Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.

Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer the Elder's children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg.

Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."

All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No ...no ...no ...no."

Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late."

More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.

One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."

The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one - no one - - ever makes it alone!

One of the best things we can do in our lives is this: begin again.

Begin to see yourself as you were when you were the happiest and strongest you've ever been.

Begin to remember what worked for you and what worked against you, and try to capture the magic again.

Begin to remember how natural it was when you were a child, to live a lifetime each day.

Begin to forget the baggage you have carried with you for years.
The problems that don't matter anymore, the tears that cried themselves away, and the worries that are going to wash away on the shore of tomorrow's NEW BEGINNINGS.

Tomorrow tells us it will be here every new day of our lives; and if we will be wise, we will turn away from the problems of the past and give the future and ourselves a chance to become the best of friends.

Sometimes all it takes is a wish in the heart to allow yourself ... to begin again.

~ Author Unknown ~

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The Wish
I caught a little leprechaun,
quite wise and very old.
He said to me,"You have one wish,
would you like my pot of gold?"

"No thank you," was my quick reply,
"But how about another...
A gift that's truly precious
and esteemed above all others?"

He offered then some emeralds,
rubies, sapphires, pearls
and a host of other treasures
that would make your senses whirl!

As I rejected all his list
his bright eyes flashed with fire
and, angrily, he said to me:
"What is it you desire?"

I said:
"A rainbow's far more beautiful
than its supposed treasure
and the 'rainbow' that I'm wishing for
is priceless beyond measure.

"I'd like to have the dearest friends
a person ever had
to share in all the good times
and help me through the bad...

"To laugh and sing and joke with,
love and appreciate
as we live life's greatest adventure
that would certainly be great!"

"Oh, now I know you're daft!" he said
as he ran off with his pot...
"to waste your wish on something
you have already got!"

~ Author Unknown ~

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The Nursing Home

She is 92 years old, petite, well poised, and proud. She is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed, and her makeup perfectly applied, in spite of the fact she is legally blind.

Today she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making this move necessary.

After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home where I am employed, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on her window.

"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room ... just wait," I said.

Then she spoke these words that I will never forget:

"That does not have anything to do with it," she gently replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not does not depend on how the furniture is arranged. It is how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it."

"It is a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do work. Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and all of the happy memories I have stored away ... just for this time in my life."

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have already put in.

---

Ripples
Drop a pebble in the water:
just a splash, and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
Circling on and on and on,
Spreading, spreading from the center,
flowing on out to the sea.
And there is no way of telling
where the end is going to be.

Drop a pebble in the water:
in a minute you forget,
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And those little waves a-flowing
to a great big wave have grown;
You've disturbed a mighty river
just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading
from the center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them,
once you've started them to flow.

Drop an unkind word, or careless:
in a minute you forget;
But there's little waves a-flowing,
and there's ripples circling yet,
And perhaps in some sad heart
a mighty wave of tears you've stirred,
And disturbed a life was happy
ere you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
just a flash and it is gone;
But there's half-a-hundred ripples
circling on and on and on,
Bearing hope and joy and comfort
on each splashing, dashing wave
Till you wouldn't believe the volume
of the one kind word you gave.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness:
in a minute you forget;
But there's gladness still a-swelling,
and there's joy circling yet,
And you've rolled a wave of comfort
whose sweet music can be heard
Over miles and miles of water
just by dropping one kind word.

~ James W. Foley ~

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Life is Like a Butterfly
Love is like a butterfly in so many, many ways.
It brings a bit of sunshine even on gloomy days.
It makes our souls feel lighter just to know it's there
And gives our spirits wings, as if floating in the air.
It carries us to places that we never knew before
And comes in many sizes, shapes and hues galore.

Once we've seen it, we wish to hold onto it so tight
But like a frail butterfly, we must allow it free flight,
For if we should try to cage it up and hold it in a pen,
We'll surely crush its wings, and it'll never fly again.
To keep that love glowing in our hearts each day,
We must remember always to give some of it away.

Every little bit we give to someone else to share
Comes back tenfold, and we've so much to spare.
Put your love on gossamer wings, and give it flight;
It will return to you, and bring you much delight.

~ Author Unknown ~

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Seven Wonders

I heard about a group of Geography students who studied the Seven Wonders of the World. At the end of that section, the students were asked to list what they each considered to be the Seven Wonders of the World.

Though there was some disagreement, the following got the most votes: Egypt's Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Grand Canyon, the Panama Canal, the Empire State Building, St. Peter's Basilica and China's Great Wall.

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one student, a quiet girl, hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The quiet girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."
The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are, to touch and to taste, to see and to hear . . . " She hesitated a little, "and then, to run and to laugh and to love."

It is far too easy for us to look at the exploits of man and refer to them as "wonders" while we overlook all that God has done, regarding them as merely "ordinary."

May you be reminded today of those things which are truly wondrous!

- Author Unknown -

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Lessons from Geese
If between friends and partners we were geese... Ah!

The next season, when you see the geese migrating, going to a warmer place, to sort the winter... Pay attention that they fly in a "V" formation. Maybe you will be interested in knowing why they do it this way...

By flying in a "V" formation... The whole flock increaes the flight efficiency by 71% ...compared to just one bird flying alone.

Lesson 1:

Sharing the same direction and working as a team, gets us to the destination quicker and easier. By helping ourselves, the accomplishments are greater!

When a goose leaves the formation... He feels the resistance of the air and the difficulties of flying alone... The he quickly comes back to the formation to take advantage of the flock's power in front of him...

Lesson 2:

By staying in tune and united beside those who are going in the same direction, the effort will be less. It will be easier and pleasing to reach the goals. Everyone will be inclined to accept and give help.

When the leader goose gets tired of flying... He goes to the end of the "V" formation. While another goose takes the lead.

Lesson 3:

To share the leadership, there must be mutual respect between us all the time... Sharing the hardest problems and tasks... Gathering our abilities and combining our faculties, talents and resources...

The geese flying on a "V" formation, they quack to encourage to the ones in the front... In that way, they keep the same speed.

Lesson 4:

When there is courage and encouragement, the progress is greater... A timely word of encouragement, always motivated, helps and strengthens... It produces the best of benefits...

When a goose gets sicks, is injured or gets tired, And he must leave the formation... Some of the other geese leave the formation too, and they fly with him to help him out and protect him. They remain with him until he dies or he is able to fly again. They reach their bevy or they just make another "V" formation.

Lesson 5:

Let's stay beside each other no matter what the differences. Especially in times of difficulty and great challenges...

If we bond together and support each other... If we make true the spirits of teamwork... Regardless of our difficulties, We can rise to meet our challenges. If we understand the real value of friendship... If we are aware of the feeling of sharing... Life Will Be Easier And The Passing Years More Fulfilling. My Friends And Parnters... Let's Be Like The Geese!!!

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The Sparrow and the Falling Sky

There is an old story that tells of a man who was traveling on his donkey when he came upon a small fuzzy object lying in the road. He dismounted to look more closely and found a sparrow lying on its back with its scrawny legs thrust upward. At first he thought the bird was dead, but closer investigation proved it to be very much alive. The man asked the sparrow if he was all right. The sparrow replied, "Yes." The man asked, "What are you doing lying on your back with your legs pointed towards the sky?" The sparrow responded that he had heard a rumor that the sky was falling, and so he was holding his legs up to catch it. The man retorted, "You surely don’t think that you're going to hold it up with those two scrawny legs, do you?" The sparrow, with a very solemn look, replied, "One does the best he can."

Our problem is like the problem of the sparrow. We might try to do the best we can, but our best is not good enough. Indeed, our most noble efforts seem altogether puny compared with what is really needed. When the sky is falling, our reaction might be to lift our hands to stop it, but it will do us no good.

Always do the best you can.

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THE POWER OF OUR WORDS
or The Deaf Frog

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs believed what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

But the other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. As it did, the crowd of frogs around the pit yelled even louder for the remaining frog to stop the pain and just die. But the frog jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Didn’t you hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story from the animal kingdom reminds us that an encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. Likewise, a destructive word to someone who is down can be all that it takes to kill him or her. There is great power in our words. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to all those who cross your path.

---

A LESSON IN LIFE
or The Deaf Frog

Once upon a time there was a race of frogs. The goal was to reach the top of a high tower.Many people gathered to see and support them.

The race began. In reality, the people didn't believe that it was possible that the frogs would reach the top of the tower, and all the phrases that one could hear were of this kind:

"What pain!!! . They'll never make it!"

The frogs began to doubt themselves. The people continued:

"... What pain!!! They'll never make it! ..."

And the frogs, one by one, admitted defeat, except for one frog that continued to climb.

At the end he, alone, and with and enormous effort, reached the top of the tower.

One of the quitters approached him to ask him how he had done it, to finish the race.

And discovered that he... was deaf!

...Never listen to people who have the bad habit of being negative... because they steal the best aspirations of your heart!

Always remind yourself of the power of the words that we hear or read - always think POSITIVE!

Conclusion: Always be deaf to someone who tells you that you can't and won't achieve your goals or make come true your dreams.

---

NEVER STOP DREAMING
Dreams are a big part of our Lives
and You must do whatever it takes
to make them a Reality;
by the plans you make,
the course you take,
and the things you do.

Don't dwell on past mistakes.
Leave yesterday behind,
along with all it's problems,
worries and doubts.
Realize you can't
change the past,
but you can start
a new tomorrow.
Don't try to do
everything at once;
take one step at a time,

Don't ever be afraid to try the Impossible
no matter what others may think.
Remember you are Unique in your own special way.
Don't ever stop Dreaming!
Don't ever stop wanting
what's right for you!

---

GOD'S CAKE

Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this", or "Why did God have to do this to me". Here is a wonderful explanation!

A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away. Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?"
"Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom,those are all yucky!" To which the mother replies:
"Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves. But when they are put together in the right way,they make a wonderfully delicious cake!

God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times.
But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
God is crazy about you.
He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning. Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen. He can live anywhere in the universe, and He chose your heart.

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The Beauty Of Life Is All Around You

Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is bliss, taste it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is costly, care for it.
Life is wealth, keep it.
Life is love, enjoy it.
Life is mystery, know it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.

Mother Teresa

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The indispensible Person

Sometimes, when you're feeling important,
Sometimes, when your ego's in bloom,
Sometimes, when you take it for granted
You're the best qualified in the room.

Sometimes, when you feel that your going
Would leave an unfilled hole,
Just follow this simple instruction,
and see how it humbles your soul:

Take a bucket and fill it with water,
Put your hand in it up to the wrist,
Pull it out and the hole that's remaining
Is a measure of how you'll be missed.

You may splash all you please when you enter,
You can stir up the water galore,
But stop, and you'll find in a minute
That it looks quite the same as before.

The moral of this quaint example
Is to do just the best that you can;
Be proud of yourself, but remember,
There is no indispensible person.

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ARE YOU WAITING TO BE CALLED?

Back when the telegraph was the fastest method of long-distance communication, a young man applied for a job as a Morse Code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the office address that was listed.

When he arrived, he entered a large, busy office filled with noise and clatter, including the sound of the telegraph in the background. A sign on the receptionist' s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office.

The young man filled out his form and sat down with the seven other applicants in the waiting area. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in.

Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. They muttered among themselves that they hadn't heard any summons yet.

They assumed that the young man who went into the office made a mistake and would be disqualified.

Within a few minutes, however, the employer escorted the young man out of the office and said to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has just been filled."

The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and one spoke up saying, "Wait a minute, I don't understand. He was the last to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That's not fair!"

The employer said, "I'm sorry, but the last several minutes while you've been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse Code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. The job is his."

We are so busy living in a world that is full of noise and clatter, like that office. People are distracted and unable to hear the still, small voice of God as He speaks in creation, in the Scriptures, and in the life and work of Jesus Christ.

So I ask you, as I ask myself, "Are you listening, or are you waiting to be called? Do you hear the Lord when he speaks to you?

Author Unknown

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ECHO A man and his son were walking in the forest. ,
Suddenly the boy trips and feeling a sharp pain he screams, "Ahhhhh." ,
Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, "Ahhhhh!",
Filled with curiosity, he screams: "Who are you?", ,
but the only answer he receives is: "Who are you?" ,
,
This makes him angry, so he screams: "You are a coward!",,
and the voice answers: "You are a coward!" ,
,
He looks at his father, asking, "Dad, what is going on?" ,
"Son," the man replies, "pay attention!" ,
Then he screams, "I admire you!" ,
The voice answers: "I admire you!" ,
,
The father shouts, "You are wonderful!", ,
and the voice answers: "You are wonderful!",
,
The boy is surprised, but still can't understand what is going on.,
Then the father explains, "People call this 'ECHO',,
but truly it is 'LIFE!' Life always gives you back what you give out! ,
Life is a mirror of your actions. ,
If you want more love, give more love! ,
If you want more kindness, give more kindness! ,
If you want understanding and respect, give understanding and respect! ,
If you want people to be patient and respectful to you, give patience and respect! ,
This rule of nature applies to every aspect of our lives.",
,
Life always gives you back what you give out.,
Your life is not a coincidence, but a mirror of your own doings.,

---

The Touch of the Master's Hand

"Twas battered and scared, and the auctioneer
Thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin,
But he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,
"Who'll start bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar - now who"ll make it two
Two dollars, and who"ll make it three?

"Three dollars once, three dollars twice,
Going for three". . . but no!
From the room far back a gray-haired man
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody,pure and sweet,
As sweet as an angel sings.

The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said: "What am I bidden for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow;
"A thousand dollars - and who'll make it two?
Two thousand - and who'll make it three?
Three thousand once, three thousand twice
And going - and gone," said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand -
What changed its worth?" The man replied:
"The touch of the masters hand."
And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and torn with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd.
Much like the old violin.

A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on,
He's going once, and going twice -
He's going - and almost gone!
But the MASTER comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul, and the change that's wrought
By the touch of the MASTER'S hand.

Myra B. Welch

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