CHEROKEE LEGEND

There is a legend about the Cherokee Indian youths being equipped to face the horrific experience in the forest at night. 

His father takes him into the forest, blindfolds him and leaves him alone. He is required to sit on a stump the whole night and not remove the blindfold until the rays of the morning sun shine through it. He cannot cry out for help to anyone.

Once he survives the night, he is a MAN.

He cannot tell the other boys of this experience, because each lad must come into manhood on his own.

The boy is naturally terrified. He can hear all kinds of noises. Wild beasts must surely be all around him. Maybe even some human might do him harm. The wind blew the grass and earth, and shook his stump, but he sat stoically, never removing the blindfold. It would be the only way he could become a man!

Finally, after a horrific night the sun appeared and he removed his blindfold. It was then that he discovered his father sitting on the stump next to him.

He had been at watch the entire night, protecting his son from harm.

We, too, are never alone.  Even when we don't know it, God is watching over us, sitting on the stump beside us. When trouble comes, all we have to do is reach out to Him.

   

A LETTER FROM GOD, JESUS & JIMMY

She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: 'How is my little boy? Is he going to be all right? When can I see him?'

The surgeon said, 'I'm sorry.... We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it.'

Sally said, 'Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care any more? Where were you, God, when my son needed you?'

The surgeon asked, 'Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the university.'  

Sally asked the nurse to stay with her while she said good bye to son. She ran her fingers lovingly through his thick red curly hair. 'Would you like a lock of his hair?' the nurse asked. Sally nodded yes. The nurse cut a lock of the boy's hair, put it in a plastic bag and handed it to Sally.

The mother said, 'It was Jimmy's idea to donate his body to the University for Study. He said it might help somebody else.. 'I said no at first, but Jimmy said, ' Mom , I won't be using it after I die. Maybe it will help some other little boy spend one more day with his Mom .' She went on, 'My Jimmy had a heart of gold. Always thinking of someone else. Always wanting to help others if he could.'

She  walked out of Children's Mercy Hospital for the last time, after spending most of the last six months there. She put the bag with Jimmy's belongings on the seat beside her in the car.

The drive home was difficult. It was even harder to enter the empty house. She carried Jimmy's belongings, and the plastic bag with the lock of his hair to her son's room.

She started placing the model cars and other personal things back in his room exactly where he had always kept them. She lay down across his bed and, hugging his pillow, cried herself to sleep.

It was around midnight when Sally awoke. Lying beside her on the bed was a folded letter. The letter said:

Dear Mom ,

I know you're going to miss me; but don't think that I will ever forget you, or stop loving you, just 'cause I'm not around to say 'I Love You'. I will always love you, Mom , even more with each day. Someday we will see each other again. Until then, if you want to adopt a little boy so you won't be so lonely, that's okay with me. He can have my room and old stuff to play with. But, if you decide to get a girl instead, she probably wouldn't like the same things us boys do. You'll have to buy her dolls and stuff girls like, you know.

Don't be sad thinking about me. This really is a neat place. Grandma and Grandpa met me as soon as I got here and showed me around some, but it will take a long time to see everything. The angels are so cool. I love to watch them fly. And, you know what? Jesus doesn't look like any of his pictures. Yet, when I saw Him, I knew it was Him. Jesus himself took me to see GOD! And guess what, Mom ? I got to sit on God's knee and talk to Him, like I was somebody important. That's when I told Him that I wanted to write you a letter, to tell you good bye and everything. But I already knew that wasn't allowed. Well, you know what Mom ? God handed me some paper and His own personal pen to write you this letter I think Gabriel is the name of the angel who is going to drop this letter off to you. God said for me to give you the answer to one of the questions you asked Him 'where was He when I needed him?' 'God said He was in the same place with me, as when His son Jesus was on the cross. He was right there, as He always is with all His children.

Oh, by the way, Mom , no one else can see what I've written except you. To everyone else this is just a blank piece of paper. Isn't that cool? I have to give God His pen back now He needs it to write some more names in the Book of Life. Tonight I get to sit at the table with Jesus for supper. I'm sure the food will be great.

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. It does'nt hurt anymore;the cancer is all gone... I'm glad because I couldn't stand that pain anymore and God couldn't stand to see me hurt so much, either. That's when He sent The Angel of Mercy to come get me. The Angel said I was a Special Delivery! How about that?  

Signed with Love from God, Jesus & Me.   

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory.
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.
If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy.
If you plant patience, you will reap improvements.
If you plant faith, you will reap miracles.

But

If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust.
If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness.
If you plant pride, you will reap destruction.
If you plant envy, you will reap trouble.
If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation.
If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation.
If you plant greed, you will reap loss.
If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies.
If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles.
If you plant sin, you will reap guilt.

What you are now is the result of what you planted earlier in your lives. If you feel that you are just a ‘weed’, it did not happen yesterday, but years ago - may be from your childhood days. But the hope is that it can be de-rooted and good seeds of habit can be sown: earlier the better, for you may not have much time left.

Never procrastinate.  There is a saying in Hindi: kal kaa kaam aaj; aaj kaa kaam abhi (Do tomorrow’s job today; today’s job now). The seeds you now scatter will make life worse or better; your life or the ones who will come after. Yes, someday, you will enjoy the fruits, or you will pay for the choices you plant today.

 FIVE FINGER PRAYER

There are many who are confused about how to pray and what to pray! Here is given a simple method for them to follow:

The first finger that is closest to you is the THUMB so you begin by praying for those that are closest to you like your family and friends. Next we have the INDEX finger which points the way, or gives direction. Therefore, we pray for those that teach or lead the way by giving direction and helping others. The third finger on our hand is the TALLEST finger so that helps us to remember to pray for those in power, those who are in important positions of authority, like our President Prime Minister, ministers and other World Leaders. The RING finger is our weakest finger, so we need to pray for those that are week, poor, needy, and broken, those having a rough time. Last we have our PINKY finger. The smallest on our hands, that helps us to remember to pray for ourselves. Our needs are last. By the time we get to our own needs we realize our own problems are pretty small compared to those in the rest of the world. Hence we shall not ‘cry’ much for us, but for others.

Here is a sample prayer using the FIVE FINGER PRAYER METHOD:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for this day, thank You for everything You have given to us, I come to You as Your child in Jesus’ name. I am reaching out to You Father because I want to:

(1) Pray for those that are close to me. Bless my family, be with them today and please protect them and my dear friends too. Send Your Angels to help them with their tasks (Psalm 91) today and may they feel Your peace and love all day long.

(2) Lord, I also pray for my teachers and those that give direction let them use their gifts wisely (1 Peter 4:10). I pray that they would be blessed today and that they would enjoy their day. Help them Lord to make a good difference in the lives of others. Help them to help others with love, and peace, and fun.

(3) I pray for the important leaders in our world. (Proverbs 11:14, 1 Timothy 2:1-2) I pray that our President would make wise decisions, that would please You. I pray that You would protect our President and his family and give him peace today. Help the other World Leaders to lead with compassion, and in the best interest of the people that they serve.

(4) I pray for those that are weak. I pray that You would supply all their needs, whether it be food, or clothes, or shelter. I pray that in their weakness, You would be made strong in their lives (Matthew 25:36). I pray that when others help them that they would see Jesus in them. I pray for those who are broken hearted, I pray that You would place Your peace and love in their hearts and heal their hurt (Psalm 34:18).

(5) Lastly, I pray for my own needs. Lord You know I have many needs, and I can’t live without Your help and guidance. Help me to love others the way You love others at all times. Help me to be a good daughter, wife, mother, and friend. Help me to realize when I need to speak and when I need to listen so that others will be blessed by my life. Let me fulfill the calling that You have planned for me, and bless my life so that I can be a blessing. (Galatians 6:9, Deuteronomy 31:6) I Love You Lord, thank You for being in my life. 

WAKE UP PARENTS

“Wake Up Parents” is a provocative article by Dr. Alok Kar. He writes:

Years back, poor illiterate parents produced:

v Doctors,

v Engineers,

v Scientists,  

v Accountants,

v Lawyers,

v Architects,

v Professors, (whom he refers as Group 'A'.)

These Group 'A' children struggled on their own after Primary 6 or Grade 12, to become notable personalities.

Most of them:  

Ø trekked to school barefooted

Ø went to farms

Ø fetched water and firewood

Ø cared for domesticated animals

Ø did some work including trading after school to survive.

Now Group 'A', who have now become parents themselves are producing Group 'B'  children.

These group ‘B’ children are:

§  pampered

§  helped in their home-works or home assignments from nursery school through secondary schools to higher institutions.

§  chauffeur driven to very expensive schools or are sent abroad to study.

§  they can watch movies from morning till dawn after school.

§  they are treated like baby kings and queens.

§  they don't do any household chores.

§  Food is put on the table for them,

§  their plates are removed and washed by parents or house maids.

§  They are given expensive cars and clothes,

§  not forgetting to give big pocket money to be wasted,

§  Their parents help them in doing their assignments.

§  In spite of all these, only few can speak or write correctly.

Group 'A' Parents cared for their own parents and children; Group 'B', their Children are still struggling to find their feet at age 30+.

They find it difficult to do things on their own because they are used to being helped to think and doing things by Group 'A'. So they can't help themselves, their parents or the society. THEY ABANDON THEIR PARENTS IN THEIR BID TO ACQUIRE THE WORLD

Where do you belong?

v Reduce the pampering and the unnecessary help you offer your children.

v Let your children grow in wisdom, intelligence and strength.

v Let them face the truth and the realities of life.

Teach them to grow to become independent adults. Teach them to:

Ø fear God,

Ø respect  others and

Ø develop confidence in themselves.

Parents, discipline your children to become disciplined adults, useful and not useless.

Please share this beautiful message with everyone to know the meaning of life !!! 

LIFE IS JUST A MOMENT: LIVE IT…LOVE IT…ENJOY IT

A man died...  When he realized it, he saw God coming closer with a suitcase in his hand. Then the following dialogue between God and the dead man began:

God: Alright son, it’s time to go

Man: So soon? I had a lot of plans... 

God: I am sorry but, it’s time to go

Man: What do you have in that suitcase?

God: Your belongings

Man: My belongings? You mean my things... Clothes... money...

God: Those things were never yours, they belong to the Earth

Man: Is it my memories?

God: No. They belong to Time

Man: Is it my talent?

God: No. They belong to Circumstance

Man: Is it my friends and family?

God: No son. They belong to the Path you travelled

Man: Is it my wife and children?

God: No. they belong to your Heart

Man: Then it must be my body

God: No, No... It belongs to Dust

Man: Then surely it must be my Soul!

God: You are sadly mistaken son. Your Soul belongs to me.

Man with tears in his eyes and full of fear took the suitcase from God's hand and opened it... Empty!

With heartbroken and tears down his cheek he asks God...

Man: I never owned anything?

God: That’s Right. You never owned anything.

Man: Then? What was mine?

God: your MOMENTS. Every moment you lived was yours.

Do Good in every moment

Think Good in every moment

Thank God for every moment

Life is just a Moment.

Live it... Love it... Enjoy it......

WORLD’S RESOURCES VS.GOD ALONE  

There is a thought provoking story in the Mahabharata. The Kauravas and the Pandavas were campaigning to keep the maximum forces with them.  In that process both approached Krishna who is not a ‘king’ but had a well trained army of more than 10,000 men.

Duryodhana came first to Krishna. He saw Krishna sleeping (actually he was pretending to be sleeping) and decided to wait till he is awake. At first he was sitting at Krishna’s feet. He thought,  “Why should I, an emperor, sit at the feet of Krishna who is only a cowherd?”  So he moved to sit close his head. Meanwhile Arujuna came and sat close to his feet.  Krishna’s feet were pointing at him and he sees that as a blessing. After a while (watching all that was happening around) Krishna pretended to wake up.  He opened his eyes and told Arjuna, “Oh, Arjuna you have come.” Arjuna said, “Yes Bhagwan, I have come.”

Duryodhana cleared his throat to make his presence felt. Krishna said, ”Oh Duryodhana, even you? Both of you at the same time – what brings both of you here?”  (as if he is not knowing anything)

Then both of them said that they have come to ask for his help in the war. Krishna said, “Both of you have come and both of you are asking for the same thing, so let me put it this way. One of you can have my army, another can have me. But I won’t fight; I’ll just come with you. Because my vision fell upon Arjuna first, he gets the first choice.”

Duryodhana protested, “I came here first!” Krishna said, “But what can I do? I saw him first.”

Then Krishna told Arjuna, “You choose what you want.” Arjuna said, “Bhagwan we want you, I don’t care about the army. We just want you with us.” Krishna warned, “I am not going to fight for you. I’ll just come with you.” He said, “You don’t have to do anything, we just want you with us.”  

Then Duryodhana let out a sigh of relief – he was so happy! He knew the Pandavas were idiots, but he never thought they were such idiots, that they will choose one man against 10,000 trained men. And this one man is not going to fight also!   10,000 trained men against one man who is not going to fight – what a foolish choice!

But the events in the Mahabharatha war proved that the very same choice made all the difference.  

St. Paul in the Epistle to Romans says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Rom 8:31) 

In the book of Exodus, we see the following beautiful conversation with Yahweh and Moses: "My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here. For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people? Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?” (Exod. 33:14-16)

EXPRESS YOURSELF

We tend to guard ourselves in expressing ourselves. Hence we cannot enjoy life.

Many a times we wanted to laugh out loud, but we are conditioned not to; for we are taught it is not modest to do so. Many a times we wanted to cry out our hurt emotions, but we do not because we are taught that it is not a good manner to do so. The emotions that compel us to be expressed are suppressed because we think it is not fair to do so. The result is depression.

As an anonymous writer has said, “To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self. To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd are to risk their loss. To love is to risk not being loved in return. To live is to risk dying. To hope is to risk despair. To try is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person, who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing and is nothing. They may avoid suffering and sorrow but they cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love, live. Chained by their certitudes they are a slave, they have forfeited their freedom. Only a person who risks is free.”

That doesn’t mean we should be naive. It also does not mean we should express our feelings without any guard. We should discern before we express. We can find means to vent out our feelings in private as well.   

So also when others express their emotions, be prudent and don’t jump into our own conclusions. There shall be more to it than their expressions.

DON’T ASSUME

A police officer was heading home after a long day of hard work.  All he wanted was to reach home and take some rest. As he was driving, he was startled by a speeding vehicle that came from the sharp curve in the front.  As the car passed within a few inches of him, the other driver shouted “Pig!”

The police officer was offended! He slammed on brakes, all set to turn his squad car around and head off in hot pursuit. But as he rounded the curve, he ran head-on into a big pig that was standing in the middle of the road!

What has really happened? The other vehicle driver was panicked when he saw the big pig – may be charging at him - on the road and tried to escape. He wanted to warn the car that was going to the direction of the pig.

What has gone through the mind of the police officer? The other person had an offensive driving; he should have been courteous to say sorry; moreover he shouted at him “pig”

Don’t assume! However confident we are about anything, about another person’s reasoning or motives, there may be something beyond our logical conclusions. Understanding the other is more complex and difficult than we think.   So don’t assume but be patient, polite and willing to scrutinize before we act or react.