A water-bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on the end of a pole which he carried across his neck.
One of the pots was perfectly made and never leaked. The other pot had a crack in it and by the time the water-bearer reached his master's house, it had leaked much of its water and was only half full.
For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one-and-a-half pots full of water to his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.
But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and felt miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water-bearer by the stream one day.
"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologise to you."
"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"
"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because of this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaw, you have to do all this work, yet not get full value for your efforts," the pot said.
The water-bearer felt sorry for the pot, and in his compassion, said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to take note of the beautiful flowers along the path."
Indeed, as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot looked at the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers along the path, and was a bit cheered. But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad about leaking out half its load. So again, it apologised to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said: "Did you notice that there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's? That's because I had always known about your flaw, and took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day as we walked back from the stream, you had watered them.
"For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked pots. But if we allow it, God will use our flaws to grace his table. In God's great economy, nothing goes to waste.
Don't be afraid of your flaws. Acknowledge them, and you, too, can be the cause of beauty. Know that in our weakness we find our strength.
From Starmag
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Counting by Marbles
The older I get, the more I enjoy Saturday mornings. Perhaps it's the quiet solitude that comes with being the first to rise, or maybe it's the unbounded joy of not having to be at work. Either way, the first few hours of a Saturday morning are most enjoyable. A few weeks ago, I was shuffling toward the kitchen with a teaming cup of coffee in one hand and the morning paper in the other. What began as a typical Saturday morning turned into one of those lessons that life seems to hand you from time to time. Let me tell you about it.
I turned the volume up on my radio in order to listen to a Saturday morning talk show. I heard an older sounding chap with a golden voice. You know, the kind: he sounded like he should be in the broadcasting business.
He was talking about "a thousand marbles" to someone named "Tom". I was intrigued and sat down to listen to what he had to say.
"Well, Tom, it sure sounds like you're busy with your job. I'm sure they pay you well but it's a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work 60 or 70 hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed you daughter's dance recital."
He continued, "Let me tell you something, Tom; something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities."
And that's when he began to explain his theory of a "thousand marbles."
"You see, I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about 75 years. I know, some live more and some live less, but on average, folks live about 75 years.
"Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3,900 which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me, Tom, I'm getting to the important part.
"It took me until I was 55 years to think about all this in any detail," he went on, "and by that time I had lived through over twenty-eight hundred Saturdays. I got to thinking, that if I lived to be 75, I had only about a thousand of them left to enjoy.
"So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I ended up having to visit three toy stores to round-up 1,000 marbles. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in my workshop next to the radio. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away.
"I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities straight.
"Now let me tell you one last thing before I sign-off with you and take my lovely wife out for breakfast. This mornings, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time.
"It was nice talking to you, Tom, I hope you spend more time with your loved ones, and I hope to meet you again someday. Have a good morning!"
You could have heard a pin drop when he finished. Even the show moderator didn't have anything to say for a few moments. I guess he gave us all a lot to think about.
I had planned to do some work that morning, then go to the gym. Instead, I went upstairs and woke my wife up with a kiss.
"C'mon honey, I'm taking you and the kids to breakfast."
"What brought this on?" she asked with a smile.
"Oh, nothing special, it's just been a long time since we spent a Saturday together with the kids. Hey, can we stop at a toy store while we're out? I need to buy some marbles."
Sent to Starmag by Wong Sai Wan
Friday, May 14, 2010
Give As You Receive
He almost didn't see the old lady stranded on the side of the road. But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of herr Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.
Despite the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.
He could see she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was a chill which only fear can put in you. He said: "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan."
Well, all she had was a flat tyre, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car to look for a place to put the jack; he skinned his knuckles once or twice. Seen he was able to change the tyre. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She was from St Louis and was just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.
Bryan never thought twice about money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were many who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, Bryan added, "...and think of me." He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy-looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out-of-work actor - it didn't ring much.
The waitress came over and brought a clean towel for her to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was heavily pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.
After she finished her meal, and the waitress had gone to get change for her hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped out through the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress was wondering where the lady could have gone when she noticed something written on the napkin, under which was four $100 bills. There were tears in her eyes as she read what the lady had written:
"You don't owe me anything...I have been there too. Somebody helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you can do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home and climbed into bed, she thought about the money and the lady's words.
How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband had been.. As he lay sleeping beside her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low: "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan."
There is an old saying: "What goes around comes around."
Sent to Starmag by Daphne Eng
Despite the smile on his face, she was worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.
He could see she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was a chill which only fear can put in you. He said: "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan."
Well, all she had was a flat tyre, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car to look for a place to put the jack; he skinned his knuckles once or twice. Seen he was able to change the tyre. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.
As he was tightening the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She was from St Louis and was just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid. Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. She asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been alright with her. She had imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.
Bryan never thought twice about money. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were many who had given him a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way. He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, Bryan added, "...and think of me." He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed home, disappearing into the twilight.
A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home. It was a dingy-looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The cash register was like the telephone of an out-of-work actor - it didn't ring much.
The waitress came over and brought a clean towel for her to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was heavily pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.
After she finished her meal, and the waitress had gone to get change for her hundred dollar bill, the lady slipped out through the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress was wondering where the lady could have gone when she noticed something written on the napkin, under which was four $100 bills. There were tears in her eyes as she read what the lady had written:
"You don't owe me anything...I have been there too. Somebody helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you can do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."
Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home and climbed into bed, she thought about the money and the lady's words.
How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband had been.. As he lay sleeping beside her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low: "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan."
There is an old saying: "What goes around comes around."
Sent to Starmag by Daphne Eng
Thursday, May 13, 2010
The Hidden Heart
It all started when I was six years old. While I was playing outside on my farm in California, I met a boy. He was an average kind of boy who teased you and then you chased him and beat him up. After that first meeting at which I beat him up, we kept on meeting and beating each other up at the fence. That only lasted for a little while, though. We would meet at the fence all the time and I would tell him all my secrets. He was very quiet, he would just listen to what I had to say. I found him easy to talk to and I could talk to him about everything.
In school, we had separate friends but when we got home we would always talk about what happened in school. One day, I said to him that a guy I liked hurt me and broke my heart. He just comforted me and said everything would be okay. He gave me words of encouragement and helped me get over him. I was happy and thought of him as a real friend. But I knew that there was something else about him that I liked. I thought of it that night and figured it was just a friend kinda thing that I was feeling.
All through high school we were always together and, of course, I thought that we were just friends. But I knew deep inside that I really felt differently. On graduation night, even though we had different dates to the prom, I wanted to be with him. That night, after everybody went home, I went to his house and told him that I wanted to talk to him. Well, that night was my big chance and all I did was just sit there with him, watching the stars and talking about what I was going to do and what he was going to do.
I went home hurting because I didn't tell him how I felt. I wanted to tell him so bad that I loved him but I was too scared and frightened. I let my feelings go and told myself that, someday, I would tell him just how I felt. All through college I wanted to tell him but he always had someone with him. After graduation he got a job in New York; I was happy for him, but at the same time, I was sad to see him go. I cried as I hugged him for what I felt was going to be the last time. I went home that night and cried my eyes out. I felt hurt that I didn't tell him what I had inside my heart.
Well, I got a job as a secretary and then worked my way up to become a computer analyst. I was proud of what I had accomplished. One day, I received a letter with an invitation to a wedding. It was from him. I was happy and sad at the same time. Now I knew that I could never be with him and that we could only be friends. I went to the wedding the next month and I fell in love one more time. But I held back so it wouldn't spoil what should be the happiest day in his life. I tried to have fun that night but it was killing me inside watching him being so happy while I was covering up my sadness. I came home and just tried to forget him. I had to go on with my life.
As the years went by, we wrote to each other about what was going on and how we missed talking to each other. Then suddenly, he stopped writing. After six letters had gone unreplied, when everything seemed hopeless and sad in my life, I got a note that said: "Meet me at the fence where we used to talk about things." I went and saw him there. I was happy to see him, but he was broken-hearted and sad. We hugged until we couldn't breathe. Then he told me about the divorce and why he hadn't written for a long time. He cried until he couldn't cry anymore. Finally, we went back to the house and talked and laughed about what I had been doing and catching up on old times. But I still couldn't tell him how I felt about him.
In the days that followed, he had fun and forgot about all his problems and his divorce. I fell in love again with him. When it came time for him to go back to New York, I went to see him off and cried. I hated to see him leave. He promised to see me every time he could get a vacation. I couldn't wait for him to come so I could be with him We would always have fun when we were together.
Then, one day, he didn't show up like he said he would. I figured that he was busy. The days turned into months and then, just as I was giving up on him, I received a call from a lawyer. The lawyer said that he had died in a car accident going to the airport. And that it took this long till everything was settled. My heart was broken.
I cried that night, tears of sadness and heartache. I went to New York for the reading of his will. Of course, things were given to his family and his ex-wife. I finally got to meet her again after the wedding. She explained to me how he had always provided but that he was always unhappy. She tried everything but she couldn't make him happy.
When the will was read, the one thing that was given to me was a diary.
It was a diary of his life. I cried as it was given to me. I didn't know what to think. Why was this given to me? I took it and flew back to California. As I sat in the plane, I remembered the good times we had together. I started reading the diary. It had been started the day we first met. The diary said he had fallen in love with me that day. But he was too afraid to tell me what he felt. That is why he was so quiet and liked to listen to me. It told of how he wanted to tell me so many times, but was too afraid to say anything. It told of when he went to New York and thought he fell in love with another. But then, it told of how the happiest time he had was seeing me and dancing with me at the wedding. He said he imagined it was our wedding. How he was always unhappy till he had no choice but to divorce his wife. How the best thing in his life was to read my letters to him. Finally, the diary ended with these words: "Today, I will tell her I love her." It was the day he was killed. The day I was going to finally find out what was really in his heart.
Contributed to The Star by Danny Leong
In school, we had separate friends but when we got home we would always talk about what happened in school. One day, I said to him that a guy I liked hurt me and broke my heart. He just comforted me and said everything would be okay. He gave me words of encouragement and helped me get over him. I was happy and thought of him as a real friend. But I knew that there was something else about him that I liked. I thought of it that night and figured it was just a friend kinda thing that I was feeling.
All through high school we were always together and, of course, I thought that we were just friends. But I knew deep inside that I really felt differently. On graduation night, even though we had different dates to the prom, I wanted to be with him. That night, after everybody went home, I went to his house and told him that I wanted to talk to him. Well, that night was my big chance and all I did was just sit there with him, watching the stars and talking about what I was going to do and what he was going to do.
I went home hurting because I didn't tell him how I felt. I wanted to tell him so bad that I loved him but I was too scared and frightened. I let my feelings go and told myself that, someday, I would tell him just how I felt. All through college I wanted to tell him but he always had someone with him. After graduation he got a job in New York; I was happy for him, but at the same time, I was sad to see him go. I cried as I hugged him for what I felt was going to be the last time. I went home that night and cried my eyes out. I felt hurt that I didn't tell him what I had inside my heart.
Well, I got a job as a secretary and then worked my way up to become a computer analyst. I was proud of what I had accomplished. One day, I received a letter with an invitation to a wedding. It was from him. I was happy and sad at the same time. Now I knew that I could never be with him and that we could only be friends. I went to the wedding the next month and I fell in love one more time. But I held back so it wouldn't spoil what should be the happiest day in his life. I tried to have fun that night but it was killing me inside watching him being so happy while I was covering up my sadness. I came home and just tried to forget him. I had to go on with my life.
As the years went by, we wrote to each other about what was going on and how we missed talking to each other. Then suddenly, he stopped writing. After six letters had gone unreplied, when everything seemed hopeless and sad in my life, I got a note that said: "Meet me at the fence where we used to talk about things." I went and saw him there. I was happy to see him, but he was broken-hearted and sad. We hugged until we couldn't breathe. Then he told me about the divorce and why he hadn't written for a long time. He cried until he couldn't cry anymore. Finally, we went back to the house and talked and laughed about what I had been doing and catching up on old times. But I still couldn't tell him how I felt about him.
In the days that followed, he had fun and forgot about all his problems and his divorce. I fell in love again with him. When it came time for him to go back to New York, I went to see him off and cried. I hated to see him leave. He promised to see me every time he could get a vacation. I couldn't wait for him to come so I could be with him We would always have fun when we were together.
Then, one day, he didn't show up like he said he would. I figured that he was busy. The days turned into months and then, just as I was giving up on him, I received a call from a lawyer. The lawyer said that he had died in a car accident going to the airport. And that it took this long till everything was settled. My heart was broken.
I cried that night, tears of sadness and heartache. I went to New York for the reading of his will. Of course, things were given to his family and his ex-wife. I finally got to meet her again after the wedding. She explained to me how he had always provided but that he was always unhappy. She tried everything but she couldn't make him happy.
When the will was read, the one thing that was given to me was a diary.
It was a diary of his life. I cried as it was given to me. I didn't know what to think. Why was this given to me? I took it and flew back to California. As I sat in the plane, I remembered the good times we had together. I started reading the diary. It had been started the day we first met. The diary said he had fallen in love with me that day. But he was too afraid to tell me what he felt. That is why he was so quiet and liked to listen to me. It told of how he wanted to tell me so many times, but was too afraid to say anything. It told of when he went to New York and thought he fell in love with another. But then, it told of how the happiest time he had was seeing me and dancing with me at the wedding. He said he imagined it was our wedding. How he was always unhappy till he had no choice but to divorce his wife. How the best thing in his life was to read my letters to him. Finally, the diary ended with these words: "Today, I will tell her I love her." It was the day he was killed. The day I was going to finally find out what was really in his heart.
Contributed to The Star by Danny Leong
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Ash Greig's 10 Steps to Happiness~~
Step 1: Discard fake friends.
So people, of you can still view this post, you're in my Keep List. :D
Step 2: Don't try to keep up with others.
I may not be as beautiful as her of as smart as him, but at least I know I'm happy.
That's what counts the most. :D
Step 3: Learn to let go.
I know she's been a bitch and he has hurt my feelings, but I'm going to forgive them all.
I will move on. :D
Step 4: Have regular outings with friends and people who love and care about you.
They keep you not only happy but sane, too. :)
Step 5: Fight the urge to honk or swear at the irresponsible driver.
The fool almost got me involved in an accident this morning, but I just stopped and let him cut through me.
No point getting upset over things that never were. :)
Step 6: Stop complaining and start being thankful.
So what if you can't afford that BMW or buy that $4,500 handbag?
Think about those who do not have a roof above their heads and go to bed hungry without a blanket. :)
Step 7: Have an ice-cream.
Who cares if it's 800 calories and pure fat?
Enjoy life's little gifts once in a while. :)
Step 8: Don't take people for granted.
I saw a dead kid by the road side the other day and it made me realize - you can be here one moment and gone the next.
Tell the people who matter to you that you love them before it's too late. :)
Step 9: Learn to accept flaws, imperfections and irregularities.
Life becomes that much more interesting. :)
Step 10: Fall in love.
It changes one's perspective on life and everything about it. :)
~Ashley Greig~
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1314113389#!/note.php?note_id=392736023554
So people, of you can still view this post, you're in my Keep List. :D
Step 2: Don't try to keep up with others.
I may not be as beautiful as her of as smart as him, but at least I know I'm happy.
That's what counts the most. :D
Step 3: Learn to let go.
I know she's been a bitch and he has hurt my feelings, but I'm going to forgive them all.
I will move on. :D
Step 4: Have regular outings with friends and people who love and care about you.
They keep you not only happy but sane, too. :)
Step 5: Fight the urge to honk or swear at the irresponsible driver.
The fool almost got me involved in an accident this morning, but I just stopped and let him cut through me.
No point getting upset over things that never were. :)
Step 6: Stop complaining and start being thankful.
So what if you can't afford that BMW or buy that $4,500 handbag?
Think about those who do not have a roof above their heads and go to bed hungry without a blanket. :)
Step 7: Have an ice-cream.
Who cares if it's 800 calories and pure fat?
Enjoy life's little gifts once in a while. :)
Step 8: Don't take people for granted.
I saw a dead kid by the road side the other day and it made me realize - you can be here one moment and gone the next.
Tell the people who matter to you that you love them before it's too late. :)
Step 9: Learn to accept flaws, imperfections and irregularities.
Life becomes that much more interesting. :)
Step 10: Fall in love.
It changes one's perspective on life and everything about it. :)
~Ashley Greig~
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1314113389#!/note.php?note_id=392736023554
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