Monday, March 23, 2015
Saturday, March 21, 2015
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.
Friday, March 20, 2015
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.
Saturday, March 14, 2015
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?
Thursday, March 12, 2015
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?”
Bila ingin memberi, lakukan saja
kerana semuanya akan kembali ke kita juga.
Friday, March 6, 2015
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.
Tuesday, March 3, 2015
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.
Sunday, March 1, 2015
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."
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