I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

The free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wings
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.

But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings
with fearful trill
of the things unknown
but longed for still
and is tune is heard
on the distant hillfor the caged bird
sings of freedom

The free bird thinks of another breeze
an the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright lawn
and he names the sky his own.

But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing

The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom. 

Maya Angelou

Who am I? By Bonhoeffer

Who am I? They often tell me
I stepped from my cell’s confinement
Calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
Like a squire from his country-house.
Who am I? They often tell me
I used to speak to my warders
Freely and friendly and clearly,
As though it were mine to command.
Who am I? They also tell me
I bore the days of misfortune
Equably, smilingly, proudly,
Like one accustomed to win.
Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I myself know of myself?
Restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
Struggling for breath, as though hands were
compressing my throat,
Yearning for colors, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
Thirsting for words of kindness, for neighborliness,
Tossing in expectation of great events,
Powerlessly trembling for friends at an infinite distance,
Weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making,
Faint, and ready to say farewell to it all?
Who am I? This or the other?
Am I one person today and tomorrow another?
Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,
And before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?
Or is something within me still like a beaten army,
Fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?
Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.
Whoever I am, Thou knowest, O God, I am Thine!
D. Bonhoeffer
March 4,1946

To my love wherever you might be at this moment

Love Sonnet XLV
by Pablo Neruda

Don't go far off, not even for a day, because --
because -- I don't know how to say it: a day is long
and I will be waiting for you, as in an empty station
when the trains are parked off somewhere else, asleep.

Don't leave me, even for an hour, because
then the little drops of anguish will all run together,
the smoke that roams looking for a home will drift
into me, choking my lost heart.

Oh, may your silhouette never dissolve on the beach;
may your eyelids never flutter into the empty distance.
Don't leave me for a second, my dearest,

because in that moment you'll have gone so far
I'll wander mazily over all the earth, asking,
Will you come back? Will you leave me here, dying?

Do the Math on Your Approach

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
—Winston Churchill

You will really enjoy motivating others if you start thinking of your life as a mathematical equation. We first saw the fun and benefit of this when our good friend and company CEO Duane Black solved the equation on two flipcharts in front of a grateful gathering of managers.

Here it is: When you are positive (picturing the math sign: +) you add something to any conversation or meeting you are part of. That’s what being positive does, it adds.
When you are negative (–), you subtract something from the conversation, the meeting, or the relationship you are part of. If you are negative enough times, you subtract so much from the relationship that there is no more relationship left. It’s simple math. It’s the law of the universe up there on the flip chart of life: positive adds, negative subtracts.

As in math, when you add a negative, it diminishes the total. Add a negative person to the team, and the morale and spirit (and, therefore, productivity and profit) of the team is diminished.
When you are a positive leader with positive thoughts about the future and the people you lead, you add something to every person you talk to. You bring something of value to every communication. Even every e-mail and voice mail that’s positive adds something to the life of the person who receives it. Because positive (+) always adds something.

It runs even deeper than that. If you think positive thoughts throughout the day, you are adding to your own deep inner experience of living. You are bringing a plus to your own spirit and energy with each positive thought. Your negative thoughts take away from the experience of being alive. They rob you of your energy.
Say this to yourself: I like this math. I like its simplicity. I can now do this math throughout my day. When I am experiencing negative thoughts about my team or my to-do list, I know it’s time to take a break and regroup and refresh. It’s time to call a time-out, close my eyes, and relax into my purpose and my mission. It’s time to slow down and breathe into it. I take a lot of quick breaks like that during the day, and this practice is changing my life for the better. It is making me stronger and more energetic than ever before.

Your own strength and energy motivates others. Or, as Car-los Castaneda said, “We either make ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same.”

100 Ways to Motivate Others: How Great Leaders Can Produce Insane Results without Driving People Crazy, Third Editionby  Steve Chandler and Scott Richardson

Right Now

Right Now...

- somebody is very proud of you.
- somebody is thinking of you.
- somebody is caring about you.
- somebody misses you.
- somebody wants to talk to you.
- somebody wants to be with you.
- somebody hopes you aren't in trouble.
- somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
- somebody wants to hold your hand.
- somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
- somebody wants you to be happy.
- somebody wants you to find him/her.
- somebody is celebrating your successes.
- somebody wants to give you a gift.
- somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
- somebody hopes you're not too cold, or too hot
- somebody wants to hug you.
- somebody loves you.
- somebody wishes you would lavish them with small things.
- somebody admires your strength.
- somebody is thinking of you and smiling.
- somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.
- somebody wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun.
- somebody thinks the world of you.
- somebody wants to protect you.
- somebody would do anything for you.
- somebody wants to be forgiven.
- somebody is grateful for your forgiveness.
- somebody wants to laugh with you all night long about old times.
- somebody remembers you fondly and wishes that you were there.
- somebody is praising God for you.
- somebody needs to know that your love is unconditional.
- somebody values your advice.
- somebody wants to tell you how much they care.
- somebody wants to stay up all night watching old movies with you.
- somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
- somebody wants to hold you in their arms.
- somebody wants YOU to hold them in your arms.
- somebody treasures your spirit.
- somebody wishes they could suspend time because of you.
- somebody praises God for your friendship and love.
- somebody can't wait to see you.
- somebody wishes that things didn't have to change.
- somebody loves you for who you are.
- somebody loves the way you make them feel.
- somebody wants to be with you.
- somebody is hoping they can grow old with you.
- somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
- somebody's glad that you're his/her friend.
- somebody wants to be your friend.
- somebody stayed up all night thinking about you.
- somebody is alive because of you.
- somebody is very remorseful after losing your friendship.
- somebody is wishing that you noticed him/her.
- somebody wants to get to know you better.
- somebody believes that you are his/her soul mate.
- somebody wants to be near you.
- somebody misses your advice/guidance.
- somebody has faith in you.
- somebody trusts you.
- somebody is sorry that they haven't called
- somebody is changed because of you
- somebody wants to be like you
- somebody needs you to send them this letter
- somebody needs your support.
- somebody needs you to have faith in them.
- somebody will cry when they read this.
- somebody needs you to let them be your friend.

You don't have to send this to all of your friends. But do send it to those who come to mind as you read it. Add to it as you pass it along for the little or big things in life you want your friends to have and to know. Sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of life, we neglect our friends, and these little things that friendships entail.

Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.
- Mother Teresa

Be Thankful!

Be Thankful
Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you
did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don't know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you're tired and weary,
because it means you've made a difference.

It's easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for
the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your
blessings.

- Unknown

To Be More

To Be More

By: Wilferd A Peterson

Your greatest power is the power to be.

To be more loving.

To be more courageous.

To be more joyous.

To be more friendly.

To be more sensitive.

To be more aware.

To be more forgiving.

To be more tolerant.

To be more humble.

To be more patient.

To be more helpful...

To be a greater human being.

Muhammad Ali to his daughter

BOXER MUHAMMAD ALI'S ADVICE TO HIS DAUGHTER -
******************************
***************
An incident transpired when Muhammad Ali's daughters arrived at his home
wearing clothes that were quite revealing. Here is the story as told by
one of his daughters: "When we finally arrived, the chauffeur
escorted my younger sister, Laila, and me up to my father's suite. As
usual, he was hiding behind the door waiting to scare us. We exchanged
many hugs and kisses as we could possibly give in one day. My father
took a good look at us. Then he sat me down on his lap and said
something that I will never forget. He looked me straight in the eyes
and said, "Hana, everything that God made valuable in the world is
covered and hard to get to.

Where do you find diamonds?
Deep down in the ground, covered and protected.

Where do you find pearls?
Deep down at the bottom of the ocean, covered up and protected in a
beautiful shell.

Where do you find gold?
Way down in the mine, covered over with layers and layers of rock.
You've got to work hard to get to them."

He looked at me with serious eyes. "Your body is sacred. You're far more
precious than diamonds and pearls, and you should be covered too.

I Love You Anyway

 
I Love You Anyway

The fear of rejection may be one of the most basic fears of the human experience. Dr. Joe Harding tells a heart-warming story of a man who finally decided to ask his boss for a raise in salary. It was Friday. He told his wife that morning what he was about to do. All day the man felt nervous and apprehensive. Late in the afternoon he summoned the courage to approach his employer. To his delight, the boss agreed to a raise.

The man arrived home to a beautiful table set with their best china. Candles were lighted. His wife had prepared a festive meal. Immediately he figured that someone from the office had tipped her off! Finding his wife in the kitchen, he told her the good news. They embraced and kissed, then sat down to a wonderful meal. Next to his plate the man found a beautiful lettered note. It read: "Congratulations, darling! I  knew you'd get the raise! These things will tell you how much I love you."

While on his way to the kitchen to get dessert he noticed that a second card had fallen from her pocket. Picking it off the floor, he read: "Don't worry about not getting the raise! You deserve it anyway! These things will tell you how much I love you."

Total acceptance! Total love. Her love for him was not contingent upon his success at work. In fact, just the opposite. If he were to fail there, if he were to be rejected by his boss, he'd be all the more accepted at home. She stood behind him no matter what; softening the blows, healing the wounds, believing in him, loving him. We can be rejected by almost anyone if we're loved by one.

That's the way families can be with each other. And I like to think that's the way God is with us, too!  "We love Him because He first loved us."

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

How Are You Growing?

“But grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 3:18

A common question we often ask one another is this: How's it going? It is a question of polite inquiry, a question that normally evokes a "pretty good" or "fine" response.  Well, let me ask you a deeper, more important question: How are you growing?  You see, God commands us to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus. Are you doing very well with this command?

TEN 'GROWING' TEST QUESTIONS

1. Am I reading my Bible for information or transformation?(James 1:22-25)

2. Am I allowing people or circumstances to steal the joy that Jesus promised to me? (John 10:10)

3. Is there anything in my life that God is consistently convicting me of that I am trying to ignore? (Ezekiel 14:1-5)

4. Who are the people in my life that God has placed around me for the purpose of me sharing Christ with them and/or inviting them to church? (II Corinthians 5:16-21)

5. Is there anyone I need to apologize to? (Ephesians 4:25:27)

6. Is there anyone I need to forgive? (Ephesians 4:32)

7. Is there a sin I need to confess to others and ask for help? (James 5:16)

8. Am I fully utilizing the gifts and abilities that God has blessed me with…or am I simply choosing to waste my life? (I Peter 4:10)

9. Do I know more lines from the movies that I love than verses from the Bible that I read? (Psalm 119:11)

10. Is there anything going on in my life privately that, if it became public, would cause me and/or the body of Christ to be embarrassed? (I John 1:9, James 5:16)

THE BIG TEST

May you and I always be serious and focused on spiritual growth ... because it really matters. Remember, there is a meeting at the end of life between you and Jesus (The Judgment Seat of Christ). You are going to have to give an account of your life, and I of mine. God wants that meeting to be one of joy and reward, not sorrow and loss.

So start today growing strong in Jesus Christ.

Love, Pastor Jeff Schreve From His Heart Ministries

Love is Action!

Love is Action!

I took my daughter, Helen (eight years old) and son, Brandon (five years old) to the Cloverleaf Mall in Hattiesburg to do a little shopping. As we drove up, we spotted a Peterbilt eighteen-wheeler parked with a big sign on it that said, "Petting Zoo." The kids jumped up in a rush and asked, "Daddy, Daddy. Can we go? Please. Please. Can we go?"

"Sure," I said, flipping them both a quarter before walking into Sears. They bolted away, and I felt free to take my time looking for a scroll saw. A petting zoo consists of a portable fence erected in the mall with about six inches of sawdust and a hundred little furry baby animals of all kinds. Kids pay their money and stay in the enclosure enraptured with the squirmy little critters while their moms and dads shop.

A few minutes later, I turned around and saw Helen walking along behind me. I was shocked to see she preferred the hardware department to the petting zoo. Plus, I thought the children had to wait till the parents came to pick them up. I bent down and asked what was wrong.

She looked up at me with those giant limpid brown eyes and said sadly, "Well, Daddy, it cost fifty cents. So, I gave Brandon my quarter." Then she said the most beautiful thing I ever heard. She repeated the family motto. The family motto is in "Love is Action!"

She had given Brandon her quarter, and no one loves cuddly furry creatures more than Helen. She had watched both me and my wife do and say "Love is Action!" for years around the house. She had heard and seen "Love is Action," and now she had incorporated it into her little lifestyle. It had become part of her.

What do you think I did? Well, not what you might think. First, we went back to the Petting Zoo, since Brandon was by himself. We stood by the fence and watched Brandon go crazy petting and feeding the animals. Helen stood with her hands and chin resting on the fence and just watched Brandon. I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket; I never offered it to Helen, and she never asked for it.

Because she knew the whole family motto. It's not "Love is Action." It's "Love is SACRIFICIAL Action!" Love always pays a price. Love always costs something. Love is expensive. When you love, benefits accrue to another's account. Love is for you, not for me. Love gives; it doesn't grab. Helen gave her quarter to Brandon and wanted to follow through with her lesson. She knew she had to taste the sacrifice. She wanted to experience that total family motto. Love is sacrificial action.

Dave Simmons, "Dad, The Family Coach"

The Qualities of Skillful Leadership by Jim Rohn

This is something I like to read over and over!

Just sharing with you folks!

+++++++++++++++++++++

The Qualities of Skillful Leadership by Jim Rohn

If  you want to be a leader who attracts quality people, the key is to become a  person of quality yourself. Leadership is the ability to attract someone to the  gifts, skills, and opportunities you offer as an owner, as a manager, as a  parent. I call leadership the great challenge of life.

What’s  important in leadership is refining your skills. All great leaders keep working  on themselves until they become effective. Here are some specifics:

Learn to be strong but not rude. It is an extra step you must take to become  a powerful, capable leader with a wide range of reach. Some people mistake  rudeness for strength. It’s not even a good substitute.

Learn to be kind but not weak. We must not mistake kindness for weakness.  Kindness isn’t weak. Kindness is a certain type of strength. We must be kind  enough to tell somebody the truth. We must be kind enough and considerate  enough to lay it on the line. We must be kind enough to tell it like it is and  not deal in delusion.

Learn to be bold but not a bully. It takes boldness to win the day. To build  your influence, you’ve got to walk in front of your group. You’ve got to be  willing to take the first arrow, tackle the first problem, discover the first  sign of trouble.

You’ve got to learn to be humble, but not timid. You can’t get to the high  life by being timid. Some people mistake timidity for humility. Humility is  almost a God-like word. A sense of awe. A sense of wonder. An awareness of the  human soul and spirit. An understanding that there is something unique about  the human drama versus the rest of life. Humility is a grasp of the distance  between us and the stars, yet having the feeling that we’re part of the stars.  So humility is a virtue; but timidity is a disease. Timidity is an affliction.  It can be cured, but it is a problem.

Be proud but not arrogant. It takes pride to win the day. It takes pride to  build your ambition. It takes pride in community. It takes pride in cause, in  accomplishment. But the key to becoming a good leader is being proud without  being arrogant. In fact I believe the worst kind of arrogance is arrogance from  ignorance. It’s when you don’t know that you don’t know. Now that kind of  arrogance is intolerable. If someone is smart and arrogant, we can tolerate  that. But if someone is ignorant and arrogant, that’s just too much to take.

Develop humor without folly. That’s important for a leader. In leadership, we  learn that it’s okay to be witty, but not silly. It’s okay to be fun, but not  foolish.

Lastly, deal in realities. Deal in truth. Save yourself the agony. Just  accept life like it is. Life is unique. Some people call it tragic, but I’d  like to think it’s unique. The whole drama of life is unique. It’s fascinating.  And I’ve found that the skills that work well for one leader may not work at  all for another. But the fundamental skills of leadership can be adapted to  work well for just about everyone: at work, in the community, and at home. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Winning Team

Lee Iacocca once asked legendary football coach Vince Lombardi what it took to make a winning team. The book entitled Iacocca records Lombardi's answer.

There are a lot of coaches with good ball clubs who know the fundamentals and have plenty of discipline but still don't win the game. Then you come to the third ingredient: if you're going to play together as a team, you've got to care for one another. You've got to love each other. Each player has to be thinking about the next guy and saying to himself: If I don't block that man, Paul is going to get his legs broken. I have to do my job well in order that he can do his.

"The difference between mediocrity and greatness," Lombardi said that night, "is the feeling those guys have for each other."

In the healthy church, each Christian learns to care for others. As we take seriously Jesus' command to love one another, we contribute to a winning team.

Author unknown

Perfect Love

Perfect Love Is Not Receiving,

It's Giving And Forgiving.

Perfect Love Is Not Red Roses On Valentine Day,

It's The Rest Of The 364 Days Of Knowing You Love Someone.

Perfect Love Is Not Phone Calls And Stolen Kisses,

It's The Silent Smiles In Memory Of Your Sweetheart.

Perfect Love Is Not A Grand Wedding,

But Spending A Lifetime Together.

Perfect Love Is Not Fight-Kiss-And-Make-Up,

It's Loving the One Who Annoys You.

Do You Love Someone Perfectly?

Humility / God tugging

Humility is not thinking less of yourself but thinking of yourself less. --C.S. Lewis

++++++++++++++++++++++++

A twelve-year-old boy accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and Lord during a weekend revival meeting. The next week his school friends questioned him about the experience.

"Did you hear God talk?" one asked.

"No," the boy said.

"Did you have a vision?" another asked.

"No, the boy replied.

"Well, how did you know it was God?" a third friend asked.

The boy thought for a moment and then said, "It's like when you catch a fish. You can't see the fish or hear the fish; you just feel him tugging your line. I felt God tugging on my heart."

So often we try to figure out life by what we can see, hear, or experience with our other senses. We make calculated estimates and judgments based on empirical evidence. There's a level of truth, however, that cannot be perceived by the senses or measured objectively. It's at that level where faith abounds. It is our faith that compels us to believe, even when we cannot explain to others why or how or to what specific earthly end.

By our faith we only know in Whom we trust, and that is sufficient. Remember, it's really not the outlook but the uplook that counts.

Chaplain’s Notes

The Quality of Life

It is very hard to accept an early death.  When friends die who are seventy, eighty, or ninety years old, we may be in deep grief and miss them very much, but we are grateful that they had long lives.  But when a teenager, a young adult, or a person at the height of his or her career dies, we feel a protest rising from our hearts:  "Why?  Why so soon?  Why so young?  It is unfair."

But far more important than our quantity of years is the quality of our lives.  Jesus died young.  St. Francis died young.  St. Thérèse of Lisieux died young, Martin Luther King, Jr., died young.  We do not know how long we will live, but this not knowing calls us to live every day, every week, every year of our lives to its fullest potential.

Henri Nouwen

Just remember ...

Do not judge by what's on the outside!

Sometimes people are quick

to judge others,

when what you see

isn't really all there.

People have different moods

different personalities

different desires,

so what you're really seeing

is only a mask,

of what others want you to see.

On the inside,

we all have the same desires,

a kind smile,

a warm heart,

a tender soul,

all wanting to be reached

on the inside.

We're all not perfect,

only human,

we'll have ups and downs

like a merry-go-round,

we'll make many mistakes.

But just remember,

the next time you see a person,

do not judge what's on

the outside,

we could be having a bad day.

Try and see on the inside,

and you will see,

the kind smile,

the warm heart,

the tender soul,

reaching out.

Ingredients for a wedding

Ingredients

4-lb of love

1-lb of youth

0.5-lb of good looks

1-lb of sweet temper

1-lb of blindness to faults

1-lb of self-forgetfulness

1-lb of powdered wit

1-lb of good humor

2 -tbsp of sweet argument

1- pint of rippling laughter

1- wine glass of common sense

1- oz of modesty

Put the love, good looks and sweet temper into a well-furnished house. Beat the butter of youth to a cream and mix well to blindness of faults.

Stir the pounded wit and good humor in to the sweet argument; then add the rippling laughter and common sense. Work the whole together until everything is mixed and bake gently forever.

(Found in a church book of recipes about 1900AD)

Favorite Teacher

*** Tissue Time ***

You're Still My Favorite Teacher

It began about a teacher who was relishing in giving some kid in her

class a big F in huge red ink. Every thing this kid did in class was

apparently never any better or more deserving than an F, so the

teacher eventually stopped reading his work and would continue just

grading the same, delivering the F. That is all the kid ever earned.

Then one day, she felt a little compelled to look into his past

records which each teacher passes on every year about all their

students. She read early on how he was a good student, and he liked

school. The next year he was making good grades, popular with the

children, and happy in class., and the following year, how he was a

top student, very well liked, and had good behavior...Then in the

following year, the teacher wrote he is doing okay but is sad that his

mother is ill, and the following year, he has a hard time coping with

his mother's death, and in more years, the boy is withdrawn... doesn't

like school, doesn't have friends and is often teased.....

That Christmas the boy gave the teacher a sad little brown (grocery

bag) wrapped present. While all the other children had neat little

paper, and neat little bows, the boy's present was tattered and all

the children laughed. During the day the teacher opened up his

present, and found a rhinestone bracelet with stones missing and a

used bottle of perfume. She put the perfume on and said how she loved

it, and wore the bracelet and told everyone how she loved it

too. She was moved to tears and felt badly for the boy. She also

felt guilty for not having known any of his past. That year, she took

it upon herself to talk to the boy, and to work with him. Soon he

started making an improvement...not only that, he started showing

genuine interest in his work.... eventually joy in his work... before

long he was doing great and had passed his class with great marks.

The next year he wrote to her that he had done well and signed the

letter, "you are still my favorite teacher."

Each year he climbed and climbed. His teacher had long since retired

but every year he would write her and tell her of his achievements.

As the boy grew, he decided to go to college. She was still getting

his letters every few years, and reading, "you are still my favorite

teacher," He went to an accredited college and graduated 3rd with a

bachelor degree. He eventually wrote to her that he was getting his

masters and wanted to be a doctor. Upon graduation he was 1st in his

class, graduating with honors.

He became a doctor, and then one day she received yet another letter

which said, I have decided to marry, will you please sit there with me

where my mother should be? And the teacher said yes. She went to his

ceremony where he married, and she wore an old rhinestone bracelet

with missing stones and some lovely old perfume...

After the ceremony he hugged her and thanked her and said, "you are

still my favorite teacher," And she said, "You know, for so many

years you have had it all wrong. Until I met you, I didn't know how

to teach."

Love and Marriage

Kids were invited to answer some important questions about marriage.

How do you decide who to marry?

You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10

No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10

What is the right age to get married? Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10

How can a stranger tell if two people are married? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8

What do you think your mom and dad have in common? Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8

What do most people do on a date? Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8

On the first date, they just tell each other lies, and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10

 

The Wounded Healer

Nobody escapes being wounded.  We all are wounded people, whether physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually.   The main question is not "How can we hide our wounds?" so we don't have to be embarrassed, but "How can we put our woundedness in the service of others?"  When our wounds cease to be a source of shame, and become a source of healing, we have become wounded healers.

Jesus is God's wounded healer: through his wounds we are healed.  Jesus' suffering and death brought joy and life.  His humiliation brought glory; his rejection brought a community of love.  As followers of Jesus we can also allow our wounds to bring healing to others. 

Henri Nouwen

The Son

The Son

Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son's trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.

As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed. The young man had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. Distraught and lonely, the old man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness. The joy of the season -- a season that he and his son had so looked forward to -- would visit his house no longer.

On Christmas morning, a knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hand. He introduced himself to the man by saying, "I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you."

As the two began to talk, the solider told of how the man's son had told everyone of his --not to mention his father's -- love of fine art. "I'm an artist," said the soldier, "and I want to give you this." As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man's son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man's face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace.

A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars of paintings. And then the man sat in his chair and spent Christmas gazing at the gift he had been given.

During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy's life would live on because of those he had touched. He would soon learn that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart. As the stories of his son's gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease the grief. The painting of his son soon became his most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.

The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation. With the collector's passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at an auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned on Christmas day, the day he had received his greatest gift. The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world's most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim "I have the greatest collection."

The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum's list. It was the painting of the man's son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. "Who will open the bidding with $100?" he asked. Minutes passed. No one spoke. From the back of the room came, "Who cares about that painting? It's just a picture of his son. Let's forget it and go on to the good stuff." More voices echoed in agreement. "No, we have to sell this one first," replied the auctioneer. "Now, who will take the son?" Finally, a friend of the old man spoke. "Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That's all I have. I knew the boy, so I'd like to have it."

"I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?" called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, "Going once, going twice. Gone." The gavel fell. Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, "Now we can get on with it and we can bid on these treasures!" The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, "What do you mean it's over? We didn't come here for a picture of some old guy's son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars of art here! I demand that you explain what's going on here!."

The auctioneer replied, "It's very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son gets it all."

Puts things into perspective, doesn't it? Just as those art collectors discovered on that Christmas day, the message is still the same -- the love of a Father -- a Father whose greatest joy came from his son who went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of that Father's love..whoever takes the Son gets it all. Likewise, whoever receives God's only begotton Son, Jesus Christ receives God's Kingdom and inherits eternal life both now and in heaven.

Panda