The Window

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. And 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 color of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it in his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.

Days and weeks passed. One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone. Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself.

He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

God's Pictures

A small child walked daily to and from school. Though the weather one morning was questionable and clouds were forming, this child made the daily trek to the elementary school.

As the day progressed, the winds whipped up, along with thunder and lightning.

The mother was worried that her child would be frightened walking back home from school, and she herself feared the electrical storm might harm her child.

Following the roar of the thunder, lightning would cut through the sky like a flaming sword. Being concerned, the mother got into her car and drove along the route to her child's school. Soon she saw her small child walking along, but at each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look and smile.

One followed another, each time with her child stopping, looking at the streak of light and smiling. Finally, the mother called and asked, "What are you doing?"

Her child answered, "God keeps taking pictures of me."

"Look What I've Found!"

The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren't enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, "Look what I found!"
In his had was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With it's petals all worn - not enough rain, or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faded a small smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose
And declared with overacted surprise,
"It sure smells pretty and it's beautiful, too.
That's why I picket it; here it's for you."
The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors: orange, yellow or red.
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower, and replied, "Just what I need."
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it mid-air without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see; he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone in the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
"You're welcome," he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he'd had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he'd been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world, the problem was me.
And for all those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life, and appreciate every second that's mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose.
I smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand,
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.

Angel In My Pocket 

I am a tiny angel ..
I'm smaller than your thumb;
I live in people's pockets,
That's where I have my fun ...

I don't suppose you've seen me,
I'm too tiny to detect;
Though I'm with you all the time,
I doubt we've ever met.

Before I was an Angel ...
I was a fairy in a flower;
God, Himself, hand-picked me,
And gave me Angel power.

Now God has many Angels
That he trains in Angel pools;
We become his eyes, and ears, and hands ..
We become his special tools.

And because God is so busy,
With way too much to do;
He said that my assignment
Was to keep close watch on you.

Then He tucked me in your pocket,
Blessing you with Angel care;
Saying I must never leave you,
And I vowed to stay right there!

by Virginia Ellis

God's Boxes

I have in my hands two boxes,
which God gave me to hold ..
He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,
and all your joys in the gold."

I heeded his words, and in the two boxes
both my joys and sorrows I stored ..
But though the gold became heavier each day,
the black was as light as before.

With curiosity, I opened the black,
I wanted to find out why ..
And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole,
which my sorrows had fallen out by.

I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
"I wonder where my sorrows could be."
He smiled a gentle smile at me ..
"My child, they're all here with me."

I asked, "God, why give me the boxes?
Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
"My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings. 

The black is for you to let go."

A ball is a circle, no beginning, no end.
It keeps us together like our "Circle of Friends"..
But the treasure inside for you to see,
is the treasure of friendship you've granted to me.

The Starfish

Once upon a time there was a wise man
who used to go to the ocean
to do his writing.
He had a habit of walking
on the beach
before he began his work.

One day he was walking along
the shore.
As he looked down the beach,
he saw a human
figure moving like a dancer.

He smiled to himself to think
of someone who would
dance to the day.
So he began to walk faster
to catch up.

As he got closer, he saw
that it was a young man
and the young man wasn't dancing,
but instead he was reaching
down to the shore,
picking up something
and very gently throwing it
into the ocean.

As he got closer he called out,
"Good morning! What are you doing?"

The young man paused,
looked up and replied,
"Throwing starfish in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked,
why are you throwing starfish
in the ocean?"

"The sun is up and the tide is going out.
And if I don't throw them in they'll die."

"But, young man, don't you realize that
there are miles and miles of beach
and starfish all along it.
You can't possibly make a difference!"

The young man listened politely.
Then bent down, picked up another starfish
and threw it into the sea,
past the breaking waves and said-
"It made a difference for that one."

Lesson's Learned

A young, new preacher was walking with an older, more seasoned preacher in the garden one day and feeling a bit insecure about what God had for him to do, he was inquiring of the older preacher. The older preacher walked up to a rosebush and handed the young preacher a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals.

The young preacher looked in disbelief at the older preacher and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the WILL OF GOD for his life and for his ministry. Because of his high respect for the older preacher, he proceeded to TRY to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact...It wasn't long before he realized how impossible it was to do so.

Noticing the younger preacher's inability to unfold the rosebud while keeping it intact, the older preacher began to recite the following poem...

UNFOLDING THE ROSEBUD

It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of God's design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.

The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
GOD opens this flower so sweetly,
When in my hands they fade and die.

If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of God's design,
Then how can I think I have wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?

So I'll trust in Him for His leading
Each moment of every day.
I will look to him for His guidance
Each step of the pilgrim way.

The pathway that lies before me,
Only my Heavenly Father knows.
I'll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.

A Story to Live By

My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer
of my sister's bureau and lifted out
a tissue-wrapped package.

"This," he said," is not a slip. This is lingerie."
He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip.
It was exquisite; silk, handmade and trimmed
with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an
astronomical figure, on it was still attached.

"Jan bought this the first time we went to New York,
at least 8 or 9 years ago. She never wore it.
She was saving it for a special occasion.
Well, I guess this is the occasion."

He took the slip from me and put it on the bed
with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician.
His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment,
then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me.
"Don't ever save anything for a special occasion.
Every day you're alive is a special occasion."

I remembered those words through the funeral and
the days that followed when I helped him and my niece
attend to all the sad chores that follow an unexpected death.
I thought about them on the plane returning to California
from the Midwestern town where my sister's family lives.
I thought about all the things that she hadn't
seen or heard or done.
I thought about the things that she had done
without realizing that they were special.

I'm still thinking about his words, and they've changed my life.
I'm reading more and dusting less.
I'm sitting on the deck
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 in committee meetings.

Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of
experience to savor, not 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, the first Camellia blossom.

I wear my good blazer to the market if I feel like it.
My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49
for one small bag of groceries without winching.
I'm not saving my good perfume for special parties.
Clerks in hardware stores and tellers in banks
have noses that function as well as my party-going friends'.

"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 my sister
would have done had she known that she wouldn't be here for the
tomorrow we all take for granted. I think she would have called family
members and a few close friends. She might have called a few former
friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles.
I like to think she would have gone out for a Chinese dinner,
her favorite food. I'm guessing-
I'll never know.

It's those little things left undone that would make
me angry if I knew that my hours were limited.
Angry because I put off seeing good Friends whom
I was going to get in touch with-someday.
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 daughter
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,
I tell myself that it is special.

Every day, every minute, every breath truly is...a gift from God.
You've got to dance like nobody's watching,
and love like it's never going to hurt.
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.

by
Anne Wells

The Girl I Used To Be

She came tonight as I sat alone..
The girl I used to be....
And she gazed at me with her earnest eye
And questioned reproachfully:

Have you forgotten the many plans
And hopes I had for you?
The great career, the splendid fame,
all the wonderful things to do?

Where is the mansion of stately height
With all its gardens rare?
The silken robes that I dreamed for you
And the jewels in your hair?

And as she spoke, I was very sad
For I wanted her pleased with me...
This slender girl from the shadowy past
The girl that I used to be.

So gently rising, I took her hand
And guided her up the stairs
Where peacefully sleeping, my babies lay
Innocent, sweet, and fair.

And I told her that these are my only gems,
And precious they are to me;
That silken robes is my motherhood
Of costly simplicity.

And my mansion of stately height is love,
And the only career I know
Is serving each day in these sheltered walls
For the dear ones who come and go.

And as I spoke to my shadowy guest,
She smiled through her tears at me.
And I saw the woman that I am now
Pleased the girl I used to be.

A Frail Old Angels Cry

Last night I had a dream
It had a tale to tell.
I dreamed I saw an Angel;
Poor thing, he wasn't feeling well.

His body bruised and battered
His wings were ripped and torn
This Angel could hardly walk,
He looked so tired and worn.

I walked right up to him to ask;
Angel? How can this be?
He turned around and paused a (bit),
Then he spoke these words to me:

"I'm Your Guardian Angel,
A great task as you can see.
You've run amok most all your life:
Look what it's done to me.

These bruises are from shielding You
In times both dire and ill.
Those alcoholic bouts and drugs you've used
I've often paid the bill

You see my wings are ripped and torn;
How often they have flown you
From evils unaware.
Each mark is it's own story
of deadly wounds destroyed.

You made me wish more than once-
That I was unemployed.
If only you could make it
Standing on your own

Oh, don't you fret or worry
but please try to remember
I'm getting old and frail.

I could not believe all I had heard,
Let alone how much he cared.
I wept upon his shoulder,
Then left him in despair.

The next day I sat and pondered:
Should I really try?
And in the distance I thought I heard;

A frail Old Angel Cry.

Pick Them Up

I was sitting on a bench
while in a nearby mall,
When I noticed a young mother
with two children who were small.

The youngest one was whining,
"Pick me up," I heard him beg
but the mother's face grew angry
as the child clung to her leg.

"Don't hang on to me," she shouted
as she pushed his hands away,
I wish I'd had the courage
to go up to her and say...

"The time will come too quickly
when those little arms that tug,
Won't ask for you to hold them
or won't freely give a hug.

"The day will sneak up subtly
just as it did with me,
When you can't recall the last time
that your child sat on your knee.

"Like those sacred, pre-dawn feedings
when we cherished time alone
Our babies grow and leave behind
those special times we've known.

"So when your child comes to you
with a book that you can share,
Or asks that you would tuck him in
and help him say his prayer...

"When he comes to sit and chat
or would like to take a walk,
Before you answer that you can't
`cause there's no time to talk.

"Remember what all parents learn
so many times too late,
That years go by too quickly
and that childhood doesn't wait.

"Take every opportunity,
if one should slip away
Reach hard to get it back again,
don't wait another day."

I watched that mother walk away
her children followed near,
I hope she'll pick them up
before her chances disappear...

by Kathie Davis

One ...

song can spark a moment,
One flower can wake the dream.
One tree can start a forest,
One bird can herald spring.

One smile begins a friendship,
One handclasp lifts a soul.
One star can guide a ship at sea,
One word can frame the goal.

One vote can change a nation,
One sunbeam lights a room.
One candle wipes out darkness,
One laugh will conquer gloom.

One step must start each journey,
One word must start each prayer.
One hope will raise our spirits,
One touch can show you care.

One voice can speak with wisdom.
One heart can know what's true.
One life can make the difference,
you see it's up to You!

2 Nickels & 5 Pennies

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him. "How much is an ice cream sundae?" "Fifty cents," replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out of his pocket and studied a number of coins in it. "How much is a dish of plain ice cream?" he inquired. Some people were now waiting for a table and the waitress was a bit impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she said brusquely. The little boy again counted the coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and departed. When the waitress came back, she began wiping down the table and then swallowed hard at what she saw. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies - her tip.

The Lesson of the Pearls

The cheerful girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five. Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them: a circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box. "Oh please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy, please!" Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's upturned face. "A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for yourself. Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls. They made her feel dressed up and grown up. She wore them everywhere - Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed. The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or had a bubble bath. Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving Daddy and every night when she was ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come upstairs to read her a story.

One night when he finished the story, he asked Jenny, "Do you love me?" "Oh yes, Daddy. You know that I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the white horse from my collection. The one with the pink tail. Remember, Daddy? The one you gave me. She's my favorite." "That's okay, honey. Daddy loves you. Good night." And he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked again, "Do you love me?" "Daddy, you know I love you." "Then give me your pearls." "Oh, Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The brand new one I got for my birthday. She is so beautiful and you can have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper." "That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy loves you." And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting on her bed with her legs crossed Indian-style. As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one silent tear rolled down her cheek. "What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?" Jenny didn't say anything but lifted her little hand up to her daddy. And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace. With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here Daddy. It's for you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's kind daddy reached out with one hand to take the dime-store necklace, and with the other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny. He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give up the dime-store stuff so he could give her genuine treasure.

The Chain of Love

He was driving home one evening on a two-lane country road. Work in this small mid-western community was almost as slow as his beat-up Pontiac, but he never quit looking. Ever since the Levis factory closed he'd been unemployed, and with winter raging on the chill had finally hit home.

It was a lonely road. Not very many people had a reason to be on it, unless they were leaving. Most of his friends had already left. They had families to feed and dreams to fulfill, but he stayed on. After all this was where he buried his mother and father. He was born here and knew the country. He could go down this road blind and tell you what was on either side, and with his headlights not working that came in handy. It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down. He'd better get a move on.

You know, he almost didn't see the old lady stranded on the side of the road. Even in the dim light of day he could see she needed help, so he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her. Even with the smile on his face she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe, he looked poor and hungry. He could see that she was frightened standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill that only fear can put in you. He said, "I'm here to help you m'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm. By the way, my name is Joe."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady that was bad enough. Joe crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt. As he was tightening up the lug nuts she rolled down her window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Joe just smiled as he closed her trunk.

She asked him how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped. Joe never thought twice about the money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help she could give that person the assistance that they needed. Then Joe added "........and think of me".

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her.

The cash register was like the telephone of an out of work actor, it didn't ring much. Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Joe.

After the lady finished her meal and the waitress went to get her change from a hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on a napkin. There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote. It said, "You don't owe me a thing, I've been there too. Someone once helped me out the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back here's what you do: Don't let the chain of love end with you." Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could she have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month it was going to be hard.

She knew how worried her husband was and as he lay sleeping next to her she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything's gonna be alright, I love you Joe."

The Spirit of Giving 

It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot of our local discount store. Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today? I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I didn't buy them anything. Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift-buying anything but fun.

Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it looked if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait. In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 5 and a younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny gold house slippers. As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed along , off-key but happily.

When we finally approached the checkout register the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were a treasure. The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09," she said. The boy laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put them back, "he bravely said. "We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow." With that statement a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would have loved these shoes," she cried. " Well. we'll go home and work some more. Don't cry.
We'll come back ," he said. 

Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line a long time. And , after all it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said "Thank you lady."
"What did you mean when you said Jesus would have loved the shoes?" I asked. The boy answered, "Our Mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus." The girl Spoke, "My Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes. Won't Mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?"

My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes" I answered, " I am sure she will." Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the True Spirit of Giving.. and of Christmas.

Santa's Secret Wish
(story of true love)

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes
Looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise
And said as he sat on Santa's broad knee,
"I want your secret. Tell it to me."

He leaned up and whispered in Santa's good ear
"How do you do it, year after year?"
"I want to know how, as you travel about,
Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.

How is it, Dear Santa, that in your pack of toys
You have plenty for all of the world's girls and boys?
Stays so full, never empties, as you make your way
From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,

From nation to nation, reaching them all?"
And Santa smiled kindly and said to the boy,
"Don't ask me hard questions. Don't you want a toy?"
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see

That he needed the answer. "Now listen to me,"
He told that small boy with the light in his eyes,
"My secret will make you sadder and wise.
"The truth is that my sack is magic Inside

It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.
But although I do visit each girl and each boy
I don't always leave them a gaily wrapped toy.

Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,
Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.
Some homes are broken, and the children there grieve.
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?

"My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,
But for homes where despair lives toys aren't enough.

So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,
And I pray with them that they'll be given the joy
Of the spirit of Christmas, the spirit that lives
In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

"If only God hears me and answers my prayer,
When I visit next year, what I will find there
Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love
And boys and girls gifted with light from above.

It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,
To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.

But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,
For God has a way of meeting each need.

"That's part of the answer.
The rest, my dear youth,
Is that my sack is magic. And that is the truth.

In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day
More love than a Santa could e`er give away.
The sack never empties of love, or of joys
`Cause inside it are prayers, and hope. Not just toys.

The more that I give, the fuller it seems,
Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

"And do you know something?
You've got a sack, too.

It's as magic as mine, and it's inside of you.
It never gets empty, it's full from the start.
It's the center of lights, and love. It's your heart.

And if on this Christmas you want to help me,
Don't be so concerned with the gifts `neath your tree.
Open that sack called your heart, and share
Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care."

The light in the small boy's eyes was glowing.
"Thanks for your secret. I've got to be going."

"Wait, little boy," Said Santa, "don't go.
Will you share? Will you help?
Will you use what you know?"

And just for a moment the small boy stood still,
Touched his heart with his small hand and whispered,

"I will."

Roses For Rose

Red roses were her favorites, her name was also Rose.
And every year her husband sent them, tied with pretty bows.
The year he died, the roses were delivered to her door.
The card said, "Be my Valentine," like all the years before.

Each year he sent her roses, and the note would always say,
"I love you even more this year, than last year on this day."
"My love for you will always grow, with every passing year."
She knew this was the last time that the roses would appear.

She thought, he ordered roses in advance before this day.
Her loving husband did not know, that he would pass away.
He always liked to do things early, way before the time.
Then, if he got too busy, everything would work out fine.

She trimmed the stems, and placed them in a very special vase.
Then, sat the vase beside the portrait of his smiling face.
She would sit for hours, in her husband's favorite chair.
While staring at his picture, and the roses sitting there.

A year went by, and it was hard to live without her mate.
With loneliness and solitude, that had become her fate.
Then, the very hour, as on Valentines before,
The doorbell rang, and there were roses, sitting by her door.

She brought the roses in, and then just looked at them in shock.
Then, went to get the telephone, to call the florist shop.
The owner answered, and she asked him, if he would explain,   
Why would someone do this to her, causing her such pain?  
"I know your husband passed away, more than a year ago,"
The owner said, "I knew you'd call, and you would want to know."
"The flowers you received today, were paid for in advance."
"Your husband always planned ahead, he left nothing to chance."

"There is a standing order, that I have on file down here,
And he has paid, well in advance, you'll get them every year.
There also is another thing, that I think you should know,
He wrote a special little card...he did this years ago."

"Then, should ever, I find out that he's no longer here,
That's the card...that should be sent, to you the following year."
She thanked him and hung up the phone, her tears now flowing hard.
Her fingers shaking, as she slowly reached to get the card.

Inside the card, she saw that he had written her a note.
Then, as she stared in total silence, this is what he wrote...
"Hello my love, I know it's been a year since I've been gone,
I hope it hasn't been too hard for you to overcome."

"I know it must be lonely, and the pain is very real.
For if it was the other way, I know how I would feel.
The love we shared made everything so beautiful in life.
I loved you more than words can say, you were the perfect wife."

"You were my friend and lover, you fulfilled my every need.
I know it's only been a year, but please try not to grieve.
I want you to be happy, even when you shed your tears.
That is why the roses will be sent to you for years."

"When you get these roses, think of all the happiness,
That we had together, and how both of us were blessed.
I have always loved you and I know I always will.
But, my love, you must go on, you have some living still."

"Please...try to find happiness, while living out your days.
I know it is not easy, but I hope you find some ways.
The roses will come every year, and they will only stop,
When your door's not answered, when the florist stops to knock."

"He will come five times that day, in case you have gone out.
But after his last visit, he will know without a doubt,
To take the roses to the place, where I've instructed him,
And place the roses where we are, together once again."

 by Poppy

Butterfly Kisses

We often learn the most from our children.
Some time ago, a friend of mine punished his 3 year-old daughter
for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight, and he
became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put
under the tree.

Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the
next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy." He was
embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again
when he found that the box was empty.

He yelled at her, "Don't you know that when you give someone a
present, there's supposed to be something inside of it?"
The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,
"Oh, Daddy it's not empty. I blew kisses into the box.
All for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and
he begged her forgiveness.

My friend told me that he kept that gold box by his bed for years.
Whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary
kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as parents has been given a gold
container filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children.

There is no more precious possession anyone could hold.

Gift From God

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day he
asked God:

They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going
to live here being so small and helpless?

Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for
you and will take care of you.

But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and
smile, that's enough for me to be happy.

Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day.
And you will feel your angel's love and be happy.

And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me,
if I don't know the language that men talk?

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?

Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to
pray.

I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?

Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life.

But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore.

Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the
way for you 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 already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly:

Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name?

Your angel's name is of no importance, you will call your angel:
Mommy

The Gift of the Gods

 It was a warm summer day when the gods placed it in her hands. She
 trembled with emotion as she saw how fragile it appeared. This was a
 very special gift the gods were entrusting to her. A gift that would
 one day belong to the world. Until then, they instructed her, she was
 to be its guardian and protector. The woman said she understood and
 reverently took it home, determined to live up to the faith the gods
 had placed in her.

 
 At first she barely let it out of her sight, protecting it from
 anything she perceived to be harmful to its well-being; watching with
 fear in her heart when it was exposed to the environment outside of
 the sheltered cocoon she had formed around it. But the woman began to
 realize that she could not shelter it forever. It needed to learn to
 survive the harsh elements in order to grow strong. So with gentle
 care she gave it more space to grow...enough to allow it to grow wild
 and untamed.

 
 One day she became aware of how much the gift had changed. It no
 longer had a look of vulnerability about it. Now it seemed to glow
 with strength and steadiness, almost as if it were developing a power
 within. Month after month she watched as it became stronger and more
 powerful, and the woman remembered her promise. She knew deep within
 her heart that her time with the gift was nearing an end.
 

 The inevitable day arrived when the gods came to take the gift and
 present it to the world. The woman felt a deep sadness, for she would
 miss its constant presence in her life. With heartfelt gratitude she
 thanked the gods for allowing her the privilege of watching over the
 precious gift for so many years. Straightening her shoulders, she
 stood proud, knowing that it was, indeed, a very special gift. One
 that would add to the beauty and essence of the world around it. And
 the mother let her child go.

Friendship

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid
from my class walking home from school. His name was Kyle.
It looked like he was carrying all of his books. I thought to
myself, "Why would anyone bring home all his books on a
Friday? He must really be a nerd." I had quite a weekend
planned (parties and a football game with my friend next day),
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, 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,
"Thanks a lot!" 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 his books. He
turned out to be a pretty cool kid. I asked him if he wanted to
play football on Saturday with me and 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, "Damn 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 me 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 then he 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. "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings
have trouble remembering how to fly."

Things I've Learned

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be the someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them.

I've learned that no matter how much I care, some people just don't care back.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust, and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life, but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that you can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.

I've learned that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that you can keep going after you think you can't.

I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I've learned that money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I've learned that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I've learned that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down will be the ones to help you get back up.

I've learned that I'm getting more like my grandma, and I'm kinda happy about it.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I've learned that just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthday's you've celebrated.

I've learned that you should never tell a child her dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if she believed it.

I've learned that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend someone is, they're going to hurt you every once in awhile and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that it isn't always enough to be forgiven bye others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that sometimes when my friends fight, I'm forced to choose sides even when I don't want to.

I've learned that just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that sometimes you have to put the individual ahead of their actions.

I've learned that we don't have to change friends if we understand friends change.

I've learned that two people can look at the exact thing and see something totally different.

I've learned that no matter how you try to protect your children, they will eventually get hurt and you will hurt in the process.

I've learned that no matter how many friends you have, if you are their pillar, you will feel lonely and lost at the times you need them most.

I've learned that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing, as well as talking, can ease emotional pains.

I've learned the paradigm we live in is not all that is offered to us.

I've learned the credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I've learned that although the word "love" can have many different meanings, it loses value when overly used.

I've learned that it's hard to determine where to draw the line between being nice and not hurting people's feelings and standing up for what you believe.

Favorite Quotes

"Hold fast to your dreams for if dreams die, life if but a broken winged bird that cannot fly."

"When you come to the edge of all you know and are about to step into the darkness of the unknown; faith is knowing one of two things will happen:   There will be something solid to stand on,
or you will be taught to fly."

"And since it is useful, it is truly beautiful."

~The Little Prince~

"Once you are real, you can’t be ugly …except to people who don’t understand."

~The Velveteen Rabbit~

"People sometimes tend to forget that a rat race can only be won by a rat."

"One runs the risk of weeping a little, if one allows oneself to become tamed." 

~The Little Prince~

"It is only with the heart that one can see things clearly – what is truly essential, is invisible to the eye."

~The Little Prince~

  "Loneliness is the saddest sorrow, because there is no one to share it with."

  "Two roads diverged into the wood and I, I took the one less traveled … and it has made all the difference." 

~Robert Frost~

"Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower; we will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind."

  "The sun is always going to come up tomorrow."

  "Some plants start out as okay guys, and then turn sour later on in life.  In this respect they are somewhat akin to pickles.  Think about it … what is a pickle but a cucumber with a lousy personality?"

~Charlie Brown~

  "The rain falls on the just and unjust equally."

  "The sound of a kiss is not so loud as a cannon, but it’s echo lasts a great deal longer."

  "I have no yesterdays, time took them away; tomorrow may not be – but I have today."

  "Between the choice of two evils, I always pick the one I’ve never tried."

  "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way."

"After all, tomorrow is another day." 

"I can see love from this height. If this is life then living - with all it's hurt and disillusion - was not in vain."

"The first time ever I saw your face/ I thought the sun rose in your eyes/ and the moon and the stars were the gifts u gave/ to the dark and the empty skies ."

"In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities."

~ János Arany~

"Love is the enchanted dawn of every heart."

~ Alphonse Marie de Lamartine~

"There is nothing holier, in this life of ours, than the first consciousness of love --the first fluttering of its silken winngs."

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow~

"Two souls with but a single thought,
Two hearts that beat as one."

~ Maria Lovell~

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love . . . you make."

~ Paul McCartney~

"You can give without loving, but you can never love without giving."

~ Robert Louis Stevenson~

"Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction."

~Antoine de Saint Exupery~

"Love - A portion of the soul itself, and it iis of the same nature as ... the celestial breathing of the atmosphere of paradise."

~Victor Hugo~

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched... but are felt in the heart."

~ Helen Keller~

"I cannot exist without you- I am forgetful of every thing but seeing you again- my Life seems to stop there- I see no further. You have absorb'd me. I have a sensation at the present moment as though I were dissolving…. I have been astonished that Men could die Martyrs for religion- I have shudder'd at it- I shudder no more- I could be martyr'd for my Religion- Love is my religion- I could die for that- I could die for you. My creed is Love and you are its only tenet- You have ravish'd me away by a Power I cannot resist."

~John Keats~

"If I had a star for every time you made me smile, I could hold the entire evening sky in the palm of my hand."

~James Popejoy~

"The sound of a kiss is not so loud as a cannon, but it’s echo lasts a great deal longer."

"For in the dew of little things, the heart finds it’s morning, and is refreshed."

"Yesterday’s hurt is today’s understanding; rewoven into tomorrow’s love."

"Love begins when nothing is expected in return."

"Real love stories never have endings."

"If looking behind you makes you sad ... and looking ahead of you frightens you ... Just look beside you ... I'll be there."

  "What you are is God’s gift to you. What you make of yourself is your gift to God." 

  "And in the end, the love you take; is equal to the love you make." 

  "Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus." 

~Ann Landers~

  "You see things as they are and ask “Why” … But I dream things that never were – and ask “Why not?”"

  "If you want a friend … tame me."

~The Little Prince~

  "For in the dew of little things, the heart finds it’s morning, and is refreshed."

  "When a mystery is too overpowering, one dare not disobey."

~The Little Prince~

  "To every man there openeth a high way and a low way … and every man decideth which way his soul shall go."

  "Every man is in some way my superior … and from that, I may learn."

  "I must endure the presence of two or three caterpillars, if I wish to become acquainted with the butterflies."

~The Little Prince~

  "Dance like no one is watching … Sing like no one is listening … and love like you’ve never been hurt."

  "Yesterday’s hurt is today’s understanding; rewoven into tomorrow’s love." 

"You become responsible forever for that which you have tamed."

~The Little Prince~

  "The day is lost on which one has not laughed."

  "You may take my happiness to make you happy, even though you never knew I gave it to you. Only let me hear, sometimes all alone – the distant laughter of your joy."

  "Happiness is as a butterfly, which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp; but which, if you sit down quietly, may alight upon you." 

"Straight ahead of him, nobody can go very far."

~The Little Prince~

  "Love begins when nothing is expected in return."

"Be silent, or speak something worth hearing."

"You believe that easily, which you hope for earnestly."

"In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich."

"There is nothing so powerful as the truth."

"Truth is the highest thing that a man can keep."

"Love all, trust a few, do wrong to no one."

"The true art of memory is the art of attention."

"Speak well of everyone, if you speak of them at all."

"Nothing is really work, unless you would rather be doing something else."

"Joy is not in things, it is in us."

"He who cannot forgive others, breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass."

"Never mistake knowledge for wisdom.  One helps you make a living, the other helps you make a life."

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

The only mystery about the cat, is why it decided to become a domesticated animal in the first place."

"Character is what you know you are, not what others think you are."

"All of us could take a lesson from the weather ... it pays no attention to criticism."

"Rainbows apologize for angry skies."

"No one really knows enough to be a pessimist."

"It's not easy taking my problems one at a time when they refuse to get in line!"

"Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own."

"A great teacher never strives to explain his vision - he simply invites you to stand beside him and see for yourself."

"The fewer the facts, the stronger the opinion."

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother."

"One disadvantage of having nothing to do is that you cannot stop and rest."

"Inflation is when the buck doesn't stop anywhere."

"I'm fascinated by the way memory diffuses fact."

"A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous."

"While forbidden fruit is said to taste better, it usually spoils faster."

"God wisely designed the human body so that we can neither pat our backs, nor kick ourselves too easily."

"Smart is when you believe only half of what you hear;  brilliant is when you know which half to believe."

"It's not true that nice guys finish last.  Nice guys are winners before the game even starts."

"Nonchalance is the ability to remain down to earth when everything else is up in the air."

"Throughout history, the most common debilitating human ailment has been cold feet."

"Too much of a good thing is wonderful!"

"I look forward to an America which will not be afraid of grace and beauty."

"Death and taxes may always be with us, but death at least doesn't get any worse."

"One way to prevent conversations from being boring is to say the wrong thing."

"If you think there are no new frontiers, watch a boy ring the door bell on his first date."

"To sin by silence when they should protest, makes cowards out of men."

"Anytime you think you have influence, try ordering around someone else's dog."

"The reason people blame previous generations is that there really is only one other choice."

"A friend is someone who makes you feel totally acceptable."

"There's one four letter word you don't hear much anymore ... cash."

"Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds."

"Be careful of your thoughts, they may become words at any moment."

"Never insult an alligator until after you have crossed the river."

"Beware of the man who won't be bothered with details."

"Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious."

"What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight, but the size of the fight in the dog."

"If you are strong enough, there are no precedents."

"When you return to your boyhood town, you find that it wasn't the town you longed for - it was your boyhood."