave. If you’re questioning it at all, leave. 

4.) If its great and you love them back? Treasure it. Savor every single mushy text message. Write poems about their eyes. Don’t think about tomorrow, focus on today. Take pictures. Be the couple everyone envies. 

5.) When things become hard, like “I can’t get out of bed” hard, DO NOT IGNORE THAT, that isn’t how things should be. If you ever start thinking about harming your beautiful body I want you to talk to someone. It will be difficult but it could be the difference between life and death. You won’t sound stupid or dramatic. 

6.) Bring your camera everywhere. Take pictures everyday. When you look back on them, it will be one of the best feelings in the world. It’s true what they say about re-living a moment. Just take my word for it.

7.) You’re going to roll your eyes at this one – do your homework. Study. Do as well as you can. Get your diploma and get out of that town that makes you miserable. There is so much more to this life than your bedroom walls. If school becomes too much, reach out. But don’t forget school is a great ticket out of this place. 

8.) Don’t let others tell you what is and what isn’t cool. You will regret this for the rest of your life if you do. 

9.) If you are unsure of who you are, that’s okay. I’m 18 and I still am figuring myself out. Who you are is beautiful. Anyone who makes you feel otherwise doesn’t deserve to be in your life. 

10.) If you’re alone and shaking because it hurts too much, if you’re collapsed on the floor because you’re tired of waking up, go get help. It’s not okay to want to end your life. Stay alive. Stay alive. Stay alive.

11.) Don’t drink and drive, simple. 

12.) BE LOUD. Voice your opinion. Be heard. Help those who are unable to be loud, and make sure your opinion doesn’t disrespect anyone else existence. People are going to try and quite you down, because they would rather ignore the problems in the world. This is when you need to be the loudest. 

13.) Wear the red lipstick. 

14.) Take a day out of your busy schedule and go to a playground. It’s good to honor our youth. Who cares if you look silly? These are the days that will mean the most. 

15.) Family is very important in our lives but sadly even they can be unhealthy. Get out of there. Put yourself first. Don’t let your family drag you down with them. You can love them without being caught up in their mess. This won’t make you a bad daughter, son, or person.

 16.) Find a band that makes you feel at ease, that you can listen to when you’re not sure about anything. This band will have value the rest of your life. 

17.) Your shorts weren’t too short. Your shirt wasn’t too low. This wasn’t your fault. It isn’t your fault. 

18.) Climb mountains. Swim in rivers, and oceans. Worship nature, remember where we came from. 

19.) Make sure you tell your friends you love them often. Chances are they need to hear it. 

20.) Will it always be easy? No. But guess what? It’s going to be worth it.”

—  Things I Wish I Had Been Told Growing Up.

A Wise Man's Decision

There was a rich man living in a small town. Although he was rich, he was living a simple life. He had two sons and a daughter. He lost his wife, when his youngest child was barely three years old. But, however he never let his children feel, the absence of their mother. 

He tried his best to fulfill the desire of his children. Not only that, he often spoke to them moral based stories, so that their foundation would be strong enough to carry them forward. Time passed away so quickly, that he couldn't realize, that he was already in old age. By that time, all his children were grown up.

One day his eldest son came to him and asked politely, 'Papa, I have some discussion with you. Will you please spare some time for that?'

His father happily agreed. His son started, 'Papa, I was thinking long time before to talk to you, but I never got courage to ask you. But I can't resist myself without clearing my doubt. Please forgive me, if it hurts you. Actually I felt a little bit weird two days before when you refused that man to give some money although you know him very well. A known person asking means, he must be badly in need of that. Otherwise why should he ask you? Besides that, you never allowed us to spend money lavishly, even though you have enough. Is there any cause behind it?'

His father smiled and patted his back fondly. After a little pause, he began, 'Son, in my life I have learnt three things. First: never borrow money from others. Second: spend the money strategically. Third: never lie or dishonest to any one.'

Let me tell you something about me which I never told you before because I didn't feel it's importance.

'We were not rich thirty years before. I was the only son of my parents. My father was earning very little, on daily wages basis. I spent a hard life in my childhood. When my mom was sick, dad spent whatever money he had. The worst part was, when he had no more savings left, he was bound to borrow money from others. Day by day, situation became bad to worse. Eventually, the amount became so high, he couldn't repay it and due to that stress, he died in heart attack. I was just an onlooker. I was helpless. I left my study incomplete and started working. However, with God's grace, I got married to your mom, who helped me, till to her death. Because of her co-operation I could save money. Since, I had seen the acute problem of my dad, I promised that day on wards, that whatever may come, I would save money. That doesn't mean that I am a miser. I do spend money, but only when it is required. Whatever you have now, is the achievement of my hard work.p

So, obviously I don't want my money to be spoil. The man about whom you are talking, has already taken money from me twice, but never returned me that. It seems he has a habit of easy way of earning money by borrowing from others. If he wants, he can sustain himself by doing some work. I don't want to encourage his lethargic attitude which will put him in to trouble in future. I didn't hurt him rather I helped him. Eventually, he will be forced to do some work.'

'For your second question, before answering, I want to tell you a short story, if you don't mind,' said the rich man to his son.

As the son was eager to know the reason, he nodded his head and said, 'Yes, Papa, go on.'

The father continued, 'It is a story from the great epic Mahavarat. Once, Pandavas were in short of rice grains, while they were banished for twelve years. Yudhisthir (the eldest among the five Pandavas) couldn't find any solution. At last he decided to send his brother Bhimsen to Kuvera Dev, asking his help. So he asked Bhimsen to go to Kuvera Dev (God of wealth) and deliver his message. All the four Pandavas were very loyal to their elder brother Yudhisthir. So, Bhim carried out his order instantly. When he reached over Kuvera Dev's place, he was utterly surprised, looking at an amazing situation. He noticed from a distance, that Lord Kuvera was busy in picking up grains from the ground. He was stunned and thought himself, 'The person, who is picking up the grains from the ground, would ever be able to spare a huge amount of rice grain to any one!!!'

However, it was an order from his elder brother, he had no choice left. So, hesitantly he proceeded towards Kuvera Dev and with respect, delivered the message given by Yudhisthir. When Kuvera saw Bhimsen, the second Pandava, he was very much delighted.

After a long sweet conversation, Varuna Dev bid farewell to Bhim and arranged a bullock cart, fully loaded with rice grain sacs to carry with him. Bhim was surprised at Kuvera Dev's humble and kind behaviour. Then he started his return journey.

After passing few yards, he found the road ahead was so extremely muddy. It was impossible for the bullock cart to pass through that particular area. So he came back to Kuvera Dev, and told him about the difficulties.

Kuvera was cool when he heard the problem of Bhim. He smiled at him and said, 'Oh, Bhim! What for you are so much panicked? Do one thing, drop one or two sacks of grain on that mud and run the cart through it.'

Bhim was surprised and stood silently for few seconds. He couldn't believe himself that the same person, who was picking up grains, could suggest him to throw sacs of rice grain. However, he departed from Kuvera Dev and followed his advice. After reaching at home, he narrated the whole scenario to his elder brother and expressed his own feeling about Kuvera Dev.

Yudhisthir could well understand the plight of Bhim. He smiled at him and said, 'It is so simple Bhim. Kuvera Dev is a noble person. He taught you a lesson, that even a single grain should not be wasted, because it has it's own value. Hence, he was picking up the grains which was scattered on the ground. But, when the time demands, throw sacks of grains if it is required without any hesitation, understood? That was his principle.'

Bhim realized his mistake and felt ashamed.'

The father looked at his son's face after finishing his story. He again continued, 'If I would not use my money strategically, maybe, I would not be able to take care of you three properly. Neither I spent the money extravagantly nor I allowed you three to do the same. None of you have stood up in your own feet till now, and the source of income is only one, you know that better. It is beyond my morality that in future, if ever money will be required for you, I have to depend upon some one to help. That I don't prefer at all, and you know what? Whoever it may be, a millionaire or a billionaire, if he goes on spending money lavishly without any earning and saving, he will become a pauper, there is no doubt of it. Besides that, once you will be habituated with a luxurious life, it is very difficult to adjust to simple life. Because money has no guarantee. If today you are rich, tomorrow who knows, what will be your condition? So it is better to live a simple life and enjoy your time luxuriously sometime. Control your money, spend it wisely and live like a king. Hopefully, I have answered your questions. Of course, I am not sure whether you are satisfied or not,' uttered his father.

The son stood up, nodded his head happily, indicating that he was quite happy. He left the place with a smile.

Nobody has seen tomorrow. The man gave some hints of good and bad time of life, which is likely possible for anyone. How far his children acquired that hints, God knows! Of course, choice is yours, which way you want to live your life, spend money lavishly or spend it wisely!!!

Never Quits

Abraham Lincoln never quits.

Born into poverty, Lincoln was faced with defeat throughout his life. He lost eight elections, twice failed in business and suffered a nervous breakdown.

He could have quit many times – but he didn’t and because he didn’t quit, he became one of the greatest presidents in the United States history.

Here is a sketch of Lincoln’s road to the White House:

1816 His family was forced out of their home. He had to work to support them.
1818 His mother died.
1831 Failed in business.
1832 Ran for state legislature – lost.
1832 Also lost his job – wanted to go to law school but couldn’t get in.
1833 Borrowed some money from a friend to begin a business and by the end of the year he was bankrupt. He spent the next 17 years of his life paying off this debt.
1834 Ran for state legislature again – won.
1835 Was engaged to be married, sweetheart died and his heart was broken.
1836 Had a total nervous breakdown and was in bed for six months.
1838 Sought to become speaker of the state legislature – defeated.
1840 Sought to become elector – defeated.
1843 Ran for Congress – lost.
1846 Ran for Congress again – this time he won – went to Washington and did a good job.
1848 Ran for re-election to Congress – lost.
1849 Sought the job of land officer in his home state – rejected.
1854 Ran for Senate of the United States – lost.
1856 Sought the Vice-Presidential nomination at his party’s national convention – get less than 100 votes.
1858 Ran for U.S. Senate again – again he lost.
1860 Elected president of the United States.

The Story Of A Woodcutter

Once upon a time, a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant and he got it. The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the woodcutter was determined to do his best.

His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work.

The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.

“Congratulations,” the boss said. “Go on that way!”

Very motivated by the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.

“I must be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.

“When was the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.

“Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”

 Reflection:

Our lives are like that. We sometimes get so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the “axe”. In today’s world, it seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy that ever.

Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to stay “sharp”? There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our Creator, giving more time for our family, taking time to read etc.

We all need time to relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the “axe”, we will become dull and lose our effectiveness. 

Author: Stephen Covey

Positive Thinking

Jerry was the kind of guy you love to hate. He was always in a good mood and always had something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, “If I were any better, I would be twins!”

He was a unique manager because he had several waiters who had followed him around from restaurant to restaurant. The reason the waiters followed Jerry was because of his attitude. He was a natural motivator. If an employee was having a bad day, Jerry was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation.

Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up to Jerry and asked him, “I don’t get it! You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?” Jerry replied, “Each morning I wake up and say to myself, Jerry, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or you can choose to be in a bad mood.’ I choose to be in a good mood. Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.”

“Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,” I protested.

“Yes it is,” Jerry said. “Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people will affect your mood. You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live life.”

I reflected on what Jerry said. Soon thereafter, I left the restaurant industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it. Several years later, I heard that Jerry did something you are never supposed to do in a restaurant business: he left the back door open one morning and was held up at gunpoint by three armed robbers. While trying to open the safe, his hand, shaking from nervousness, slipped off the combination. The robbers panicked and shot him. Luckily, Jerry was found relatively quickly and rushed to the local trauma center. After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, Jerry was released from the hospital with fragments of the bullets still in his body. I saw Jerry about six months after the accident. When I asked him how he was, he replied, “If I were any better, I’d be twins. Wanna see my scars?”

I declined to see his wounds, but did ask him what had gone through his mind as the robbery took place. “The first thing that went through my mind was that I should have locked the back door,” Jerry replied. “Then, as I lay on the floor, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live, or I could choose to die. I chose to live.”

“Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?” I asked. Jerry continued, “The paramedics were great. They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the emergency room and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read, ‘He’s a dead man.’ I knew I needed to take action.”

“What did you do?” I asked.

“Well, there was a big, burly nurse shouting questions at me,” said Jerry. “She asked if I was allergic to anything. ‘Yes,’ I replied. The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply… I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Bullets!’ Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.”

Jerry lived thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude. I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully. Attitude, after all, is everything.

By Francie Baltazar-Schwartz

The Day I Left My Ego Behind

I was so busy at work one day that when my son called I told him I'd call him right back. Two hours later I remembered. I called him--my son is just 8 years old--and he said "nevermind, Dad, I forget what I wanted." But I was pretty sure he hadn't forgotten.

It was so strange to hear his voice so distant. I recognized that I hadn't been there when he wanted me for something. You can't always be there as a parent, but this time I somehow decided I didn't even have time to listen to what he wanted first.

Who knows, maybe it was something I could have helped with or answered in just 30 seconds. Now I'll never know. I realized that day that it was my ego, my self-absorption at work. Even though much of the work I do is to try to get my son the things he'll need, from food to college tuition down the road, that won't mean much if we let the moments we might connect pass by without taking advantage. The very next day I told myself to leave my ego behind. I took more deep breaths. And it didn't just work out for my son and my family, it was better for my work, too. I felt better and you know what? Feeling better was actually pretty good for my ego too. I'd just been feeding it all wrong.

Butterfly Story

Once a little boy was playing outdoors and found a fascinating caterpillar. He carefully picked it up and took it home to show his mother. He asked his mother if he could keep it, and she said he could if he would take good care of it.

The little boy got a large jar from his mother and put plants to eat, and a stick to climb on, in the jar. Every day he watched the caterpillar and brought it new plants to eat.

One day the caterpillar climbed up the stick and started acting strangely. The boy worriedly called his mother who came and understood that the caterpillar was creating a cocoon. The mother explained to the boy how the caterpillar was going to go through a metamorphosis and become a butterfly.

The little boy was thrilled to hear about the changes his caterpillar would go through. He watched every day, waiting for the butterfly to emerge. One day it happened, a small hole appeared in the cocoon and the butterfly started to struggle to come out.

At first the boy was excited, but soon he became concerned. The butterfly was struggling so hard to get out! It looked like it couldn’t break free! It looked desperate! It looked like it was making no progress!

The boy was so concerned he decided to help. He ran to get scissors, and then walked back (because he had learned not to run with scissors…). He snipped the cocoon to make the hole bigger and the butterfly quickly emerged!

As the butterfly came out the boy was surprised. It had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. He continued to watch the butterfly expecting that, at any moment, the wings would dry out, enlarge and expand to support the swollen body. He knew that in time the body would shrink and the butterfly’s wings would expand.

But neither happened!

The butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.

It never was able to fly…

As the boy tried to figure out what had gone wrong his mother took him to talk to a scientist from a local college. He learned that the butterfly was SUPPOSED to struggle. In fact, the butterfly’s struggle was God's way to push its way through the tiny opening of the cocoon pushes the fluid out of its body and into its wings. Without the struggle, the butterfly would never, ever fly. The boy’s good intentions hurt the butterfly.

As you go through school, and life, keep in mind that struggling is an important part of any growth experience. In fact, struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. It is the struggle that causes us to develop our ability to fly.

Unknown

Real Happiness - Try It Once

I never thought that little help will turn out to be the most satisfying thing I have ever done till date. He was tired, in pain and struggling to climb further. With a broad smile, he wished me and asked if I could help him with some money.

He was paralyzed in both legs and was raising funds for some operation. He said if operated successfully, he could attend a training guaranteeing him a job. I was full of doubts as everyday people play such gimmicks to extract money. I even asked him to show his legs. I gave him remaining money he needed. After few days, he again came at my doorstep asking for more money for tickets and lodging. This time I was more or less convinced he is conning me. I gave me him some said this is all I have.

Year went by and I had moved to a new locality. One fine day I got a call from an unknown number. Caller called out his name but I didn't recognize him. Then he said the same paralyzed person whom you helped a year back at xyz place.

Oh! Recognizing I asked him how he is doing. He said, “What sir, you recognize me not by my name but by my handicapped state”.

“With you kind help I am now able to stand on my legs without support. I was operated successfully. I am married to a beautiful lady and have a stable job".

I don't even remember if I gave him my phone number. However what he said next was touching. He said he wanted to return my money and how can he do that. He said he wanted to return it so that I didn't feel conned and continue to help people in need in the future. I don't know whether he read my facial expression the day I helped me but tears were running down my face. That day I promised him I will continue help people as and when I seen an opportunity - small or big. Truly a life changing event of my life.

Eleven Hints for Life

1. It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return. But what is more painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let that person know how you feel.

2. A sad thing in life is when you meet someone who means a lot to you, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and you just have to let go.

3. The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had.

4. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

5. It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone-but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

6. Don't go for looks, they can deceive. Don't go for wealth, even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

7. Dream what you want to dream, go where you want to go, be what you want to be. Because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do.

8. Always put yourself in the other's shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the person too.

9. A careless word may kindle strife. A cruel word may wreck a life. A timely word may level stress. But a loving word may heal and bless.

10. The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

11. Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss, ends with a tear. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so that when you die, you're the one smiling and everyone around you is crying.

- Unknown

Determination and Persistence

This is a real life story of engineer John Roebling building the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, USA back in 1870. The bridge was completed in 1883, after 13 years.

In 1883, a creative engineer named John Roebling was inspired by an idea to build a spectacular bridge connecting New York with the Long Island. However bridge building experts throughout the world thought that this was an impossible feat and told Roebling to forget the idea. It just could not be done. It was not practical. It had never been done before.

Roebling could not ignore the vision he had in his mind of this bridge. He thought about it all the time and he knew deep in his heart that it could be done. He just had to share the dream with someone else. After much discussion and persuasion he managed to convince his son Washington, an up and coming engineer, that the bridge in fact could be built.

Working together for the first time, the father and son developed concepts of how it could be accomplished and how the obstacles could be overcome. With great excitement and inspiration, and the headiness of a wild challenge before them, they hired their crew and began to build their dream bridge.

The project started well, but when it was only a few months underway a tragic accident on the site took the life of John Roebling. Washington was also injured and left with a certain amount of brain damage, which resulted in him not being able to talk or walk.

“We told them so.” “Crazy men and their crazy dreams.” “It’s foolish to chase wild visions.”

Everyone had a negative comment to make and felt that the project should be scrapped since the Roeblings were the only ones who knew how the bridge could be built.

In spite of his handicap Washington was never discouraged and still had a burning desire to complete the bridge and his mind was still as sharp as ever. He tried to inspire and pass on his enthusiasm to some of his friends, but they were too daunted by the task.

As he lay on his bed in his hospital room, with the sunlight streaming through the windows, a gentle breeze blew the flimsy white curtains apart and he was able to see the sky and the tops of the trees outside for just a moment.

It seemed that there was a message for him not to give up. Suddenly an idea hit him. All he could do was move one finger and he decided to make the best use of it. By moving this, he slowly developed a code of communication with his wife.

He touched his wife’s arm with that finger, indicating to her that he wanted her to call the engineers again. Then he used the same method of tapping her arm to tell the engineers what to do. It seemed foolish but the project was under way again.

For 13 years Washington tapped out his instructions with his finger on his wife’s arm, until the bridge was finally completed. Today the spectacular Brooklyn Bridge stands in all its glory as a tribute to the triumph of one man’s indomitable spirit and his determination not to be defeated by circumstances. It is also a tribute to the engineers and their team work, and to their faith in a man who was considered mad by half the world. It stands too as a tangible monument to the love and devotion of his wife who for 13 long years patiently decoded the messages of her husband and told the engineers what to do.

Perhaps this is one of the best examples of a never-say-die attitude that overcomes a terrible physical handicap and achieves an impossible goal.

Often when we face obstacles in our day-to-day life, our hurdles seem very small in comparison to what many others have to face. The Brooklyn Bridge shows us that dreams that seem impossible can be realized with determination and persistence, no matter what the odds are.