What Makes a Dad - Author Unknown

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

The Cab Ride Author Unknown

Twenty years ago, I drove a cab for a living. It was a cowboy's life,
a life
for someone who wanted no boss. What I didn't realize was that it was
also a
ministry. Because I drove the night shift, my cab became a moving
confessional. Passengers climbed in, sat behind me in total anonymity,
and
told me about their lives. I encountered people whose lives amazed me,
ennobled me, made me laugh and weep. But none touched me more than a
woman I
picked up late one August night.

I responded to a call from a small brick fourplex in a quiet part of
town.
I assumed I was being sent to pick up some partiers, or someone who
had just
had a fight with a lover, or a worker heading to an early shift at
some
factory in the industrial part of town. When I arrived at 2:30 a.m.,
the
building was dark except for a single light in a ground floor window.

Under these circumstances, many drivers would just honk once or twice,
wait
a minute, then drive away. But I had seen too many impoverished people
who
depended on taxis as their only means of transportation. Unless a
situation
smelled of danger, I always went to the door. This passenger might be
someone who needed my assistance, I reasoned to myself. So I walked to
the
door and knocked.

"Just a minute," answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear
something
being dragged across the floor. After a long pause, the door opened. A
small
woman in her 80s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a
pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's
movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no
one
had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There
were no clocks on the walls, no knick-knacks or utensils on the
counters. In
the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

"Would you carry my bag out to the car?" she said.

I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman. She
took
my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for
my
kindness.

"It's nothing," I told her. "I just try to treat my passengers the way
I
would want my mother treated."

"Oh, you're such a good boy," she said.

When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, then asked, "Could you
drive
through downtown?"

"It's not the shortest way," I answered quickly.

"Oh, I don't mind," she said. "I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a
hospice".

I looked in the rearview mirror. Her eyes were glistening.

"I don't have any family left," she continued. "The doctor says I
don't have
very long."

I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

"What route would you like me to take?" I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the
building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove
through
the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were
newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that
had
once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl. Sometimes
she'd
ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would
sit
staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said,
"I'm
tired. Let's go now."

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low
building,
like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a
portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were
solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been
expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the
door.
The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

"How much do I owe you?" she asked, reaching into her purse.

"Nothing," I said.

"You have to make a living," she answered.

"There are other passengers," I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me
tightly.

"You gave an old woman a little moment of joy," she said. "Thank you."

I squeezed her hand, then walked into the dim morning light. Behind
me, a
door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly,
lost in
thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that
woman
had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What
if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven
away? On a
quick review, I don't think that I have done very many more important
things
in my life.

We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great
moments. But
great moments often catch us unaware - beautifully wrapped in what
others
may consider small ones.

Tax Assessor Author Unknown

A tax assessor came one day to a poor pastor to determine the amount
of taxes the pastor would have to pay. The following conversation took
place;

"What property do you possess?" asked the assessor.

"I am a very wealthy man," replied the minister.

"List your possessions, please," the assessor instructed.

"First, I have everlasting life (John 3:16).

"Second, I have a mansion in heaven (John 14:2).

"Third, I have peace that passeth understanding (Philippians 4:7).

"Fourth, I have joy unspeakable (1 Peter 1:8).

"Fifth, I have divine love which never faileth (1 Corinthians 13:8).

"Sixth, I have a faithful precious wife (Proverbs 31:10).

"Seventh, I have healthy, happy obedient children (Exodus 20:12).

"Eighth, I have true, loyal friend (Proverbs 18:24).

"Ninth, I have songs in the night (Psalms 42:8).

"Tenth, I have a crown of life (James 1:12)."

The tax assessor closed his book, and said, "Truly you are a very rich
man, but your wealth is not subject to taxation.

THEN WHY DON'T WE PRAY? Author Unknown

The highest privilege ever afforded to man is the power of prayer.

...then why don't we pray?

The right to talk to the highest potentate in all the universe...

...then why don't we pray?

The most powerful force accessible to man is the potential of
prayer...

...then why don't we pray?

The greatest longing in the heart of God is to talk to His children...

...then why don't we pray?

Nothing is impossible to those who pray...

...then why don't we pray?

No man ever fainted or faltered who gave himself to prayer...

...then why don't we pray?

Every sin is forgiven, every stain is washed clean, all guilt
diminished to
the man who prays...

...then why don't we pray?

Hell moves farther away, satan flees from the man who prays...

...then why don't we pray?

Anointing will come, mountains will be moved, valleys made smooth,
rivers made crossable, the inaccessible made accessible, the
impossible made possible, dreams come through to the man who prays...

...then why don't we pray?

Jesus said that men ought always to pray...

...then why don't we pray?

Paul encouraged prayer without ceasing...

...then why don't we pray?

The riches of heaven are open to those who pray in His name...

...then why don't we pray?

Everyone can pray, the young, the old, the rich, the poor, the strong,
the weak, the child, the aged, the sinner, the prisoner, in any
nation, in any language, all can pray...

...then why don't we pray?

The Awakening Author Unknown

A time comes in your life when you finally get it...when, in the midst
of
all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and
somewhere the
voice inside your head cries out - ENOUGH!

Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on. And, like a child
quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you
shudder
once or twice, you blink back your tears and begin to look at the
world
through new eyes.

This is your awakening.

You realize it's time to stop hoping and waiting for something to
change...or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over
the
next horizon.

You come to terms with the fact that neither of you is Prince Charming
or
Cinderella and that in the real world there aren't always fairy tale
endings
(or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of "happily
ever
after" must begin with you...and in the process a sense of serenity is
born
of acceptance.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone
will
always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are ... and
that's OK.

They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

And you learn the importance of loving and championing yourself...and
in the
process a sense of new found confidence is born of self-approval.

You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did
to you
(or didn't do for you) and you learn that the only thing you can
really
count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don't always say what they mean or mean what
they say
and that not everyone will always be there for you and that it's not
always
about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and to take care of yourself...and
in the
process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance.

You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people
as they
are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties..and in the
process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

You realize that much of the way you view yourself, and the world
around
you, is as a result of all the messages and opinions that have been
ingrained into your psyche.

And you begin to sift through all the junk you've been fed about how
you
should behave, how you should look, how much you should weigh, what
you
should wear, what you should do for a living, how much money you
should
make, what you should drive, how and where you should live, who you
should
marry, the importance of having and raising children, and what you owe
your
parents, family, and friends.

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view.

And you begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you
really
stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to
discard the doctrines and values you've outgrown, or should never have
bought into to begin with ... and in the process you learn to go with
your
instincts.

You learn that it is truly in giving that we receive.

And that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you
stop
maneuvering through life merely as a "consumer" looking for your next
fix.

You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the
outdated
ideals of a bygone era but the mortar that holds together the
foundation
upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don't know everything, it's not your job to save
the
world and that you can't teach a pig to sing.

You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the
importance
of setting boundaries and learning to say NO.

You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry
and
that martyrs get burned at the stake.

Then you learn about love.

How to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to
walk
away.

You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you
would
have them be.

You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes.

And you learn that alone does not mean lonely.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside,
smoothing
things over and ignoring your needs.

You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK....and that it
is
your right to want things and to ask for the things you want ... and
that
sometimes it is necessary to make demands.

You come to the realization that you deserve to be treated with love,
kindness, sensitivity and respect and you won't settle for less.

And you learn that your body really is your temple.

And you begin to care for it and treat it with respect.

You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time
to
exercise.

You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so
you
take more time to rest.

And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul.

So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe
you
deserve...and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that
wishing for something to happen is different than working toward
making it
happen.

More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need
direction, discipline and perseverance.

You also learn that no one can do it all alone...and that it's OK to
risk
asking for help.

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is the greatest robber
baron of
all: FEAR itself.

You learn to step right into and through your fears because you know
that
whatever happens you can handle it and to give in to fear is to give
away
the right to live life on your own terms.

And you learn to fight for your life and not to squander it living
under a
cloud of impending doom.

You learn that life isn't always fair, you don't always get what you
think
you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good
people.

On these occasions you learn not to personalize things.

You learn that God isn't punishing you or failing to answer your
prayers.

It's just life happening.

And you learn to deal with evil in its most primal state - the ego.

You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment
must be
understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you
and
poison the universe that surrounds you.

You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of
walls.

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple
things we
take for granted, things that millions of people upon the earth can
only
dream about: a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm
bed, a
long hot shower.

Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and
you
make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever
settle
for less than your heart's desire.

And you hang a wind chime outside your window so you can listen to the
wind.

And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, and to stay
open
to every wonderful possibility.

Finally, with courage in your heart and God by your side you take a
stand,
you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to
live as
best you can.

THREE GREAT LESSONS OF LIFE

The Turtle, The Frogs & The Pretty Lady
Author Unknown

We learn a lot through our experiences in life. The following 3
examples of TURTLES, FROGS and THE PRETTY LADY teach us some lesson.

Enjoy reading the same and do ponder over them.

*****

The Turtles
A turtle family decided to go on a picnic. The turtles, being
naturally slow about things, took seven years to prepare for their
outing. Finally the turtle family left home looking for a suitable
place. During the second year of their journey they found a place
ideal for them at last!

For about six months they cleaned the area, unpacked the picnic
basket, and completed the arrangements. Then they discovered they had
forgotten the salt. A picnic without salt would be a disaster, they
all agreed. After a lengthy discussion, the youngest turtle was chosen
to retrieve the salt from home. Although he was the fastest of the
slow moving turtles, the little turtle whined, cried, and wobbled in
his shell. He agreed to go on one condition: that no one would eat
until he returned. The family consented and the little turtle left.

Three years passed and the little turtle had not returned. Five
years...six years... then on the seventh year of his absence, the
oldest turtle could no longer contain his hunger. He announced that he
was going to eat and begun to unwrap a sandwich. At that point the
little turtle suddenly popped out from behind a tree shouting, 'See! I
knew you wouldn't wait. Now I am not going to go get the salt.'

[Some of us waste our time waiting for people to live up to our
expectations. We are so concerned about what others are doing that we
do not do anything ourselves.]

*****

The Frogs

A farmer came into town and asked the owner of a restaurant if he
could use a million frog legs. The restaurant owner was shocked and
asked the man where he could get so many frog legs! The farmer
replied, 'There is a pond near my house that is full of frogs -
millions of them. They all croak all night long and they are about to
make me crazy!' So the restaurant owner and the farmer made an
agreement that the farmer would deliver frogs to the restaurant, five
hundred at a time for the next several weeks.

The first week, the farmer returned to the restaurant looking rather
sheepish, with two scrawny little frogs. The restaurant owner said,
'Well... where are all the frogs?' The farmer said, 'I was mistaken.
There were only these two frogs in the pond. But they sure were making
a lot of noise!'

[ Next time you hear somebody criticizing or making fun of you,
remember, it's probably just a couple of noisy frogs. Also remember
that problems always seem bigger in the dark. Have you ever laid in
your bed at night worrying about things which seem almost overwhelming
like a million frogs croaking? Chances are pretty good that when the
morning comes, and you take a closer look, you'll wonder what all the
fuss was about.]

*****

The Pretty Lady

Once upon a time a big monk and a little monk were traveling together.
They came to the bank of a river and found the bridge was damaged.
They had to wade across the river. There was a pretty lady who was
stuck at the damaged bridge and couldn't cross the river.


The big monk offered to carry her across the river on his back. The
lady accepted. The little monk was shocked by the move of the big
monk. 'How can big brother carry a lady when we are supposed to avoid
all intimacy with females?' thought the little monk. But he kept
quiet.. The big monk carried the lady across the river and the small
monk followed unhappily.

When they crossed the river, the big monk let the lady down and they
parted ways with her.

All along the way for several miles, the little monk was very unhappy
with the act of the big monk. He was making up all kinds of
accusations about big monk in his head. This got him madder and
madder. But he still kept quiet. And the big monk had no inclination
to explain his situation.

Finally, at a rest point many hours later, the little monk could not
stand it any further, he burst out angrily at the big monk. 'How can
you claim yourself a devout monk, when you seize the first opportunity
to touch a female, especially when she is very pretty? All your
teachings to me make
you a big hypocrite

The big monk looked surprised and said, 'I had put down the pretty
lady at the river bank many hours ago, how come you are still carrying
her along?'

[This very old story reflects the thinking of many people today. We
encounter many unpleasant things in our life, they irritate us and
they make us angry. Sometimes, they cause us a lot of hurt, sometimes
they cause us to be bitter or jealous .. But like the little monk, we
are not willing to let them go away.We keep on carrying the baggage of the 'pretty lady' with us. We let them keep on coming back to hurt us, make us angry, make us
bitter and cause us a lot of agony.Why? Simply because we are not
willing to put down or let go of the baggage of the 'pretty lady'. We
should let go of the pretty lady immediately after crossing the river.
This will immediately remove all our agonies.There is no need to be
further hurt by the unpleasant event after it is over.]