What the heart of the young man said to the psalmist

Tell me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real!  Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world’s broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle!
Be a hero in the strife!

Trust no Future, howe’er pleasant!
Let the dead Past bury its dead!
Act,— act in the living Present!
Heart within, and God o’erhead!

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Found in: Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. The Complete Poetical Works of Longfellow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1893.

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 you’re sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.”

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4 year old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey.. She asked if we could write a letter to God so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could so she dictated these words:

Dear God,
Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick.
I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her You will know that she is my dog. I really miss her. Love, Meredith We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to God/Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office. A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had.

Yesterday, there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, ‘To Meredith’ in an unfamiliar hand. Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers called, ‘When a Pet Dies‘ Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

Dear Meredith,
Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away.  Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart.. Abbey loved being your dog.. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by… Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I’m easy to find, I am wherever there is love.

Love,
God

Scopes state the story is true: http://www.snopes.com/glurge/abbey.asp

2. Silence: Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself. Avoid trifling conversation.

3. Order: Let all your things have their places. Let each part of your business have its time.

4. Resolution: Resolve to perform what you ought. Perform without fail what you resolve.

5. Frugality: Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself: i.e. Waste nothing.

6. Industry: Lose no time. Be always employed in something useful. Cut off all unnecessary actions.

7. Sincerity: Use no hurtful deceit. Think innocently and justly; and, if you speak, speak accordingly.

8. Justice: Wrong none, by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

9. Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forebear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

10. Cleanliness: Tolerate no uncleanness in body, clothes or habitation.

11. Chastity: Rarely use venery but for health or offspring; Never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.

12. Tranquility: Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.

13. Humility: Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

For more on how Ben Franklin worked to master the virtues see his Biography

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her,’Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?’ The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn’t expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: ‘Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine.’

This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.  Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life is a gift

• Today before you say an unkind word – Think of someone who can’t 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’s crying out to GOD for a companion.
• Today before you complain about life – think of someone who went too early to heaven.
• 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 wish they had your job.
• And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down – put a smile on your face and think: you’re alive and still around.

I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, ‘Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.’

I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn’t coming home that night.

I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. ‘I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!’ I said.
‘Of course I will show you the way home – only
believe in Me now.’

I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.

I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.

I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?

I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name – though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor..

Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… This way… Take
my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.

I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?

Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
‘ready to go.’

I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.

God

During the next 60 seconds, stop whatever you are
doing, and take this opportunity. (Literally it
is only 1 minute.) All you have to do is the
following:

Stop and think and appreciate God’s power
in your life, for doing what you know is pleasing to
Him. If you are not ashamed to do this, follow the
instructions. Jesus said, ‘If you are ashamed of Me, I will be
ashamed of you before My Father’

Author – Unknown

The child further inquired, “But tell me, here in heaven I don’t have to
do anything but sing and smile to be happy.”
God said, “Your angel will sing for you and will also
smile for you.  And you will feel your angel’s love and be very  happy.”

Again the child asked, “And how am I going to be able to  understand when
people talk to me if I don’t know the language?”
God said, “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?”
God said, “Your angel will place your hands together
and will teach you how to pray.”

“Who will protect me?”
God said, “Your angel will defend you even if it means risking it’s life.”

“But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.”
God said, “Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way 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 be heard and the child hurriedly asked,  “God,
if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel’s name.”

You will simply call her “Mom.”

Lift a mother’s spirit, send this to every mother you know.

And the Lord answered and said, “Have you seen
the spec sheet on her?   She has to be completely
washable, but not plastic, have 200 movable
parts, all replaceable, run on black coffee and
leftovers, have a lap that can hold three children
at one time , have a kiss that can cure anything
from a scraped knee to a broken heart, and have
six pairs of hands.”

The Angel was astounded at the requirements
for this one. “Six pairs of hands! No Way!”, “And
that’s just on the standard model?” the Angel
asked.

The Angel tried to stop the Lord. “This is too
much work for one day.  Wait until tomorrow
to finish.”

But I can’t!”, the Lord protested, “I am so close
to finishing this creation that is so close to my
own heart. She already heals herself when
she is sick AND can work 18 hr days.

The Angel moved closer and touched the woman,
“but you have made her so soft, Lord.”

“She is soft”, the Lord greed, “but I have also made
Her tough.  You have no idea what she can endure
or accomplish.”

“Will she be able to think?”, asked the Angel.

The Lord replied, “Not only will she be able to think,
she will be able to reason, and negotiate.”

The Angel then noticed something and reached out
and touched the woman’s cheek.

“Oops, it looks like you have a leak with this model.
I told you that you were trying to put too much into
this one.”

“That’s not a leak,” the Lord objected, “that’s a
tear!”

“What’s the tear for?” the Angel asked.

The Lord said, “The tear is her way of expressing
her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment,
her loneliness, her grief, and her pride.”

The Angel was impressed. “You are a genius, Lord.
You thought of everything, for women are truly
amazing.”

Women have strengths that amaze men.
They carry hardships, they carry burdens
but they hold happiness,love and joy.

They smile when they want to scream.
They sing when they want to cry.
They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are  nervous.
They fight for what they believe in.
They stand up for injustice.
They don’t take  ”no” for an answer when
they believe there is a better solution.

They go without so their family can have.
They go to the doctor with a frightened friend.
They love unconditionally.
They cry when their children excel and cheer when their
friends get awards.
They are happy when they hear about a birth or a new marriage.
Their hearts break when a friend dies.
They have sorrow at the loss of a family member, yet
They are strong when they think there is no strength   left.
They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart.

Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes.
They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show
how much they care about you.

The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin!
They bring joy and  hope. They give compassion and
ideals.

They give moral support to their family and friends.
Women have allot to say and a lot to give.

Pass this along to your women friends to remind
them how amazing they are…

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things
were so hard for her.  She did not know how she was going to make it and
wanted to give up.  She was tired of fighting and struggling.  It seemed as
one problem was solved a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen.  She filled three pots with water.

In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs and the
last she placed ground coffee beans.  She let them sit and boil without
saying a word.  In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the
eggs out and placed them in a bowl.  Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a mug.

Turning to her daughter, she asked, “Tell me, what do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” the daughter replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots.  She did and
noted that they were soft.  She then asked her to take an egg and break
it.  After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled
egg.  Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee.  The daughter smiled as she
tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, “What’s the point, mother?”

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same
adversity-boiling water-but each reacted differently. The carrot went in
strong, hard and unrelenting.  However after being subjected to the boiling
water, it softened and became weak.  The egg had been fragile.  Its thin
outer shell had protected its liquid interior.  But, after sitting through
the boiling water, its inside became hardened.  The ground coffee beans
were unique, however.  After they were in the boiling water they had
changed the water.

“Which are you?” she asked her daughter.  ”When adversity knocks on your
door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?”

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity, do I wilt
and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the
heat?  Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial
hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my
shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff
spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean?  The bean actually changes the hot water, the
very circumstance that brings the pain.  When the water gets hot, it
releases the fragrance and flavor.  If you are like the bean, when things
are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest do you elevate
to another level?

How do you handle Adversity?

ARE YOU A CARROT, AN EGG, OR A COFFEE BEAN?