09:55

The Devil and the duck

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There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.  He was given a slingshot  to play with out in the woods.  He practiced in the woods; but he could never hit the target.  Getting a little discouraged, he headed back for dinner.  As he was walking back he saw Grandma's pet duck.  Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck square in  the head and killed it. He was shocked and grieved!  In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the [.....]

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09:50

Real Life Stories

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Here are some true stories that happened to real people and were told from the first person... Enjoy)
-Today, my mom has been blind for 15 years. She lost her vision in the same car accident that took my dad’s life. I am 18 years old now. She has raised me as a single mom since I was 3, without her vision. And yes, she did a heck of a job!
-Today, I met the prettiest woman on a plane. Assuming I wouldn’t see her again [.....]

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Sometimes relationships flounder because we don't convey enough genuine love-or perhaps we don't convey it in quite the right ways. In our zeal to help loved ones improve, maybe we focus too much on how we think they should change instead of communicating sincere acceptance and appreciation for who they are. Just as plants thrive in a warm and nurturing environment, people thrive when they feel accepted and appreciated. And very often they need that more than they need advice.

One son felt that whatever he did, it was never enough to please his father. When he moved away from home and took a job in another town, he finally explained to his dad, "Our relationship isn't about productivity. You're my dad. Sometimes I need praise more than a push and approval more than advice. Constantly trying to make me better just makes me feel worse. It's not enough that you love me. I need you to appreciate me."1
His dad meant well-he wanted his son to reach his full potential, to be the best he could possibly be, with minimal risk of failure. But our loved ones are so much more than productivity projects. They don't need better efficiency models-they need our love and care, our acceptance and appreciation, our best efforts to cherish their unique individuality.
Sometimes it's not easy, but it becomes easier as we truly open our hearts. As we do, we open doors to more trusting relationships. People will often stop resisting change and improvement when they feel valued, when the relationship is built on acceptance and appreciation. For example, a patient, accepting grandma often gets farther with a struggling child than a frustrated parent who condemns and finds fault. The grandmother is not blind to the child's problems, but her wise counsel and occasional correction are more likely to be accepted because the child knows heis accepted.
Warmth and nurturing kindness will bring out the best not only in ourselves but also in those we love.
1. In Michael Josephson, "Needing Approval More Than Advice," What Will Matter, October 31, 2011,http://whatwillmatter.com/2011/10/needing-approval-more-than-advice.

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12:02

Letter To My Friend

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Loved ones are like violin, the music may stop playing but the strings remain. Losing a well beloved person is indeed a sorrow that may not be easily softened in the heart and often brings unforgettable memories thereby adding more pains to the sorrow but our Savior gave us the assurance that “death is swallowed up in victory”.

I felt terribly sad when the news of my brother’s death came to me, in fact it was like thunders bolt that is lightening with all the forces it can ever carry and it almost destroyed the fabrics of my heart. I felt so devastated feeling as if I’m in an endless pit of pain looking for help but [.....]

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10:14

“Welcome-Homes”

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If it’s true, as Shakespeare wrote, that “parting is such sweet sorrow,”1 then perhaps we could say that reuniting is the sweetest joy. While saying goodbye can be heart-wrenching at times, reconnecting with loved ones we haven’t seen in a while can be among life’s greatest moments. For this reason, airports can be the happiest and the saddest of places-full of goodbyes and hellos that bring a tear to the eye and a lump to the throat. Soldiers returning from active service are joyously embraced. Loved ones away [.....]

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