INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE
(submitted by Slyvia)
Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.
When you lose, don't lose the lesson.
Follow the three Rs:Respect for self
Respect for others and
Responsibility for all your actions
Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.
Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.
When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.
Spend some time alone.
Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.
Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.
Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.
A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home.
In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.
Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
Be gentle with the earth.
Once a year, go somewhere you've never been before.
Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.
ELEANOR ROOSEVELT WROTE
(submitted by CJ)
Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.
If someone betrays you once, it is his fault;
If he betrays you twice, it is your fault.
Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people.
He who loses money, loses much; He, who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all.
Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
Friends, you and me ... You brought another friend ... and then there were 3 ... We started our group ... our circle of friends ... and like that circle ... There is no beginning or end.
Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is mystery. Today is a gift.
THE ABC'S OF A FRIEND
(submitted by CJ)
A FRIEND .....
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in you
(C)alls you just to say HI
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust be with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains things you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality
THINGS AREN'T ALWAYS AS THEY SEEM
(submitted by Slyvia)
Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied ... Things aren't always what they seem.
The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest. When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, how could you have let this happen!? The first man had everything, yet you helped him she accused. The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die.
"Things aren't always what they seem, the older angel replied.When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave her the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem.
THINK ABOUT THIS:
~~ Should you find it hard to get to sleep tonight; just remember the homeless family who has no bed to lie in.
~ ~ Should you find yourself stuck in traffic; don't despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
~~ Should you have a bad day at work; Think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months.
~~ Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; Think of the person who has never known what it's like to love and be loved in return.
~~ Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; Think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week, for $15.00 to feed her family.
~~ Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; Think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.
~~ Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; Think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
~~ Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering; what is life all about, what is my purpose? Be thankful, there are those who didn't live long enough to get the opportunity.
~~ Should you find yourself the victim of other people's bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; Remember, things could be worse. You could be them!!
TO THE BEAUTIFUL WOMEN I KNOW AND LOVE
(submitted by Slyvia)
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears,
The figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair.
The beauty of a woman must be seen in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives,
The passion that she shows,
And the beauty of a woman with passing years - only grows!
ANGEL FEATHER
(submitted by CJ)
This is an angel feather,
sent from God above,
to serve as a reminder,
of his gracious love.
It's from your guardian angel,
that God himself assigned to you,
And fell out in his struggles,
as he protected you.
Each time you nearly fall,
Remember to,
Thank God and his angels,
for answering your call.
One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the LORD. FOOTPRINTS
(submitted by CJ)
When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.
This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "my precious, precious child. I love you and would never leave you. During those times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."