Awesome Sayings Many people will walk in and out of your life, But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart. To handle yourself, use your head; To handle others, use your heart. Anger is only one letter short of danger. If someone betrays once, it is his fault; If he betrays you twice, it is your fault Great minds discuss ideas; Average minds discuss events; Small minds discuss people. He who loses money, loses much; He who loses a friend, loses much more; He who loses faith, loses all. Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, But beautiful old people are works of art. Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. AN INTERVIEW WITH GOD In a dream, I had an interview with God. "Come in," God said to me, "So, you would like to interview Me?" "If you have the time," I said. God smiled and said: "My time is called eternity and is enough to do everything; what questions do you have in mind to ask me?" "None that are new to you. What's the one thing that surprises you most about mankind?" God answered: "That they get bored of being children, are in a rush to grow up, and then long to be children again. That they lose their health to make money and then lose their money to restore their health. That by thinking anxiously about the future, they forget the present, such that they live neither for the present nor the future. That they live as if they will never die, and they die as if they had never lived..." God's hands took mine and we were silent. After a long period, I said, "May I ask you another question?" "As a Parent, what would you ask your children to do?" God replied with a smile: "To learn that they cannot make anyone love them. what is important is who they love. To learn that it takes years to build trust, and a few seconds to destroy it. To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives. To learn that it is not good to compare themselves to others. There will be others better or worse than they are. To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least. To learn that they should control their attitudes, otherwise their attitudes will control them. To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them. To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness. To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to show their feelings. To learn that money can buy everything but happiness. To learn that while at times they may be entitled to be upset, that does not give them the right to upset those around them. To learn that great dreams do not require great wings, but a landing gear to achieve. To learn that true friends are scarce, he/she who has found one has found a true treasure. To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they forgive themselves. To learn that they are masters of what they keep to themselves and slaves of what they say. To learn that they shall reap what they plant; if they plant gossip they will harvest intrigues, if they plant love they will harvest happiness. To learn that true happiness is not to achieve their goals but to learn who they are through striving towards them. To learn that happiness is a decision. They decide to be happy with what they are and have, or die from envy and jealousy of what they lack. To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different. To learn that those who are honest with themselves without considering the consequences go far in life. To learn that even though they may think they have nothing to give, when a friend cries with them, they find the strength to appease the pain. To learn that by trying to hold on to loved ones, they very quickly push them away; and by letting go of those they love, they will be side by side forever. To learn that even though the word "love" has many different meanings, it loses value when it is overstated. To learn that they can never do something extraordinary for Me to love them;I simply do. To learn that the shortest distance they could be from Me is the distance of a prayer. The 7-Ups Wake Up - Decide to have a good day. "Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice & be glad in it" Psalms 118:24 Dress Up - The best way to dress up is to put on a smile. A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks. "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" I Sam 16:7 Shut Up - Say nice things & learn to listen. God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth so He must have meant for us to do twice as much listening as talking. "He who guards his lips guards his soul" Proverbs 13:3 "Gossip betrays confidence avoid men who talk too much" Proverbs 20:19 "Listen to advice, accept instruction and in the end, you will be wise" Proverbs 19:20 Stand Up - For what you believe in. Stand for something or you will fall for anything. "Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good..." Galatians 6:9-10 Look Up - To the Lord. "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength" Philippians 4:13 Reach Up - For something higher. As Jiminy Cricket sings "High Hopes" Always try to better yourself. Lift Up - Your Prayers. "Do not worry about anything; instead PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING" Philippians 4:6 FOLLOW Me F: forgive (Eph 4:32). Think of one person who has hurt you and extend forgiveness to them. If you can't, ask God to help O: obey (Matt 26:39). Think of one Scripture verse to obey for this week L: listen (Psalm 46:11). Make time in your schedule to listen to God this week, whether it be by taking a walk, going to Adoration or shutting the door to your room and sitting on your bed. L: love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Think of a way to say "I love you" to someone in your life. This can be done in numerous ways, like a hug, doing laundry, cooking dinner, writing a letter, etc. O: offer (Colossians 3:23-24). Do a random act of kindness this week. W: worship (Psalm 95:6). Give thanks to God for all He has done for you this week, good and bad. (By: Haley Bopp) The Bible in Fifty Words God made Adam bit Noah arked Abraham split Joseph ruled Jacob fooled Bush talked Moses balked Pharaoh plagued People walked Sea divided Tablets guided Promise landed Saul freaked David peeked Prophets warned Jesus born God walked Love talked Anger crucified Hope died Love rose Spirit flamed Word spread God remained. - Unknown Five Finger Prayer 1. Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C.S. Lewis once said, a "sweet duty". 2. The next finger is the pointing finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers. 3. The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. Pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance. 4. The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as any piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them. 5. And lastly comes our little finger; the smallest finger of all. Which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinky should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively. Seven Days Without God Makes One Weak Monday - Wash Day Lord help me wash away all my selfishness and vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility through the week ahead. Tuesday - Ironing Day Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice. I have collected through the years so that I may see the beauty in others. Wednesday - Mending Day O God, help me mend my ways so I will not set a bad example for others. Thursday - Cleaning Day Lord Jesus, Help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart. Friday - Shopping Day O God, give me the grace to shop wisely so I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love. Saturday - Cooking Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of brotherly love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness. Sunday - The Lord's Day O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart as my honored guest so I may spend the day and the rest of my life in your presence. Remember "Jesus Loves You". Amen. SOME THINGS TO THINK ABOUT "To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world." "Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to MacDonald's makes you a hamburger." "Real friends are those who, when you feel you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel you've done a permanent job." "A coincidence is when God performs a miracle, and decides to remain anonymous." "Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side." "I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to." "Lead your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip." "People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross." "Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you respond to it." "Did it ever occur to you that nothing occurs to God?" "Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep." "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." "There are two things I've learned: There is a God. And, I'm not Him." "Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked." "Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace." "When it comes time to die...make sure all you got to do is die." "Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly." 15 INTERLUDES OF LIFE 1. Don't go for looks - they can deceive; Don't go for wealth - even that fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile, 'cause only a smile makes a dark day seem bright. Hope you find that person. 2. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy and enough money to buy gifts!!! 3. When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us. 4. It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it; but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives. 5. Always put yourself in other's shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts that person, too. 6. The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them with our own image - otherwise, we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. 7. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we should know how to be grateful for that gift. 8. It takes a minute to have a crush on someone, an hour to like someone, and a day to love someone - but it takes a lifetime to forget someone. 9. Love is when you take away the feeling, the passion, the romance, and you find out you still care for that person. 10. A sad thing about life is that when you meet someone who means a lot to you only to find out in the end that it was never bound to be, you just have to let go. 11. Love starts with a smile, develops with a kiss, and ends with a tear. 12. Love comes to those who still hope, even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe, even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love, even though they've been hurt before. 13. It hurts to love someone and not be loved in return, but what is the most painful is to love someone and never find the courage to let the person know how you feel. 14. There are things you'd love to hear but you would never hear it from the person you would like to hear it from, but don't be deaf to hear it from the person who says it with his/her heart. 15. When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling - live your life so that when you die, you're smiling and everyone around you is crying. INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE 1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk. 2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson. 3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self; Respect for others and; Responsibility for all your actions. 4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck. 5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly. 6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship. 7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it. 8. Spend some time alone. 9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values. 10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer 11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time. 12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life. Do all you can to create a tranquil, harmonious home. 13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past. 14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality. 15. Be gentle with the earth. 16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before. 17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other. 18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it. 19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon. REMEMBER WHAT THIS SAYS! No man/woman is worth your tears and the only one who is, will never make you cry. If you love someone, put their name in a circle, instead of a heart, because hearts can break, but circles go on forever. Everyone hears what you say. Friends listen to what you say. Best friends listen to what you don't say. If all my friends were to jump off a bridge, I wouldn't jump with them, I'd be at the bottom to catch them. "Don't frown, because you never know who's falling in love with your smile!" "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle." ~Plato "Enthusiasm is contagious. You could start an epidemic!" 21 Things to Remember 1. No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission. 2. Most people will be about as happy as they decide to be. 3. Others can stop you temporarily, but only you can do it permanently. 4. Whatever you are willing to put up with, is exactly what you will have. 5. Success stops when you do. 6. When your ship comes in...make sure you are willing to unload it. 7. You will never "have it all together." 8. Life is a journey...not a destination. Enjoy the trip! 9. The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want, I will be happy." 10. The best way to escape your problem is to solve it. 11. I've learned that ultimately, 'takers' lose and 'givers' win. 12. Life's precious moments don't have value, unless they're shared. 13. If you don't start, it's certain you won't arrive. 14. We often fear the thing we want the most. 15. He or she who laughs....lasts! 16. Yesterday was the deadline for all complaints. 17. Look for opportunities...not guarantees. 18. Life is what's coming...not what was. 19. Success is getting up one more time. 20. Now is the most interesting time of all. 21. When things go wrong...don't go with them. Interesting Thoughts............. 1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you. 2. No man is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry. 3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to,doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. 4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart. 5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them. 6. Never frown, even when your are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile. 7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world. 8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you. 9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful. 10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened. 11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around. 12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you. 13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to. REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON. Here are 10 things for you to think about and remember today: --No one can ruin your day without YOUR permission. --Most people will be about as happy, as THEY decide to be. --Life is what's coming....not what was. --Look for opportunities...not guarantees. --Life's precious moments don't have value unless they are shared. --The biggest lie on the planet: "When I get what I want, I will be happy." --We often fear the thing we want the most. --Others can stop you temporarily, but only YOU can do it permanently. --Success is getting up one more time. --Now is the most interesting time of all Think Spring!!! I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.......... > > @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ > > \(/ \)/ \(/ \)/ \)/ \(/ \(/ \)/ Spring is just around the corner - Here are some ideas for your garden: FOR THE GARDEN OF YOUR DAILY LIVING PLANT THREE ROWS OF PEAS: > > 1. Peace of mind > > 2. Peace of heart > > 3. Peace of soul > > PLANT FOUR ROWS OF SQUASH: > > 1. Squash gossip > > 2. Squash indifference > > 3. Squash grumbling > > 4. Squash selfishness > > PLANT FOUR ROWS OF LETTUCE: > > 1. Lettuce be faithful > > 2. Lettuce be kind > > 3. Lettuce be patient > > 4. Lettuce really love one another > > NO GARDEN WITHOUT TURNIPS: > > 1. Turnip for meetings > > 2. Turnip for service > > 3. Turnip to help one another > > TO CONCLUDE OUR GARDEN WE MUST HAVE THYME: > > 1. Thyme for each other > > 2. Thyme for family > > 3. Thyme for friends > > WATER FREELY WITH PATIENCE AND CULTIVATE WITH LOVE THERE IS MUCH FRUIT IN YOUR GARDEN BECAUSE YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW. Love starts with a smile, grows with a kiss, and ends with a tear. Don't cry over anyone who won't cry over you. If love isn't a game, why are there so many players? Good friends are hard to find, harder to leave, and impossible to forget. You can only go as far as you push. Actions speak louder than words. The hardest thing to do is watch the one you love, love somebody else. Don't let the past hold you back, you're missing the good stuff. Life's short. If you don't look around once in a while you might miss it. A best friend is like a four leaf clover, hard to find and lucky to have. Some people make the world special just by being in it. Best friends are the siblings God forgot to give us. When it hurts to look back, and you're scared to look ahead, you can look beside you and your best friend will be there. True friendship never ends. Friends are forever. Good friends are like stars.... You don't always see them, but you know they are always there. Don't frown. You never know who is falling in love with your smile. The only person who can make you stop crying is the person who made you cry. Nobody is perfect until you fall in love with them. Everything is okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end. Most people walk in and out of your life, But only friends leave footprints in your heart.