Sunday Morning Sunshine: Beautiful Words

Someone has written these beautiful words. They are like the Ten Commandments.


1. Prayer is not a "spare wheel" that you pull out when in trouble; it is a "steering wheel" that directs us in the right path throughout life.

2. Do you know why a car's WINDSHIELD is so large; the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.

3. Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4. All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don't worry, they can't last long either.

5. Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don't forget the Gold, because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!

6. Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, "Relax sweetheart, it's just a bend, not the end!

7. When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities. When GOD doesn't solve your problems, HE has faith in your abilities.

8. A blind person asked St. Anthony: "Can there be anything worse than losing eyesight?" He replied: "Yes, losing your vision."

9. When you pray for others God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10. WORRYING does not take away tomorrow's TROUBLES, it takes away today's PEACE.

Happy November blessings to you all!

Rushing Around, Mr. Rabbit

Have you ever thought when gazing at your desk (or house, or at work, or some other place) that everything piled up looks like lint? Or worse, dust?

• Rushing around gives me a headache. Granted I love to be busy and can't stand it when I have nothing to do (which has been so long ago, I feel like I'm telling a fib when I mention it). I always have something to do.
• Rushing around causes me to forget things. I forget I've a post I need to write, that I wanted to walk today, that I'd scheduled to meet a friend, or that I had an appointment I needed to keep. 
• Rushing around causes me to make mistakes. Typing too fast? Have to go back and make more corrections because of the sensitive touch of my computer and my clumsy fingers. Hurrying with supper preparations. Dropped eggs, spilled flour, broken pottery. 
• Rushing around causes me to miss things, like the beauty of my gardens and garden pond. The hills with the morning mists hanging over them. The moonlight shining through the tree tops. My animals wanting attention, their beautiful green/brown/blue eyes on me, trusting me to give them what they need. My hubby, sons and grandsons (and many others too!) wanting my company or attention, loving me even when I'm too busy to talk with them.

So what to do? 

Slow down...again. Relax. Take a deep breath and remember to...

Keep to my schedule. 

Check my lists.

One thing at a time.

Thankfully, I'm getting better at realizing--and, thus, reacting--that I need to stay focused and organized. 

That does the trick. When my over-excited, overloaded brain accepts that everything doesn't have to be done at once, then I stay relaxed and more productive. I'm released from those heavy chains of pressure. 

The moral of this lesson? 

Slow down, Mr. Rabbit. 

When you're worn out from rushing to the goal line, 

you may rush yourself to losing the race. 

So...make your list today of all things that are beautiful in your life. When you've thought of all you can, then thank God for them. Name each one aloud. Think about them. Study your list. Pray over it.. Tuck it into your Bible, your purse, a notebook. Somewhere that you can see it often.

What good does doing things like this do? Makes us more thankful. Helps us realize what blessings

we have and how quickly we sometimes lose this or that blessing. 

After all, why should God give us MORE blessings if we're not thankful for what we already have?

You're blest. I'm blest. God loves us. Let that thought sink in, and may it resound in your heart throughout your day and evening.

Quote:

Rejoice, and again, I say: Rejoice!

Blessings

Gotta Stay Young!

Try everything twice. On Madam's tombstone (of Whelan's and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph: Tried everything twice ... loved it both times!

Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down. (Keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches.)

Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." (And the devil's name is Alzheimer's!!)

Enjoy the simple things.

Laugh often, long, and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with him or her.

The tears happen: endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with you for your entire life is yourself. LIVE while you are alive.

Surround yourself with what you love. Whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

Cherish your health. If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even the next county, to a foreign country -- but NOT to where the guilt is!

Tell the people you love that you love them at every opportunity.

Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

Quote:
Only a person who risks is free!


Blessings!

More Lessons to Remember

1. The most important sex organ is the brain.
2. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
3. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
4. Always choose life.
5. Forgive everyone everything.
6. What other people think of you is none of your business.
7. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
8. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
9. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
10. Believe in miracles.
11. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

And, eleven more:

1. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
2. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
3. Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.
4. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
5. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere..
6. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
7. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
8. The best is yet to come.
9. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
10. Yield.
11. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift

Blessings!

Lessons to Remember

This was written by Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio, ”To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.”

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6.. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.


8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11 . Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.


18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

How true! More later . . .

Blessings

Five lessons about the way we treat people.

1. The Cleaning Lady

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello.' "

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

2. Pickup in the Rain

One night, at 11:30 p.m., an older African American woman was standing on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride. Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man stopped to help her (generally unheard of in those conflict-filled 1960's). The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put her into a taxicab.

She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down his address and thanked him. Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his surprise, a special note read: "Thank you so much for assisting me on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes, but also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away... God bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others." Sincerely, Mrs. Nat King Cole.

3. Always remember those who serve.

In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10-year-old boy entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass of water in front of him.

"How much is an ice cream sundae?" he asked.
"Fifty cents," replied the waitress.

The little boy pulled is hand out of his pocket and studied the coins in it. "Well, how much is a plain dish of ice cream?" he inquired.

By now more people were waiting for a table and the waitress was growing impatient. "Thirty-five cents," she brusquely replied.

The little boy again counted his coins. "I'll have the plain ice cream," he said.

The waitress brought the ice cream, put the bill on the table and walked away The boy finished the ice cream, paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty dish, were two nickels and five pennies..

You see, he couldn't have the sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.

4. The obstacle in Our Path.

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.

Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway. The peasant learned what many of us never understand!

Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition.

5. Giving When it Counts . . .

Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness. The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.

I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes I'll do it if it will save her." As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheek.

Then his face grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?"

Being young, the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her.

How many Americans have learned these lessons? Have I?

Going camping this summer? Here are a few fun hints:

• Cook your eggs in canning rings for egg sandwiches
• In an emergency: Nylon rope can be used as shoe laces
• Old shower curtains make great ground sheets
• (If you're really in the outback:) Make a camp washing machine from a five gallon bucket and a toilet plunger (Laugh!)

Quote:
Live for today but hold your hands open to tomorrow. Anticipate the future and its changes with joy. There is a seed of God's love in every event, every circumstance, every unpleasant situation in which you may find yourself. --Barbara Johnson

Blessings