... screeched about being grounded. She called her curfew unreasonable and said it was because we didn't trust her. She finally got something right. EDITOR: Humorous story-but the lack of communication and mutual respect in this family diminishes the humor for me. As someone that has worked with teens, and adults, I've found as a manager that people (regardless of age) tend to respond in the way that they are treated. That's right. I don't know your teens ... for a fact from my grandma that his curfew was sundown. My daughter wept and screeched about being grounded. She called her curfew unreasonable and said it was because we didn't trust her. She finally got something right. EDITOR: Humorous story-but the lack of communication and mutual respect in this family diminishes the humor for me. As someone that has worked with teens, and adults, I've found as a manager that people (regardless of age) tend to respond ...

... Storm In Progress-Hurricanes Of The Heart I live in" tornado alley" in the Midwest, and while tornadoes are not funny at all, I do have a funny memory of my feisty, elderly mom climbing into a bathtub with some sort of huge pillow protection over her head as the sirens rang. It was the safest place in the house -and she remained there as long as she could, which was not very long! She climbed back out -BEFORE the" all clear" siren blew -prayed, trusted the Lord, and fortunately, the tornado warnings passed, she was safe and sound, and none the worse for her hairy, scary experience. Hurricanes are another horrendous matter -I've never been in one, but many have, with devastation and destruction in the path of the storm. Hurricanes can brew up suddenly, come from no where and cause havoc everywhere! And so it is with hurricanes of the heart -I've been THERE ...

... another relative. The inquisition continued until tears streamed down my face and I fled from the room. Exactly one year later, Thanksgiving found us again celebrating in my grandmother's home. After another banquet my sister Kay and I stood at the sink washing dishes." Do you remember the homeless woman who came to our house last year, Mary ?" asked Kay." Yes ," was all I said, not wanting to dredge up terrible memories." Wouldn't it be funny if she came again ?" No, I thought to myself. It wouldn't be funny, not at all. Minutes later, from the kitchen window, we spotted this same woman returning to our house. This time, instead of running to the front door, I ran into the bedroom to hide. I didn't want the woman to see me, and I wasn't willing to risk my family's anger again by helping her. Instead, Kay answered the door." Hello ...

... Three Keys To Successful Living A funny story tells about three high school seniors who went to New York for their senior trip. When they arrived in the city, they went immediately to one of the finest hotels and registered for a room. They were assigned a room on the 30th floor. After settling in, they decided to go see the sights. They toured Manhattan, the Empire State Building, Wall Street and the Statue of Liberty. They finally returned to their hotel utterly exhausted. When they asked the desk clerk for the key to their room, he said," I am sorry, the elevators are not running" He told them that they could either wait or use the stairway. The thought of a soft bed was irresistible, so they decided to climb the stairs-all thirty stories. One of the boys had an idea." On the way up, each of us will tell the funniest story we know ...

... My Aunt My Aunt is a remarkable woman. She is on the far side of 80. I won ’ t say how far. Still, she has more energy and enthusiasm for life than I ever could have. Every time we talk on the phone I am filled with delight at the gentle humor and cheerfulness in her voice. Her care and compassion for everyone around her are an inspiration. She is always doing good. She makes sure her friends get to the doctor and to Church. She helps in her community in countless ways. And she does it all with a joyful smile on her face. Her faith and love for God are amazing too. She has lost brothers, sisters, and her husband to death. She has watched her friends, children, and grandchildren deal with health problems. She has faced health difficulties in her own life as well. Through it all, however, her belief in God ’ s ...

... Joy Along The Way A senator once took Will Rogers to the White House to meet President Coolidge. He warned the humorist that Coolidge never smiled. Rogers replied," I'll make him smile" Inside the Oval Office, the senator introduced the two men." Will Rogers ," he said," I'd like you to meet President Coolidge" Deadpan, Rogers quipped," I'm sorry, but I didn't catch the name" Coolidge smiled. A sense of humor is a marvelous gift to have. It is one of the most important means we possess to face the difficulties of life. And sometimes life can be difficult. I deal professionally with issues which are critical: relationships breaking apart, people losing jobs, people facing serious illness or agonizing with someone close who is suffering, addictions, grief and heartache. Without a sense of humor about my own life, I don't know if I could survive! I take what I do seriously ...

... whole planet is now connected by air travel, satellite dishes, telephones, fax machines, rock concerts, diseases and mutual needs and concerns. Get with the program! If you really want to help me celebrate the birthday of My Son Jesus, then commit yourselves to figuring out how to feed your hungry and clothe your naked, and protect your abused and shelter your poor. And just as important, make your own everyday life a shining example of kindness and good humor. I've given you all the resources you need, if only you abandon your fear of each other and begin living, and loving and laughing together. Now, I am not really ticked off. Not really. I just wanted to grab your attention because I hate to see you suffer. But I gave you free will, so what can I do now other than try to influence you through reason, persuasion, and a little old-fashioned guilt and manipulation? After all ...

... Brighteners My Mom was a real room brightener. I can remember as a child that every time she entered a room all the people in it would light up. She had a joyful and loving energy about her that traveled from person to person. Even people with their backs turned could feel it. No matter how quietly she would walk into a room they would turn around, grin, and move to greet her. Everyone just loved being around her. Her gentle humor and delightful smile gladdened every heart she touched. Her light filled soul made all those around her shine as well. Even during the last years of her life when cancer was destroying her body her spirit still glowed bright. My Mom left me with a great appreciation for all the room brighteners in this world. I still see them everywhere. Some of them sparkle in the bodies of children. Others glow from behind ancient eyes. Some of them dance into a room with ...

... !!! TAKE RESPONSIBILITY !!! Be true to you. You will have more strength for dealing with ordeals in life if you have the courage to be true to your own values. Hypocrisy destroys internal energy. !!! MODEL INTEGRITY !!! Be gladder than madder. Expressions of gratitude calm the soul and clear the mind. !!! SHOW GRATITUDE !!! Have as much fun as you can. Anticipation of fun raises the level of your energy. Learn to laugh through your trials. !!! DISPLAY HUMOR !!! Determine what is within your control You cannot control what happens to you, but you can choose the frame you put around your experiences. You can choose how you will deal with all situations. !!! EXHIBIT INTERNAL CONTROL !!! Be enthusiastic. Enthusiasm literally means," God in us" If He is in you, let your life so shine. Learn to love life. !!! SHOW YOUR PASSION !!! Education is not the filling of a bucket-but the lighting of ...

... the pleasure much more fulfilling than anything else you might ordinarily do that night. May you wake up on January 1st, finding that the world has not come to an end, the lights work, the water faucets flow, and the sky has not fallen. May you ponder how did this ultramodern civilization of ours manage to get itself traumatized by a possible slip of a blip on a chip made out of sand. May you be awe struck by God's sense of humor as you wrestle with the possibility that a professional wrestler had a chance to become President of the United States. May what you see in the mirror delight you, and what others see in you delight them. May someone love you enough to forgive your faults, be blind to your blemishes, and tell the world about your virtues. May the telemarketers wait to make their sales calls until you finish dinner, and may your check book and your budget balance and may they ...

... had a three dog couch waiting on me when I got home this morning. As I came through the front door I saw that each cushion on my couch had a little, furry ball curled up on it, sleeping peacefully. I smiled when I saw this and petted each of them lovingly as I walked by. It only took a few seconds of my time, but it filled my heart with joy. As we go through our often busy days it is funny how the best parts of them seem to be those little moments we make for sharing love. They take so little of our time and yet the rewards they bring us are beyond belief. They strengthen our hearts, uplift our souls, and energize our bodies. They make our lives a joy to live and a delight to share. They bring us peace, happiness, goodness, and most of all oneness with God. Three of the most important words in the Bible ...

... shaving. I looked in the mirror and noticed that some of the hairs in my mustache were as white as my shaving cream. I laughed about this because I feel more alive, vibrant, and joyous now than I did when I was twenty. I got a little more proof later on as I walked through my tiny home and sat in my old, worn chair. Two cats quickly jumped on my lap while a smile leaped to my face. It seemed funny that in this society where fame and fortune are looked on as everything that I had found so much joy in such a simple life with so little money. It was a short time later, however, that I got the greatest proof of all. The sun broke through the clouds, shone through my window, and gently warmed my face. Bathed in that golden light I felt not only the heat of the sun but also the loving touch of God on my face ...

... while visiting the publisher's office, Bennett asked her:" Your boss claims you're extremely efficient. What's your secret ?"" It's not my secret ," said the assistant," it's his" She went on to tell him that her boss always acknowledged and appreciated everything she did, regardless how insignificant. That was why she worked so hard for him. Her boss ' appreciation nudged her toward constant improvement.*If possible, keep it light-hearted. The careful use of humor can work in any relationship where nudging may be required. One wife used it effectively when she found herself on the verge of nagging her husband to repair the lawn mower. He had promised to fix it, but the grass grew ever taller while he procrastinated. Then one day he came home and found her seated on the ground snipping grass with sewing scissors, one blade at a time. He watched in amazement and then went into the house. When he returned, ...

... to see the line stretching from inside the small funeral home to down the street as far as the eye could see. People had come from hundreds of miles away to be there and to offer their love to Tim one last time. I saw people there that I hadn ’ t seen since high school and others whom I had thought I would never see again. The line moved slowly forward as we waited and shared our memories of Tim. We talked about how funny he had always been without ever seeming mean-spirited once. He loved a good joke and would share them even in a football huddle during the middle of a game. We talked about how Tim was always kind and helpful to anyone in need. In his short but loving life his joyful spirit had touched a thousand people in a thousand different ways. We grieved about how he would never see his kids graduate from school, but also took comfort in knowing that a part of ...

... stay single since no one would ever be good enough for his baby. She sat silently for a few moments, and then she said," Mommy, do you think YOU could help me choose when I'm old enough ?" As I was struggling to frame a reply, she suddenly sat upright in her chair and stated," Oh. never mind. I forgot. It took you two tries !" Slightly mortified and very humbled, I saw the truth behind the humor. Yes, it had taken me" two tries ," but I had grown as a person through my mistakes and had moved on to become a much happier soul. Instead of simply glossing over her jibe, we sat down, for the first time, and discussed how even adults can make wrong choices. As we talked, I felt better about the dissolution of my first marriage than I ever had, and I saw that my tiny philosopher was coming to grips with ...

... table. Soon our plates were filled with mashed potatoes and gravy, roast turkey, hot rolls with butter, sweet corn, dumplings, and a big slice of cake with ice cream on the side. It still makes my mouth water even thinking about it. My Uncle would even joke that we had to visit more often because that was the only time my Aunt ever fed him this good. We knew, however, that my Uncle was just cooking up some humor of his own. The thing that made those Summer trips south to their house so wonderful wasn ’ t just what they cooked in the kitchen but what they cooked in their hearts and home as well. Their lives together were a feast of friendship, laughter, love, and joy. They always had a dessert tray full of goodness, kindness, and faith as well. And anytime life would throw something nasty in their soup pot they would just ladle it out with ...

... says," I lost my key" The man feels sorry for his friend and gets down to help look for it. After a long time of looking without success the man asks his friend where he was standing when he lost his key. The friend replies," Oh, I lost it in my house" Outraged by this the man asks why they are looking on the street then. His friend says," Because there is more light here" As funny as that sounds it is the way a lot of people think. They want to know the purpose of their lives. They want to figure out the secret to their own happiness. They want to find the key to living a loving and joyous life. Yet, they look everywhere except inside of themselves. Perhaps they think it is too dark and frightening to look within for these answers. They keep looking on the outside instead because they think the light is better there ...

... Who Is Landing Your Plane? I heard a funny story: A small plane with an instructor and student on board hit the runway and bounced repeatedly until it came to a stop. The instructor turned to the student and said," That was a terrible landing you just made"" Me ?" replied the student." I thought you were landing !" That story may not be true, but it is true to life. Do you know who is landing your plane? Let me explain. Who is landing your plane when it comes to values? Bill McCartney coached the University of Colorado football team for several years. He shocked the sports world when he resigned at the apex of his career. They were more stunned by his reason for stepping away. The reason he gave for quitting was that he wanted to spend time with his wife and with religious pursuits. He showed the world who was landing his plane. Sports writers struggled ...

... at my feet. Now days you won't find me watching so much television either. I find that time better spent going for walks, hugging my sons, talking with my daughter, and writing words like the ones you are reading here. Now days you won't find me restlessly looking for more work to do as well. I find that time better spent thinking of God, watching the sunset, singing a song, and laughing with my family and friends. The funny thing too is that now that I am giving myself time to live I find myself doing better and accomplishing more than I ever did before. Most of all, though, my time is now spent joyously and my days on Earth feel closer to Heaven. Abraham Lincoln said," It's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years" May all of us then have the time of our lives truly living the days and years God gives ...

... This Wondrous World Not everyone has a good grip of science. But these children's scientific musings at least show humor and creativity! To explain nuclear reactions, one child said," When they broke open molecules, the found they were only stuffed with atoms. But when they broke open atoms, they found them stuffed with explosions" Concerning astronomy, one child said," Most books now say our sun is a star. But it still knows how to change back into a sun in the day-time" And another said," Some people can tell what time it is by looking at the sun. But I have never been able to make out the numbers"" Vacuums are nothings ," said a young physics student." We only mention them to let them know we know they're there"" Evaporation gets blamed for a lot of things people forget to put the top on ," one child observed." Rain is often known as ...

... it? The publicist replied:" I just changed your message so people could relate to it" He wished the man well, said goodbye, and went on his way. The blind man didn't know it, but his new sign now read:" TODAY IS SPRING AND I CANNOT SEE IT" The Moral of the Story: CHANGE YOUR STRATEGY WHEN THINGS AREN'T WORKING. HAVE FAITH THAT YOUR CHANGE WILL BE FOR THE BEST. [Author Unknown-from 'Arizona Humor ' (arizona_humor @yahoogroups.com)-Ed: Anon.] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Letting Your Soul Walk You I had an enlightening and humorous experience walking my dogs this morning. It was a crisp, Spring day full of life and energy. My four dogs seemed to feel it as well. Each one of them was delightfully sniffing the air and bouncing around me as we walked. Then as I was about to head back toward the house with them our Saint Bernard, Buddy and our tiny Labrador mix, Pepper both decided that it was the perfect time for a game of chase. Before I knew it my legs were wrapped up tight with the dog leashes from these two running in circles around me. Thankfully, I was able to drop the leashes before I ended up on the ground. As I bent down to pick up the leashes again, however, my tiniest dog, Julie decided to give me a little help. She grabbed Buddy's leash in her mouth and headed for the door. I looked on ...

... (See rule #1) Major house projects may need to be followed by marital counseling. You're never too old for crazy (or colored) underwear. The silent treatment was invented by a kindergartner. Read the" Song of Solomon" together. Love begins in the morning with the way you talk to each other and treat each other. Schedule your mid-life crisis. Enjoy making up after a quarrel. Be spontaneous. Tickling never goes out of style. Find humor in negative situations. Eat cookie dough in bed together at least once a year. For Heaven's Sake, get a lock on the bedroom door or a" Do Not Disturb" sign! True love means valuing your spouse as much as God does. [Author Unknown-from 'Colorado Comments '] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... I am to communicate regularly with the parents by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card. All of this I am to do with just a piece of chalk, a computer, a few books, a bulletin board, and a big smile AND on a starting salary that qualifies my family for food stamps! You want me to do all of this, and you expect me NOT TO PRAY ?" [Author Unknown-submitted by: Queenie-from 'Arizona Humor '] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... from most of her medication, which had reached a high of 21 pills a day. This is how she did it." I began seeing a doctor who gave me the most important prescription that I ever could have received ," she said." He excused himself from the room. I watched him walking back and forth in the hall; he seemed to be in deep thought" The doctor came back in with this prescription: he told Debra to get some funny movies and to begin laughing. If she didn't feel like laughing, then she should smile. If she didn't feel like smiling, she should smile anyway! He said that it would increase endorphins in her brain and help with her pain. She did just as he suggested. She smiled constantly. Her children teased her about the fake smile, but she told them that it was going to get rid of her pain. And it did. Of course, not all ...

... said the father kindly." You didn't use all the strength you had. You didn't ask me" With that the father reached down, picked up the rock, and removed it from the sandbox. Do you have" rocks" in your life that need to be removed? Are you discovering that you don't have what it takes to lift them? There is One who is always available to us and willing to give us the strength we need. Isn't it funny how we try so hard to do things ourselves. Sadly, many adults who have been Christians for years are trying to do everything themselves and only turning to God as a last resort. God wants to be your first resort. Let Him help you with your trials, tribulations and temperament. He loves you so much... all He wants you to do is ask Him to help. When you are DOWN to nothing. God is UP to something !!! [ ...

... Finding A Way To Help A funny story going around concerns itself with two hunters who were out in the woods when one of them collapsed. He didn't seem to be breathing and his eyes were glazed. The other pulled out his phone and called emergency services. He gasped to the operator:" My friend is dead! What can I do ?" The operator in a calm, soothing voices replied:" Take it easy. I can help. First, let's make sure he's dead" There was a silence, then a shot was heard. Back on the phone, the hunter said," Ok, now what ?" With friends like that. On the other hand, have you ever wanted to help but didn't know what to do? A friend once told me a beautiful story of how ordinary people found a simple way to help. He was enjoying the scenic view atop Casper Mountain, a favorite spot for visitors to Casper ...

... Forgiveness I was driving down the road the other day when I saw a sign in front of a church. It said," Forgive your enemies. It messes with their minds" As I read this sign I felt a smile come to my lips, a feeling of delight come to my heart, and a long, deep laugh come from my belly. When I finally stopped laughing at the joyous humor on this sign I realized something. What it said couldn ’ t be more true. A person whose mind is full of anger, after all, gives anger to the world and expects anger in return. In the same way a person whose heart is full of hate, shares that hate with the world and expects hate in return. Likewise a person whose soul is full of hurting passes that hurt on to the world and expects to be hurt again in return. It is a horrible and vicious cycle that eventually destroys the ...

... can help measure how you are nurturing your relationships. The author of these thoughts is unknown, but deeply appreciated. The Gift of Listening But you must really listen. Don't interrupt, don't daydream, don't plan your response. Just listen. The Gift of Affection Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. The Gift of Laughter Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say," I love to laugh with you" The Gift of Solitude There are times when we want nothing better than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift of solitude to others. The Gift of a Favor Every day, go out of your way to do something kind. The Gift of a Written Note It can be a simple" Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief ...

... ’ t even sleep that night. The second day was wonderful. My body felt energized and healthy. I was laughing and smiling the whole day long. My pets were lovable and affectionate. My children warmed my heart with their kind words and tender hugs. Everyone I saw outside seemed to have a smile and a happy wave to share. The sun peeking through the clouds made my soul light up as well. The day ’ s problems were handled easily with humor and joy and I slept like a baby that night. In truth, however, the only real difference between those two days was me. It was me who made the first day so rotten and it was me who made the second day so glorious. It was me who just idled through the first day grumbling about the world. And it was me who spent the second day thanking God for my life, sharing my love with everyone I could, and giving my ...

... am myself. I have carried that knife for many years. Now I pass it on to you" Lincoln added wryly," I've carried that knife ever since" One of Lincoln's greatest assets was his ability to laugh at himself. And he frequently laughed at his physical appearance. But history does not remember him as an" ugly" individual-in fact, often just the opposite. His outer appearance was clothed in magnificently beautiful garments: character, honesty, humor and courage. But there are other clothes he wore equally well-such as humility and forgiveness. We say that beauty is skin deep. But it isn't really. It has very little to do with the skin. True beauty is soul deep. It is a fabric that is woven in the soul and worn in plain view. The Bible speaks of something similar. It teaches us to clothe ourselves with" compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" Then ...

... like I leave my tools in the truck, I leave my troubles outside of my home. I hang them on that tree before greeting my family. Anything that does not have to come in my house stays outside. Anything that I do not have to deal with at home, I leave on that tree. And in the morning, I stop by the tree and pick up the troubles I left there in the evening" Then he adds," It's a funny thing, though. Every morning I always find fewer troubles remaining than I hung the night before" Here is a man who has no doubt seen the Bluebird of Happiness. Chances are, it is nesting in a tree just outside his home. There is wisdom in knowing that some problems can wait until tomorrow. And more wisdom in knowing what to hang on the tree and what to bring in. Managing daily problems well is vital to maintaining joy.~Steve Goodier ...

... in faith see Jesus on the chair. It's not spooky because he promised, 'I will be with you always"" Then just speak to him in the same way you're doing with me right now"" So, I tried it and I've liked it so much that I do it a couple of hours every day. I'm careful though. If my daughter saw me talking to an empty chair, she'd either have a nervous breakdown or send me off to the funny farm" The minister was deeply moved by the story and encouraged the old man to continue on the journey. Then he prayed with him, anointed him with oil, and then returned to the church. Two nights later the daughter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died that afternoon. Did he die in peace ?" he asked. Yes, when I left the house about two o'clock, he called me over to his bedside, told me how much he ...

... with all they have. I've learned-that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated. I've learned-that you should never tell a child their dreams are unlikely or outlandish. Few things are more humiliating, and what a tragedy it would be if they believed it. I've learned-that your family won't always be there for you. It may seem funny, but people you aren't related to can take care of you and love you and teach you to trust people again. Families aren't biological. I've learned-that no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. I've learned-that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to forgive yourself. I've learned-that no matter how bad your heart is broken ...

... , and prayed. As we entered a small kitchen one of the Brothers walked in. To say he was intimidating would have been an understatement. He was a giant of a man. He stood well over six and a half feet tall. He must have weighed over three hundred pounds as well. He looked like a lineman for a professional football team dressed in a brown, wool robe. As we talked, though, his kind spirit and delightful sense of humor put us all at ease. That is until he rose to leave. Then he walked right at me to give me a hug. At first I feared he might crack a rib, but when he took me in his huge arms all I felt was the love from his soul. It was the gentlest hug I ever got. Leo Rosten said:" It is the weak who are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong" I learned that lesson ...

... you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of a load. Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. It is a mark of a superior mind to be able to disagree without being disagreeable. Let your virtues speak for themselves. Refuse to talk of another's vices. Discourage gossip. It is a waste of valuable time and can be extremely destructive. Be careful of another's feelings. Wit and humor at the other person's expense are rarely worth it and may hurt when least expected. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Simply live so that nobody will believe them. Disordered nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting. Don't be too anxious about the credit due you. Do your best, and be patient. Forget about yourself, and let others ...

... I went to a soccer game in Baghdad, I would expect to hear a Muslim prayer. If I went to a ping pong match in China, I would expect to hear someone pray to Buddha. And I wouldn't be offended. It wouldn't bother me one bit. When in Rome." But what about the atheists ?" is another argument. What about them? Nobody is asking them to be baptized. We're not going to pass the collection plate. Just humor us for 30 seconds. If that's asking too much, bring a Walkman or a pair of ear plugs. Go to the bathroom. Visit the concession stand. Call your lawyer. Unfortunately, one or two will make that call. One or two will tell thousands what they can and cannot do. I don't think a short prayer at a football game is going to shake the world's foundations. Nor do I believe that not praying will result in more serious injuries on ...

... . No one quite knew what to do or say. But on his third advance the man realized that he was facing a mirror." Why ," he cried," it's only me !" He made a grand bow." Good to see you, old boy! Merry Christmas !" The whole store exploded in delighted laughter. And why not? Here was a man who knew how to laugh at himself! He accepted his problems and limitations with a grace and humor that was contagious. We're given the power of laughter, not only to laugh AT things, but to laugh things OFF. We'll always know difficulties and we will never be without our share of troubles, but the happy person learns how to laugh most of them off. And that's the reason they're happy-it's a laughing matter!~Steve Goodier~[ by: Steve Goodier (LifeSupport @yahoogroups.com)-{ used with permission}] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights ...

... Hooked On Giving Dr. Mar Aprem of the ancient Chaldean Orthodox Church of the East in India tells a funny story about when a member of the church won a lottery worth 100, 000 rupees. His wife went to the bishop and told him that she was afraid to tell this glad news to her husband because he had a heart problem and any sudden excitement could cause a heart attack. The bishop offered to break the news gently to her husband. He visited the house and asked the man," Wouldn't it be a good thing if you won 1, 000 rupees in the lottery ?" The man replied that he still would have to work to support his family." What about 10, 000 rupees ?" the bishop asked. The man still showed no excitement, so the bishop carefully raised the amount to 50, 000 and finally to 100, 000 rupees." If I got 100, 000 rupees, I would give ...

... " I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know" As we laughed she cleared her throat and began:" We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing! There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor everyday. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do ...

... (It is possible to disagree without being disagreeable) Forget about counting to 10. Count to 1, 000 before doing or saying anything that could make matters worse. Let your virtues speak for themselves. If someone criticizes you, see if there is any TRUTH to what he is saying; if so, make changes. If there is no truth to the criticism, ignore it and live so that no one will believe the negative remark. Cultivate your sense of humor; laughter is the shortest distance between two people. Do not seek so much to be consoled, as to console; do not seek so much to be understood, as to understand; do not seek so much to be loved as to love. [Author Unknown-from 'Aiken Drum '] Inspirational Messages SkyWriting.Net All Rights Reserved. ...

... Gifts that Don't Cost a Cent THE GIFT OF LISTENING But you must REALLY listen. No interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just listening. THE GIFT OF AFFECTION Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses, pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate the love you have for family and friends. THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny stories. Your gift will say," I love to laugh with you". THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE It can be a simple" Thanks for the help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life. THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT A simple and sincere," You look great in red "," You did a super job" or" That was a wonderful meal" can make someone's day. THE GIFT OF A FAVOR Every day, go out ...

... discovering what many people have known all along-that getting healthy is about more than medicine and treatment. It also involves a healthy outlook on life. Various studies have validated the mind / body connection. Cancer is often diagnosed within months of the death of one's spouse. People who are cynical or angry have been shown to be more prone to heart attacks than those with a more positive outlook. And former Saturday Evening Post editor Norman Cousins has demonstrated for years how humor, laughter and hope can aid the healing process. Not only is a healthy mental outlook necessary, but a healthy spiritual outlook seems to be equally important. Noted psychologist Carl Jung (1865-1961) made a telling observation about the connection between one's mental health and spiritual outlook." During the past 30 years, people from all civilized countries of the earth have consulted me ," he said." Among all my patients in the second half of life-that is to say ...

... we get new experiences that help us to bring a little more Heaven into our lives. Everyday God finds new ways to enlighten us no matter how cloudy our world may seem. He used that wonderful, wet walk the other day to remind me that life isn ’ t only sunny days. Just like nature sometimes we need to get rained on a bit in order to grow. He also reminded me that the best way to handle anything in life is with simple humor and joy. The sound of laughter goes equally well with a delightful walk in the summer sunshine and with a brisk run through the rain in soaked clothes. He reminded me most of all, though, that no matter how long the storms of life may last the sun will always come out again. Have a glorious day then and remember that God is always with you in the sunshine and in the rain.~Joseph J. Mazzella~[ by: Joseph J ...

... work. Mom's Tip #160: Put plenty of icing on birthday cakes. Mom's Tip #161: Don't tell you helped blow out the candles. Mom's Tip #162: Kids give more gifts than they'll receive. Mom's Tip #163: Kids WILL drink straight from the carton. Mom's Tip #164: Look sad when the snowman melts. Mom's Tip #165: Kids prefer hot dogs to duck a l'orange. Mom's Tip #166: A sense of humor is a necessity. Mom's Tip #167: They don't call it women's intuition for nothing. Mom's Tip #168: Insist on short-haired dogs. Mom's Tip #169: Coax the cat out of the tree. Mom's Tip #170: For the last time, a pony is out! Mom's Tip #171: Sew name tags in their underwear. Mom's Tip #172: Be a den mother. Mom's Tip #173: Let your daughter have a training bra ...

... full. Tuck them in. Add sound effects to the bedtime story. No, they REALLY can't have a pony. Gingerbread houses aren't worth the work. Tollhouse cookies ARE worth the work. Put plenty of icing on birthday cakes. Don't tell you helped blow out the candles. Kids give more gifts than they'll receive. Kids WILL drink straight from the carton. Look sad when the snowman melts. Kids prefer hot dogs to duck a l'orange. A sense of humor is a necessity. They don't call it women's intuition for nothing. Insist on short-haired dogs. Coax the cat out of the tree. For the last time, a pony is out! Sew name tags in their underwear. Be a den mother. Let your daughter have a training bra. Buy your share of EXPENSIVE Girl Scout cookies Cultivate the art of napping. Washable markers aren't. Help build a sandcastle. Let them make a fort out of boxes. Piano lessons ...