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?

I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him. They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him. He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.

My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. As I handed him his glasses, I said, “Those guys are jerks. They really should get lives.” He looked at me and said, “Hey thanks!” There was a big smile on his face. It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.

I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived. As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before. He said he had gone to private school before now.

I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. He turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends. He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my friends thought the same of him.

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. I stopped him and said, “Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!” He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends. When we were seniors, we began to think about college. Kyle decided on Georgetown, and I was going to Duke. I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem. He was going to be a doctor, and I was going for business on a football scholarship.

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation.

I was so glad it wasn’t me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle. He looked great. He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.  He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. Boy, sometimes I was jealous.

Today was one of those days. I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So, I smacked him on the back and said, “Hey, big guy, you’ll be great!” He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. “Thanks,” he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. “Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach…but mostly your friends. I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. I am going to tell you a story.”

I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn’t have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.  He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.

“Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.”

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. Not until that moment did I realize it’s depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person’s life. For better or for worse.

God puts us all in each other’s lives to impact one another in some way.  Look for God in others.

You now have two choices, you can: 1)  Pass this on to your friends or 2)  Act like it didn’t touch your heart.

As you can see, I took choice number 1. “Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.

” There is no beginning or end. Yesterday is history.  Tomorrow is mystery.  Today is a gift.

It’s National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND. If it comes back to you, then you’ll know you have a circle of friends.

Allow God, to be the only person on your mind while you read this prayer. If we can take the time to read long jokes, stories, etc., we should give the same respect to this prayer.

Friends that pray together, stay together.

Dear Lord, I thank You for this day. I thank You for my being able to see
and to hear this morning. I’m blessed because You are a forgiving God and
an understanding God.  You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me.

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was
not pleasing to you. I ask now for Your forgiveness.

Please keep me safe from all danger and harm. Help me to start this day
with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.  Let me make the best of ! ! !
each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.

Let me not whine and whimper over things I have no control over. Let me continue to see sin through God’s eyes and acknowledge it as evil. And when I sin, let me repent, and confess with my mouth my wrongdoing, and receive theforgiveness of God.

And when this world closes in on me, let me remember Jesus’ example -to slip away and find a quiet place to pray. It’s the best response when I’m pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can’t pray, You listen to my heart. Continue to use me to do Your will.

Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.  Keep me strong that I may help the weak. Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.

I pray for those that are lost and can’t find their way.  I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.   I pray for those that don’t believe. But I thank you that I believe.

I believe that God changes people and God changes things. I pray for all my sisters and brothers. For each and every family member in their households. I pray for peace, love and joy in their homes that they are out of debt and all their needs are met.

Amen.