If I had my child to raise again,
I'd build self esteem first, and the house later.
I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.
I would do less correcting, and more connecting.
I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.
I would care to know less, And know to care more.
I'd take more hikes, and fly more kites.
I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.
I would run through more fields, and gaze at more stars.
I would do more hugging and less tugging.
I would see the oak tree in the acorn more often.
I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.
I'd care less about the love of power,
And more about the power of love.
~ Author Unknown ~
Angel
Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born.
One day the child ask God, "they tell me you are going to send me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
GOD replied, "among the many angels, I have chosen one for you, she will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
But the child said "tell me here in heaven I don't do anything else but sing and smile. That's what I need to be happy!"
GOD said, "your angel will sing for you everyday. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy."
And, said the child, "How am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that man talk?"
"That's easy," God said, "your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."
The child look up at GOD saying, "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
GOD smiled at the child saying, "you angel will place your hand together and will teach you how to pray."
The child said, "I've heard on earth there are bad men, who will protect me?"
GOD put his arm around the child, saying, "your angel will defend you - even if it means risking life!"
GOD hugged the child. "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard.
The child in a hurry, asked softly, "Oh God, if I am about to leave now please tell me my angel's name."
GOD replied, "Your angel's name is of no importance... you will simply call her MOMMY!"
- Anonymous -
One day the child ask God, "they tell me you are going to send me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"
GOD replied, "among the many angels, I have chosen one for you, she will be waiting for you and will take care of you."
But the child said "tell me here in heaven I don't do anything else but sing and smile. That's what I need to be happy!"
GOD said, "your angel will sing for you everyday. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy."
And, said the child, "How am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that man talk?"
"That's easy," God said, "your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."
The child look up at GOD saying, "And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"
GOD smiled at the child saying, "you angel will place your hand together and will teach you how to pray."
The child said, "I've heard on earth there are bad men, who will protect me?"
GOD put his arm around the child, saying, "your angel will defend you - even if it means risking life!"
GOD hugged the child. "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard.
The child in a hurry, asked softly, "Oh God, if I am about to leave now please tell me my angel's name."
GOD replied, "Your angel's name is of no importance... you will simply call her MOMMY!"
- Anonymous -
Making a difference in someone's life
As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets..."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the doctor at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.
Warm someone's heart today... pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it"... Random acts of kindness, I think they call it!
"Believe in Angels, then return the favor".
...oOo...
I received this email a lot of times already, and it never ceases to touch my heart... just thought I'd share it with all of you! - JO
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.."
His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest, and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to."
After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets..."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the doctor at Iowa Methodist in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.
Warm someone's heart today... pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? just "do it"... Random acts of kindness, I think they call it!
"Believe in Angels, then return the favor".
I received this email a lot of times already, and it never ceases to touch my heart... just thought I'd share it with all of you! - JO
Have You Ever been In Love?
This is true unconditional Love!
Remember when you realized/admitted to yourself that you loved him/her.
Now remember how much you wanted to act like you were in a movie, and yell to everyone in the football stadium "I love (fill in the name)!"
You told family and friends how perfect he/she was.
You told your boys/girls how she/he was just what you were looking for.
Well, I told GOD I love Him today.
And He said to me, "How much do you love me? You haven't told anyone how good I've been to you. You haven't shared how perfect my love is. You haven't spread the good news that I am always there to listen to your problems. You haven't told your family how I helped you pay your bills when you didn't have a high paying job, or how I got you a better one. You didn't tell your boys/girls how I took away that addiction that would have cost you not only your job, but that woman/man that was just what you were looking for. So how much do you really love me?"
So, I said I would share with my friends and family (for starters) just how wonderful, perfect, understanding, patient, loving, unselfish, considerate and forgiving GOD really is. He has blessed me with a family that loves me and friends in which I can confide.
But even more than that He has saved me from a destruction I couldn't even see coming. He gave to me the peace of knowing Him and He has never broken a promise. Truly He is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
And I stand in my stadium today to yell to you all "I love GOD!"
BE BLESSED TODAY & SHARE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
When was the last time you told God you Love Him?
~ Author Unknown ~
Remember when you realized/admitted to yourself that you loved him/her.
Now remember how much you wanted to act like you were in a movie, and yell to everyone in the football stadium "I love (fill in the name)!"
You told family and friends how perfect he/she was.
You told your boys/girls how she/he was just what you were looking for.
Well, I told GOD I love Him today.
And He said to me, "How much do you love me? You haven't told anyone how good I've been to you. You haven't shared how perfect my love is. You haven't spread the good news that I am always there to listen to your problems. You haven't told your family how I helped you pay your bills when you didn't have a high paying job, or how I got you a better one. You didn't tell your boys/girls how I took away that addiction that would have cost you not only your job, but that woman/man that was just what you were looking for. So how much do you really love me?"
So, I said I would share with my friends and family (for starters) just how wonderful, perfect, understanding, patient, loving, unselfish, considerate and forgiving GOD really is. He has blessed me with a family that loves me and friends in which I can confide.
But even more than that He has saved me from a destruction I couldn't even see coming. He gave to me the peace of knowing Him and He has never broken a promise. Truly He is the best thing that has ever happened to me.
And I stand in my stadium today to yell to you all "I love GOD!"
BE BLESSED TODAY & SHARE WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
When was the last time you told God you Love Him?
~ Author Unknown ~
Love Quotes
What greater thing is there for two human souls that to feel that they are joined... to strengthen each other... to be at one with each other in silent unspeakable memories.
In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.
There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.
Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or its flame burns low.
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love.
Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your good health has vanished.
The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.
Love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the strong, and stretching the weak; making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools; favouring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy.
All love that has not friendship for its base, is like a mansion built upon the sand.
Love is the emblem of eternity: it confounds all notion of time. effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end.
Love is the history of a woman's life; it is an episode in man's.
The only gift is a portion of thyself.
The best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts,
of kindness and of love.
Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.
Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other.
Love is an electric blanket with somebody else in control of the switch.
Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.
Find the person who will love you because of your differences and not in spite of them and you have found a lover for life.
Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
The heart has reasons that reason does not understand.
Love is the true means by which the world is enjoyed: our love to others, and others' love to us.
Love is always bestowed as a gift -- freely, willingly, and without expectation....
We don't love to be loved; we love to love.
It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than
not to be able to love at all.
Love is a mutual self-giving which ends in self-recovery.
We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us.
Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away.
The most powerful symptom of love is a tenderness which becomes at times almost insupportable.
There is no instinct like that of the heart.
We are all born for love... it is the principle existence and it's only end.
To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.
May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love.
The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart.
Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.
You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.
What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose.
Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
The truth [is] that there is only one terminal dignity-love. And the story of a love is not important - what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.
In the arithmetic of love, one plus one equals everything, and two minus one equals nothing.
There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.
Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be wanted. Like a lamp, it needs to be fed out of the oil of another's heart, or its flame burns low.
You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have really lived, are the moments when you have done things in a spirit of love.
Treasure the love you receive above all. It will survive long after your good health has vanished.
The person who tries to live alone will not succeed as a human being. His heart withers if it does not answer another heart. His mind shrinks away if he hears only the echoes of his own thoughts and finds no other inspiration.
Love works in miracles every day: such as weakening the strong, and stretching the weak; making fools of the wise, and wise men of fools; favouring the passions, destroying reason, and in a word, turning everything topsy-turvy.
All love that has not friendship for its base, is like a mansion built upon the sand.
Love is the emblem of eternity: it confounds all notion of time. effaces all memory of a beginning, all fear of an end.
Love is the history of a woman's life; it is an episode in man's.
The only gift is a portion of thyself.
The best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts,
of kindness and of love.
Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be.
Love is the expansion of two natures in such fashion that each include the other, each is enriched by the other.
Love is an electric blanket with somebody else in control of the switch.
Love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking together in the same direction.
Find the person who will love you because of your differences and not in spite of them and you have found a lover for life.
Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
The heart has reasons that reason does not understand.
Love is the true means by which the world is enjoyed: our love to others, and others' love to us.
Love is always bestowed as a gift -- freely, willingly, and without expectation....
We don't love to be loved; we love to love.
It is best to love wisely, no doubt; but to love foolishly is better than
not to be able to love at all.
Love is a mutual self-giving which ends in self-recovery.
We find rest in those we love, and we provide a resting place in ourselves for those who love us.
Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep. The only way to retain love is to give it away.
The most powerful symptom of love is a tenderness which becomes at times almost insupportable.
There is no instinct like that of the heart.
We are all born for love... it is the principle existence and it's only end.
To fear love is to fear life, and those who fear life are already three parts dead.
May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness and tied with love.
The dedicated life is the life worth living. You must give with your whole heart.
Love is the master key that opens the gates of happiness.
You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.
What the heart has once owned and had, it shall never lose.
Love doesn't make the world go 'round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
The truth [is] that there is only one terminal dignity-love. And the story of a love is not important - what is important is that one is capable of love. It is perhaps the only glimpse we are permitted of eternity.
L O V E
I was blog hopping and got hooked up on this blog. Just thought I'd share this poem that I got from Laura's blog.
...oOo...
~ by Pablo Neruda ~
Because of you, in gardens of blossoming flowers I ache from the perfumes of spring.
I have forgotten your face, I no longer remember your hands; how did your lips feel on mine?
Because of you, I love the white statues drowsing in the parks, the white statues that have neither voice nor sight.
I have forgotten your voice, your happy voice; I have forgotten your eyes.
Like a flower to its perfume, I am bound to my vague memory of you. I live with pain that is like a wound; if you touch me, you will do me irreparable harm.
Your caresses enfold me, like climbing vines on melancholy walls.
I have forgotten your love, yet I seem to glimpse you in every window.
Because of you, the heady perfumes of summer pain me; because of you, I again seek out the signs that precipitate desires: shooting stars, falling objects.
~ by Pablo Neruda ~
Because of you, in gardens of blossoming flowers I ache from the perfumes of spring.
I have forgotten your face, I no longer remember your hands; how did your lips feel on mine?
Because of you, I love the white statues drowsing in the parks, the white statues that have neither voice nor sight.
I have forgotten your voice, your happy voice; I have forgotten your eyes.
Like a flower to its perfume, I am bound to my vague memory of you. I live with pain that is like a wound; if you touch me, you will do me irreparable harm.
Your caresses enfold me, like climbing vines on melancholy walls.
I have forgotten your love, yet I seem to glimpse you in every window.
Because of you, the heady perfumes of summer pain me; because of you, I again seek out the signs that precipitate desires: shooting stars, falling objects.
Words of wisdom
Life can be only understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.
Trust everybody . . . then cut the cards.
Don't do for others what, given the chance, they wouldn't do for themselves.
If you are willing to admit you are wrong when you are wrong, then you are all right.
Love doesn't really make the world go round, but it makes the ride worthwhile.
Age is just a number and mine is unlisted.
An expert is someone called in at the last minute to share the blame.
The first Ten Commandments are the hardest.
A retired husband is a wife's full time job.
Heredity is something parents comfortably believe in, if they have a bright child.
Happiness is the place between too little and too much.
Circular arguments often make the rounds.
Even at a Mensa convention, someone is the dumbest person in the room.
When in doubt. . . mumble.
Money can't buy everything . . . but then again, neither can no money.
Trust everybody . . . then cut the cards.
Don't do for others what, given the chance, they wouldn't do for themselves.
If you are willing to admit you are wrong when you are wrong, then you are all right.
Love doesn't really make the world go round, but it makes the ride worthwhile.
Age is just a number and mine is unlisted.
An expert is someone called in at the last minute to share the blame.
The first Ten Commandments are the hardest.
A retired husband is a wife's full time job.
Heredity is something parents comfortably believe in, if they have a bright child.
Happiness is the place between too little and too much.
Circular arguments often make the rounds.
Even at a Mensa convention, someone is the dumbest person in the room.
When in doubt. . . mumble.
Money can't buy everything . . . but then again, neither can no money.
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