Monday, October 14, 2013

Wreckers or Builders

I watched the tearing a building down,
a gang of men in a busy town.
With a ho-heave-ho and lusty yell,
They swung a beam and a sidewall fell.
I asked the foreman, "Are these men as skilled,
As the men you'd hire if you had to build?"
He game me a laugh and said, "No indeed!
Just common labor is all I need.
I can easily wreck in a day or two
What builders have taken a year to do."
And I thought to myself as I went on my way,
Which of these two roles have I tried to play?
Am I a builder who works with care,
Measuring life by the rule and square?
Am I shaping my deeds by a well-made plan,
Patiently doing the best I can?
Or am I a wrecker who walks the town,
Content with the labor of tearing down?
 
Author unknown

Friday, October 4, 2013

Benefits of Struggling?

Benefits of Struggling

by Stephen on June 9, 2011 ·
A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole.
Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther. Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily.
But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened!
In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings.
It never was able to fly.
What the man in his kindness and haste did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God’s way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.


Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If God allowed us to go through our life without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been.
And we could never fly.
Author Unknown

Thursday, October 3, 2013

A Smile

A Smile

by Stephen on September 16, 2008 ·
in Life
A smile costs nothing, but gives much.
It enriches those who receive, without making poorer those who give.
It takes a moment, but the memory of it sometimes lasts forever.
None is so rich or mighty that he can get along without it, and none is so poor, but that he can be made rich by it.
A smile creates happiness in the home, fosters good will in business, and is the countersign of friendship.
It brings rest to the weary, cheer to the discouraged, sunshine to the sad, and it is nature’s best antidote for trouble.
Yet it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is something that is of no value to anyone, until it is given away.
Some people are too tired to give you a smile;
Give them one of yours, as none needs a smile so much as he who has no more to give.

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Believe in Yourself

Believe in Yourself

by Stephen on September 14, 2008 ·
There may be days when you get up in the morning and things aren’t the way you had hoped they would be.
That’s when you have to tell yourself that things will get better. There are times when people disappoint you and let you down.
But those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself.
There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them.
Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you are.
So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be.
Because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you.
Keep Believing in Yourself!

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Give time to Family

 

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, “I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you.”
The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my MOTHER, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally. That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie. “What’s wrong, are you well?” she asked.
My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news. “I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you,” I responded. “Just the two of us.” She thought about it for a moment, and then said, “I would like that very much.”
That Friday after work, as I drove over to pick her up I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary. She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel’s. “I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed, “she said, as she got into the car. “They can’t wait to hear about our meeting.”
We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mom sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips. “It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small,” she said. “Then it’s time that you relax and let me return the favor,” I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation – nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other’s life. We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, “I’ll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you.” I agreed.
“How was your dinner date?” asked my wife when I got home. “Very nice. Much more so than I could have imagined,” I answered.
A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn’t have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place mother and I had dined. An attached note said: “I paid this bill in advance. I wasn’t sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates – one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son.”
At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: “I LOVE YOU” and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till “some other time.”

by Stephen in Moral Stories

Monday, September 30, 2013

The important things in life.

The important things in life

 

A philosophy professor stood before his class with some items on the table in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks, about 2 inches in diameter.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up the remaining open areas of the jar.
He then asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous “Yes.”
“Now,” said the professor, “I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The rocks are the important things – your family, your partner, your health, your children – things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter – like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else, the small stuff.”
“If you put the sand into the jar first,” he continued, “there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean the house, give a dinner party, or fix the disposal.”
“Take care of the rocks first – the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.”
Author Unknown

Friday, September 27, 2013

Be Kind

Three things in Human Life Are important;
The first is to be kind.
The second is to be kind.
The third is to be kind.
 
Mother Teresa


Wednesday, September 25, 2013

YOU CAN DO IT!

"Your thoughts are the architects of your destiny".

David O. McKay
Ready to take the next step? The Power of positive thinking - Believe in Yourself and in your abilities. If you truly desire to live your dreams you need to take stock of your worth. Maybe you will realize your dreams are not as big as they should be!

Once you are sure that your dreams are in harmony with your worth and your deepest convictions, you need to talk your dreams into reality. It's all up to YOU. YOU are in charge of your destiny. YOU CAN do it

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK.
If you think you are beaten you are;
If you think you dare not, you don't;
If you want to win but think you can't;
It's almost a cinch you won't.
If you think you'll lose you're lost;
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will;
It's all in a state of mind.
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger and faster man,
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

Author Unknown

Monday, September 23, 2013

Listening

Listening - at Christmas and always
A few years after I left my secondary school in Manchester, I was invited to help out with the school's Christmas Fair and I decided to have a go at being Father Christmas. I had recently grown my first full beard and thought that I would enter into the role by rubbing flour into my growth. Though I say it myself, I looked rather splendid and certainly I attracted lots of custom. I was enjoying myself enormously, bringing a sense of magic to so many young children, but I was mystified by one young boy who paid for a second visit and then astonishingly for a third. The presents on offer were really pretty pitiful, so I asked him why he was coming to see me so often. He answered simply: "I just love talking to you".  It was then that I realised that, in many households, parents do not encourage their children to talk and really listen to them. This was a lesson that I have taken with me throughout my life. So, at home, at work, socially, always encourage family, friends, colleagues to talk about themselves and their feelings - and really listen.

Author: Roger Darlington

Friday, September 20, 2013

The carrot, the egg and the coffee bean

The carrot, the egg, and the coffee bean

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling.  It seemed that, as one problem was solved, a new one arose. Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans.  She let them sit and boil, without saying a word. In about twenty minutes, she turned off the burners. She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me, what do you see?"  "Carrots, eggs, and coffee," the young woman replied. The mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"  Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity - boiling water - but each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior. But, after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened! The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water. "Which are you?" the mother asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?" Think of this: Which am I? Am I the carrot that seems strong but, with pain and adversity, do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength? Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit but, after a death, a breakup, or a financial hardship, does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart? Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavour.  If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hours are the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?


story from http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Looking out for Others

Philippians 2:4 - Look out for Others Interests

do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Friday, September 13, 2013

Everyone is important!!!!!

Everyone is important

During Mark's first month of college, the professor gave his students a pop quiz. He was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until he read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. He had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would he know her name? He handed in his paper, leaving the last question blank.  Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward the quiz grade. "Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They each deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'". Mark never forgot that lesson. He also learned her name was Dorothy.


story from:  www.rogerdarlington.me.uk

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

I want you to remember!!



When the world brings you down
And hurtful words break your heart
Don’t turn around
And walk away from who you are
Stand up for your beliefs
Trust in what you know
In yourself you’ll find strength
Not in another soul
 
Life is full of chances
Some you’ll surely take
Though from some you’ll learn a lesson
And those we call mistakes
 
Just because someone tells you
That it can’t be done
Doesn’t mean you must adhere
Or that you should give up
 
What I want you to remember
And hold close to your heart
Is that you can do anything
If only you try
It doesn’t matter who you are
 
poem from:  thepoetrypad.com

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Act Justly - Love Mercy and Walk Humbly

Micah 6:8

New International Version (NIV)

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God.


“Act justly”  living with a sense of right and wrong. 

“Love mercy”    God expected His people to show love to their fellow man and to be loyal in their love toward Him, just as He had been loyal to them 

“Walk humbly” Instead of taking pride in what we bring to God, we humbly recognize that no amount of personal sacrifice can replace a heart committed to justice and love.


The response of a godly heart is outward (do justice), inward (love mercy), and upward (walk humbly).


Monday, September 2, 2013

Forgiveness

“The willingness to forgive is a sign of spiritual and emotional

 maturity. It is one of the great virtues to which we all should 

aspire. Imagine a world filled with individuals willing both to 

apologize and to accept an apology. Is there any problem that

could not be solved among people who possessed the 

humility and largeness of spirit and soul to do either -- or 

both -- when needed?” 


― Gordon B. HinckleyStanding for Something: 10 

Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes

Friday, August 30, 2013

JOY

“Sadness, disappointment, and severe challenge are events 

in life, not life itself. I do not minimize how hard some of 

these events are. They can extend over a long period of 

time, but they should not be allowed to become the 

confining center of everything you do. The Lord inspired 

Lehi to declare the fundamental truth, “Men are, that they 

might have joy.” That is a conditional statement: “they might 

have joy.” It is not conditional for the Lord. His intent is that 

each of us finds joy. It will not be conditional for you as you 

obey the commandments, have faith in the Master, and do 

the things that are necessary to have joy here on earth.” 


― Richard G. Scott

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Comfort and Confidence

“The Lord gives us a spirit of hope and a feeling of comfort and confidence that we can overcome the obstacles we face. He has shown the way to gain strength during our struggles. With His assistance, we have the ability to succeed. Listen to His words of counsel and comfort: 'Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.” 


― L. Lionel Kendrick

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Giving Thanks!


“The heart that gives thanks is a happy one, 

for we cannot feel thankful and unhappy at 

the same time.


The more we say thanks, the more we find to

 be thankful for.


And the more we find to be thankful for,

the happier we become.

We don't give thanks because we're happy.



We are happy because we give thanks.”



― Douglas WoodSecret of Saying Thanks

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Hope

“Hope is important because it can make the present moment 

less difficult to bear. If we believe that tomorrow will be

better, we can bear a hardship today.” 

― Thích Nhất HạnhPeace Is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life

Thursday, August 22, 2013

COURAGE

With the starting of a new school year!  Just have the courage to be YOU!!

Courage is being yourself everyday. #quotes

Thursday, June 6, 2013

Kids

I just want my kids to love who they are, have happy lives and find something they want to do and make peace with that. Your job as a parent is to give your kids not only the instincts and talents to survive, but help them enjoy their lives. 
-- Susan Sarandon, Readers' Digest, May 2002

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Mistakes

“Whenever you make a mistake or get knocked down by life, don’t look back at it too long. Mistakes are life’s way of teaching you. Your capacity for occasional blunders is inseparable from your capacity to reach your goals. No one wins them all, and your failures, when they happen, are just part of your growth. Shake off your blunders. How will you know your limits without an occasional failure? Never quit. Your turn will come.” – Og Mandino

Monday, May 13, 2013

Positive Reinforcement


What is Positive Reinforcement?


Positive reinforcement is the encouragement that follows good behavior. It is done in order to emphasize the positivity of the action. As a consequence, the person feels encouraged to repeat the positive action that earned the praise in the first place.


How Positive Reinforcement Helps

✰ Positive reinforcement encourages repetition of good deeds committed by the student.
✰ It makes the students aware of where their strengths lie, and capitalize on them.
✰ Specific praise helps the student understand the dos and don'ts better than listening to someone lecture about it.
✰ While it is definitely important not to ignore negative actions, continued encouragement for positive actions can have long-standing effects.

Positive reinforcement is a good way of bringing about a sense of decorum in the classroom, and teachers would do well to incorporate these techniques in their daily interactions with students. The results may not be reflected with immediate effect, but they will definitely take shape in the long run.

By Charlie S
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/positive-reinforcement-in-the-classroom.html

Friday, May 10, 2013

Positive Encouragement!!!!



Everyone would rather be commended for their good job than reprimanded for a bad job and children are no different. I don’t know about you, but I am much more inspired to work harder or do better when someone tells me what a great job I am doing on a regular basis than when someone criticizes all of my “not good enough” moments.

by Jamie Drake

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Learning!

"You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives."

 -Clay P. Bedford.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Negativity

"If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."
-Vincent Van Gogh


Beyond The Quote
If a negative thought creeps its way into your mind, conquer it immediately. Charge ahead in a persistent manner towards whatever it is you may be trying to accomplish…and you will.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

He's Just A Little Boy

Great thing to remember at any sporting event!!

As I read this poem again tonight, it brings tears to my eyes.  Sadly, this kind of thing happens all of the time. Sometimes it is the spectators, fellow teammates and sometimes it is even the coach.  Too many times we forget to put ourselves in that child's shoes.  They know the pressure!  Why can't we just support and lift them up.  

Monday, May 6, 2013

Children


"For the children of the world
Every single little boy and girl
Heaven plants a special seed
And we must have faith for these
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in the Father's eyes
Like the Father may we see
That they have a destiny
And give them the light of love to lead
Through the darkness around us now
To a place where hope is found"

Sims/Grant/Kirkpatrick

Friday, May 3, 2013

Don't Worry

“It isn't as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out. Don't worry. I say that to myself every morning. It all works out in the end. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. He will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in Him, if we will pray to Him, if we will live worthy of His blessings, He will hear our prayers.” 

― Gordon B. Hinckley

Over the past couple of weeks, our faith has been tested.  We have just found out that 2 beautiful young ladies (only 15 yrs old) from our community have each been diagnosed with something scary.  One young lady a very rare blood disease and the other young lady a brain tumor.  While we struggle to understand why such beautiful lives have to go through something so scary we know that God is in control.  Please pray for these young ladies.  We pray for healing and peace.  God Bless!!!

Thursday, May 2, 2013

You are important!!!!

"Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible – the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family"
 
Virginia Satir 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

A Duck, Rabbit, Squirrel and an Eagle.


"Once upon a time, the animals decided they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school.
They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming and flying. To make it easier to administer the curriculum, all the animals took all the subjects.
The duck was excellent at swimming; in fact, better than his instructor. But he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor at running. Since he was slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his web feet to be badly worn, so that he was only average in swimming. But average was quite acceptable so nobody worried about that--except the duck.
The rabbit started at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because of so much make-up work in swimming.
The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down. He developed "charlie horses" from overexertion, and so only got a C in climbing and a D in running.
The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing he beat all the others to the top of the tree, but insisted on using his way to get there . . . .
A duck is a duck--and only a duck. It is built to swim, not to run or fly and certainly not to climb. A squirrel is a squirrel--and only that. To move it out of its forte, climbing, and then expect it to swim or fly will drive a squirrel nuts. Eagles are beautiful creatures in the air but not in a foot race. The rabbit will win every time unless, of course, the eagle gets hungry.
What is true of creatures in the forest is true of Christians in the family; both the family of believers and the family under your roof. God has not made us all the same. He never intended to. It was He who planned and designed the differences, unique capabilities, and variations . . . .
If God made you a duck saint--you're a duck, friend. Swim like mad, but don't get bent out of shape because you wobble when you run or flap instead of fly. Furthermore, if you're an eagle saint, stop expecting squirrel saints to soar, or rabbit saints to build the same kind of nests you do. . . .
So relax. Enjoy your spiritual species. Cultivate your own capabilities. Your own style. Appreciate the members of your family or your fellowship for who they are, even though their outlook or style may be miles different from yours. Rabbits don't fly. Eagles don't swim. Ducks look funny trying to climb. Squirrels don't have feathers.
Stop comparing. There's plenty of room in the forest."
Chuck Swindoll

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Beautiful Life

The beautiful thing about this adventure called faith, is that we can count on Him never to lead us astray.

Chuck Swindoll