Are you a carrot, an egg or coffee?

A daughter complained to her father about

her life and how things were so hardfor
her. She said, Father, I do not know how I
am going to make it. I just feel like
giving up. Im tired of fighting
and struggling.
It seems as though every time one of my
problems is solved, a new one comes along.
I just cant take it anymore.
Her father took her to the kitchen. He
filled three pots with water and placed
them each on high heat. Soon the pots came
to a boil. In one pot of boiling water, he
placed carrots. In the second, he placed
eggs, and in the last pot, he placed coffee
beans. He let them sit and boil, without
saying a word.
The daughter impatiently waited, wondering
what he was doing.
Twenty minutes later, he turned off the
burners. He strained the water from

the carrots and placed them in a bowl. He

lifted the eggs out and placed them in
another bowl. Then he ladled the steaming
coffee into a bowl.
Turning to her he asked, What do you see?
Carrots, eggs, and coffee, she replied.
He brought her closer and asked her to feel
the carrots. She did and noted that they
were soft and mushy. He then asked her to
take an egg and break it. After pulling off
the shell, she observed the hard-boiled
egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the
coffee. She smiled as she tasted its flavor
and smelled the rich aroma.
She humbly asked, But what does it mean,
Father? He explained that each of them had
been plunged into boiling water, but each
had reacted differently. The carrot went
into the water strong and hard but after
being subjected to the boiling water, it
softened and became weak.
The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer
shell had protected its soft, liquid
interior. But after sitting in the boiling
water, it became hard on the inside.

The ground coffee beans were unique,

however. After they were in the boiling
water, the water did not really change
them. They changed the water!
Which are you? the father gently asked
his daughter.
When adversity knocks on your door, how do
you respond? Are you more like acarrot, an
egg, or a coffee bean?
How about you? Are you the carrot that
started out strong and hard long ago, but
with the pain and adversity of your life
struggles, did you become soft and lose
your strength? Are you the egg that started
out soft inside? Were you a fluid spirit,
but after the pain of death, abuse,
rejection, poor health, divorce, or a
layoff, have you become hardened? Your
outer shell might look the same, but have
you become hard-boiled and toughened in
your spirit and your heart?
Or are you like the coffee bean? The

bean that was plunged into the rapidly

boiling water actually changed the hot
water and gave it flavor and aroma,
reaching its peak flavor at 212 degrees
Fahrenheit! THAT IS HOT WATER!
When people say
your praises to
blame Him? When
your trials are
worship elevate
desert Him?

bad things about you, do

the Lord continue or do you
the hour is the darkest and
their greatest, does your
to a higher level or do you

When you feel burdened by your own

troubles, do you still reach out and help
others? How do you handle adversity? Are
you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?
When you get plunged into hot water,
anything that is bringing you pain, like
being plunged into the adversities of life,
be like the coffee bean. When things are at
their worst, you will get stronger and make
things better around you, and you will
always leave a fragrance.

Life is Coffee!!!

Group
of
ex
students
University Professor.

visited

their

Conversation soon
turned
into
complaints about stress in life. Offering
them coffee, Prof returned from kitchen
with a pot of coffee in different cups:
Porcelain,
Glass,
Crystal,
some
plain
looking, some expensive.
When all had a cup of coffee in hand
# Professor said:
If you noticed, all the expensive cups were
taken up first, leaving the plainones. It
is normal for you to want only the Best.
But that is also the source of your
stress.
What you really wanted was Coffee, NOT Cup,
But you all still went for the Best Cups &
were eyeing each other's Cups!
If Life Is Coffee, then Jobs,
Status in Society are the Cups.
They are
life.

just

tools

to

hold

Don't let the Cups drive you.

Enjoy the Coffee.!!

Money
&

&

contain

An unemployed graduate woke up one morning

and checked his pocket. All he had left was
$10. He decided to use it to buy food and
then wait for death as he was too proud to
go begging. He was frustrated as he could
find no job, and nobody was ready to help
him.
He bought food and as he sat down to eat,
an old man and two little children came
along and asked him to help them with
food as they had not eaten for almost a
week. He looked at them. They were so lean
that he could see their bones coming out.
Their eyes had gone into the socket.
With the last bit of compassion he had, he
gave them the food. The old man and
children prayed that God would bless and
prosper him and then gave him a very old
coin.
The young graduate said to them "you need
the prayer more than I do".
With no money, no job, no food, the
young graduate went under the bridge to
rest and wait for death. As he was about to
sleep, he saw an old newspaper on the
ground. He picked it up, and suddenly he
saw an advertisement for people with old
coins to come to a certain address.

He decided to go there with the old coin

the old man gave him. On getting to the
place, he gave the proprietor the coin. The
proprietor screamed, brought out a big book
and showed the young graduate a photograph.
This same old coin was worth 3 million
dollars.
The young graduate was overjoyed as the
proprietor gave him a bank draft for 3
million
dollars within
an
hour.
He
collected the Bank Draft and went in search
of the old man and little children.
By the time he got to where he left them
eating, they had gone. He asked the owner
of the canteen if he knew them. He said no
but they left a note for you. He quickly
opened the note thinking it would lead him
to find them.
This
is what
the note
said:
"You gave us your all and we have rewarded
you
back
with
the
coin."
Signed
God the Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost.
1 Kings 17:10-16; Matthew 11:28-30
Have you given all to Jesus Christ? If you
haven't, do so today and he will surprise
you.
Donkey in the Well

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a

well. The animal cried piteously for hours
as the farmer tried to figure out what to
do. Yours too
Finally he decided since the animal was
old, and the well needed to be covered up
anyway, it just wasn't worth it to retrieve
the donkey. So, the farmer invited all his
neighbors to come over and help him. They
all grabbed shovels, and began to shovel
dirt into the well.
All the other farm animals were very upset
about this, because the donkey was their
friend. But they discovered there was
nothing they could do to help him. At
first, when the donkey realized what was
happening, he cried horribly. Then, to
everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A
few shovel loads later, the farmer finally
looked down the well, and was astonished at
what he saw.
With every shovel of dirt that hit his
back,
the
donkey
was doing
somethingamazing. He would shake it off,
and take a step up on the dirt as it piled
up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to
shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would
shake it off and take a step up. Pretty
soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey

stepped up over the edge of the well, and

trotted off!
MORAL: Life is going to shovel dirt on you,
all kinds of dirt. But each trouble can be
a stepping stone. What happens to you isn't
nearly as important as how you react to it.
We can get out of the deepest wells just by
not giving up!
Shake it off, and take a step up!
SCIENCE & GOD
Let me explain the problem science has with
God." The atheist professor of philosophy
pauses before his class and then asks one
of his new students to stand.
"You're a God believer, aren't you, son?"
"Yes sir," the student says.
"So you believe in God?"
"Absolutely."
"Is God good?"
"Sure! God's good."
"Is
God
anything?"
"Yes."

all-powerful?

Can

God

do

"Are you good or evil?"

"The teachings says I'm evil."
The
professor
grins
knowingly.
He
considers for a moment. "Here's one for
you. Let's say there's a sick person over
here and you can cure him. You can do it.
Would you help them? Would you try?"
"Yes sir, I would."
"So you're good...!"
"I wouldn't say that."
"But why not say that? You'd help a sick
and maimed person if you could. Most of us
would if we could. But God doesn't."
The student does
not
answer,
so
the
professor continues. "He doesn't, does he?
My brother was a God believer who died of
cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to
heal him. How is this God good? Hmmm? Can
you answer that one?"
The student remains silent.
"No, you can't, can you?" the professor
says. He takes a sip of water from a glass
on his desk to give the student time to
relax.

"Let's
good?"

start

again,

young

fella.

Is

God

"Er... Yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"
The student doesn't hesitate on this one.
"No."
"Then where does Satan come from?"
The student falters. "From... God..."
"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he?
Tell me, son. Is there evil in this
world?"
"Yes, sir."
"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did
make everything, correct? "
"Yes."
"So
who
created
the student has

evil?"
no

Again,
answer.

"Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred?

Ugliness. All these terrible things, do
they exist in this world?"
The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."
"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the

professor repeats his question.
"Who created them? "
There is still no answer. Suddenly the
lecturer breaks away to pace in front of
the classroom. The class is mesmerized.
"Tell me," he continues. "Do you believe in
God, son?" The student's voice betrays him
and
cracks.
"Yes, professor. I do."
The old man stops pacing. "Science says you
have five senses you use to identify and
observe the world around you. Have you ever
seen God?"
"No sir. I've never seen Him."
"Then tell us if you've ever heard your
God?"
"No, sir. I have not."
"Have you ever felt your God, tasted your
God or smelt your God? Have you ever had
any sensory perception of God?
"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."
"Yet you still believe in him?" thundered
the professor

"Yes."
"According to the rules of empirical,
testable,demonstrable
protocol,
science
says your God doesn't exist. What do you
say to that, son?
"Nothing," the student replies.
have my faith."

"I

only

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats.

"And that is the problem science has with
God. There is no evidence, only faith."
The student stands quietly for a moment,
before asking a question of his own.
"Professor, is there such thing as heat?"
"Yes,"
heat."

the

professor

replies.

"There's

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."
"No sir, there isn't."
The professor turns to face the student,
obviously interested. The room suddenly
becomes
very
quiet.
The student begins
to explain.
"You can have lots of heat, even more heat,
super-heat, mega heat, white heat, a little

heat or no heat, but we don't have anything

called 'cold'.
We can hit 458 degrees below zero, which is
no heat,but we can't go any further after
that. There is no such thing as cold;
otherwise we would be able to go colder
than -458 degrees. You see, sir, cold is
only a word we use to describe the absence
of heat.
We
cannot measure cold.
Heat
we
can measure in thermal units because heat
is energy. Cold is not the opposite of
heat, sir, just the absence of it.
Silence
across
the
room!
A
pen
drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding
like a hammer.
"What about darkness, professor. Is there
such a thing as darkness?"
"Yes,"
the
professor
replies
without
hesitation. "What is night if it isn't
darkness?"
"You're wrong again, sir.
Darkness is not something; it is the
absence of something. You can have low
light, normal light, bright light, flashing
light. But if you have no light constantly
you have nothing and it's called darkness,

isn't it? That's the meaning we use to

define the word. In reality, Darkness
isn't. If it were, you would be able to
make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
The
professor
begins
to
smile
at
the student in front of him. This will be a
good semester.
"So what point are you making, young man?"
"Yes,
professor.
My
point
is,
your
philosophical premise is flawed to start
with and so your conclusion must also be
flawed."
The professor's
surprise
this
youexplain how?"

face cannot hide

time.
"Flawed?

"You
are
working
on
the
premise
duality," the student explains.

his
Can
of

"You argue that there is life and then

there's death; a good God and a bad God.
You are viewing the concept of God as
something finite, something we canmeasure.
Sir, science can't even explain a thought.
It uses electricity and magnetism, but has
never seen, much less fully understood
either one. To view death as the opposite
of life is to be ignorant of the fact that
death cannot exist as a substantive thing.

Death is not the opposite of life, just the

absence of it. "Now tell me, professor. Do
you teach your students that they evolved
from a monkey?"
"If you are referring to the natural
evolutionary process, young man, yes, of
course I do."
"Have you ever observed evolution with your
own eyes, sir?"
The professor begins to shake his head,
still smiling, as he realizes where the
argument
is
going.
A
very
good semester indeed!
"Since no one has ever observed the process
of evolution at work and cannot even prove
that this process is an on-going endeavor,
are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are
you now not a scientist, but preacher?"
The class is in uproar. The student remains
silent until the commotion has subsided.
"To continue the point you were making
earlier to the other students, let me give
you an example of what I mean."
The student looks around the room. "Is
there anyone in the class who has ever seen
the professor's brain?" The class breaks
out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard

the professor's brain, felt the professor's
brain, touched or smelt the professor's
brain? No one appears to have done so. So,
according to the established rules of
empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol,
science says that you have no brain, with
all due respect, sir. So if science says
you have no brain, how can we trust your
lectures, sir?"
Now the room is silent. The professor just
stares
at
the student,
his
face
unreadable!
Finally, after what seems an eternity, the
old man answers.
"I guess you'll have to take them on
faith." The class breaks into a deadening
applause "Continuing further, Sir, when GOD
created the universe he made a set of rules
which
governs
every
living
organisms,
categorized in his own way. For some, life
is a predestined, well programmed journey
of life.
For others, like humans, the rules of life
are a direct results of their own actions,
words, thoughts or/and conducts.

So, Sir, happiness, sadness, good, bad,

sickness,
good
health,
poverty
andabundance, is man's own doing unto
himself. The wrong and bad happenings in
man's life, is nothing but the lack of
righteousness in his way of life."
It pays to
Science...

have

faith

in

God

than

in

Evil is not the opposite of Goodness...it

is the absence of it....
The name of the student? ALBERT EINSTEIN
Characteristics of Simply Sophisticated Women
How One Learns To Be Sophisticated
First of all, we need to understand the makes of simply sophisticated women.
You will find these characteristics in them:
1. Self Love and A rich self-esteem
2. Excellent Posture and Grooming
3. A Contained Facial Expression
4. A Walk with Energy and Purpose.
5. Social Skills - At Ease At All Situations

(comes with lots of experience).

6. Experience and Exposure

7. Comfortable with their imperfections.
8. Never intimidated
9. Dressed up
10. Possessing a 'Millionaire's' Confidence
11. Being able to talk to just about anyone.
12. Educated. Hungry about the pursuit of knowledge.
13. Well-read and well-travelled.
14. Comfortable with luxury

15. A discriminating taste. Awareness of quality

There was a blind girl who hated herself just because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her
loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She said that if she could only see the world, she would
marry her boyfriend.
One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her and then she could see everything, including her
boyfriend. Her boyfriend asked her, Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?
The girl was shocked when she saw that her boyfriend was blind too, and refused to marry him. Her
boyfriend walked away in tears, and later wrote a letter to her saying:
Just take care of my eyes dear.

This is how human brain changes when the status changed. Only few remember what life was before,
and whos always been there even in the most painful situations.
Life Is A Gift
Today before you think of saying an unkind word
think of someone who cant speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food
think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife
think of someone who is crying out to God for a companion.
Today before you complain about life
think of someone who went too early to heaven.
Before you complain about your children
think of someone who desires children but theyre barren.
Before you argue about your dirty house, someone didnt clean or sweep
think of the people who are living in the streets.
Before whining about the distance you drive
think of someone who walks the same distance with their feet.
And when you are tired and complain about your job
think of the unemployed, the disabled and those who wished they had your job.
But before you think of pointing the finger or condemning another
remember that not one of us are without sin and we all answer to one maker.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down

put a smile on your face and thank God youre alive and still around.
Life is a gift Live it, Enjoy it, Celebrate it, and Fulfill it.

Sally jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: How is my
little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?
The surgeon said, Im sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didnt make it.
Sally said, Why do little children get cancer? Doesnt God care any more? Where were you, God, when
my son needed you?
The surgeon asked, Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a
few minutes, before hes transported to the university.
Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good-bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly
through his thick red curly hair.
Would you like a lock of his hair? the nurse asked.
Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boys hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally. The
mother said, It was Jimmys idea to donate his body to the university for study. He said it might help
somebody else. I said no at first, but Jimmy said, Mom, I wont be using it after I die. Maybe it will help
some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom. She went on, My Jimmy had a heart of gold.
Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.
Sally walked out of Childrens mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months
there. She put the bag with Jimmys belongings on the seat beside her in the car. The drive home was
difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmys belongings, and the plastic
bag with the lock of his hair to her sons room. She started placing the model cars and other personal
things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She laid down across his bed and,
hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.
It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Laying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter
said:
Dear Mom,
I know youre going to miss me; but dont think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just
cause Im not around to say I LOVE YOU. I will always love you, Mom, even more with each day.
Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you wont be so
lonely, thats okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get
a girl instead, she probably wouldnt like the same things us boys do. Youll have to buy her dolls and

stuff girls like, you know. Dont be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and
Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to
see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesnt
look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see
GOD! And guess what, Mom? I got to sit on Gods knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody
important. Thats when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good-bye and
everything. But I already knew that wasnt allowed. Well, you know what Mom? God handed me some
paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter. I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is
going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you
asked Him Where was He when I needed him? God said He was in the same place with me, as when
His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.
Oh, by the way, Mom, no one else can see what Ive written except you. To everyone else this is just
a blank piece of paper. Isnt that cool? I have to give God His pen back now. He needs it to write some
more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. Im, sure the
food will be great.
Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. I dont hurt anymore. The cancer is all gone. Im glad because I
couldnt stand that pain anymore and God couldnt stand to see me hurt so much, either. Thats when
He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?
Signed with Love from: God, Jesus & Me.

LEARN FROM YOUR MISTAKE

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.

The greatest gift is Love

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She
did not recognize them.
She said, I dont think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat.
Is the man of the house home?, they asked.
No, she said. Hes out.
Then we cannot come in, they replied. In the evening when her husband came home, she told him
what had happened.

Go tell them I am home and invite them in! The woman went out and invited the men in. We do not
go into a House together, they replied.
Why is that? she wanted to know. One of the old men explained: His name is Wealth, he said
pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, He is Success, and I am Love. Then he
added, Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home.
The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. How nice!!, he
said. Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!
His wife disagreed. My dear, why dont we invite Success?
Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own
suggestion: Would it not be better to invite Love? Our home will then be filled with love!
Let us heed our daughter-in-laws advice, said the husband to his wife. Go out and invite Love to be
our guest.
The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our
guest. Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him.
Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?
The old men replied together: If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us wouldve
stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there
is also Wealth and Success!

A MOUSE TRAP
A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. What
food might this contain? the mouse wondered. He was devastated to discover it was a mousetrap.
Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning: There is a mousetrap in the house!
There is a mousetrap in the house!
The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, Mr. Mouse, I can tell this is a grave
concern to you, but it is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.
The mouse turned to the pig and told him, There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in
the house! The pig sympathized, but said, I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do
about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.
The mouse turned to the cow and said, There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the
house! The cow said, Wow, Mr. Mouse. Im sorry for you, but its no skin off my nose.
So, the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmers mousetrap alone.

That very night a sound was heard throughout the house like the sound of a mousetrap catching its
prey. The farmers wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a
venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmers wife. The farmer rushed her
to the hospital and she returned home with a fever.
Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the
farmyard for the soups main ingredient. But his wifes sickness continued, so friends and neighbors
came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig. The farmers wife did
not get well; she died. So many people came for her funeral, the farmer had the cow slaughtered to
provide enough meat for all of them.
The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness. So, the next time you hear
someone is facing a problem and think it doesnt concern you, remember, when one of us is threatened,
we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called life. We must keep an eye out for one another
and make an extra effort to encourage one another. Each of us is a vital thread in another persons
tapestry.
Helpless love
Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island for a vacation. According to their
nature, each was having a good time. Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and
everyone was advised to evacuate the island.
The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even damaged boats were quickly
repaired and commissioned for duty.
Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But as the clouds darkened, Love
realised it was time to leave. Alas, there were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, Prosperity, could you please take me
in your boat?
No, replied Prosperity, my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for
you.
A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love shouted, Could you help me, Vanity? I am
stranded and need a lift. Please take me with you.
Vanity responded haughtily, No, I cannot take you with me. My boat will get soiled with your muddy
feet.
Sorrow passed by after some time. Again, Love asked for help. But it was to no avail. No, I cannot take
you with me. I am so sad. I want to be by myself.
When Happiness passed by a few minutes later, Love again called for help. But Happiness was so happy
that it did not look around, hardly concerned about anyone.

Love was growing restless and dejected. Just then somebody called out, Come Love, I will take you with
me. Love did not know who was being so magnanimous, but jumped on to the boat, greatly relieved
that she would reach a safe place.
On getting off the boat, Love met Knowledge. Puzzled, Love inquired, Knowledge, do you know who so
generously gave me a lift just when no one else wished to help?
Knowledge smiled, Oh, that was Time.
And why would Time stop to pick me and take me to safety? Love wondered.
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and replied, Because only Time knows your true greatness and
what you are capable of. Only Love can bring peace and great happiness in this world.
The important message is that when we are prosperous, we overlook love. When we feel important,
we forget love. Even in happiness and sorrow we forget love. Only with time do we realize the
importance of love. Why wait that long? Why not make love a part of your life today?
Author Unknown

DETERMINING YOUR PATH

A master was strolling through a field of wheat when a disciple came up to him and asked, I cant tell
which is the true path. Whats the secret?

What does that ring on your right hand mean? asked the master.

My father gave it to me before dying.

Well, give it to me.

The disciple obeyed, and the master tossed the ring into the middle of the field of wheat.

Now what? shouted the disciple.

Now I have to stop doing everything I was doing to look for the ring! Its important to me!

When you find it, remember this: You yourself answered the question you asked me. That is how you
tell the true path: It is more important than all the rest.

Things are not always as they appear

There was once a man who was ship-wrecked and stranded on an island. Every day he prayed asking
God to send someone to rescue him, but to his disappointment, no one ever came.
Months passed and this man learned how to survive on the island. During this time, he accumulated
things from the island and stored them in a hut that he constructed. One day after hunting for food and
returning back to his hut, much to his dismay he saw that his hut was on fire along with everything else
he owned!
All of his possessions were going up in smoke! The only thing he had left were the clothes on his back.
Initially he was in shock, and then he was consumed with anger and rage!
In his fury he threw a fist into the air and began cursing God and yelling, God, how could you let this
happen to me? Ive been praying everyday for months about being rescued and no one has come, and
now everything that I have is on fire! How could you do to this to me! Why did you let this happen?
Later the man was on his hands and knees weeping heavily when he happened to look up and catch
sight of a ship coming in his direction. The man was rescued and as they were heading back to
civilization the man asked the captain, How were you able to find me?
The captain responded, We were voyaging across the ocean when we noticed on the horizon a column
of smoke going up. We decided to go check it out and when we did, thats when we found you!
In life we are going to be confronted with challenges, problems, and disasters. But keep in mind that
what the devil has meant for bad, God can transform into your good! What is a catastrophe can
sometimes be a blessing in disguise. The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them
out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a
contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.
Psalms 34:17-19

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he asked God: How am I going to live
on earth being so small and helpless?
God replied, Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care
of you.
But tell me, here in Heaven, I dont do anything else but sing and smile, thats enough for me to be
happy.
Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angels love and
be happy.

And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I dont know the language that
men talk?
Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience
and care, your angel will teach you how to speak.
And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?
Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray.
Ive heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?
Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.
But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.
Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me,
even though I will always be next to you.
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and
the child in a hurry asked softly:
Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angels name.
Your angels name is of no importance, you will call your angel: Mommy.
The Real Pearl Necklace
Jenny was a bright-eyed, pretty five-year-old girl. One day when she and her mother were checking out
at the grocery store, Jenny saw a plastic pearl necklace priced at $2.50.
How she wanted that necklace, and when she asked her mother if she would buy it for her, her mother
said, Well, it is a pretty necklace, but it costs an awful lot of money. Ill tell you what. Ill buy you the
necklace, and when we get home we can make up a list of chore that you can do to pay for the necklace.
And dont forget that for your birthday Grandma just might give you a whole dollar bill, too. Okay?
Jenny agreed, and her mother bought the pearl necklace for her. Jenny worked on her chores very hard
every day, and sure enough, her grandma gave her a brand new dollar bill for her birthday. Soon Jenny
had paid off the pearls.
How Jenny loved those pearls. She wore them everywhere-to kindergarten, bed and when she went out
with her mother to run errands. The only time she didnt wear them was in the shower; her mother had
told her that they would turn her neck green.
Now Jenny had a very loving daddy. When Jenny went to bed, he would get up from his favorite chair
every night and read Jenny her favorite story. One night when he finished the story, he said, Jenny, do
you love me?
Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you, the little girl said.
Well, then, give me your pearls.
Oh! Daddy, not my pearls! Jenny said. But you can have Rosie, my favorite doll. Remember her? You
gave her to me last year for my birthday. And you can have her tea party outfit, too. Okay?

Oh no, darling, thats okay. Her father brushed her cheek with a kiss. Good night, little one. A week
later, her father once again asked Jenny after her story, Do you love me?
Oh yes, Daddy, you know I love you.
Well, then, give me your pearls.
Oh, Daddy, not my pearls! But you can have Ribbons, my toy horse. Do you remember her? Shes my
favorite. Her hair is so soft, and you can play with it and braid it and everything. You can have Ribbons if
you want her, Daddy, the little girl said to her father.
No, thats okay, her father said and brushed her cheek again with a kiss. God bless you, little one.
Sweet dreams.
Several days later, when Jennys father came in to read her a story, Jenny was sitting on her bed and her
lip was trembling. Here, Daddy, she said, and held out her hand.
She opened it and her beloved pearl necklace was inside. She let it slip into her fathers hand. With one
hand her father held the plastic pearls and with the other he pulled out of his pocket a blue velvet box.
Inside of the box were real, genuine, beautiful pearls.
He had them all along. He was waiting for Jenny to give up the cheap stuff so he could give her the real
thing.
Author Unknown
Submitted by Scott
The same with our Heavenly Father, He is waiting for us to give up the cheap/fake things in our lives.
Are you holding on to harmful relationships, habits, activities which you have come so attached to
that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is so hard to see what is in the other hand but do
believe one thing, God will never take away something without giving us something better.