Barber Shop

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always.  He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him.  They talked about so many things and various subjects.  Suddenly, they touched the subject of God.

The barber said: “Look man, I don’t believe that God exists as you say so.”

“Why do you say that?” – asked the client.

“Well, it’s so easy; you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist.  Oh, tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people?  Would there be abandoned children?  If God existed, there would be no suffering or pain.  I can’t think of a God who permits all of these things.”

The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn’t want to respond so as to prevent an argument.  The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop.  Just after he left the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy.)

“You know what? Barbers do not exist.”

“How come they don’t exist?” asked the Barber.  “Well I am here and I am a barber.”

“No!”  The client exclaimed. “They don’t exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street.”

“Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” affirmed the client.  “That’s the point, God does exist, what happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him that‘s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world”

The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails   hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence…

Finally the day came when the boy did not lose his temper at all.  He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper. 

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. 

The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence.  He said, you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same.  When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one.  You can put a knife in a man and draw it out.  It won’t matter how many times you say I’m sorry, the wound is still there. 

A verbal wound is a bad as a physical one. Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed.  They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Eagles In A Storm

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks?

The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, the eagle sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us – and all of us will experience them – we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can allow God’s power to lift us above them.

God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment in our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

The Bible says : “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles.”  – Isaiah 40:31.

Keep Your Fork

There was a young woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live.  So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wished.  She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in .

Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the young woman something very important to her.

"there's one more thing,"  she said excitedly.  "What's that?"  came the pastor's reply.

"This is very important," the young woman continued.

"I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."

The pastor stood looking at the young woman, not knowing quite what to say.  "That surprises you, doesn't it?"  the young woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The young woman explained. "My grandmother once told me this story, and from there on out, I have always done so.  I have also, always tried to pass along its message to those I love and those who are in need of encouragement.  In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, 'keep your fork.' It was my favorite part because I knew that something better was coming like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance!

So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder "What's with the fork?"

Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork the best is yet to come."  The pastor's eyes welled up with tears  of joy as he hugged the young woman good-bye.

He know this would be one of the last times he would see her before her death.  But he also knew that the young woman had a better grasp of heaven that he did.

She had a better grasp of  what heaven would be like than many people twice her age, with twice as much experience and knowledge.  She KNEW that something that something better was coming.

At the funeral people were walking by the young woman's casket and they saw the pretty dress she was wearing and  the fork placed in her right hand.

Over and over, the pastor heard the question "What's with the fork?"  And over and over he smiled.

During his message, the pastor told the people of the conversation he had with the young woman shortly before she died.  He also told them about the fork and about  what it symbolized to her.

The pastor told the people how  he  could not stop thinking about the fork and told them that they probably would not be about to stop thinking about it either.

He was right.

So the next time you reach down for your fork, let it remind you ever so gently that the best is yet to come.

 

Food For Thought

When I was a little boy, my mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then. And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work. On that evening so long ago, my mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.

I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed! Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my mom and ask me how my day was at school. I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that biscuit and eat every bite!

When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits. And I'll never forget what he said: "Baby, I love burned biscuits."

Later that night, I went to tell Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned. He wrapped me in his arms and said, "Your Momma put in a hard day today and she's real tired. And besides - a little burnt biscuit never hurt anyone!"

You know, life is full of imperfect things..... and imperfect people. I'm not the best housekeeper, cook or the best anything.

What I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults — and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

And that's my prayer for you today. That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God. Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you the kind of relationship where a burnt biscuit is not a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship in fact – as understanding is the base of any relationship, but it a husband, wife, or parent-child, sister-brother, or friendship!

Morning Prayer

"Dear Lord, thank You for the night's rest you so graciously gave me.

I am grateful for renewed energy and enthusiasm. I accept this new

day as a wonderful opportunity. May I use it minute by minute to do

Thy will. Guide me in every problem, every decision I shall make this

day. Help me to treat everyone kindly and to be fair and just and

thoughtful in everything today. And if I forget Thee during this day,

O Lord, please do not forget me. Amen."

The Rock

A man was sleeping at night in his cabin when suddenly his room filled with light and the Savior appeared. The Lord told the man he had work for him to do, and showed him a large rock in front of his cabin. The Lord explained that the man was to push against the rock with all his might. This the man did, day after day.

For many years he toiled from sun up to sun down, his shoulders set squarely against the cold, massive surface of the unmoving rock, pushing with all his might. Each night the man returned to his cabin sore, and worn out, feeling that his whole day had been spent in vain. Seeing that the man was showing signs of discouragement, the adversary decided to enter the picture by placing thoughts into the man's weary mind: "You have been pushing against that rock for a long time, and it hasn't budged. Why kill yourself over this? You are never going to move it. 'Thus giving the man the impression that the task was impossible and that he was a failure. These thoughts discouraged and disheartened the man.

"Why kill myself over this?" he thought. "I'll just put in my time, giving just the minimum effort and that will be good enough." And that is what he planned to do until one day he decided to make it a matter of prayer and take his troubled thoughts to the Lord.

"Lord" he said, "I have labored long and hard in your service, putting all my strength to do that which you have asked. Yet, after all this time, I have not even budged that rock by half a millimeter. What is wrong? Why am I failing?"

The Lord responded compassionately, "My friend, when I asked you to serve me and you accepted, I told you that your task was to push against the rock with all, your strength, which you have done. Never once did I mention to you that I expected you to move it. Your task was to push, and now you come to me, with your strength spent, thinking that you have failed. But, is that really so? Look at yourself. Your arms are strong and muscled, your back sinewy and brown, your hands are callused from constant pressure, and your legs have become massive and hard. Through opposition you have grown much and your abilities now surpass: that which you used to have. Yet you haven't moved the rock. But your

calling was to be obedient and to push and to exercise your faith and trust in My wisdom. This you have done. I, my friend, will now mo~ the rock."

At times, when we hear a word from God, we tend to use our own intellect to decipher what He wants, when actually what God wants is just simple obedience and faith in Him.... By all means, exercise the faith that moves mountains, but know that it is still God who moves the mountains.

P.U.S.H!

When everything seems to go wrong.... just P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down,...just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should,...just P.U.S.H.!•  When  our money looks funny and the bills are due.... just P.U.S.H.!

When you want to tell them off for whatever the reason,...just P.U.S.H.!

When people just don't understand you,...just P.U.S.H.!

P.U.S.H -- Pray Until Something Happens!!!!!

-- Author Unknown

The Other Side

A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, "Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side."

Very quietly, the doctor said, "I don't know."

"You don't know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?"

The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side of which came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness.

Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice my dog? He's never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing...

I know my Master is there and that is enough."

No Do Overs

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. God didn’t promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain, but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the way.

Disappointments are like road humps, they slow you down a bit but you enjoy the smooth road afterwards. Don't stay on the humps too long. Move on!

When you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy, because God is thinking of something better to give you.

When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means. There's a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard.

You can't make someone love you, all you can do is be someone who can be loved, and the rest is up to the person to realize your worth.

The measure of love is when you love without measure. In life there are very rare chances that you'll meet the person you love and loves you in return. So once you have it don't ever let go, the chance might never come your way again.

It's better to lose your pride to the one you love, than to lose the one you love because of pride.

We spend too much time looking for the right person to love or finding fault with those we already love, when instead we should be perfecting the love we give.

When you truly care for someone, you don't look for faults, you don't look for answers, and you don't look for mistakes. Instead, you fight the mistakes, you accept the faults, and you overlook the excuses.

Never abandon an old friend. You will never find one who can take his place. Friendship is like wine, it gets better as it grows older.

Pass it on to your dear friends....

Drinking From My Saucer

I've never made a fortune and it's probably too late now

But I don't worry about that much I'm happy anyhow

And as I go along life's way I'm reaping better than I sow

I'm drinking from my saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed

Haven't got a lot of riches and sometimes the going's tough

But I've got loving ones around me and that makes me rich enough

I thank God for his blessings and the mercies He's bestowed

I'm drinking from my saucer 'cause my cup has overflowed

O, Remember times when things went wrong  My faith wore somewhat thin

But all at once the dark clouds broke  and sun peeped through again

So Lord, help me not to gripe about the tough rows that I've hoed

I'm drinking from my saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed

If God gives me strength and courage  When the way grows steep and rough

I'll not ask for other blessings I'm already blessed enough

And may I never be too busy to help others bear their loads

Then I'll keep drinking from my saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed

The Necklace

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five.

Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please?"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00.   If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself.

Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up.

She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite."

"That's okay, Honey, Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you."

And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy.  And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, Daddy, this is for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure. So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us beautiful treasures.

Isn't God good? Are you holding onto things that God wants you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary partners, relationships, habits and activities that 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 this one thing .... God will never take away something without giving you something better in its place.

Hold The Rope

A party of botanists... spent their vacation in the Swiss Alps collecting specimens of rare flowers. They started out one morning from a small village and after a several hours' climb came to a precipice overlooking a green valley dotted with a peculiar flower, which, examined through field glasses proved to be of unusual value. From the cliff on which the party was standing, to the valley was a sheer drop of several hundred feet. To descend would be impossible, and to reach the valley from another approach would mean a waste of several hours. '

During the latter part of their climb a small boy had attached himself to the party and had watched with interest the maneuvers of the botanists. After discussing the situation for several minutes, one of the party turned to the boy and said, "Young fellow, if you will let us tie a rope around your waist and lower you over this cliff so that you can dig up one of those plants for us, and let us pull you back up, without harming the plant, we will give

you five dollars."

The boy looked dazed for an instant, then ran off, apparently frightened at the prospect of being lowered over the cliff by a rope. But within a short time he returned, bringing with him an old man, bent and gray, with hands gnarled and calloused by hard labor. Upon reaching the party of botanists the boy turned to the man who had made the offer and said:

"Sir, this is my dad. I'll go down in the valley if you'll let my dad hold the rope."

God Has Kept Me Here For A Reason

Repeat after me: God has kept me here for a reason. I survived because He has a plan for me. All my bad relationships, the addictions, the consequences, the bad credit, the repossessions, the death of my

loved ones, the back stabbing from my friends, the negative thoughts, or the lack of support; I made it because I am blessed!

I release and let go of all past hurts, misunderstandings and grudges because I am abundantly blessed! I recognize them as the illusions

they are, and sent from the enemy to kill my spirit, steal my joy, and destroy my faith;

For God is all there is. All else is a lie! Now give

yourself a hug, wipe your tears away and walk in victory!!!!!!!! I love

you, but more appropriately God loves you BEST! Be blessed and know that you are at one with THE SPIRIT OF THE LIVING GOD! And may the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. Genesis 31:49. Amen!

Now since you are a true child of God, you know that with every

blessing, a blessing is required! So be a blessing to another, by passing this on.

Be Blessed "The Will of GOD will never take you where the GRACE of GOD will not protect you."

"Friends warm you with their presence, trust you with their secrets, and remember you in their prayers"

My Quilt

As I faced my Maker at the last Judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls.  Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt, in many piles.  An Angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.  But, as my Angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was.  They were filled with giant holes.  Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life.  I saw hardships that I had endured, which were the largest holes of all.

I glanced around me.  Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and the bright hues of worldly fortune.  I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.  My Angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.  Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth.  The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.  So filled their lives had been.

My Angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame.  I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes.  I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.  I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully; each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me.  And now, I had to face the truth.  My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been.

I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.  An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes wide.  Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image. The face of Christ.  Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes.  He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.  Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of Me than there was of you.

May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through. -Author Unknown

When The Wind Blows

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the fanner interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him.

"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work.

Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the fanner grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming tie things down before they blow away!"

The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, can sleep when the wind blows. "

Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement, he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tight1y secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.     .

 

Just Float

It is spring in South Africa and I was working in my garden.

I noticed that a little dove had fallen from its nest and into

our swimming pool.  The bird was still alive, but only just.

It had been in the pool a long time.  Its feet were stiff from

the cold and its little neck just hung limp.  I took it out of

the pool not really knowing what to do.

Instinct jumped in.  I wrapped the bird in a towel and blew

softly into the towel to warm it up.  A couple of hours later,

the little bird made a full recovery.

As I was sitting and looking at this bird, I realized that when

I found it in the pool, it was just floating.  Had the little

bird spluttered and flapped, it would have tired itself out.

Its feathers would have become completely water-logged and it

would have drowned.  Instead, it just floated.

The lesson I learned is this:

When I am in a situation, I too should "float" instead of

flapping and splashing around.  I should "float" in the arms of

the Everlasting Father who always will carry me and rescue me.

~A MountainWings Original by Sandy Lange, South Africa~

Being Content

Philippians 4:12-13 says, "I know what it is to be in need,

and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the
secret of being content in any and every situation, whether
well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I
can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

The Bible teaches us many life lessons. One of the most
useful of those life lessons is that of being content with
what you have.

We live in a material world. Hollywood tries to instill in
us the belief that it is what you have that counts.
According to the media you need the right clothes, the right
car, the right shoes, the right hair, the right "look" to be
a worthwhile person.

We often spend much of our time striving to obtain more and
more of the luxuries that this world offers. We want all the
gadgets and all the latest fashions. We want the best cars
and houses and our kids want all the latest toys. It is so
easy to get caught up in all these "wants" to the degree
that we spend all our spare time working toward obtaining
"things" instead of investing our time into making this
world a better place.

We need to remember that it is not our outward appearance
that really matters, but it is what we are inside that
counts. It doesn't matter what you have, but WHOSE you are.

Are you content with the things the Lord has given you or do
you often complain that you don't have the newest and latest
contraption? Do you spend your time serving God and others
or do you spend your time working overtime to have extra
money so that you can have more purchasing power?

To be honest, sometimes I struggle with being content with
what I have. A new rug in my entryway would be nice and so
would a new living room chair ...

If I am able to earn a little extra to purchase these
things, that's great. But I need to remember my priorities.
I need to remind myself that I've chosen to live a simple
lifestyle so that I could have the time and energy to invest
in relationships with people.

So when I look around my house - or in my closet - and start
dreaming of things I would like to have, I need to remind
myself that God is good and he amply supplies for all my
needs - even many of my "wants". I don't always need the
latest gadget and newest clothes. These things don't bring
true happiness. But being content with what you have does
bring peace.

******

Patricia Chadwick
Copyright 2005

Cocoon

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.
The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time. Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.
It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.
And we could never fly.

Prints Of Elbows On My Bed

I was but a youth and thoughtless...
As all youths are apt to be;
Though I had a Christian mother...
Who had taught me carefully.
There came a time when pleasure...
Of the world came to allure,
And I no more sought the guidance...
Of her love so good and pure.
Her tender admonitions fell...
But lightly on my ear,
And for the gentle warnings...
I felt an inward sneer.
But Mother would not yield her boy...
To Satan's sinful sway,
And though I spurned her counsel...
She knew a better way.
She made my room an altar...
A place of secret prayer,
And there she took her burden...
And left it in His care.
And morning, noon and evening...
By that humble bedside low,
She sought the aid of Him who...
Understands a mother's woe.
And I went my way unheeding...
Careless of the life I led,
Until one day I noticed...
Prints of elbows on my bed.
Then I saw that she had been there...
Praying for her wayward boy,
Who for love of worldly pleasure...
Would her peace of mind destroy.
Long the conflict raged within me...
Sin against my Mother's prayers,
Sin must yield - for Mother never...
While she daily met Him there.
And her constant love and patience...
Were like coals upon my head,
Together with the imprints...
Of her elbows on my bed.
And so at last the fight was won...
And I to Christ was led,
And Mother's prayers were answered...
By her elbows on my bed.
© Original Author

The Empty Chair

A man's daughter had asked the parish priest to come and pray with her father. When the priest arrived, he found the man lying in bed with his head propped up on two pillows. An empty chair sat beside his bed. The priest assumed that the old fellow had been informed of his visit.

"I guess you were expecting me," he said.

"No, who are you?" said the father.

The priest told him his name and then remarked, "I see the empty chair; I figured you knew I was going to show up."

"Oh yeah, the chair," said the bedridden man. "Would you mind closing the door?"

Puzzled, the priest shut the door.

"I have never told anyone this, not even my daughter," said the man. "  But all of my life I have never known how to pray. At church I used to hear the pastor talk about prayer, but it went right over my head.

I abandoned any attempt at prayer, until one day about four years ago my best friend said to me, `Johnny, prayer is just a simple matter of having a conversation with Jesus. Here is what I suggest.' Sit down in a chair; place an empty chair in front of you, and in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised; `I'll be with you always.' Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now."

So I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm.

The priest was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the priest that her daddy had died that afternoon.

"Did he die in peace?" he asked.

"Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me he loved me and kissed me on the cheek. When I got back from the store an hour later, I found him dead.  But there was something strange about his death. Apparently, just before Daddy died, he leaned over and rested his head in the chair beside the bed. What do you make of that?"

The priest wiped a tear from his eye and said, "I wish we could all go like that."