Love

It was a busy morning, about 8:30, when an elderly gentleman in his 80’s, arrived to have stitches removed from his thumb. He said he was in a hurry as he had an appointment at 9:00 am. I took his vital signs and had him take a seat, knowing it would be over an hour before someone would be able to see him.
I saw him looking at his watch, and decided, since I was not busy with another patient, I would evaluate his wound. On exam, it was well healed, so I talked to one of the doctors, got the needed supplies to remove his sutures and redress his wound.
While taking care of his wound, I asked him if he had another doctor’s appointment this morning, as he was in such a hurry. The gentleman told me no, that he needed to go to the nursing home to eat breakfast with his wife.
I inquired as to her health; he told me that she had been there for a while and that she was a victim of Alzheimer’s disease. As we talked, I asked if she would be upset if he was a bit late.
He replied that she no longer knew who he was, that she had not recognized him in five years now.
I was surprised, and asked him, ‘And you still go every morning, even though she doesn’t know who you are’? He smiled as he patted my hand and said, ‘She doesn’t know me, but I still know who she is’.
I had to hold back tears as he left; I had goose bumps on my arm, and thought, ‘That is the kind of love I want in my life’. True love is neither physical, nor romantic.
True love is an acceptance of all that is, has been, will be, and will not be.
With all the jokes and fun that are in e-mails, sometimes there is one that comes along that has an important message. This one I thought I could share with you.
The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the best of everything they have.

Don't Quit

by Edgar A. Guest

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
when the funds are low and the debts are high,
and you want to smile but you have to sigh,
when care is pressing you down a bit - rest if you must,
but don't you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns.
As everyone of us sometimes learns.
And many a fellow turns about when he might have won had he stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow - you may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seems to a faint and faltering man;
often the struggler has given up when he might have captured the victor's cup;
and he learned too late when the night came down,
how close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out - the silver tint of the clouds of doubt,
and when you never can tell how close you are,
it may be near when it seems afar;
so stick to the fight when you're hardest hit - it's when things seem worst,
you must not quit.

 

Your Right To Be Wrong

A humorous story has it that a newly appointed young clergy person was contacted by a local funeral director to hold a graveside service at a small country cemetery in Iowa. There was to be no funeral, just the committal, because the deceased had no family or friends left in the state. 

The young pastor started early to cemetery, but soon became lost. After making several wrong turns, he finally arrived a half—hour late. The hearse was nowhere in sight and cemetery workers were relaxing under a near—by tree, eating their lunch.

The pastor went to the open grave and found that the vault lid was already in place. He took out his book and read the service.  As he returned to his car, he overheard one of the workers say,

"Maybe we'd better tell him it's a septic tank."

Why is it we make our biggest mistakes in public? And some people can't avoid it...former hockey goalie Jacques Plante wonders, "How would you like a job where, if you made a mistake, a big, red light goes on and 18,000 people boo?"

But we should never give up our right to be wrong. Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment. It is your right to be wrong. "No (one) ever became great or good except through many and great mistakes," said William E.

Gladstone. Great mistakes are opportunities for great learning. And great learning makes for great living. You have a right to be wrong. And if you are to build a great life, you have a duty to make great mistakes. Lf possible, laugh at them. Always learn from them. And try to make sure your next mistake is one you haven't made before!

 

Why I'm Quitting

"God, there's just not enough room for the both of us to be in charge of my life.  It's not that I haven't taken the job seriously, mind you!  I have fretted, laid awake nights, and worked out the most detailed and wonderful schemes.  The problem is not with the planning and scheming.  It's with the "control" thing.  Or perhaps I should have said the lack-of-control thing.   

Oh, I know.  You have repeatedly told me that You are competent to be in charge and that putting You in charge would relieve me of worry.  But I seem to enjoy it.  The fact I'm worried about tomorrow seems to tell my sick soul that I somehow have a semblance of control over it.  But I don't.  I just don't. 

Then there's the mess I make of things.  The worried-over plan begins to be put in motion, one of those things or people I can't control comes into play and the bus runs into the ditch!   I try to press on.  I try to force outcomes.  The ditch gets deeper, and the pain begins to come. 

Even so, You show up and offer to take control.  You ask me-without ever forcing things-to turn loose of the wheel and trust You to steer.  Sometimes I want to let you have control.  I really do.  Then something wells up inside me that makes me push You away-to tell You I can do it all by myself.  Truth be told, I'm often thinking that just as soon as I get this thing out of the ditch, then I'm going to ask You to drive.  Unfortunately, I never do. 

Then there are the people on the bus with me.  They are always the people I love most and for whose welfare I care about most passionately.  When I drive, then wreck, then push You away, I sense their disappointment.  Even that, however, hasn't been enough to this point.  It kills me to know I'm hurting them, but I still want to steer.  I want to be at the controls.  I want to be in charge.

The time has come to try another approach.  Oh it's not that I want to be heard saying that Your way is the way of last resort for me.  Or maybe it is?  But I'm just so tired and banged up.  And You and I both know things aren't getting any better with me in charge.  So that's why I've made up my mind. 

God, I'm quitting.  No more Mr. Know-It-All.  No more having to be in charge.  No more playing like I know more about myself than You do.  You're in control from this point forward.  Heart and mind and body, family and personal, career and social, Thursday as well as this coming Sunday, It’s all yours now." 

Because I quit.  At least I'm going to quit trying to have control over things that I can’t

God Is So Great

I was standing at the seat of judgment, waiting for my turn

Thinking of the houses and the treasures I would earn

Thinking of how I'd lived my life just as a Christian should

Thinking of how I'd always done what was right and what was good

I knew that when my turn would come with the Father and the Son

They would look at me and my life and say to me "Well Done"

I knew that I was sinless, and my life beyond reproach

I got more excited as my time began to approach

But just then I looked around and who should I see,

But the lady that I worked with, just down the hall from me

We always passed each other with a wave and a smile

And when the time would allow we would chat for a little while

We would talk about our jobs, our kids, and various little things

Our conversations always pleasant and laughter it would bring

Just then she looked up, and her teary eyes locked with mine

And my smile faded when I realized she was in the other line

She began to speak the words that broke my heart in two

It pains me now to remember as I share these words with you

She said "Why didn't you tell me about the God that you do know,

You went to church each week but never invited me to go?

You never told me of his saving mercy, that he died on the cross

And now it is to late for me and my soul's eternally lost

I see you saved yourself and that you are among the chosen few,

But tell me, couldn't you have made an effort, to try and save me too?"

Just then I sat straight up in bed, my heart pounding in my chest

Thank God it was just a dream, but my spirit still couldn't rest

I realized that I couldn't keep my God a secret among friends

But that I must learn to always share the hope that the gospel lends

So I encourage you not to wait until it is too late

Go and tell everyone you meet that your God is so, so great

Judge Me By The Footprints I Leave Behind

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Viet Nam. He called his parents from San Francisco. ”Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me.”

“Sure”, they replied, “we'd love to meet him”.

“There's something you should know”, the son continued ... “he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mine and lost aft arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.”

“I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live.”

“No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us”.

“Son,” said the father, “you don't know what you're asking, someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't lot things like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco Police, their son had died after falling from a building. They believed it was suicide. The grief -stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable, We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.

Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.

Tonight, before you tuck yourself in fox the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from use!

There’s a miracle called Friendship that dwells it the heart. You don't know how it happens or when it gets started. But you know the special lift it always brings. And you realize that Friendship is God's most precious gift!

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you too. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

A Tale Of Two Sons

After a few of the usual Sunday evening hymns, the church's pastor once again slowly stood up, walked over to the pulpit, and gave a very brief introduction of his childhood friend. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit to speak,

"A father, his son, and a friend of his son were sailing off the Pacific Coast," he began, "when a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright, and the three were swept into the ocean." The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. He continued, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life .... to which boy he would throw the other end of the line. He only had seconds  to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian, and he also knew that his son's friend was not.

The agony of his decision could not be matched by the torrent of waves. As the father yelled out, ‘I love you, son!' he threw the line to his son's friend. By the time he pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beyond the raging swells into the black of night. His body was never recovered."

By this time, the two teenagers were sitting straighter in the pew, waiting for the next words to come out of the old man's mouth.

"The father," he continued, "knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, and he could not bear the thought of his son's friend stepping into an eternity without Jesus. Therefore, he sacrificed his son. How great is the love of God that He should do the same for us."

With that, the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man's side. "That was a nice story," politely started one of the boys, "but I don't think it was very realistic for a father to give up his son's life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian."

"Well, you've got a point there," the old man replied, glancing down at his worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, and he once  again looked up at the boys and said, "It sure isn't very realistic, is  it? But I'm standing here today to tell you that THAT story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His Son for me. You See- I was that friend -

On A Positive Note

On a positive note I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.

I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.

I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I’ve learned that making a "living" is not the same as making a "life."

I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.

I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to- be able to throw something back.

I’ve learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the best you can, happiness will find you.

I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.

I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love that human touch   holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.

I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. 

I’ve learned that you should pass this along to someone you care about. I just did. Sometimes you just need a little something to make you smile.

Note: People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

Winter

You know, time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was a young boy, just married and embarking on my new life with my wife.

And yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all... And I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams...

But, here it is ...the winter of my life and it catches me by surprise. ..How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my babies go? And where did my youth go?

I remember well. ..seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that winter was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like...

But, here it is...my wife retired a few months ago and she's really getting gray....she moves slower and I see an older woman now.  She's in much better shape than me...but, I see the great change...

Not the one I married who was perky, young and strong...

but, like me, her age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be.

Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore ...it's mandatory!  Cause if I don't on my own free will... I just fall asleep where I sit!

And so, now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things.

But, at least I know, that though the winter has come, and I'm not sure how long it will last....This I know, that when it's over... I will enjoy the spring in the arms of my loving Father....and wait for my loved ones to come when their winter is over too...

So, if you’re not in your winter yet ...let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly!

For remember that scripture? .our life is but a vapor, it vanished away ...So, do what you can today, because you can never be sure whether this is your winter or not!

You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life... so, live for the Lord today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember...

Forgiveness

Three years ago, a friend said something to me that hurt very deeply. I was speechless. I could not believe she could say that and mean it. When I had no response, she said, "I love you and don't want to see you hurt." My thought was, 'if you love me, how could you say such a terrible thing about someone I love dearly'. But I was still speechless and just couldn't respond.

Days and weeks passed and it still bothered me. I prayed about it a lot and I thought I had forgiven her, but I couldn't forget. Weeks and months went by. I didn't dwell on this, but occasionally after my prayers at bedtime, I would think about it and couldn't seem to clear this from my thoughts. Therefore, I would have a restless night.

Two years passed and I began to doubt that I had forgiven her. I decided I would talk to her about it and tell her how much her words had hurt. Before I could talk to her, I wanted to think about what I would say that wouldn't hurt her. (I'm not really sure she would even remember what she had said to me.)

I prayed about this and asked God to give me the right words to say. After four days of praying about this, I began thinking God wasn't listening to me. Then suddenly it became clear. God had heard and had answered my prayers. The answer was to say NOTHING. JUST FORGIVE. I did -- and a sense of peace came to me. I have had no more restless nights over this.

We all do and say things at time that hurt someone. We need forgiveness and we need to be able to forgive. Let us all pray for those who hurt us and ask God to give us the Grace to forgive them. Forgiving them gives us relief from our hurt. When we can truly forgive, it allows healing to take place in our spiritual lives.

God knows He has to forgive us a lot.

- WRITTEN BY ROBBIE JO

Angels In The Classroom

A pastor read a letter from an elementary school teacher who attends East Hill Church.

The gist of the letter was as follows:

Last school year, her classroom was made up of little third graders, everyone of which

came from either a single parent uncared for, lived in an abusive home,  and was either  beaten, bruised, or raped by other family members; one little girl's dad  died of aids, and the list goes on. Her heart bled for these kids.

Before the '99-2000 school year started, she and her husband went to her classroom and prayed over each desk in the room. They prayed that God would place an angel behind each and every child throughout the coming year to watch over them and protect them. A month or so after the year had started, she gave the kids an assignment to write about that they would like to be when they grew up. Everybody was busy with his or her assignment, when "Andrew" raised his hand. When she asked him what he needed, he asked how to spell "mighty." After telling him how to spell mighty, she asked   him why he needed to know. Andrew said it was because when he grew up he wanted to be a "mighty man of God." When he said this, little "Mark" sitting next to him asked, "So,   what's a mighty man of God?" The teacher, swallowing back her tears, and knowing she   could not say anything in the classroom, told Andrew to go ahead and tell Mark what it   was.

So Andrew says, "It's a man who puts on the armor of God and is a soldier for God."  After observing some conversation between Andrew and Mark, the teacher, with a lump   in her throat, started to walk away when Andrew motioned with his little forefinger for her to come closer. He whispered to her, asking if she believed in angels. She told him yes, she did. Then he asked her if she thought people could see angels, and she said she thought some people probably could. Andrew said that he did, and he could see an angel standing behind each kid in the room.

I don't think there was a dry eye in the church that night!  We need to remember to pray for all of the teachers, that although there is no prayer in school that they are dedicated enough to pray for the protection of God's angels over the lives of their students. Maybe it wouldn't hurt, even at work.