The Stone

TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT. DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN ARGUMENT AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE IN THE FACE.

THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND , "TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE ."

THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS, WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH.

THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.

AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING, HE WROTE ON A STONE: 'TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE'

THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND ASKED HIM, 'AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?'


THE FRIEND REPLIED 'WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY. BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US, WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND CAN EVER ERASE IT'

LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.

THEY SAY IT TAKES A MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL PERSON, AN HOUR TO APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN, AN ENTIRE LIFE TO FORGET THEM.


TAKE THE TIME TO LIVE!

DO NOT VALUE THE THINGS YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE,

 
BUT VALUE WHO YOU HAVE KNOWN IN YOUR LIFE!

 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:10

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/bible-verses-about-friendship-20-good-scripture-quotes/#ixzz1zx2pgfU8

The Burning Hut

The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4
Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground- - it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

The Shipwreck

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground--it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of God.



You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

Genesis 50:20

The Best Way to Cheer Yourself Up Is to Cheer Up Somebody Else



The grief-stricken mother sat in a hospital room in stunned silence, tears streaming down her cheeks.  She had just lost her only child.  She gazed into space as the head nurse asked her, "Did you notice the little boy sitting in the hall just outside?"  The woman shook her head no.

The nurse continued.  "His mother was brought here by ambulance from their poor one-room apartment.  The two of them came to this country only three months ago, because all their family members had been killed in war.  They don't know anyone here.

"That little boy has been sitting outside his mother's room every day for a week in hopes his mother would come out of her coma and speak to him."

By now the woman was listening intently as the nurse continued, "Fifteen minutes ago his mother died.  It's my job to tell him that, at age seven, he is all alone in the world--there's nobody who even knows his name."  The nurse paused and then asked, "I don't suppose you would tell him for me?"  The woman stood, dried her tears, and went out to the boy.

She put her arms around the homeless child.  She invited him to come with her to her childless home.  In the darkest hour of both their lives, they became lights to each other.

Give, and it shall be given unto you.

Luke 6:38

Friendship Improves Happiness and Abates Misery



By Doubling Our Joy, and Dividing Our Grief

They call themselves the "Ladies of the Lake" but they never set out to be a club.  Rather, the group began when one of the women returned home exhausted from a business trip and came to the conclusion that she had too much of one thing in he life:  MEN!  With a husband and two boys at home, a work environment that was mostly male, and an elderly father and uncle for which to care, she resolved to set some time aside for herself and a few female friends.

Over the years, Paula hadn't cultivated very many friendships with other women, but she was determined to see that change.  Eventually she discovered three like-minded women:  one owned a machine shop, one worked or a contractor, and one ran a truck stop.  The women pulled out their calendars over dinner one evening and agreed on this schedule--"A trip to the lake at least once a quarter!"

At the lake, the women would listen to Mozart, fix gourmet dinners, and sit on the deck overlooking the water.  They would talk for hours--about everything--without an agenda.

Over the years, they became very close and often refer to each other as "sister."  Says Paula, "Nobody understands like another woman."

For all of my "sisters" I love you and I thank you!

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.

Proverbs 17:17