Another story I got through email few years ago. Hope you like it . . . . .

Sometimes we spend time asking who is responsible or who to blame, whether in a relationship, in a job or with the people we know. We miss out some warmth in human relationship to give each other support. Treasure what you have. Just a little story for you sent to us by Sashikala Samuel of human talents . . . . .

A boy was born to a couple after eleven years of marriage. They were a loving couple and the boy was the apple of their eyes. When the boy was around two years old, one morning, the husband saw a medicine bottle open. He was late for work so he asked the wife to cap the bottle and keep it in the cupboard. The mother, preoccupied in the kitchen, totally forgot the matter.

The boy playfully went to the medicine bottle and, fascinated with its color, drank it all. It happened to be a poisonous medicine meant for adults in small dosages. When the child showed signs of poisoning the mother took him to the hospital, where he died. The mother was stunned. She was terrified how to face her husband. When the distraught father came to the hospital and saw the dead child, he looked at his wife and uttered just four words.

QUESTIONS:
1. What were the four words?
2. What is the implication of this story?
Check with the answers only after you have tried to come up with your own.

Please scroll down.

ANSWER:

The husband just said “I Love You, Darling “. The husband’s totally unexpected reaction is proactive behavior. He is indeed a genius in human relationships. The child is dead. He can never be brought back to life. There is no point in finding fault with the mother. She had also lost her only child. What she needed at that moment was consolation and sympathy from the husband. That is what he gave her. If everyone can look at life with this kind of perspective, there would be much fewer problems in the world.

There are many beautiful, charming and wonderful men and women here on earth.  It’s just a matter of who you get to meet along the way and who you choose to end up with for the rest of your life. Love has its own time, season and reason. You can’t ask for it to stay. You can only embrace it when it comes and be glad that for a moment in your life, it was yours.

image from: www.girlshrink.com

Let’s end July with a little reality pinch.  Enjoy this story . . . . .

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, ‘If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups and were eyeing each other’s cups.’

‘Now if life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, but the quality of life doesn’t change. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it.’

So, don’t let the cups drive you . . . . . enjoy the coffee instead.

image from: lekhaharidas.wordpress.com

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. ‘What food might this contain?’ the mouse wondered.

He was devastated to see it was a mousetrap.

Retreating to the farmyard, the mouse proclaimed the warning. ‘There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!’

The chicken clucked and scratched, raised her head and said, ‘Mr. Mouse, I can see that this is a grave concern to you, but is of no consequence to me. I cannot be bothered by it.’

The mouse turned to the pig and told him, ‘There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!’

The pig sympathized but said, ‘I am so very sorry, Mr. Mouse, but there is nothing I can do about it but pray. Be assured you are in my prayers.’

The mouse turned to the cow and said, ‘There is a mousetrap in the house! There is a mousetrap in the house!’

The cow said, ‘Wow, Mr. Mouse. I’m sorry for you, but it’s no skin off my nose.’

So the mouse returned to the house, head down and dejected, to face the farmer’s mousetrap . . . . . alone.

That very night, a sound was heard throughout the house - like the sound of a mousetrap catching its prey. The farmer’s wife rushed to see what was caught. In the darkness, she did not see it was a venomous snake whose tail the trap had caught. The snake bit the farmer’s wife!

The farmer rushed her to the hospital . . . . .

and she returned home with a fever.

Everyone knows you treat a fever with fresh chicken soup, so the farmer took his hatchet to the farmyard for the soup’s main ingredient.

But his wife’s sickness continued, so friends and neighbors came to sit with her around the clock. To feed them, the farmer butchered the pig.

The farmer’s wife did not get well. She died.

So many people came for her funeral. The farmer had the cow slaughtered to provide enough meat for all of them.

The mouse looked upon it all from his crack in the wall with great sadness.

So the next time you hear someone is facing a problem and think it doesn’t concern you, remember: When one of us is threatened, we are all at risk. We are all involved in this journey called ‘life’. We must keep an eye out for one another and make an extra effort to encourage one another.

Think about everyone who has ever helped you out and let them know how important they are. Remember, each of us is a vital thread in another person’s tapestry. Our lives are woven together for a reason.

These are the two things I say to myself when I get sad. They are so beautiful and inspiring. It has been my ‘hobby’ to write them in all the books I own, including dictionaries and my organizer/planner. I say them to myself whenever I remember the loss of the baby we’ve been waiting and all the physical and emotional pain I felt with it, and whenever something that I have planned turned to something I don’t expect. I hope you like these too . . . . .

‘For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ – Jeremiah29:11

‘God will never leave you. He will replace everything you lost. If He asks you to put something down, it’s because He wants you to pick up something better.’

This is one of my favorite stories in my collection. I was supposed to post this last May, in time for the Mother’s Day celebration, but I was so busy because my husband was here and we went to Bataan and spent summer there. Well, I guess, when it’s for mothers and for all the fine ladies in our lives, there are no words such as ‘too late’. Enjoy reading, people! I’m picking up my son at school in a few minutes. I’ll be back later after we finished the assignments and had our dinner. Bye for now!

The One Flaw in Women
By the time the Lord made woman, he was into his sixth day of working overtime. An angel appeared and said, ‘Why are you spending so much time on this one?’

And the Lord answered, ‘Have you seen my spec sheet on her? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic, have over 200 movable parts, all replaceable and able to run on diet coke and leftovers, has a lap that can hold four children at one time, has a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped knee to a broken heart and she will do everything with only two hands.’

The angel was astounded at the requirements. ‘Only two hands!? No way! And that’s just on the standard model? That’s too much work for one day. Wait until tomorrow to finish.’

‘But I won’t,’ the Lord protested. ‘I am so close to finishing this creation that is so close to my own heart. She already heals herself when she is sick AND can work 18-hour days.’

The angel moved closer and touched the woman. ‘But you have made her so soft, Lord.’ ‘She is soft,’ the Lord agreed, ‘but I have also made her tough. You have no idea what she can endure or accomplish.’

‘Will she be able to think?’, asked the angel. The Lord replied, ‘Not only will she be able to think, she will be able to reason and negotiate.’ The angel then noticed something, and reaching out, touched the woman’s cheek. ‘Oops, it looks like you have a leak in this model. I told you that you were trying to put too much into this one.’ ‘That’s not a leak,’ the Lord corrected, ‘that’s a tear!’ ‘What’s the tear for?’ the angel asked. The Lord said, ‘The tear is her way of expressing her joy, her sorrow, her pain, her disappointment, her love, her loneliness, her grief and her pride.’

The angel was impressed. ‘You are a genius, Lord. You thought of everything! Woman is truly amazing.’

And she is! Women have strengths that amaze men. They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don’t take ‘no’ for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without so their family can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel and cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come in all shapes, sizes and colors. They’ll drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you this to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope and love. They have compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give.

HOWEVER, IF THERE IS ONE FLAW IN WOMEN, IT IS THAT THEY FORGET THEIR WORTH.

images from Public Domain Images

Today’s Daily Bread is . . . . .

No More Mowing
One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part. – Luke10:42

The mayor of a small town in Kentucky stopped mowing his lawn in 2005. He has put up a sign on his property that reads: ‘There are more important things in life than tall grass.’

He said that he has several reasons for not cutting the grass, one of which is his wife’s death from cancer. That loss caused him to reflect on the priorities of life. He enjoys just sitting in the evenings and observing the wild flowers, squirrels and birds that are now coming to his yard. A member of the city council remarked, ‘If he likes it like that, it’s fine. I kind of feel like maybe he is right. Maybe there are more important things than mowing grass.’

The mayor gives us some food for thought about priorities. What we do with our time shows what we feel is important. In our Bible reading for today, Martha was ‘distracted with much serving’ (Luke10:40). Mary, however, took the time to sit ‘at Jesus’ feet’ and listen to His teaching (v.39). Perhaps she realized that she wouldn’t have many more opportunities to learn from Jesus.

Sometimes responsibilities like washing dishes, mowing the lawn or working extra hours on a project need to wait so that we can spend time with the Lord or family or friends. That may be what’s more important. – Anne Cetas

Important as your task may be – The work you must fulfill –
Be sure you keep that human touch, If you would do God’s will. – D. DeHaan

Helping someone in Jesus’ name is your most important work for the day.

(Also read: Luke10:38-42, Job30-31, Acts13:26-52

Here is another great story that will touch your hearts. Enjoy reading, people!

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 as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water. In the first, she placed carrots, in the second, she placed eggs, and 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,” she replied.

She brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they soft. She then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hardboiled egg. Finally, she asked her to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled, as she tasted its rich aroma.

The daughter then asked, “What’s the point, 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 one are you?” she asked her daughter.

When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg, or a coffee bean?

–Author Unknown

Moms are so smart! What a great lesson for all of us to remember . . . . .

Another great story for you, people!

My husband is a Bank Examiner by profession. I love him for his steady nature, and I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders.

Three years of courtship and now, two years into marriage, I would have to admit that I am getting tired of it.

My reason for loving him before has now transformed into the cause of all my restlessness. I am sentimental and extremely sensitive when it comes to relationships and feelings. I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy.

My husband is my complete opposite. His lack of sensitivity and the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage have disheartened me about love.

One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce. “Why?” he asked, shocked. “I am tired; there are no reasons for everything in the world!” I answered.

He kept silent the whole night. He seemed to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times. My feeling of disappointment only increased - here was a man who can’t even express his predicament. What else can I hope from him?

And finally he asked me, “What can I do to change your mind?”

Somebody said it right; it’s hard to change a person’s personality, and I guess, I have started losing faith in him.

Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered, “Here is the question. If you can answer and convince my heart, I will change my mind. Let’s say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, and we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death. Will you do it for me?”

He said, “I will give you my answer tomorrow . . . . .” My hopes just sank by listening to his response . . . . .

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, and saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes . . . . .

“My dear, I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further . . . . .”

This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading . . . . .

“When you use the computer you always mess up the software programs, and you cry in front of the screen. I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs.

“You always leave the house keys behind, thus, I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you.

“You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city; I have to save my eyes to show you the way.

“You always have the cramps whenever your “good friend” approaches every month; I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy.

“You like to stay indoors, and I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes and stories to cure your boredom.

“You always stare at the computer, and that will do nothing good for your eyes. I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails, and help to remove those annoying white hairs so I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine and the beautiful sand… and tell you the color of flowers, just like the color of the glow on your young face . . . . .”

“Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do… I could not pick that flower yet, and die . . . . .”

My tears fell on the letter, and blurred the ink of his handwriting . . . . .
and as I continue on reading . . . . .

“Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread and fresh milk . . . . .”

I rush to pull open the door, and saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle and loaf of bread . . . . .

Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, and I have decided to leave the flower alone . . . . .

That’s my husband, Dario, showing off one of his ‘macho’ poses.

And this is me giving him a ‘come hither’ smile

January05 is our anniversary date. And as if God was trying to send me a message, the Daily Bread story for that day was entitled The Waiting. All my readers know that I share some good reads here from my Our Daily Bread 2008 diary which was given to me by a friend. The reason why I was not able to post this on the day of our anniversary itself was that this blog started on February – a month later. Anyway, if you have read this post, you will understand what this is all about.

The Waiting
(Abraham) believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. – Genesis15:6

Any mother can tell you that waiting to give birth is an experience that builds patience. But pity the poor mother elephant. It takes about 22 months for an unborn elephant to mature to birth! The shark known as the spiny dogfish has a pregnancy duration of 22-24 months. And at elevations above 4,600 feet, the Alpine salamander endures a gestational period of up to 38 months!

Abraham could have identified with these examples from nature. In his old age, the Lord made a promise to him: ‘I will make you a great nation’ (Gen12:2). But as the years passed, Abraham questioned how the fulfillment of the promise was possible without even the basic bulding block of a son (15:2). So God assured him, ‘One who will come from your own body shall be your heir’ (v.4).

Despite his advanced age, Abraham believed God and was called righteous (v.6). Yet he waited 25 years from the time of the initial promise for Isaac to be born (17:1,17).

Waiting for God’s promise to be fulfilled is part of trusting Him. No matter how long the delay, we must wait for Him. As the writer of Hebrews reminds us, ‘Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful’ (Heb10:23). – Marvin Williams

Not so in haste, my heart! Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He seems to linger long, He never comes too late. – Torrey

God always performs what He promises.

(Also read: Genesis15:1-6, Genesis13-15, Matthew5:1-26)