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The Date With Mom Part 1

After 21 years of marriage, my wife wanted me to take another woman out to dinner and a movie. She said, "I love you, but I know this other woman loves you and would love to spend some time with you."

The other woman that my wife wanted me to visit was my mother, who has been a widow for 19 years, but the demands of my work and my three children had made it possible to visit her only occasionally.

That night I called to invite her to go out for dinner and a movie.

"What's wrong, are you well," she asked? My mother is the type of woman who suspects that a late night call or a surprise invitation is a sign of bad news.

"I thought that it would be pleasant to spend some time with you," I responded, "just the two of us." She thought about it for a moment, and then said, "I would like that very much."

As I drove over to pick her up that Friday after work I was a bit nervous. When I arrived at her house, I noticed that she, too, seemed to be nervous about our date. She waited in the door with her coat on. She had curled her hair and was wearing the dress that she had worn to celebrate her last wedding anniversary.

She smiled from a face that was as radiant as an angel's. "I told my friends that I was going to go out with my son, and they were impressed," she said, as she got into the car. "They can't wait to hear about our meeting."

We went to a restaurant that, although not elegant, was very nice and cozy. My mother took my arm as if she were the First Lady. After we sat down, I had to read the menu. Her eyes could only read large print. Half way through the entries, I lifted my eyes and saw Mother sitting there staring at me. A nostalgic smile was on her lips.

"It was I who used to have to read the menu when you were small," she said. "Then it's time that you relax and let me return the favor," I responded. During the dinner, we had an agreeable conversation; nothing extraordinary but catching up on recent events of each other's life. 

We talked so much that we missed the movie. As we arrived at her house later, she said, "I'll go out with you again, but only if you let me invite you." I agreed. "How was your dinner date?" asked my wife when I got home. "Very nice, much more so than I could have imagined," I answered.

The Date With Mom Part 2

A few days later, my mother died of a massive heart attack. It happened so suddenly that I didn't have a chance to do anything for her. Some time later, I received an envelope with a copy of a restaurant receipt from the same place Mother and I had dined.

An attached note said: "I paid this bill in advance. I wasn't sure that I could be there; but nevertheless, I paid for two plates - one for you and the other for your wife. You will never know what that night meant for me. I love you, son."

At that moment, I understood the importance of saying in time: "I LOVE YOU" and to give our loved ones the time that they deserve. Nothing in life is more important than your family. Give them the time they deserve, because these things cannot be put off till "some other time."

Somebody said it takes about six weeks to get back to normal after you've had a baby. Somebody doesn't know that once you're a mother, "normal" is history.

Somebody said you can't love the second child as much as you love the first. Somebody doesn't have two or more children.

Somebody said the hardest part of being a mother is labor and delivery. Somebody never watched her "baby" get on the bus for the first day of kindergarten or on a plane headed for military "boot camp."

Somebody said a mother can stop worrying after her child gets married. Somebody doesn't know that marriage adds a new son or daughter-in-law to a mother's heart strings.

Somebody said a mother's job is done when her last child leaves home. Somebody never had grandchildren.

Somebody said your mother knows you love her, so you don’t need to tell her. Somebody isn't a mother.

Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.

"Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle".

Lessons on Life

There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent them each on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away.

The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in summer, and the youngest son in the fall.

When they had all gone and come back, he called them together to describe what they had seen.

The first son said that the tree was ugly, bent, and twisted.

The second son said no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.

The third son disagreed; he said it was laden with blossoms that smelled so sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.

The last son disagreed with all of them; he said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.

The man then explained to his sons that they were all right, because they had each seen but only one season in the tree's life.

He told them that you cannot judge a tree, or a person, by only one season, and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.

If you give up when it's winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer, fulfillment of your fall.

Moral:

Don't let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.

Don't judge life by one difficult season.

Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come sometime or later.

REASON, A SEASON Or A LIFE TIME

People come into your life for a REASON, a SEASON or a LIFE TIME.

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, It is usually to meet a need.

You have expressed.

They have come to assist you though a difficulty,

To provide you with guidance and support,

To aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend and they are....

They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time,

This person will say or do something to bring the relationship to and end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes the act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realized is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled,

Their work is done.

The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON.

Because your turn has come to share, grow or learn.

They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh.

They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it, it is real.

But only for a season.

LIFE TIME Relationships teach you life time lessons things you must built upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

You job is to accept the lesson. Love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and are as of your life.

It is said that Love is blind but Friendship is Clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life. Whether you were, a REASON, a SEASON or a LIFE TIME.

Ya Tuhanku, Kenapa Engkau Tidak Menolongku?

Ada seorang lelaki yang tinggal di dekat sebuah sungai.  Musim hujan sudah bermula. Hampir tidak ada hari tanpa hujan baik hujan rintik-rintik maupun hujan lebat.

Pada suatu hari terjadi bencana di daerah tersebut. Kerana hujan turun dengan lebat tanpa berhenti, aras air sungai semakin lama semakin naik, dan akhirnya terjadilah banjir.

Saat itu banjir sudah sampai ketinggian lutut orang dewasa. Daerah tersebut perlahan-lahan mulai tenggelam. Orang-orang sudah banyak yang mulai meninggalkan daerah tersebut, takut kalau permukaan air semakin tinggi.

Berbeza dengan orang lain, lelaki tersebut tampak tenang tinggal dirumah. Akhirnya datanglah loripenyelamat berhenti di depan rumah lelaki tersebut.

“Tuan, cepat masuk naik lori ini, tidak lama lagi banjir akan semakin teruk”, teriak salah seorang penyelemat itu.

Si lelaki menjawab: “Tidak, terima kasih, anda terus saja menolong yang lain. Saya pasti akan diselamatkan Tuhan. Saya ini kan sangat rajin berdoa.”

Setelah beberapa kali dipujuk, akhirnya lori tersebut meneruskan perjalanan untuk menolong yang lain.

Permukaan air semakin tinggi. Ketinggian mulai mencapai 1.5 meter. Lelaki tersebut masih di rumah, duduk di atas almari. Datanglah pula pasukan penyelamat dengan perahu penyelamat dan berhenti di depan rumah lelaki tersebut.

“Tuan, cepat ikut kami, naik perahu ini. Keadan semakin tidak terkawal. Kemungkinan air akan semakin tinggi.”

Sekali lagi lelaki tersebut berkata: ” Terima kasih, tidak payah menolong saya, saya orang yang beriman, saya yakin Tuhan akan selamatkan saya dari keadaan ini.”

Sudahnya pasukan penyelamat pergi tanpa dapat membawa lelaki tersebut.

Ramalan banjir akan semakin buruk ternyata menjadi kenyatan. Ketinggian air sudah sedemikian tinggi sehingga air sudah hampir menenggelamkan rumah-rumah disitu. Lelaki itu kelihatan terus berdoa di atas bumbung rumahnya.

Datanglah sebuah helikopter serta pasukan penyelamat. Pasukan penyelamat melihat ada seorang lelaki duduk di atas bumbung rumahnya. Mereka melempar tangga tali dari pesawat. Dari atas terdengar suara dari pembesar suara; ” Tuan, cepat pegang tali itu dan naiklah kesini.“

Sekali lagi lelaki tersebut menjawab dengan berteriak; “Terima kasih, tidak perlu anda susah-susah menolong saya. Saya orang yang beriman dan rajin berdoa. Tuhan pasti akan menyelamatkan saya.”

Ketinggian banjir semakin lama semakin tinggi, dan akhirnya seluruh rumah di daerah tersebut sudah ditenggelami air.

Bagaimana nasib lelaki tersebut?

Lelaki tersebut akhirnya mati tenggelam.

Di akhirat dia dihadapkan pada Tuhan. Lelaki ini kemudian mulai berbicara dengan nada protes; ”Ya Tuhan, aku selalu berdoa padamu, selalu ingat padamu, tapi kenapa aku tidak engkau selamatkan dari banjir itu?”

Tuhan menjawab dengan singkat; “Aku selalu mendengar doa-doamu, untuk itulah aku telah mengirimkan lori, kemudian perahu dan terakhir pesawat helikopter. Tetapi kenapa kamu tidak ikut salah satupun?”

Pelajaran: Demikianlah juga dalam kehidupan ini, kita bekerja dan selalu memohon doa kepada Allah S.W.T. Dan Allah sentiasa mengirimkan “lori”, “perahu”, dan “helikopter” kepada kita, tapi kenapa kita tidak menyedarinya?

Ulat dan Pohon Mangga

Seekor ulat yang kelaparan terdampar di tanah tandus. Dengan lemas ia menghampiri pohon mangga sambil berkata, “Aku lapar, bolehkah aku makan daunmu?”

Pohon mangga menjawab, “Tanah di sini tandus, daunku pun tidak banyak. Apabila kau makan daunku, nanti akan berlubang dan tidak kelihatan cantik lagi. Lalu aku mungkin akan mati kekeringan. 

Hmmm… tapi baiklah, kau boleh naik dan memakan daunku. Mungkin hujan akan datang dan daunku akan tumbuh kembali.”

Ulat naik dan mulai makan daun-daun. Ia hidup di atas pohon itu sampai menjadi kepompong dan akhirnya berubah menjadi kupu-kupu yang cantik.

“Hai pohon mangga, lihatlah aku sudah menjadi kupu-kupu. Terima kasih kerana telah mengizinkan aku hidup di tubuhmu. Sebagai balas budi, aku akan membawa debunga hingga bungamu dapat berbuah.”

Dalam hidup kita sering memperhitungkan untung rugi pengorbanan yang dilakukan. “Jika saya memberi, saya akan kekurangan. Bagaimana mengatasinya?” Atau, “Bagaimana kalau ternyata saya ditipu?”

Tapi sedarkah kita, setiap kita memberi, ada sepercik bahagia wujud dalam hati? Seseorang pernah berkata, “Lakukan apa yang menjadi bahagianmu, dan jangan berfikir apa yang akan kita dapat.”

Bila ingin memberi, lakukan saja kerana semuanya akan kembali ke kita juga.

The One Thing You Never Run Out Of.

It was a sweltering hot day and I was longing to go swimming at the local pool. Instead, I was riding in the back seat of the car as my parents drove to a friend's house. They were going to lend a hand to a community work camp repairing her roof and porch.

As an eight year old boy I knew that there wouldn't be much for me to do and I was right. In the end I fetched a few hammers, threw away some scrap pieces of wood, and spent the rest of the time sitting in the yard watching.

The work camp was mostly made up of teenagers who had given up part of their vacation to help others. They were supervised by the head of the camp and a few skilled carpenters who were also working free of charge. I spent most of that afternoon sitting in the shade while they sweated in the sunshine.

They were cutting boards and hammering them in place. They were pulling out rotted tiles and nailing in new ones. They were scraping off the old paint and brushing on the new. They were doing it all too with an energy of joy. They shared stories and smiles. They shared jokes and laughter. They shared a spirit of caring that was beautiful to behold.

Finally our friend called me into the house to help her pay them with the two things she could afford: sweet tea and smiles. I gingerly carried out the glasses to the workers who downed them with gusto. By the end of the day the three gallons of tea were gone. The workers were out of nails, paint, and lumber but the job was done.

There was one thing left, however. It was the one thing that you never run out of. It was the one thing that you can't give away without having even more of it.

It was Love. It lightened our spirits. It lifted our smiles. It made us feel at one with both Heaven and God. I went home with a heart full of it and was happier than any day at the pool could have made me.

Don't be afraid to share your love every chance you can then. Share it with your work. Share it with your smile. Share it with your life. You will never run out. You will always have more. And you will forever feel bless.

The Real Gift

I was watching some reunion videos the other day. Those are the ones where the serviceman or servicewoman returns home after many months to surprise their families. One in particular widened my smile and moistened my eyes at the same time.

In it a five year old little girl was celebrating her birthday party. After blowing out the candles on her birthday cake it was time to open her presents. She seemed especially delighted when she opened up a box holding a new doll. Just then, however, her Dad walked out from behind a wall and tapped her on her shoulder.

She looked up at him, screamed, dropped her doll, and jumped into his arms. Then she began to cry tears of pure joy while telling her Daddy how she loved him and how she had missed him. During all of this the doll lay forgotten on the floor. That wise little girl knew what her real gift was.

In this life we all need to realize that the real gift we give isn't just reserved for birthdays. The real gift we give every single day. The real gift we give is ourselves. The money we spend and the things we buy mean little in comparison.

The real gift is in the love we share. The real gift is in the hugs we share. The real gift is in the smiles we spread. The real gift is in the time we spend. The real gift is in the very life we live.

Leo Buscaglia once said: "This life is God's gift to you. How you live it is your gift to God." May you make your real gift the best gift imaginable then. May you increase your wisdom, nurture your love, build up your kindness, and grow your joy.

May you make yourself the best person you can possibly be. And may you give that glorious gift of yourself to others, and to God. If you do so you will have happiness. If you do so you will spread goodness. If you do so you will bring a whole lot of Heaven down here to Earth.

Kapal yang Karam

Ini perkongsian seorang sahabat dalam satu whatsapp baru-baru ini ...

Sebuah kapal persiaran terlibat dengan kemalangan di laut, di dalamnya ada satu pasangan, selepas berusaha untuk mencari bot penyelamat, mereka menyedari cuma tinggal tempat untuk seorang. Macam Titanic pula kan?

Dengan serta merta, lelaki itu meninggalkan wanita yang bersamanya dan melompat masuk ke dalam bot penyelamat sendirian.

Wanita itu berdiri di kapal yang sedang tenggelam dan menjerit satu patah perkataan kepada suaminya.

Cikgu kemudian berhenti bercerita dan bertanya, "Rasanya la kan, apa yang dia jeritkan?"

Hampir semua murid menjawab, "Aku bencikan kau! Tak berhati perut!"

Cikgu perasan seorang muridnya yang diam sahaja lalu bertanya kepadanya, "Cikgu, saya percaya dia mesti cakap - Jaga anak-anak kita baik-baik!"

Cikgu itu terkejut, lalu bertanya, "Awak pernah dengar cerita ini ke?"

Budak itu menggelengkan kepalanya, "Tak, tapi itulah yang mak saya beritahu ayah sebelum dia meninggal kerana penyakit."

Ciku kemudian menyambung, "Betul jawapan tu."

Kapal itu tenggelam, manakala lelaki itu pulang dan membesarkan anak-anak mereka sendirian.

Beberapa tahun selepas meninggalnya lelaki itu, anak mereka menjumpai diari ayah mereka semasa mereka mengemas.

Rupanya semasa orang tua mereka menaiki kapal persiaran, ibu mereka sudah disahkan mengidap penyakit yang akan meragut nyawa.

Ayah mereka menulis, "Alangkah baiknya jika saya tenggelam ke dalam lautan bersamamu, namun demi anak-anak kita, saya tinggalkan kamu bersemadi di dalam laut keseorangan."

Cikgu sudah berhenti bercerita, namun kelas tersebut masih sunyi.

Cikgu itu tahu anak muridnya memahami pengajaran cerita tersebut, walaupun ada yang baik dan yang buruk di dunia ini, masih banyak lagi kisah disabaliknya yang sukar untuk difahami.

Itulah sebabnya kita jangan sesekali lihat luaran sahaja dan menghukum orang lain tanpa memahami mereka dulu.

Mereka yang suka belanja makan, bukan kerana mereka berharta tapi sebab mereka meletakkan persahabatan melebihi duit.

Mereka yang rajin bekerja, bukan kerana mereka tunjuk pandai tapi sebab mereka memahami maksud tanggungjawab.

Mereka yang memohon maaf dulu selepas pergaduhan, bukan kerana mereka salah tapi sebab mereka menghargai orang di sekeliling mereka.

Mereka yang sukarela membantu anda, bukan kerana mereka berhutang apa-apa tapi sebab mereka lihat anda sebagai seorang sahabat.

Mereka yang selalu sms anda, bukan kerana mereka tak ada benda lain nak buat tapi sebab mereka mengingati anda.

Satu hari, kita semua akan terpisah, kita akan terkenangkan pelbagai perbualan dan impian yang kita ada.

Hari berganti hari, bulan, tahun, hingga hubungan ini menjadi asing.

Satu hari anak kita akan jumpa gambar kita dan bertanya, "Siapa mereka semua tu?"

Dan kita tersenyum dengan air mata yang tidak kelihatan kerana hati ini terusik dengan kata yang sayu, lalu berkata,

"DENGAN MEREKALAH SAYA ADA HARI YANG PALING INDAH DALAM HIDUP SAYA."