Touching Stories

To a child, Love is spelled as T-I-M-E

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 03:12:54 PDT

A man came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find his 5-year old son waiting for him at the door.

SON: 'Daddy, may I ask you a question?'

DAD: 'Yeah sure, what is it?' replied the man.

SON: 'Daddy, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the man said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

DAD: 'If you must know, I make 150 pesos an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down. SON: 'Daddy, may I please borrow 75 pesos?'

The father was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolity's.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door.

The man sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money? After about an hour or so, the man had calmed down , and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that 75 pesos and he really didn't ask for money very often.

The man went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door. 'Are you asleep, son?' He asked. 'No daddy, I'm awake,' replied the boy. 'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the man. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the 75 pesos you asked for.' The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you daddy!' he yelled.

Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills. The man saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again. The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his father. 'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the father grumbled. 'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.

'Daddy, I have 150 pesos now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'

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

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.

Do remember to share that 150 pesos worth of your time with someone you love. If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours... But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

The Gift

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:04:14 PDT

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted. As Graduation Day approached, the young man awai ted signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study.

His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him.

He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angrily, he raised his voice to his father and said, "With all your money you give me a Bible? and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He need ed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. His father had carefully underlined a verse: Matt 7:11, "And if ye, being evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly father which is in heaven, give to those who ask Him?" As he read those words, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words... PAID IN FULL. >

How many times do we miss God's blessings because they are not packaged as we expected? I trust you enjoyed this.

Pass it on to others. Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but re member that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for...

IF YOUR GIFT IS NOT PACKED THE WAY YOU WANT IT, IT'S BECAUSE IT IS BETTER PACKED THAT WAY! ALWAYS APPRECIATE LITTLE THINGS; THEY USUALLY LEAD YOU TO ATTACHMENTS!

How Much Does A Miracle Cost?

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 21:46:43 PDT

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet.
She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three
times, even..
The total had to be exactly perfect.. No chance here for mistakes.
Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she
slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with

the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.
She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment.
Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat
with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
'And what do you want?' the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of
voice.. I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages,' he
said without waiting for a reply to his question.
'Well, I want to talk to you about my brother,' Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. 'He's really, really sick....and I want to buy a miracle.'
'I beg your pardon?' said the pharmacist.
'His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now. So how much does a miracle cost?'
'We don't sell miracles here, little girl.
I'm sorry but I can't help you,' the pharmacist said, softening a little.
'Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get
the rest. Just tell me how much it costs.'
The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man. He stooped down and asked the little girl, 'What kind of a miracle does your brother need? I don't know,' Tess replied with her
eyes welling up. I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an
operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money..'
'How much do you have?' asked the man from Chicago.
'One dollar and eleven cents,' Tess answered barely audible.
'And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to.'
'Well, what a coincidence,' smiled the man. 'A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a
miracle for little brothers.'
He took her money in one hand and with
the other hand he grasped her mitten and said 'Take me to where you live. I want
to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need.'
That well-dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,
specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it
wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.

Mom and Dad were
happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.

'That surgery,' her Mom whispered. 'was a real miracle. I wonder how
much it would have cost?'

Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a
miracle cost....one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a little child.

In our lives, we never know how many miracles we will need.

A miracle is not the suspension of natural law, but the operation of a higher law.
I know you'll keep the ball moving!

Here it goes. Throw it back to
someone who means something to you!

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.

Today
I pass the friendship ball to you.

MY OATH TO YOU...

When you are sad.....I will dry your
tears.

When you are scared.....I will comfort your fears.

When you are worried......I will give you hope.

When you are confused.....I
will help you cope.

And when you are lost...and can't see the light, I
shall be your beacon...shining ever so bright.

This is my oath.....I
pledge till the end.

Why you may ask?....Because you're my friend.

Signed: GOD

What Goes Around, Comes Around

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Wed, 26 May 2010 21:18:35 PDT

He almost didn't see the old lady, stranded on the
side of the road, but
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 which only fear
can put in you.

He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you
wait in the car where
it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old
lady, that was bad enough.
Bryan 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
the 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.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady
asked how much she owed
him. Any amount would have been all right with her.
She already imagined
all the awful things that could have happened had he
not stopped. Bryan
never thought twice about being paid. 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 they
needed, and Bryan 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 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 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 Bryan .

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a
hundred dollar bill. The
waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred
dollar bill, but the old
lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by
the time the waitress
came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could
be. Then
she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the
lady wrote: "You don't
owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody
once helped me out,
the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me
back, here is what
you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

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 the
lady 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 going to
be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."

There is an old saying "What goes around comes
around."
Today, I share you this story, and I'm asking you to
pass it on.

LOVE Game

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Wed, 28 Apr 2010 22:35:27 PDT

Daniel: I guess we are the left overs in this world.

Jasmine: I think so.. All of my friends have boyfriends & we are the only 2 persons left in this world without any special someone in our lives.

Daniel: Yup! I don't know what to do.

Jasmine: I know! We'll play a game.

Daniel: What game?

Jasmine: I'll be your girlfriend for 30 days & you will be my boyfriend.

Daniel: That's a great plan in fact, I don't have anything to do for the following weeks...

DAY 1:

They watched their first movie together & were both touched in the romantic film.

DAY 4:

They went to the beach & had a picnic... Daniel & Jasmine had their quality time together.

DAY 12:

Daniel invited Jasmine to a circus and they went to a Horror House.. Jasmine was scared

and she tried to touch Daniel's hand but by accident she touched someone else's and they both laughed..

DAY 14:

They saw a fortune teller down the road and asked for their future. The fortune teller said: "My darlings, please don't waste the time of your lives... spend your time together happily." Then tears flow from the teller's eyes.

DAY 20:

Jasmine invited Daniel to go to the hill and they saw a meteor... Jasmine mumbled something.

DAY 28:

They rode on a bus and because of the bumpy road, Jasmine gave her first kiss to Daniel by accident.

DAY 29:

11:37 PM

Daniel & Jasmine were sitting in the park where they first decided to play this game...

Daniel: I'm tired Jasmine... do you want any drinks? I'll buy you one.. I'll just go down the road..

Jasmine: Apple juice would be fine,thanks.

Daniel: Wait for me...

20 minutes later... a stranger approched Jasmine.

Stranger: Are you a friend of Daniel?

Jasmine: Yes, why? What happened?

Stranger: A reckless drunken driver ran over Daniel & he is critical in the hospital.

11:57pm

The doctor came out from the emergency room & handed out an apple juice & a letter to Jasmine.

Doctor: We found this in Daniel's pocket.

Jasmine read the letter which says:

Jasmine, this past few days, I realized you are really a cute girl & I am falling for you.. your cherished smile, your everything when we played this game.. & before this game ends, I would like you to be my girlfriend for the rest of my life. I love you, Jasmine...

Jasmine crumples the paper & shouted..

"Daniel! I don't want you to die...I love you... Remember that night we saw a meteor? I mumbled something.. I wished that we would be together forever & never end this game. Please don't leave me, Daniel... I love you, you cannot do this to me.

Then the clock strikes 12

Daniel's heart stop pumping

THEN IT WAS THE 30th DAY...

Joe D'Mango Love Story

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:17:23 PDT

here comes another touching story from my friend. http://mattscradle.com/

....when you can’t fight for that one thing that would make you happy…
…I may never be the guy you look forward to seeing every day…
…but I will always be the guy who will look out for you each and every day.

Of course you’ve heard of Joe D’Mango. He gives advice on love andrelationships on Wave 89.1 ( Philippines ) . Have you ever wondered what he does when he has his own love problems? Does he give advice to himself? Does he handle it very well? Three fridays ago, our guru on relationships, Joe D’Mango, read a letter to his wife on his popular radio program Love Notes. For the past 11 years, he had been giving advice to people who would write him letters
about their personal problems. To the surprise of his listeners that
Friday, instead of reading one of his usual letters, he read one that he
had written himself to his wife Bing. Joe felt that he had to tell his
listeners that even someone like him could go through a marital crisis, but that he survived it. Here’s how his letter goes:” In our 11 years of marriage it was just the two of us. I never had a close circle of friends and she never had one either. Life for us was just “you and me,” day in and day out. We were literally sleeping beside each other for 11 years. It came to a point that there was nothing more interesting to talk about. I was aware I was doing that but I never did anything about it. We were so close yet it seemed like we were so distant. Then came her new circle of friends. They recently had an elementary and high school reunion. Remember her
persistent suitor since elementary days? He was there. We already had four daughters and the guy had four kids of his own. They exchanged phone numbers. They started to text each other and this bothered me. A big part of it was insecurity and other part was that she once denied that she was texting the guy.

I felt bad because she started hiding things from me. Then the guy asked her if they could meet for lunch. It became a source of tension between us.

I finally agreed, but before that, I told her that I felt that I was going
through the same pain again. I have seen so many stories like this. If you
told me the first part of the story, I would already know where it would
lead to.

Bing accused me of being a “know-it-all” person. But deep in my heart, I
knew where she was heading. Why would a married guy see a married girl unless it was for business or professional reasons? Finally, even if it was against my will, I drove her to the meeting place.

While I was waiting at the radio station, I wanted to call her but knew it wasn’t proper. So I just waited for her to tell me how their meeting went.

When she related to me what happened I felt that she was keeping the other details. I was afraid to ask because I wasn’t prepared to accept her answers. I told her that it would be best if that was their last meeting.
She got mad and told me that I was starting to control her life.

The following day, I saw a small, torn piece of paper that had the words,
“lose you” in the trash can at home. I started picking up the pieces of
paper and putting them together. She had written: “Felt sad because I felt that this will be our last meeting.” ”Wanted to hug you…” Before I could figure out what the third one was, Bing was already at my back. She wanted to get the torn pieces of paper back. She said it was private property. We decided to talk.

By then, I was able to figure out the third line: “Not sure if afraid to
lose you.” She had crossed it out and beside it, she had written, “Wanted to cry.”

That was what hit me. How could you lose something that’s not even with you yet? That was a confirmation that she was getting emotionally attached to the guy. We fought because she didn’t want to admit it. She said that what she had written was all about friendship and not about love. For the first time in our marriage she asked for freedom from me. For 11 years we were always together, and now this.

She had discovered her own little world and wanted to explore it. I didn’t want to give it to her but finally I gave in. I told her that she could do anything she wanted and not worry about how I would feel. In fact, I told her that I was planning to leave her and kids for a while so we could give each other the chance to be alone. We decided to give the new arrangement a try.

The following day, Thursday, I went to work early and she texted me. I
never answered back. When I didn’t respond, she called me. She said, “I’m sorry. I love you and I miss you.” For the first time in our mariage I said, “I love you and I miss you too” with tears in my eyes.

I realized how much I loved her but I also knew how much she wanted her freedom. When I arrived at the station I asked for a leave. My boss advised me to think it over, but he said that he would allow me to go on leave.
After letting it all out I felt relieved. It was the first time in my life
that I asked for advice about our relationship.

While I was talking with my boss, a messenger arrived with 12 white roses arranged in a basket. It came from Bing. Then a text message on my cellphone came, “I know that no material things can ease the pain that you’re feeling right now, but these flowers signify my pure and sincere
intentions. I’m really sorry. Please forgive me.”

Still, a question continued to bug me: “I’m giving you the freedom. Will
you choose to stay or go on?” I read the card, and it had the answer to my question: “Dear Dad, I finally realized that I made a very big mistake in choosing a new-found friendship at the expense of our long-time friendship.
Please forgive me. I wil always love you.”

Bing called the guy and told him that she wanted to end the friendship.
He said that they could just text or call each other. Bing said that there was no need.

We had dinner and talked up to 1 am. It was like getting married all over again. We lost each other and found our way back. I do not want to go
through the same pain again.

Friday came and it was the first time in the history of Love Notes that I couldn’t do Love Notes. I scheduled a replay. When I was at the station at 9 am, I composed a letter to Bing. I was asking myself, should I read this or do a replay? I chose to read the letter. It is not unusual to hear people say “I love you because…,” but this story has shown us that the deeper and greater love is having to say

“I LOVE YOU IN SPITE OF…”

What hurts most?

…when you can’t fight for that one thing that would make you happy…
…I may never be the guy you look forward to seeing every day…
…but I will always be the guy who will look out for you each and every day…

Sad Girl: “don’t make me feel that i’m just a selfish jerk just because I

made you cry”!

Sad Guy: “then don’t make me feel like I did nothing for you when I almost died crying just to see you smile…”Men are haunted by the vastness of eternity. And some ask ourselves: Will our actions echo across the centuries?

Will strangers hear our names long after we are gone, and wonder who we were, how bravely we fought, how fiercely we loved?

Love isn’t when you can’t sleep … it’s when you want to keep your eyes
open…

Love isn’t when you keep holding on … it’s when you learn to let go …

Love isn’t when you kill yourself with jealousy … it’s when you
understand …

Love isnt’ when you fall for someone … it’s when you catch that person
when she falls…

Love isn’t when you see her everywhere … it’s when you close your eyes
and she is still there …Love isn’t when you tell her what you feel … it’s when you give
everything for her sake…And Love isn’t when you think you were blind … it’s when you know she
was wrong but you didn’t mind!

Special Grocery List

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:27:56 PDT

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store.
She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries.

She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.

Visualizing the family needs, she said: "Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as
soon as I can."

John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family.
The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, "Do you have a grocery list?"

Louise replied, "Yes sir." "O.K" he said, "put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries."

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, "I can't believe it."

The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.

The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.

It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said:

"Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands."

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.

Louise thanked him and left the store.
The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said;

"It was worth every penny of it. Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs."

THE POWER OF PRAYER: When you read this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do.

Just stop right now, and say a prayer of thanks for your own good fortune.

Basurero's

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:27:19 PDT

Ever since it was diagnosed that I am having a posible heart
enlargement in the last APE, I have exerted more effort to do physical
exercises.
I do jogging during week days and do long - ride mountain biking every
Sunday.

But this Sunday is a special Sunday to me. While I was on my way to
the mountains of Busay (cebu)hoping to strengtened my heart by this
exercise, instead, I personally encountered a heart-breaking scene that
changed
me.

I already passed the Marco Polo Plaza ( formerly Cebu Plaza Hotel ) when I
decided to stop to buy bananas at a small carenderia located along the
road. I haven't taken any solid food that morning so I need fruits to
have the needed energy to get to my destination - the mountain top. I am
almost done eating with the second banana when I noticed two children
across
the street busily searching the garbage area. "Basureros" I said to
myself and quickly turn my attention away from them to sip a small amount
of water. I cared less for these kind of children actually; to make it
straight, I do not like them, and I do not trust them evenmore. You
see, several times I have been a victim to these kind of children who are
pretending to be basureros looking for empty bottles and cans when
in fact the 'plangganas' , 'kalderos', and 'hinayhays' are their
favorites.

I remember one afternoon while I was watching a Mike Tyson fight when I
noticed that the TV screen suddenly became blurred. I checked outside
and saw two young basureros running away with my newly installed antenna.
Hatred may be a little bit stronger word to describe my feeling towards
these basureros, but I do not like them honestly not till I met these
three children.

I was about to embark on my bike again when I heard one of the two
children, a girl of about 7 or 8 of age saying aloud to the other , a 12-yr
old boy , " kuya si dodong kuha-a kay nag-sige'g tan-aw sa mga
nagkaon, mauwaw ta" (kuya si dodong kunin mo kasi tumitingin sa mga kumain,
nakakahiya), only then that I noticed a small boy standing near to me
biting slightly his finger. He's a few inches shorter if compared to my 5
years old son ( but I knew later that he's also 5 yrs. Old). Though he
did not asked for food to anyone in the carenderia, the way he looked at
the customers who were eating , enough to convinced me that he intensely
craving for it. The older boy then quickly crossed the street and
gently pulled out the little one who politely obeyed. As I watched the two
crossing back the street to the garbage area, I heard the tindera
saying " Lo-oy kaayo nang mga bataa uy, mga buotan ra ba na" (kawawa naman
yung
mga batang yun mababait pa naman). I learned further from
the carenderia owner that the children are from a good family , both
parents were working before , and that their father got a stroke 3
years ago and became partially paralized and their mother died of heart
attack while their father was still confined at the hospital. The parents
were still in their early forties when the catastrophe happened , and the
children became basureros since then to meet their daily needs and for
their father's medication.

Deeply moved by what I heard, I went to a nearby bakery and bought
20 pesos worth of bread and gave it to the children who initially
refused including the little boy. " Sige lang noy, salamat na lang,
magpalit
lang nya mi kung mahalinan na mi" (sige lang po, salamat na lang, bibili na
lang po kami mamaya kung makabenta na kami) the young girl said to me.
I explained that they need to go home because it started to rain . "
Naanad na man mi ani " (nasanay na po kami)the girl answered again.
Again, I explained that the rain can make them sick and if they'll become
sick there's no one to take care of their father. Upon mentioning their
father,
they nodded and acccept the bread but I noticed that the older boy did not
eat.
When I asked him if he does not like the kind of bread I bought for them he
smiled but as he's about to explain, the little girl, who is the more
talker of
them interrupted, "Domingo man gud ron ,noy, basta Sabado ug Domingo hapon
ra siya
mokaon kami ra ang mokaon ug pamahaw pero dili na pod mi mokaon inig hapon,
si kuya ra. Pero basta Lunes ngadto sa Biyernes, kay klase man , si kuya
ra sad ang seguro-on ug papamahaw, kami hapon na sad mi moka-on Pero kung
daghan mi ug halin mokaon mi tanan." (Linggo po kasi ngayon, pag
sabado at lingo hapon lang po sya kumakain, kami lang po ang kumakain ng
agahan pero di na po kami kakain pagdating ng hapon si kuya lang po. Pero
pag
lunes hanggang biyernes, kasi may pasok, si kuya lang po nag-aagahan,
kami hapunan lang pero kung marami kaming benta kami pong lahat
kumakain) she continued. "Ngano man diay ug mokaon mong tanan,
bahinon ninyo bisan ug unsa ka gamay?" (bakit kung kumain kayong lahat,
hati-hatiin nyo na lang kahit kunti lang ang pagkain?) I countered.

The young girl reasoned out that their father wanted that her older
brother to come to school with full stomachs so he can easily catch
up the teacher's lessons. "Inig ka trabaho ni kuya mo undang na man mi ug
pamasura, first honor baya na siya " (pag nagkatrabaho si kuya, hihinto
kami
sa pamamasura, first honor kasi sya) the little boy added proudly.

Maybe I was caught by surprise or I am just overly emotional that my
tears started to fall. I then quickly turned my back from them to
hide my tears and pretended to pick up my bike from the carenderia where I
left it.

I don't know how many seconds or minutes I spent just to compose
myself; pretending again this time that I was mending by bike.

Finally I get on to my bike and approached the three children to bid
goobye to them who in turn cast their grateful smiles at me. I then took a
good look at all of them specially to the small boy and pat his head with
a pinch in my heart. Though I believe that their positive look at life
can easily change their present situation, there is one thing that they
can never change; that is , their being motherless. That little boy can no
longer taste the sweet embrace, care, and most of all , the love of
his mother forever. Nobody can refill the empty gap created by that
sudden and untimely death of their mother. Every big events that will
happen
to their lives will only remind them and make them wish of their mother's
presence.

I reached to my pocket and handed to them my last 100 peso bill which
I reserved for our department's bowling tournament. This time they
refused strongly but I jokingly said to the girl " sumbagon teka ron kung
di
nimo dawaton" (suntukin kita dyan pag hindi mo tinanggap yan). She smiled
as she extended her hand to take the money. " Salamat
noy makapalit gyud me ron ug tambal ni papa " (salamat po, makakabili
kami nito ng gamot ni papa) she uttered. I then turned
to the small boy and though he's a few feet away from me, I still
noticed that while his right hand was holding the half - filled sack , his
left hand was holding a toy ? a worn out toy car. I waved my hands and said
bye bye to him as I drove towards the mountains again. Did he just found
the toy in the garbage area or the toy was originally his - when the
misfortune did not took place yet? - I did not bother to ask. But one
thing is crystal clear to me, that inspite of the boy's abnormal life, he
did not given up his childhood completely. I can sense it that way he hold
and stare at his toy.

My meeting with that young basureros made me poorer by 100 pesos. But
they changed me and made me more richer as to lessons of life are
concerned.

In them, I learned that life can changed suddenly and may caught me flat
footed. In them, I've learned that even the darkest side of life, cannot
change the beauty of one's heart. Those three children, who sometimes
cannot eat three times a day, still able to hold on to what they believe
was right. And what a contrast to most of us who are quick to point
out to our misfortunes when caught with our mistakes. In them, I've
learned
to hope for things when things seem to go the other way.

Lastly, I know that God cares for them far more than I do. That
though He allowed them to experience such a terrible life which our finite
minds
cannot comprehend, His unquestionable love will surely follow them
through.

And in God's own time they will win.

Author: Unknown

The Mother's Eye

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:06:26 PDT

My mom only had one eye. I hated her... She was such an embarrassment. .
She cooked for students & teachers to support the family.

There was this one day during elementary school where my mom came to
Say hello to me.

I was so embarrassed.

How could she do this to me?
I ignored her, threw her a hateful look and ran out.
The next day at school one of my classmates said, "EEEE, your mom only
Has one eye!"

I wanted to bury myself.
I also wanted my mom to just disappear..
I confronted her that day and said, " If you're only gonna make me a
Laughing stock, why don't you just die?"

My mom did not respond....
I didn't even stop to think for a second about what I had said, because
I was full of anger.
I was oblivious to her feelings.

I wanted out of that house, and have nothing to do with her.
So I studied real hard, got a chance to go abroad to study.
Then, I got married.
I bought a house of my own.
I had kids of my own.
I was happy with my life, my kids and the comforts, Then one day, my
Mother came to visit me.
She hadn't seen me in years and she didn't even meet her
Grandchildren.

When she stood by the door, my children laughed at her, and I yelled at
Her for coming over uninvited.
I screamed at her, "How dare you come to my house and scare my
Children!"
GET OUT OF HERE! NOW!!!"

And to this, my mother quietly answered, "Oh, I'm so sorry. I may have
Gotten the wrong address,"
And she disappeared out of sight.
One day, a letter regarding a school reunion came to my house.

So I lied to my wife that I was going on a business trip.
After the reunion, I went to the old shack just out of curiosity.

My neighbors said that she died.
I did not shed a single tear.
They handed me a letter that she had wanted me to have.

"My dearest son,
I think of you all the time. I'm sorry that I came to your house and
Scared your children.
I was so glad when I heard you were coming for the reunion.
But I may not be able to even get out of bed to see you.
I'm sorry that I was a constant embarrassment to you when you were
Growing up.

You see........when you were very little, you got into an accident, and
Lost your eye.
As a mother, I couldn't stand watching you
Having to grow up with one eye.
So I gave you mine.
I was so proud of my son who was seeing a whole new world for me, in my
Place, with that eye.

With all my love to you,
Your mother.

Always tell someone that you love them because you never know what day
Will be their last, or your own.

Always seek to resolve your problems or disagreements with loved ones
Because if either of you should pass on before, the one who is left alive will have the rest of their life to ponder those unresolved feelings but will never find closure. And closure usually brings
Peace...

Glass of Milk

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:10:15 PDT

GLASS OF MILK

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry.

He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.

Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water! . She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk.

He drank it so slowly, and then asked, How much do I owe you?' You don't owe me anything,' she replied. 'Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness.' He said ... 'Then I thank you from my heart.'

As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also.

He had been ready to give up and quit. Many year's later that same young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled.

They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation.

When he heard the name of the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.

Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life.
From that day he gave special attention to her case. After a long struggle, the battle was won.

Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval. He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge, and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all.

Finally she looked, and something caught he r attention on the side of the bill. She read these words ...

'Paid in full with one glass of milk' (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed:

'Thank You, God, that Your love has spread broad through human hearts and hands.

' There's a saying which goes something like this:

Bread cast on the water comes back to you. The good deed you do today may benefit you or someone you love at the least expected time.

If you never see the deed again at least you will have made the world a better place - And, after all, isn't that what life is all about?

Touching Stories: ENOUGH

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:19:55 PDT

Touching Stories: ENOUGH

Duck and the Devil

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:12:03 PDT

Duck & the Devil

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.
He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.
He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target. Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.
As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck. Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in the head and killed it.

He was shocked and grieved! In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile; only to see his sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, 'Sally, let's wash the dishes' But Sally said, 'Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help in the kitchen.' Then she whispered to him, 'Remember the duck?'

So Johnny did the dishes. Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go fishing and Grandma said, 'I'm sorry but I need Sally to help make supper.' Sally just smiled and said, 'Well that's all right because Johnny told me he wanted to help' She whispered again, 'Remember the duck?' So Sally went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several day of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally's; he finally couldn't stand it any longer.
He came to Grandma and confessed that he had killed the duck. Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug and said, 'Sweetheart, I know.
You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but because I love you, I forgave you.
I was just wondering how long you would let Sally make a slave of you.

' Thought for the day and every day thereafter? Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done... And the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ..whatever it is...You need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole thing. He has seen your whole life.

He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you.
The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness; He not only forgives you, but He forgets.

ENOUGH

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 05:10:55 PDT

Recently I overheard a Father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had anno unced the departure.

> Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the Father said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

> The daughter replied, 'Dad, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Dad.'

> They kissed and the daughter left. The Father walked over to the window where I was seated. Standing there I could see he wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but he welcomed me in by asking, 'Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

> 'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a for ever good-bye?'.

> 'I am old, and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is - the next trip back will be for my funeral,' he said.

> 'When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, 'I wish you enough.' May I ask what that means?'

> He began to smile. 'That's a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone..' He p aused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more. 'When we said, 'I wish you enough,' we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.' Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

> I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

> I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.

> I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

> I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

> I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
> I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

> I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye.

> He then began to cry and walked away. >
> They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

Wooden Bowl

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:12:21 PDT

I guarantee you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl tomorrow, a week from now, a month from now, a year from now.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor.
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. 'We must do something about father,' said the son. 'I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.' So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.

There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl.

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence.
One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, 'What are you making?' Just as sweetly, the boy responded, 'Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up. ' The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family.

And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

> On a positive note,
I've learned that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.
> I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles four things:> a rainy day, the elderly, children, and tangled Christmas tree lights.
> I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'
> I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
> I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands.You nee d to be able to throw something back sometimes.
> I've learned that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you But, if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you
> I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.
>I've learned that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one.
> I've learned that every day, you should reach out and touch someone.
> People love that human touch -- holding hands, a warm hug, or just a> friendly pat on the back.
> I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.

Don't Postpone Loving

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 21:14:13 PDT

A friend of mine opened his wife's underwear drawer and picked up a silk paper wrapped package:
"This, - he said - isn't any ordinary package." He unwrapped the box and stared at both the silk paper and the box. "She got this the first time we went to NewYork , 8 or 9 years ago. She has never put it on, was saving it for a special occasion.

Well, I guess this is it. He got near the bed and placed the gift box next to the other clothings he was taking to the funeral house, his wife had just died. He turned to me and said:
"Never save something for a special occasion. Every day in your life is a special occasion". I still think those words changed my life.

Now I read more and clean less.
I sit on the porch without worrying about anything. I spend more time with my family, and less at work.I understood that life should be a source of experience to be lived up to, not survived through.
I no longer keep anything. I use crystal glasses every day.. I'll wear new clothes to go to the supermarket, if i feel like it.I don't save my special perfume for special occasions, I use it whenever I want to.

The words "Someday..." and "One Day..." are fading away from my dictionary. If it's worth seeing, listening or doing, I want to see, listen or do it now.

I don't know what my friend's wife would have done if she knew she wouldn't be there the next morning, this nobody can tell. I think she might have called her relativ es and closest friends. She might call old friends to make peace over past quarrels.
I'd like to think she would go out for Chinese, her favorite food.
It's these small things that I would regret not doing, if I knew my time had come.
I would regret it, because I would no longer see the friends I would meet, letters... that I wanted to write
"One of these days".
I would regret and feel sad, because I didn't say to my brother and sisters,son and daughters, not times enough at least, how much I love them.

Now, I try not to delay, postpone or keep anything that could bring laughter and joy into our lives.. And, on each morning, I say to myself that this could be a special day.. Each day, each hour, each minute,is special.

Mrs. King Cole

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:14:43 PDT

On a rainy, tempestuous night a “coloured” woman was standing on the roadside.Her car had broken down and she desperately needed help. Wet to her core, she signalled to the passers by.

A white young man, as if unaware of the racial conflicts that tore apart America in the 60s, stopped to help her. He conducted her to a safe place, called a mechanic and hailed a taxi for her. The woman seemed too much in a hurry, but did not forget to thank him and take down his address on a piece of paper

Seven days had already passed when someone knocked at the door of the young man.
To his enormous surprise, it was a courier with a huge packet to deliver – a big colour TV along with a note:
“Many thanks for helping me on the road that night.
The rain had completely drenched me and my soul when you appeared.
Thanks to you I was able to reach my dying husband just in time.
God bless you for having helped me.

Sincerely,
Mrs. King Cole"

Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:02:24 PDT

A young lady was waiting for her flight in a boarding room of a big airport. As she would need to wait for many hours, she decided to buy a book to spend her time. She also bought a packet of cookies. She sat down in an armchair in a VIP room of the airport to rest and read in peace. Beside the armchair where the packet of cookies lay, a man sat down in the next seat, opened his magazine and started reading.

When she took out the first cookie, the man took one also. She felt irritated but she said nothing. She thought: "What a nerve! If I was in the mood, I will punch him for daring!"

For each cookie she took, the man took one too. This was infuriating her but she didn't want to cause a scene. When only cookie remained, she thought: "ah.. what this abusive man do now?"
Then, the man taking the last cookie, divided it into half, giving the her the one half.

Ah! that was too much! She was much too angry now! In a huff, she took her book, her things and stormed to the boarding place.

When she sat down in her seat inside the plane, she looked into her purse to took her eyeglasses, and to her surprise , her packet of cookies was there! Untouched, unopened!

She felt ashamed! She realized that she was wrong...She had forgotten that her cookies were kept in he purse.

The man had divided his cookies with her, without feeling angered or bitter..while she had been very angry, thinking that she was dividing her cookies with him. And now, there was no chance to explain herself...nor to apologize..

Simple Ice Cream

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 22:00:37 PDT

Sometime ago, when the ice-creams were not so expensive, a ten-year old boy went to an ice-cream parlour. While sitting at the table, he asked the waitress, “How much does a Sundae cost?” “50 cents,” she replied.
The boy took out his money from the pocket and began counting it.

“Well, how much does a simple ice-cream cost?".
There were other people waiting to be served, so the waitress began to get a little impatient."35 cents!" she replied abruptly. The boy counted his money again and said: “Please get me a simple ice-cream!"

The waitress served him the ice-cream and his bill. The boy ate his ice-cream, paid his bill at the cash counter and left.
When the waitress went to clean the table she began to cry… for there, in the corner of the plate, were 15 cents… her tip.
The boy took a simple ice-cream instead of a Sundae so he could leave a tip for her.

A Soldier's Story

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:05:25 PDT

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me.
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know," the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide.
The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are.
Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Tonight, before you tuck yourself in for the night, say a little prayer that God will give you the strength you need to accept people as they are, and to help us all be more understanding of those who are different from us!!! There's a miracle called Friendship That dwells in the heart You don't know how it happens Or when it gets started But you know the special lift It always brings. And you realize that Friendship Is God's most precious gift!
Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care....

The Father's Eyes

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:04:23 PDT

This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game. This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to.

But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there. He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.

When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roste because he always puts his heart and soul into every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and hustle they badly needed. The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.

This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in the game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play off game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday.

Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon."Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said."You can go in."

Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown.

The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you've never heard! Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, "Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"

He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!"

Breakfast at McDonalds

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 04:08:43 PDT

I love reading emails with moral lessons, here is another one that I would like to share to all of you guys...

This is a good story and is true, please read it all the way through until the end! (After the story, there are some very interesting facts!):

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, 'Smile.'

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.
I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake, literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning.
It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.
We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then even my husband did.
I did not move an inch . . . an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.
As I turned around I smelled a horrible 'dirty body' smell, and there standing behind me were two poor homeless men.
As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was 'smiling' His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light as he searched for acceptance.
He said, 'Good day' as he counted the few coins he had been clutching. The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend.
I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.
I held my tears as I stood there with them. The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted . . . He said, 'Coffee is all Miss' because that was all they could afford... (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something.
He just wanted to be warm). Then I reall y felt it - the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.
That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant were set on me, judging my every action.
I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.
I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot.
I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman's cold hand.
He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, 'Thank you.'
I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, 'I did not do this for you.
God is here working through me to give you hope.'
I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son.
When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, 'That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope . . .'
We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.
We are not church goers, but we are believers. That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet love.
I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand. I turned in 'my project' and the instructor read it. Then she looked up at me and said, 'Can I share this?' I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.
She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed. In my own way
I had touched the people at McDonald's, my son, the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.
I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

A Simple Story of True Love and True Care

noreply@blogger.com (otay) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:33:16 PDT

I just read this story, it's an email from a friend and I would like to share it with you. I hope this story inspire you and touch your hearts the way it did to me. here it goes.............

I was born in a secluded village on a mountain. Day by day, my parents plowed the yellow dry soil with their backs towards the sky. I have a brother who is 3 years younger than me. I wanted to buy a handkerchief, which all girls around me seemed to have. So, one day I
stole 50 cents from my father's drawer. Father had discovered about thestolen money right away. He made me and my younger brother kneel against the wall as he held abamboo stick in his hand. "Who stole the money?" he asked. I was stunned,
too afraid to talk. Neither of us admitted to the fault, so he said, "Fine,
if nobody wants to admit, you two should be beaten!" H e lifted up the bamboo stick. Suddenly, my younger brother gripped father's hand and said," Dad, I was the one who did it!" The long stick smacked my brother's back repeatedly. Father was so angry that he kept on whipping my brother until he lost his breath. After that, he sat down on our stone bed and scolded my brother, "You have learned to steal from your own house now. What other embarrassing things will you be possibly doing in the future? You should be beaten to death, you shameless thief!"That night, my mother and I hugged my brother. His body was full of wounds from the beating but he never shed a single tear. In the middle of the night, all of sudden, I cried out loudly. My brother covered my mouth with his little hand and said, " Sis, now don't cry anymore. Everything has happened." I still hate myself for not having enough courage to admit what I did.
Years gone by, but the incident still seemed like it just happenedyesterday. I will never forget my brother's __expression when he protected me. That year, my brother was 8 years old and I was 11 years old. When my brother was in his last year of secondary school, he was accepted in an upper secondary school in the central. At the same time, I was accepted into a university in the province. That night, father squatted in the yard, smoking, packet by packet. I could hear him ask my mother, "Both of our children, they have good results? very good results?" Mother wiped off her tears and sighed," What is the use? How can we possibly finance both of them?" At that time, my brother walked out, he stood in front of father and said,"Dad, I don't want to continue my study anymore, I have read enough books." Father swung his hand and slapped my brother on his face. "Why do you have a spirit so damn weak? Even if it means I have to beg for money on the streets, I will send you two to school until you have both finished your study!" And then, he started to knock on every house in the village to borrow money. I stuck out my hand as gently as I can to my brother's swollen face, and told him, "A boy has to continue his study; If not, he will not be able to overcome this poverty we are experiencing." I, on the other hand, had decided not to further my study at the university. Nobody knew that on the next day, before dawn, my brother left the house with a few pieces of worn-out clothes and a few dry beans. He sneaked to my side of the bed and left a note on my pillow; "Sis, getting into a university is not easy. I will go find a job and I will send money to you." I held the note while sitting on my bed, and cried until I lost my voice.That year, my brother was 17 years old; I was 20 years old.

With the money father borrowed from the whole village, and the money my brother earned from
carrying cement on his back at a construction site,finally, I managed to get to the third year of my study in the university. One day, while I was studying in my room, my roommate came in and told me,"There's a villager waiting for you outside!" Why would there be a villager looking for me? I walked out, and I saw my brother from afar. His whole body was covered with dirt, dust, cement and sand. I asked him, "Why
did you not tell my roommate that you are my brother?" He replied with a smile," Look at my appearance. What will they think if they would know that I am your brother? Won't they laugh at you?" I felt so touched, and tears filled my eyes. I swept away dirt and dust from my brother's body. And told him with a lump in my throat, " I don't care what people would say! You are my brother no matter what your appearance is?" From his pocket, he took out a butterfly hair clip. He put it on my hair and said, "I saw all the girls in town are wearing it. So, I think you should also have one." I could not hold back myself anymore. I pulled my brother into my arms and cried. That year, my brother was 20 years old; I was 23 years old.
I noticed that the broken window was repaired the first time I brought my boyfriend home. The house was scrubbed cleaned. After my boyfriend left, I danced like a little girl in front of my mother, "Mom, you didn't have to spend so much time cleaning the house!" But she told me with a smile," It was your brother who went home early to clean the house. Didn't you see the wound on his hand? He hurt his hand while he was replacing the window." I went into my brother's bedroom. Looking at his thin face, I felt like there are hundreds of needle pricked in my heart. I applied some ointment on his wound and put a bandag e on it, "Does it hurt? " I asked him. "No, it doesn't hurt. You know, when at the construction site, stones keep falling on my feet . Even that could not stop me from working." In the middle of the sentence, he stopped. I turned my back on him and tears rolled down my face. That year, my brother was 23 years old; I was 26 years old.
After I got married, I lived in the city. Many times my husband invited my parents to come and live with us, but they didn't want. They said, once they left the village,they wouldn't know what to do. My brother agreed with them. He said, "Sis, you just take care of your parents-in-law. I will take care of mom and dad here." My husband became the director of his factory. We asked my brother to accept the offer of being the manager in the maintenance department. But my brother rejected the offer. He insisted on working as a repairman instead for a start. One day, my brother was on the top of a ladder repairing a cable, when he got electrocuted, and was sent to the hospital. My husband and I visited him at the hospital. Looking at the white gypsum on his leg, I grumbled, "Why did you reject the offer of being a manager? Managers won't do something dangerous like that. Now look at you, You are suffering a serious injury. Why didn't you just listen to us?" With a serious expression on his face, he defended his decision, "Think of brother-in-law. He just became the director, and I being uneducated, and would become a manager, what kind of rumors would fly around?" My husband's eyes filled up with tears, and then I said, "But you lack in education only because of me!" "Why do you talk about the past?" he said and then he held my hand. That year, he was 26 years old and I was 29 years old.
My brother was 30 years old when he married a farmer girl from the village. During the wedding reception, the master of ceremonies asked him, "Who is the one person you respect and love the most?" Without even taking a time to think, he answered," My sister." He continued by telling a story I could not even remember. "When I was in primary school, the school was in a different village. Everyday, my sister and I would walk for 2 hours to school and back home. One day, I lost the other pair of my gloves. My sister gave me one of hers. She wore only one glove and she had to walk far. When we got home, herhands were trembling because of the cold weather that she could not even hold her chopsticks.From that day on, I swore that as long as I live, I would take care of my sister and will always be good to her." Applause filled up the room. All guests turned their attention to me. I found it hard to speak, "In my whole life, the one I would like to thank most is my brother," And in this happy occasion,in front of the crowd, tears were rolling down my face again. Love and care for the one you love every single days of your life. You may think what you did is just a small deed, but to that someone, it may mean a lot.Have a nice day everyone! May this story inspire you in some way!