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

Life Is Love

Is anyone sad in the world, I wonder?
Does anyone weep on a day like this,
With the sun above and the green earth under?
Why, what is life but a dream of bliss?

With the sun and the skies and the birds above me,
Birds that sing as they wheel and fly -
With the winds to follow and say they loved me -
Who could be lonely? O no, not I!

Somebody said in the street this morning,
As I opened my window to let in the light,
That the darkest day of the world was dawning;
But I looked, and the East was a gorgeous sight

One who claims that he knows about it
Tells me the Earth is a vale of sin;
But I and the bees and the birds - we doubt it,
And think it a world worth living in.

Someone says that hearts are fickle,
That love is sorrow, that life is care,
And the reaper Death, with his shining sickle,
Gathers whatever is bright and fair.

I told the thrush, and we laughed together -
Laughed till the woods were all a-ring;
And he said to me, as he plumed each feather,
"Well, people must croak, if they cannot sing!"

Up he flew, but his song, remaining,
Rang like a bell in my heart all day,
And silenced the voices of weak complaining
That pipe like insects along the way.

O world of light, and O world of beauty!
Where are there pleasures so sweet as thine?
Yes, life is love, and love is duty;
And what heart sorrows? O no, not mine!


Ella Wheeler Wilcox

“I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself”

Jeremiah 31:3

Faith Will Come

You say you have no faith?
Love - and faith will come.
You say you are sad?
Love - and joy will come.
You say you are alone?
Love - and you will break out of your solitude.
You say you are in hell?
Love - and you will find yourself in heaven.

Carlo Carretto

I love this poem!  It is so short and simple, but oh so absolutely true.  Not long ago I wrote about being in a season of winter in my life.  We all have many, many cycles like this throughout our lives in which we grow and spring forth with new life and then there are those seasons where we draw into ourselves and hibernate for a little while.  All are necessary and healthy.

But, whether you're in a season of spring or a season of winter, love will see you through.  What better way to find a way through sadness than to reach out to someone in need?  The joy you receive from that little act will fill you to overflowing for a long time to come.

When you are feeling alone, find someone in your near vicinity to love and immediately you're no longer alone! 

When you find faith waning, love someone and, surprisingly, faith will appear!

Love is always in our hearts, ready to be given away.  It is up to us to find it and use it or to let it shrink into such a small place that it becomes difficult to find.  It seems to be paradoxical, doesn't it?  The more you give away, the more you get back. 

Amazing!

 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.

Matthew 9:22

Never Underestimate the Power of Your Actions

One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my class walking home from school.  His name was Kyle.  It looked like he was carrying all of his books.  I thought to myself, Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday? He must really be a nerd.  I had quite a weekend planned, parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon, so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.  They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt.  His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him.  He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes.  My heart went out to him. So I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses and I saw a tear in his eye.  As I handed him his glasses I said, 'Those guys are jerks.' They really should get lives. He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'  There was a big smile on his face.  It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.  I helped him pick up his books and asked him where he lived.  As it turned out he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.  He said he had gone to private school before now. We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books.  He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.  I asked him if he wanted to play a little football with my friends.  He said yes. We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him and my friends thought the same of him.  Monday morning came and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.  I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!'  He just laughed and handed me half the books. Over the next four years Kyle and I became best friends.  When we were seniors we began to think about college.  Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke.  I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never be a problem.  He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship. Kyle was valedictorian of our class.  I teased him all the time about being a nerd. He had to prepare a speech for graduation.  I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak. Graduation day, I saw Kyle.  He looked great.  He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school.  He filled out and actually looked good in glasses.  He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him.  Boy sometimes I was jealous! Today was one of those days.  I could see that he was nervous about his speech. So I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled....'Thanks,' he said. As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began ...'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years.  Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach...but mostly your friends....I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them.  I am going to tell you a story.' I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the first day we met.  He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.  He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later, and was carrying his stuff home.  He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile. 'Thankfully, I was saved. My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable.' I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment.  I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile.  Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. Never underestimate the power of your actions. With one small gesture you can change a person's life.  For better or for worse. The man of many friends will prove himself a bad friend, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24