Category Archives: Inspirational

The Unicycle

Inspirational, Personal stories, , , , ,

Screen Shot 2018-02-22 at 8.02.02 PM.pngWhen I was 10 years old, my two oldest sisters got a unicycle to share for Christmas. They were not as thrilled as I was about learning how to ride a bicycle with one wheel, so they let me use it. I practiced riding the unicycle sometimes 2-3 hours at a time. I rode it so much that I broke the seat. Then I decided to make a wooden one. That idea wasn’t very practical for obvious reasons.

A few years passed, I kept thinking about how much I enjoyed riding my sister’s unicycle. I was in high school, saving my money for a school ring when I thought “a ring will be fun while I am in high school, but a unicycle will give me a lifetime of joy” I took my savings down to the local bike store and bought me a unicycle.

I practiced riding my new form of transportation and got pretty good. I got to where I could ride it forwards and backwards and even down stairs. I worked at a school two miles away, I started riding my unicycle to work, and soon realized you can’t coast. When you stop peddling you will stop moving.

After high school I moved on with my life, putting my unicycle in my closet for a couple of years. I decided to ride it one day as if the last time I rode it was yesterday. I realized somethings that you learn how to do, you will never forget. This made me realize, whatever your passion is, share it!

I now work as a custodian in an elementary school. I have enjoyed riding my unicycle in school Halloween parades, assemblies and neighborhood 4th of July parades. I let one of my neighborhood kids borrow my unicycle, he got pretty good. This year he received a wonderful surprise for Christmas, a unicycle! Pay it forward, share your passion.     

Two Pebbles

Better Living, Inspirational, , ,

Black and White Pebbles.pngMany years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer’s beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain. He said he would forgo the farmer’s debt if he could marry his daughter.

Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag. Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.

If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father’s debt would be forgiven. If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father’s debt would still be forgiven. If she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.

They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer’s field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.

Now, imagine that you were standing in the field. What would you have done if you were the girl? If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?

Take a moment to ponder this. What would you recommend that the girl do?

The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.

“Oh, how clumsy of me!” she said. “But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked.”

The moneylender dared not admit his dishonesty. The girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.

By Edward de Bono

Most problems do have a solution, sometimes we just need to think in a different way.

A Four Year Old’s Letter to God

Better Living, Did You Know, Inspirational, , , , , ,

 

A True Story — Author unknown

There is a kind soul working in the dead letter office of the U.S. Postal Service somewhere…

Our 14 year old dog, Abbey, died last month. The day after she died, my 4-year-old daughter Meredith was crying and talking about how much she missed Abbey. She asked if we could write a letter to God, so that when Abbey got to heaven, God would recognize her. I told her that I thought we could, so she dictated these words:

…………………………………………….

Dear God,

Will you please take care of my dog? She died yesterday and is with you in heaven. I miss her very much. I am happy that you let me have her as my dog even though she got sick. I hope you will play with her. She likes to play with balls and to swim. I am sending a picture of her so when you see her you will know that she is my dog. I really miss her.

Love, Meredith.
(written by the mother of Mer Claire)
…………………………………………….

We put the letter in an envelope with a picture of Abbey and Meredith and addressed it to: God in Heaven. We put our return address on it. Then Meredith pasted several stamps on the front of the envelope because she said it would take lots of stamps to get the letter all the way to heaven. That afternoon she dropped it into the letter box at the post office.

A few days later, she asked if God had gotten the letter yet. I told her that I thought He had. Yesterday there was a package wrapped in gold paper on our front porch addressed, “To Meredith” in an unfamiliar hand.

Meredith opened it. Inside was a book by Mr. Rogers, titled, “When a Pet Dies.” Taped to the inside front cover was the letter we had written to God in its opened envelope. On the opposite page was the picture of Abbey & Meredith and this note:

…………………………………………….

Dear Meredith,

Abbey arrived safely in heaven. Having the picture was a big help. I recognized Abbey right away. Abbey isn’t sick anymore. Her spirit is here with me just like it stays in your heart. Abbey loved being your dog. Since we don’t need our bodies in heaven, I don’t have any pockets to keep your picture in, so I am sending it back to you in this little book for you to keep and have something to remember Abbey by.

Thank you for the beautiful letter and thank your mother for helping you write it and sending it to me. What a wonderful mother you have. I picked her especially for you. I send my blessings every day and remember that I love you very much. By the way, I am wherever there is love.

“Love, God”

abby

Eskimo Wolf Hunter

Better Living, Did You Know, Inspirational, , ,

The WolfAccording to tradition, this is how an Eskimo hunter kills a wolf.

First, the Eskimo coats his knife blade with animal blood and allows it to freeze. He then adds layer after layer of blood until the blade is completely concealed by the frozen blood.

Next, the hunter fixes his knife in the ground with the blade up. When a wolf follows his sensitive nose to the source of the scent and discovers the bait, he licks it, tasting the fresh frozen blood. He begins to lick faster, more and more vigorously, lapping the blade until the keen edge is bare. Feverishly now, harder and harder, the wolf licks the blade in the cold Arctic night. His craving for blood becomes so great that the wolf does not notice the razor-sharp sting of the Unclad blade on his own tongue. Nor does he recognize the instant when his insatiable thirst is being satisfied by his own warm blood. His carnivorous appetite continues to crave more until in the morning light, the wolf is found dead on the snow!

Many begin using drugs, drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, or engaging in unsafe sexual behavior for the same reasons that the wolf begins licking the knife blade. It seems safe and delicious at first, but it doesn’t satisfy. More and more is desired, leading to a crisis or death.

Share Your Talents With Others

Better Living, Inspirational, Personal stories, , , , , , ,

Your talent is Gods Gift to youThere is no better example of sharing your talents with others than in the New Testament.

The Parable of the Talents Matthew 25

14 ¶ For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money.

19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strewed:

25 and I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strewed

27 thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The more we share our talents the happier we will become. Are we sharing every talent we have or are we hiding them? I know people who literally can sing, dance or play a musical instrument that have hid their talents for years, no one knows how talented they are.

Not all talents are obvious; some come in the form of empathy, humility, unconditional love and even good humor that can help lift our spirits.

I am thankful for a thoughtful neighbor Dennis Peterson who can fix anything. He has helped our family with countless car problems and he is good at doing it. He can find a problem with any car in three minutes or less, this is no exaggeration.

The world will be a better place to live when we wake up every day asking the question, who will benefit from my talents today. Go make a difference in the lives of others.

Learn to Appreciate

Better Living, Did You Know, Inspirational, , , , ,

IMG_20151016_161510297Once upon a time, there was a man who was very helpful, kindhearted, and generous. He was a man who will help someone without asking anything to pay him back. He will help someone because he wants to and he loves to. One day while walking on a dusty road, this man saw a purse, so he picked it up, and noticed that the purse was empty. Suddenly a woman with a policeman shows up, and gets him arrested.

The woman kept on asking where did he hide her money but the man replied, “It was empty when I found it, Ma’am.” The woman yelled at him, “Please give it back, It’s for my son’s school fees.” The man noticed that the woman really felt sad, so he handed her all his money. He could see that the woman was a single mother. The man said, “Take these, sorry for the inconvenience.” The woman left, and the policeman held the man for further questioning.

The woman was very happy but when she counted her money later on, it was doubled, she was shocked. One day while the woman was going to pay her son’s school fees, she noticed that some skinny man was walking behind her. She thought that he may rob her, so she approached a policeman standing nearby. He was the same policeman, who she took along to inquire about her purse. The woman told him about the man following her, but suddenly they saw that the man collapse. They ran towards  him, and saw that he was the same man whom they arrested few days back for stealing a purse.

He looked very weak and woman was confused. The policeman said to the woman, “He didn’t return your money, he gave you his money that day. He wasn’t the thief but hearing about you son’s school fees, he felt sad and gave you his money.” Later, they helped man stand up, and man told the woman, “Please go ahead and pay your son’s school fees, I saw you, and followed you to be sure that no one steals your son’s school fees.” The woman was speechless.

Moral: Life gives you strange experiences, sometime it shocks you and sometimes it may surprise you. We end up making wrong judgments or mistakes in our anger, desperation and frustration. However, when you get a second chance, correct your mistakes, and return the favor. Be Kind and Generous. Learn to Appreciate what you are given.

Submitted By: Ida, United States