The holidays and seasons are falling upon us and it seems to be a time for thoughts of self and reminiscing. To all here my thoughts and prayers for hope and faith in these trying times of life go out.
I ask that we remember the less fortunate and those caught up in our mess. There is always someone who has it better and there is always something worse, let's do the best with what we have!!
For all who read my words, who respond, who I speak with, and those not here yet... HAPPY HOLIDAYS and GOD BLESS!!!
cire
Me 48 X's vary S 27 S 18 Back with high school sweety after 30 years..
A newly arrived soul in Heaven was met by St. Peter. The saint toured the soul around Heaven.
Both of them walked side by side inside a large workroom filled with angels. St. Peter stopped in front of the first section and said, "This is the Receiving Section. Here, all the petitions to God said in prayer are received. The soul looked at the section, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets from all over the world.
They walked again until they reached the 2nd section. "This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings asked for are packed and delivered to those who asked for them down on earth." Oh, how busy it was! There were many angels working in that room, since so many blessing were being packed and delivered to earth.
Finally at the farthest corner of the room, the soul stopped at the last section. To the surprise of the soul, only one angel was there, hardly doing anything. "This is the Acknowledging Section," St. Peter told the soul. "How is it that there is no work here?" St. Peter answered, "That's the sad thing. After people receive the blessings they asked for, very few send their acknowledgments."
"How does one acknowledge God's blessing?" "Simple," St. Peter answered. "Just say, 'Thank you, Lord'."
Me 48 X's vary S 27 S 18 Back with high school sweety after 30 years..
A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy cry. They slowed down and looked back. They all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, "This will make it better." All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together.
Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story. Why?
Because deep down we know this one thing:
What matters in this life is more than winning for ourselves. What truly matters in this life is helping others in their race, even if it means slowing down and changing our course.
Me 48 X's vary S 27 S 18 Back with high school sweety after 30 years..
A CHRISTMAS STORY It was only five days before Christmas. The spirit of the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot of our Houston area Target Shopping Center. Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained names of several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I didn't buy them anything. Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift-buying anything but fun. Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait. In front of me were two small children-a boy of about 10 and a younger girl about 5. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched some crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Remainders of an evening meal showed on her small face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed along off-key but happily. When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a treasure. The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09," she said. The boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put them back, " he bravely said. "We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow." With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes, " she cried. "Well, we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry. We'll come back," he said. Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you Sir." "What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked. The small boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus." The girl spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?" My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes" I answered, "I am sure she will." Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit of giving." Christmas is not about the amount of money paid, nor the amount of gifts purchased, nor trying to impress friends and relatives. Christmas is about the love in your heart to share with those as Jesus Christ has shared with each of us. Christmas is about the Birth of Jesus whom God sent to show the world how much he really loves us. Please show this love as we think of the upcoming season.
Me 48 X's vary S 27 S 18 Back with high school sweety after 30 years..
cire...sorry for not catching up. I want to thank you for all your support. My battle to save my M has come to a conclusion...well..mostly.
Thanks for being there.
FIB
Me 55; XW 47; 2 kids (S13, D11) Bomb 05/19/06 Original thread http://tinyurl.com/yg2ou2t Last anniversary 04/25/10, Divorced 5/12/10 Status: Loving father of 2 beautiful children;
