Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man
was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help
drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room’s only
window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The
men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families,
their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service,
where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up,
he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he
could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods
where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and
color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans
played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young
lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every c
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Sally 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
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Once upon a time all feelings and emotions went to a coastal island
for a vacation. According to their nature, each was having a good time.
Suddenly, a warning of an impending storm was announced and everyone was
advised to evacuate the island.
The announcement caused sudden panic. All rushed to their boats. Even
damaged boats were quickly repaired and commissioned for duty.
Yet, Love did not wish to flee quickly. There was so much to do. But
as the clouds darkened, Love realised it was time to leave. Alas, there
were no boats to spare. Love looked around with hope.
Just then Prosperity passed by in a luxurious boat. Love shouted, "Prosperity, could you please take me in your boat?”
"No,” replied Prosperity, "my boat is full of precious possessions, gold and silver. There is no place for you.”
A little later Vanity came by in a beautiful boat. Again Love
shouted, "Could you help me, Vanity? I am stranded and need a lift.
Please take me with
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After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman
out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other
woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who
has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three
children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night
I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. "What’s wrong,
are you well?” she asked.
My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or
a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. "I thought that it would
be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. "Just the two of
us.” She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like
that very much.”
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit
nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to
be nervous abou
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Father was a hardworking man who delivered bread as a living to
support his wife and three children. He spent all his evenings after
work attending classes, hoping to improve himself so that he could one
day find a better paying job. Except for Sundays, Father hardly ate a
meal together with his family. He worked and studied very hard because
he wanted to provide his family with the best money could buy.
Whenever the family complained that he was not spending enough time
with them, he reasoned that he was doing all this for them. But he often
yearned to spend more time with his family.
The day came when the examination results were announced. To his joy,
Father passed, and with distinctions too! Soon after, he was offered a
good job as a senior supervisor which paid handsomely.
Like a dream come true, Father could now afford to provide his family
with life’s little luxuries like nice clothing, fine food and vacation
abroad.
A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the
table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a
very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks,
about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into
the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into
the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "Yes.”
"Now,” said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this jar
represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family,
your partner, your health, your children – th
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