Good Outlook
Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>
Dear Bertha:
I'm reading more and dusting less. I'm sitting in the yard and admiring
the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I'm spending
more time with my family and friends and less time working. Whenever
possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to
endure. I'm trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.
I'm not "saving" anything; we use our good china and crystal for every
special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the
first Amaryllis blossom.
I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous,
I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries.
I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for
clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.
Someday" and "one of these days" are losing their grip on my vocabulary;
if it's worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do
it now.
I'm not sure what others would've done had they known they wouldn't be
here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted.
I think they would have called family members and a few close friends.
They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences
for past squabbles.
I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for
whatever their favorite food was.
I'm guessing; I'll never know.
It's those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew
my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn't written certain letters
that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I
didn't tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love
them. I'm trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything
that would add laughter and luster to our lives.
And every morning when I open my eyes,! tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.
If you received this, it is because someone cares for you.
If you're too busy to take the few minutes that it takes right now to
forward this, would it be the first time you didn't do the little thing
that would make a difference in your relationships? I can tell you it
certainly won't be the last.
Take a few minutes to send this to a few people you care about, just to
let them know that you're thinking of them.
"People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don't
need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be
there."
I don't believe in Miracles. I rely on them.
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might
as well dance.
with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that
she couldn't get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities
were very different, and Li-Li was angered by many of her mother-in-law's
habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li constantly. Days passed days, and
weeks passed weeks. Li-Li and her mother-in-law never stopped arguing and
fighting. But what made the situation even worse was that, according to
ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow to her mother-in-law and obey
her every wish. All the anger and unhappiness in the house was causing
Li-Li's poor husband great distress. Finally, Li-Li could not stand her
mother-in-law's bad temper and dictatorship any longer, and she decided to
do something about it.
Li-Li went to see her father's good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She
told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison so that
she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought for a while,
and finally said, "Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, but you must
listen to me and obey what I tell you."
Li-Li said, "Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to do."
Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few minutes with a
package of herbs. He told Li-Li, "You can't use a quick-acting poison to get
rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people to become
suspicious. Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly
build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and
put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure that
nobody suspects you when she dies, you must be very careful to act very
friendly towards her. Don't argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat
her like a queen."
Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to start her plot
of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by, and months went by, and
every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her
mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about avoiding
suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her mother-in-law, and
treated her like her own mother. After six months had passed, the whole
household had changed.Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much
that she found that she almost never got mad or upset. She hadn't had an
argument with her mother-in-law in six months because she now seemed much
kinder and easier to get along with. The mother-in-law's attitude toward
Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li like her own daughter. She kept
telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the best daughter-in-law one
could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law were now treating each other
like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li's husband was very happy to see what
was happening.
One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help again. She said,
"Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from killing my
mother-in-law! She's changed into such a nice woman, and I love her like my
own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her." Mr.
Huang smiled and nodded his head. "Li-Li, there's nothing to worry about. I
never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave you were vitamins to improve her
health. The only poison was in your mind and your attitude toward her, but
that has been all washed away by the love which you gave to her."
MORAL: have you ever realized that how you treat others is exactly how they
will treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: 'The person who loves others
will also be loved in return.' God might be trying to work in another
person's life through you. If this message has touched your heart please
forward it to your friends so they too can join in the power of prayer. You
just never know who might need it. And remember Jesus did something for you
by dying on the cross at Calvary, now do something for him by Spreading his
word, and you'll definitely be rewarded.
God bless you.
Dave and Barbara
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