THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS
1.Today by Mark
Today,
I will delete from my journal two days: yesterday and
tomorrow
Yesterday was
to learn from and tomorrow...well
that will be the
consequence of what I can do today.
Today, I
will face life with the sure
knowledge that this day will never return
Today,
is the last opportunity I have to live intensely, as
no one can assure me that I will see tomorrow's sunrise.
Today, I
will be brave enough not to let any opportunity pass me by,
my only alternative is to succeed.
Today,
I will invest my most valuable
resource: my time
in the most transcendental work: my
life
Today, I
will spend each minute passionately, to make today a
different and unique day in my life.
Today,
I will defy every obstacle that appears on my way,
trusting I will succeed.
Today,
I will resist pessimism, and will conquer the world with a
smile and a positive attitude of always expecting the best.
Today, I
will make of every ordinary task a sublime expression
Today, I
will have my feet on the ground understanding reality and the
stars' gaze, and thus will invent my future.
Today, I
will take the time to be happy and will leave my footprints and my
presence in the hearts of others, not just in the sands of time
Today, I
invite you to begin a new season where
we can dream that everything we undertake is possible and we fulfill
that dream, with joy and dignity
Today,
why not perform a random act of kindness...? And, if
there are those that you love, tell them, you
don't know when it might be your last opportunity.
Tell them, as I have just done...today
A lesson of life
Read the following and have a GREAT day!
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily
appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
'Hello Barry, how are you today? ''H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure
look good. ''They are good, Barry. How's your Ma? ''Fine. Gittin' stronger alla'
time. ''Good. Anything I can help you with? ''No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.
''Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller. 'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em
with. ''Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas? ''All I got's my prize marble
here. ''Is that right? Let me see it' said Miller. 'Here 'tis. She's a dandy. ''I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of
go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked. 'Not zackley but
almost.
''Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this
way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy. 'Sure will. Thanks Mr.
Miller. 'Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our
community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.
When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag
of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the
store. 'I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this
man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles. Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just
recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They
were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.
Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell
into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever
words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and
the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and
smiling by her husband's casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly
with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as,
one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about
her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she tookmy hand and led me to the casket. 'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.
They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about
colour or size....they came to pay their debt.''We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she
confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ...'With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased
husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral :
We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our
breath.Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...An unexpected phone call from an old friend .....Green stoplights on your way to work...The fastest line at the grocery store...A good sing-along song on the radio...Your keys found right where you left them.
IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU
HAVE LIVED
