An Extraordinary Collection of Stories & Legends

Compiled By: Jeamillio S. Lewis

2010
Footprints in The Sand!
Last night I had a dream. I dreamed I was waling along the
!each with the Lord. Across the sy flashed scenes from my life.
For each scene" I noticed two sets of footprints in the sand# one
!elonged to me" the other to the Lord.
After the last scene of my life flashed !efore me" I looed !ac at
the footprints in the sand. I noticed that at many times along the
path of my life" especially at the $ery lowest and saddest times"
there was only one set of footprints.
This really tro%!led me" so I ased the Lord a!o%t it. &Lord" yo%
said once I decided to follow yo%" 'o%(d wal with me all the way.
)%t I noticed that d%ring the saddest and most tro%!lesome times
of my life" there was only one set of footprints. I don(t %nderstand
why" when I needed 'o% the most" 'o% wo%ld lea$e me.*
The Lord replied" &+y son" my precio%s child" I lo$e yo% and I
wo%ld ne$er lea$e yo%. ,%ring yo%r times of s%ffering" when yo%
co%ld see only one set of footprints" it was then that I carried
yo%.*
-%ppies For Sale!
A store owner was tacing a sign a!o$e his door that read .-%ppies For Sale..
Signs lie that ha$e a way of attracting small children" and s%re eno%gh" a little !oy
appeared %nder the store owner/s sign. .0ow m%ch are yo% going to sell the
p%ppies for1. he ased.
The store owner replied" .Anywhere from 234 to 254..
The little !oy reached in his pocet and p%lled o%t some change. .I ha$e 26.37".
he said. .Can I please loo at them1.
The store owner smiled and whistled and o%t of the ennel came Lady" who ran
down the aisle of his store followed !y fi$e teeny" tiny !alls of f%r.
8ne p%ppy was lagging considera!ly !ehind. Immediately the little !oy singled
o%t the lagging" limping p%ppy and said" .9hat/s wrong with that little dog1.
The store owner explained that the $eterinarian had examined the little p%ppy
and had disco$ered it didn/t ha$e a hip socet. It wo%ld always limp. It wo%ld always
!e lame.
The little !oy !ecame excited. .That is the p%ppy that I want to !%y..
The store owner said" .:o" yo% don/t want to !%y that little dog. If yo% really want
him" I/ll ;%st gi$e him to yo%..
The little !oy got <%ite %pset. 0e looed straight into the store owner/s eyes"
pointing his finger" and said" .I don/t want yo% to gi$e him to me. That little dog is
worth e$ery !it as m%ch as all the other dogs and I/ll pay f%ll price. In fact" I/ll gi$e
yo% 26.37 now" and 54 cents a month %ntil I ha$e him paid for..
The store owner co%ntered" .'o% really don/t want to !%y this little dog. 0e is
ne$er going to !e a!le to r%n and ;%mp and play with yo% lie the other p%ppies..
To his s%rprise" the little !oy reached down and rolled %p his pant leg to re$eal a
!adly twisted" crippled left leg s%pported !y a !ig metal !race. 0e looed %p at the
store owner and softly replied" .9ell" I don/t r%n so well myself" and the little p%ppy
will need someone who %nderstands!.
The Man Who Loved Starfish!
A man was waling down a deserted +exican !each at s%nset. As he waled
along" he !egan to see another man in the distance. As he grew nearer" he
noticed that the local nati$e ept leaning down" picing something %p" and
throwing it o%t into the water. Time and again" he ept h%rling something
o%t into the ocean.
As o%r friend approached e$en closer" he noticed that the man was picing
%p starfish that had washed %p on the !each and" one at a time" was
throwing them !ac into the water.
8%r friend was p%==led. 0e approached the man and said" .>ood e$ening"
friend. I was wondering what yo% are doing1.
.I/m throwing these starfish !ac into the ocean. 'o% see" it is low tide right
now" and all of these starfish ha$e washed %p onto the shore. If I don/t throw
them !ac into the sea" they/ll die from lac of oxygen..
.I %nderstand". my friend replied" .!%t there m%st !e tho%sands of starfish
on this !each! 'o% can/t possi!ly get to all of them. There are simply too
many! And don/t yo% reali=e this is pro!a!ly happening on h%ndreds of
!eaches all %p and down this coast1 Can/t yo% see that yo% can/t possi!ly
mae a difference1.
The local nati$e smiled" !ent down" and piced %p yet another starfish and"
as he threw it !ac into the sea" replied" .+ade a difference to T0AT one!.
The Carpenter!
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. 0e told his employer?contractor of
his plans to lea$e the ho%se?!%ilding !%siness and li$e a more leis%rely life
with his wife en;oying his extended family. 0e wo%ld miss the paychec" !%t
he needed to retire. They co%ld get !y.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worer go and ased if he co%ld
!%ild ;%st one more ho%se as a personal fa$or. The carpenter said yes" !%t it
soon !ecame easy to see that his heart was not in his wor. 0e resorted to
careless and la=y wormanship and %sed the cheapest materials. It was an
%nfort%nate way to end a dedicated career.
9hen the carpenter finished his wor" the employer came to inspect the
ho%se. 0e handed the front?door ey to the carpenter. .This is yo%r ho%se."
he said" .my gift to yo%.. The carpenter was shoced!! 9hat a shame!! If
he had only nown he was !%ilding his own ho%se" he wo%ld ha$e done it all
so differently.
So it is with %s. 9e !%ild o%r li$es" a day at a time" often p%tting less than o%r !est
into the !%ilding. Then with a shoc" we reali=e we ha$e to li$e in the ho%se we
ha$e !%ilt. If we co%ld do it o$er" we/d do it m%ch differently. )%t we cannot go
!ac.
'o% are the carpenter. Each day yo% hammer a nail" place a !oard or erect a wall.
.Life is a do?it?yo%rself pro;ect. someone has said. 'o%r attit%des and the choices
yo% mae today" !%ild the .ho%se. yo% li$e in tomorrow. )%ild it wisely!!
The Farmer's Donkey!
8ne day a farmer/s doney fell down into a well. The animal cried piteo%sly
for ho%rs as the farmer tried to fig%re o%t a way to get him o%t. Finally he
decided it was pro!a!ly impossi!le and the animal was old and the well was
dry anyway" so it ;%st wasn/t worth it to try and retrie$e the doney. So the
farmer ased his neigh!ors to come o$er and help him co$er %p the well.
They all gra!!ed sho$els and !egan to sho$el dirt into the well.
At first" when the doney reali=ed what was happening he cried horri!ly.
Then" to e$eryone/s ama=ement" he <%ieted down and let o%t some happy
!rays. A few sho$el loads later" the farmer looed down the well to see what
was happening and was astonished at what he saw. 9ith e$ery sho$el of dirt
that hit his !ac" the doney was shaing it off and taing a step %p.
@ShiftingA
As the farmer/s neigh!ors contin%ed to sho$el dirt on top of the animal" he
contin%ed to shae it off and tae a step %p. -retty soon" to e$eryone/s
ama=ement" the doney stepped %p o$er the edge of the well and trotted
off!
+oral# Life is going to sho$el dirt on yo%. The tric to getting o%t of the well is to
shae it off and tae a step %p. E$ery ad$ersity can !e t%rned into a stepping stone.
The way to get o%t of the deepest well is !y ne$er gi$ing %p !%t !y shaing yo%rself
off and taing a step %p.
9hat happens to yo% isn/t nearly as important as how yo% react to it.
The Craced -ot!
A water !earer in India had two large pots" each h%ng on each end of a pole which
he carried across his nec. 8ne of the pots had a crac in it" and while the other pot
was perfect and always deli$ered a f%ll portion of water at the end of the long wal
from the stream to the master/s ho%se" the craced pot arri$ed only half f%ll. For a
f%ll two years this went on daily" with the !earer deli$ering only one and a half pots
f%ll of water to his master/s ho%se. 8f co%rse" the perfect pot was pro%d of its
accomplishments" perfect to the end for which it was made. )%t the poor craced
pot was ashamed of its own imperfection" and misera!le that it was a!le to
accomplish only half of what it had !een made to do.
After two years of what it percei$ed to !e a !itter fail%re" it spoe to the water
!earer one day !y the stream. .I am ashamed of myself" and I want to apologi=e to
yo%..
.9hy1. ased the !earer. .9hat are yo% ashamed of1.
.I ha$e !een a!le" for these past two years" to deli$er only half my load !eca%se
this crac in my side ca%ses water to lea o%t all the way !ac to yo%r master/s
ho%se. )eca%se of my flaws" yo% ha$e to do all of this wor" and yo% don/t get f%ll
$al%e from yo%r efforts". the pot said.
The water !earer felt sorry for the old craced pot" and in his compassion he said"
.As we ret%rn to the master/s ho%se" I want yo% to notice the !ea%tif%l flowers along
the path..
Indeed" as they went %p the hill" the old craced pot too notice of the s%n warming
the !ea%tif%l wild flowers on the side of the path" and this cheered it some. )%t at
the end of the trail" it still felt !ad !eca%se it had leaed o%t half its load" and so
again it apologi=ed to the !earer for its fail%re.
The !earer said to the pot" .,id yo% notice that there were flowers only on yo%r side
of yo%r path" !%t not on the other pot/s side1 That/s !eca%se I ha$e always nown
a!o%t yo%r flaw" and I too ad$antage of it. I planted flower seeds on yo%r side of
the path" and e$ery day while we wal !ac from the stream" yo%/$e watered them.
For two years I ha$e !een a!le to pic these !ea%tif%l flowers to decorate my
master/s ta!le. 9itho%t yo% !eing ;%st the way yo% are" he wo%ld not ha$e this
!ea%ty to grace his ho%se..
The Fisherman!
The American !%sinessman was at the pier of a small coastal +exican $illage when a small
!oat with ;%st one fisherman doced. Inside the small !oat were se$eral large yellowfin
t%na. The American complimented the +exican on the <%ality of his fish and ased how long
it too to catch them.
The +exican replied only a little while. The American then ased why didn/t he stay o%t
longer and catch more fish1 The +exican said he had eno%gh to s%pport his family/s
immediate needs. The American then ased" .)%t what do yo% do with the rest of yo%r
time1. The +exican fisherman said" .I sleep late" fish a little" play with my children" tae
siesta with my wife" stroll into the $illage each e$ening where I sip wine and play g%itar with
my amigos" I ha$e a f%ll and !%sy life" senior..
The American scoffed" .I am a 0ar$ard +)A and co%ld help yo%. 'o% sho%ld spend more
time fishing and with the proceeds" !%y a !igger !oat and with the proceeds from the !igger
!oat yo% co%ld !%y se$eral !oats" e$ent%ally yo% wo%ld ha$e a fleet of fishing !oats. Instead
of selling yo%r catch to a middleman yo% wo%ld sell directly to the processor" e$ent%ally
opening yo%r own cannery. 'o% wo%ld control the prod%ct" processing and distri!%tion. 'o%
wo%ld need to lea$e this small coastal fishing $illage and mo$e to +exico City" then LA and
e$ent%ally :'C where yo% will r%n yo%r expanding enterprise..
The +exican fisherman ased" .)%t senior" how long will this all tae1.
To which the American replied" .B5?64 years..
.)%t what then" senior1.
The American la%ghed and said that/s the !est part. .9hen the time is right yo% wo%ld
anno%nce an I-8 and sell yo%r company stoc to the p%!lic and !ecome $ery rich" yo%
wo%ld mae millions..
.+illions" senior1 Then what1.
The American said" .Then yo% wo%ld retire. +o$e to a small coastal fishing $illage where yo%
wo%ld sleep late" fish a little" play with yo%r ids" tae siesta with yo%r wife" stroll to the
$illage in the e$enings where yo% co%ld sip wine and play yo%r g%itar with yo%r amigos..
The Wooden Bo!!
A frail old man went to li$e with his son" da%ghter?in?law" and fo%r?year grandson.
The old man/s hands trem!led" his eyesight was !l%rred" and his step faltered. The
family ate together at the ta!le. )%t the elderly grandfather/s shay hands and
failing sight made eating diffic%lt. -eas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. 9hen he
grasped the glass" mil spilled on the ta!lecloth.
The son and da%ghter?in?law !ecame irritated with the mess. .9e m%st do
something a!o%t >randfather". said the son. .I/$e had eno%gh of his spilled mil"
noisy eating and food on the floor.. So the h%s!and and wife set a small ta!le in
the corner. There" >randfather ate alone while the rest of the family en;oyed
dinner. Since >randfather had !roen a dish or two" his food was ser$ed in a
wooden !owl. 9hen the family glanced in >randfather/s direction" sometimes he
had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still" the only words the co%ple had for him
were sharp admonitions when he dropped a for or spilled food.
The fo%r?year?old watched it all in silence. 8ne e$ening !efore s%pper" the father
noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. 0e ased the child sweetly"
.9hat are yo% maing1. C%st as sweetly" the !oy responded" .8h I am maing a
little !owl for yo% and +ama to eat yo%r food from when I grow %p.. The fo%r?year?
old smiled and went !ac to wor.
The words so str%c the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to
stream down their chees. Tho%gh no word was spoen" !oth new what m%st !e
done. That e$ening the h%s!and too >randfather/s hand and gently led him !ac
to the family ta!le. For the remainder of his days he ate e$ery meal with the family.
And for some reason" neither h%s!and nor wife seemed to care any longer when a
for was dropped" mil spilled" or the ta!lecloth soiled.
Children are remara!ly percepti$e. Their eyes e$er o!ser$e" their ears e$er listen" and
their minds e$er process the messages they a!sor!. If they see %s patiently pro$ide a
happy home atmosphere for family mem!ers" they will imitate that attit%de for the rest of
their li$es. The wise parent reali=es that e$ery day the !%ilding !locs are !eing laid for the
child/s f%t%re. Let/s !e wise !%ilders and role models.
To Fro"s!
A gro%p of frogs were tra$eling thro%gh the woods" and two of them fell into a deep pit.
9hen the other frogs saw how deep the pit was" they told the two frogs that they were as
good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to ;%mp %p o%t of the pit with
all their might. The other frogs ept telling them to stop" that they were as good as dead.
Finally" one of the frogs too heed to what the other frogs were saying and ga$e %p. 0e fell
down and died.
The other frog contin%ed to ;%mp as hard as he co%ld. 8nce again" the crowd of frogs yelled
at him to stop the pain and ;%st die. 0e ;%mped e$en harder and finally made it o%t. 9hen
he got o%t" the other frogs said" .,id yo% not hear %s1. The frog explained to them that he
was deaf. 0e tho%ght they were enco%raging him the entire time.
This story teaches two lessons#
B. There is power of life and death in the tong%e. An enco%raging word to someone who is down can
lift them %p and help them mae it thro%gh the day.
6. A destr%cti$e word to someone who is down can !e what it taes to ill them.
)e caref%l of what yo% say. Spea life to those who cross yo%r path. The power of words... it is
sometimes hard to %nderstand that an enco%raging word can go s%ch a long way. Anyone can
spea words that tend to ro! another of the spirit to contin%e in diffic%lt times. Special is the
indi$id%al who will tae the time to enco%rage another.
Self?Appraisal!
A little !oy went into a dr%g store" reached for a soda carton and p%lled it o$er to
the telephone. 0e clim!ed onto the carton so that he co%ld reach the !%ttons on
the phone and proceeded to p%nch in ten?digits @phone n%m!ersA.
The store?owner o!ser$ed and listened to the con$ersation#
)oy# DLady" Can yo% gi$e me the ;o! of c%tting yo%r lawn1
9oman# @at the other end of the phone lineA# DI already ha$e someone to c%t my
lawn.(
)oy# DLady" I will c%t yo%r lawn for half the price of the person who c%ts yo%r lawn
now.(
9oman# I(m $ery satisfied with the person who is presently c%tting my lawn.
)oy# @with more perse$eranceA# DI(ll e$en sweep yo%r c%r! and yo%r sidewal" so on
S%nday yo% will ha$e the prettiest lawn in all of -alm !each" Florida.(
9oman# :o" than yo%.
9ith a smile on his face" the little !oy replaced the recei$er.
The store?owner" who was listening to all this" waled o$er to the !oy.
Store 8wner# DSon... I lie yo%r attit%deE I lie that positi$e spirit and wo%ld lie to
offer yo% a ;o!.(
)oy# D:o thans(.
Store 8wner# )%t yo% were really pleading for one.
)oy# :o Sir" I was ;%st checing my performance at the ;o! I already ha$e. I am the
one who is woring for that lady" I was taling to!/
This is what we call DSelf Appraisal( ...
The Cocoon!
A man fo%nd the cocoon of a !%tterfly. 8ne day a small opening appeared. 0e sat
and watched the !%tterfly for se$eral ho%rs as it str%ggled to force its !ody thro%gh
that little hole. Then it seemed to stop maing any progress.
It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it co%ld and co%ld go no f%rther. So the man
decided to help the !%tterfly.
0e too a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining !it of the cocoon. The
!%tterfly then emerged easily. )%t it had a swollen !ody and small" shri$eled
wings.
The man contin%ed to watch the !%tterfly !eca%se he expected that" at any
moment" the wings wo%ld enlarge and expand to !e a!le to s%pport the !ody"
which wo%ld contract in time. :either happened!
In fact" the !%tterfly spent the rest of its life crawling aro%nd with a swollen !ody
and shri$eled wings. It ne$er was a!le to fly. 9hat the man in his indness and
haste did not %nderstand was that the restricting cocoon and the str%ggle re<%ired
for the !%tterfly to get thro%gh the tiny opening were >od/s way of forcing fl%id
from the !ody of the !%tterfly into its wings so that it wo%ld !e ready for flight once
it achie$ed its freedom from the cocoon.
Sometimes str%ggles are exactly what we need in o%r life. If >od allowed %s to go
thro%gh o%r life witho%t any o!stacles" it wo%ld cripple %s. 9e wo%ld not !e as
strong as we co%ld ha$e !een. And we co%ld ne$er fly. So ha$e a nice day...and
str%ggle a little!
I ased for strength and >od ga$e me diffic%lties to mae me strong.
I ased for wisdom and >od ga$e me pro!lems to sol$e.
I ased for prosperity and >od ga$e me a !rain and !rawn to wor.
I ased for co%rage and >od ga$e me danger to o$ercome.
I ased for lo$e and >od ga$e me tro%!led people to help.
I ased for fa$ors and >od ga$e me opport%nities.
I recei$ed nothing I wanted and I recei$ed e$erything I needed.
According to an old 0ind% legend...
..there was once a time when all h%man !eings were gods" !%t they so
a!%sed their di$inity that )rahma" the chief god" decided to tae it away
from them and hide it where it co%ld ne$er !e fo%nd.
9here to hide their di$inity was the <%estion. So )rahma called a co%ncil of
the gods to help him decide. .Let/s !%ry it deep in the earth". said the gods.
)%t )rahma answered" .:o" that will not do !eca%se h%mans will dig into the
earth and find it.. Then the gods said" .Let/s sin it in the deepest ocean..
)%t )rahma said" .:o" not there" for they will learn to di$e into the ocean
and will find it.. Then the gods said" .Let/s tae it to the top of the highest
mo%ntain and hide it there.. )%t once again )rahma replied" .:o" that will
not do either" !eca%se they will e$ent%ally clim! e$ery mo%ntain and once
again tae %p their di$inity.. Then the gods ga$e %p and said" .9e do not
now where to hide it" !eca%se it seems that there is no place on earth or in
the sea that h%man !eings will not e$ent%ally reach..
)rahma tho%ght for a long time and then said" .0ere is what we will do. 9e
will hide their di$inity deep in the center of their own !eing" for h%mans will
ne$er thin to loo for it there..
All the gods agreed that this was the perfect hiding place" and the deed was
done. And since that time h%mans ha$e !een going %p and down the earth"
digging" di$ing" clim!ing" and exploring??searching for something already
within themsel$es.
Appreciate 9hat 'o% 0a$e!
8ne day . . . a wealthy family man too his son on a trip to the co%ntry" so he
co%ld ha$e his son see how poor co%ntry people li$e.
They stayed one day and one night in the home of a $ery h%m!le farmer.
At the end of the trip" and when they were !ac home" the father ased his
son" .9hat did yo% thin of the trip1.
The son replied" .Fery nice dad..
Then the father ased his son" .,id yo% notice how poor they were1.
The son replied" .'es..
The father contin%ed asing" .9hat did yo% learn1.
The son responded" .I learned that we ha$e one dog in o%r ho%se" and they
ha$e fo%r.
Also" we ha$e a fo%ntain in o%r garden" !%t they ha$e a stream that has no
end.
And we ha$e imported lamps in o%r garden . . . where they ha$e the stars!
And o%r garden goes to the edge of o%r property. )%t they ha$e the entire
hori=on as their !ac yard!.
At the end of the son/s reply the father was speechless.
0is son then said" .Than yo% dad for showing me how poor we really are..
Isn/t it tr%e that all depends on the lens yo% %se to see life1
The Fence !
There was a little !oy with a !ad temper. 0is father ga$e him a !ag of nails
and told him that e$ery time he lost his temper" to hammer a nail in the
!ac fence. The first day the !oy had dri$en 37 nails into the fence.
Then it grad%ally dwindled down. 0e disco$ered it was easier to hold his
temper than to dri$e those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when
the !oy didn/t lose his temper at all. 0e told his father a!o%t it and the father
s%ggested that the !oy now p%ll o%t one nail for each day that he was a!le
to hold his temper.
The days passed and the yo%ng !oy was finally a!le to tell his father that all
the nails were gone. The father too his son !y the hand and led him to the
fence.
0e said" .'o% ha$e done well" my son" !%t loo at the holes in the fence. The
fence will ne$er !e the same. 9hen yo% say things in anger" they lea$e a
scar ;%st lie this one. 'o% can p%t a nife in a man and draw it o%t. It won/t
matter how many times yo% say /I/m sorry/" the wo%nd is still there..
The #20$00 Bi!!
A well nown speaer started off his seminar !y holding %p a 264 !ill.
In the room of 644" he ased" .9ho wo%ld lie this 264 !ill1. 0ands started
going %p.
0e said" .I am going to gi$e this 264 to one of yo% !%t first" let me do this..
0e proceeded to cr%mple the dollar !ill %p. 0e then ased" .9ho still wants
it1. Still the hands were %p in the air.
.9ell". he replied" .9hat if I do this1. And he dropped it on the gro%nd and
started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. 0e piced it %p" now cr%mpled
and dirty. .:ow who still wants it1. Still the hands went into the air.
.+y friends" yo% ha$e all learned a $ery $al%a!le lesson. :o matter what I
did to the money" yo% still wanted it !eca%se it did not decrease in $al%e. It
was still worth 264..
.+any times in o%r li$es" we are dropped" cr%mpled" and gro%nd into the dirt
!y the decisions we mae and the circ%mstances that come o%r way. 9e feel
as tho%gh we are worthless. )%t no matter what has happened or what will
happen" yo% will ne$er lose yo%r $al%e in >od/s eyes. To 0im" dirty or clean"
cr%mpled or finely creased" yo% are still priceless to 0im..
The %mpty Chair!
A man/s da%ghter had ased the local minister to come and pray with her father. 9hen the
minister arri$ed" he fo%nd the man lying in !ed with his head propped %p on two pillows. An
empty chair sat !eside his !ed. The minister ass%med that the old fellow had !een informed
of his $isit. .I g%ess yo% were expecting me". he said. .:o" who are yo%1. said the father.
The minister told him his name and then remared" .I see the empty chairE I fig%red yo%
new I was going to show %p..
.8h yeah" the chair". said the !edridden man. .9o%ld yo% mind closing the door1.
-%==led" the minister sh%t the door. .I ha$e ne$er told anyone this" not e$en my da%ghter".
said the man. )%t all of my life I ha$e ne$er nown how to pray. At ch%rch I %sed to hear the
pastor tal a!o%t prayer" !%t it went right o$er my head..
.I a!andoned any attempt at prayer". the old man contin%ed" .%ntil one day a!o%t fo%r
years ago my !est friend said to me" .Cohnny" prayer is ;%st a simple matter of ha$ing a
con$ersation with Ces%s. 0ere is what I s%ggest..
.Sit down in a chairE place an empty chair in front of yo%" and in faith see Ces%s on the chair.
It/s not spooy !eca%se he promised" .I/ll !e with yo% always.. .Then ;%st spea to him in the
same way yo%/re doing with me right now..
.So" I tried it and I/$e lied it so m%ch that I do it a co%ple of ho%rs e$ery day. I/m caref%l
tho%gh. If my da%ghter saw me taling to an empty chair" she/d either ha$e a ner$o%s
!readown or send me off to the f%nny farm..
The minister was deeply mo$ed !y the story and enco%raged the old man to contin%e on the
;o%rney. Then he prayed with him" anointed him with oil" and ret%rned to the ch%rch.
Two nights later the da%ghter called to tell the minister that her daddy had died
that afternoon. .,id he die in peace1. he ased.
.'es" when I left the ho%se a!o%t two o/ cloc" he called me o$er to his !edside" told me he
lo$ed me and issed me on the chee. 9hen I got !ac from the store an ho%r later" I fo%nd
him dead.
)%t there was something strange a!o%t his death. Apparently" ;%st !efore ,addy died" he
leaned o$er and rested his head on the chair !eside the !ed. 9hat do yo% mae of that1.
The minister wiped a tear from his eye and said" .I wish we co%ld all go lie that..
Giss in a )ox!
The story goes that some time ago" a man p%nished his 3?year?old da%ghter
for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. +oney was tight and he !ecame
inf%riated when the child tried to decorate a !ox to p%t %nder the Christmas
tree.
:e$ertheless" the little girl !ro%ght the gift to her father the next morning
and said" .This is for yo%" ,addy. 0e was em!arrassed !y his earlier
o$erreaction" !%t his anger flared again when he fo%nd the !ox was empty.
0e yelled at her" .,on/t yo% now that when yo% gi$e someone a present"
there/s s%pposed to !e something inside it1.
The little girl looed %p at him with tears in her eyes and said" .8h" ,addy" it
is not empty. I !lew isses into the !ox. All for yo%" ,addy.. The father was
cr%shed. 0e p%t his arms aro%nd his little girl" and he !egged for her
forgi$eness.
It is told that the man ept that gold !ox !y his !ed for years and whene$er he was
disco%raged" he wo%ld tae o%t an imaginary iss and remem!er the lo$e of the
child who had p%t it there.
In a $ery real sense" each of %s as h%mans ha$e !een gi$en a gold container filled with
%nconditional lo$e and isses from o%r children" friends" family or >od. There is no more
precio%s possession anyone co%ld hold.

The 9indow!
Two men" !oth serio%sly ill" occ%pied the same hospital room. 8ne of them was
allowed to sit %p in his !ed for an ho%r each afternoon to help drain the fl%id from
his l%ngs. 0is !ed was next to the room/s only window. The other man had to spend
all his time lying flat on his !ac.
The men taled for ho%rs on end. They spoe of their wi$es and families" their
homes" their ;o!s" their in$ol$ement in the military ser$ice" where they had !een on
$acation and so on. And on e$ery afternoon when the man in the !ed !y the
window co%ld sit %p" he wo%ld pass the time !y descri!ing to his roommate all the
things he co%ld see o%tside the window.
The man in the other !ed !egan to li$e for those one?ho%r periods where his world
wo%ld !e !roadened and enli$ened !y all the acti$ity and color of the o%tside world.
The window o$erlooed a par with a lo$ely lae" the man said. ,%cs and swans
played on the water while children sailed their model !oats. Lo$ers waled arm in
arm amid flowers of e$ery color of the rain!ow. >rand old trees graced the
landscape" and a fine $iew of the city syline co%ld !e seen in the distance. As the
man !y the window descri!ed all this in ex<%isite detail" the man on the other side
of the room wo%ld close his eyes and imagine the pict%res<%e scene.
8ne warm afternoon" the man !y the window descri!ed a parade passing !y.
Altho%gh the other man co%ldn/t hear the !and" he co%ld pict%re it in his mind as
the gentleman !y the window portrayed it with descripti$e words. Hnexpectedly" an
alien tho%ght entered his head#
9hy sho%ld he ha$e all the pleas%re of seeing e$erything while I ne$er get to see
anything1
It didn/t seem fair. As the tho%ght fermented" the man felt ashamed at first. )%t as
the days passed !y and he missed seeing more sights" his en$y eroded into
resentment and it soon t%rned him so%r. 0e !egan to !rood and he fo%nd himself
%na!le to sleep. 0e sho%ld !e !y that window ? that tho%ght now controlled his life.
Late one night as he lay staring at the ceiling" the man !y the window !egan to
co%gh. 0e was choing on the fl%id in his l%ngs. The other man watched in the
dimly lit room as the str%ggling man !y the window groped for the !%tton to call for
help. Listening from across the room" he ne$er mo$edI ne$er p%shed his own
!%tton which wo%ld ha$e !ro%ght the n%rse r%nning. In less than fi$e min%tes the
co%ghing and choing stopped" along with the so%nd of !reathing. :ow there was
only silence ? deathly silence.
The following morning" the day n%rse arri$ed to !ring water for their !aths. 9hen
she fo%nd the lifeless !ody of the man !y the window" she was saddened and called
the hospital attendants to tae it away ? no hassle" no f%ss. As soon as it seemed
appropriate" the other man ased if he co%ld !e mo$ed next to the window. The
n%rse was happy to mae the switch" and after maing s%re that he was
comforta!le" she left him alone.
Slowly" painf%lly" he propped himself %p on one el!ow to tae his first loo. Finally"
he wo%ld ha$e the ;oy of seeing it all !y himself. 0e strained to slowly t%rn to loo
o%t the window !eside the !ed.
It faced a !lan wall.
The man ased the n%rse what co%ld ha$e compelled his deceased roommate who
had descri!ed s%ch wonderf%l things o%tside this window. The n%rse responded that
the man was !lind and co%ld not e$en see the wall. She said" .-erhaps he ;%st
wanted to enco%rage yo%..
Epilog%e. . . .
'o% can interpret the story in any way yo% lie. )%t one moral stands o%t#
There is tremendo%s happiness in maing others happy" despite o%r own sit%ations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow" !%t happiness when shared" is do%!led. If yo% want
to feel rich" ;%st co%nt all of the things yo% ha$e that money can/t !%y.
.Today is a gift" that/s why it/s called the present..
Abraham Lincoln & John F. Kennedy
+ere Coincidence or Something ,eeper111
Consider this...
A!raham Lincoln was elected to Congress in BJKL.
Cohn F. Gennedy was elected to Congress in BMKL.
A!raham Lincoln was elected -resident in BJL4.
Cohn F. Gennedy was elected -resident in BML4.
The names Lincoln and Gennedy each contain se$en letters.
)oth were partic%larly concerned with ci$il rights.
)oth wi$es lost a son while li$ing in the 9hite 0o%se.
)oth -residents were shot on a Friday.
)oth were shot !ehind the head.
Lincoln/s secretary was named Gennedy.
Gennedy/s secretary was named Lincoln.
)oth were assassinated !y So%therners.
)oth were s%cceeded !y So%therners.
)oth s%ccessors were named Cohnson.
Andrew Cohnson" who s%cceeded Lincoln" was !orn in BJ4J.
Lyndon Cohnson" who s%cceeded Gennedy" was !orn in BM4J.
Cohn 9iles )ooth" who assassinated Lincoln was !orn in BJ3M.
Lee 0ar$ey 8swald" who assassinated Gennedy was !orn in BM3M.
)oth assassins were nown !y their three names.
)oth names are made of fifteen letters.
+r. )ooth shot Lincoln in a Theatre called .Ford..
Lee 0ar$ey 8swald" shot Gennedy in a car called .Ford. Lincoln.
)ooth ran from a theater and was ca%ght in a wareho%se.
8swald ran from a wareho%se and was ca%ght in a theater.
)ooth and 8swald were assassinated !efore their trials.
And last !%t not least"
A month !efore Lincoln was shot he was in +onroe" +aryland.
A month !efore Gennedy was shot he was with +arilyn +onroe.
C.>.C%ng call these synchronicities .meaningf%l coincidences that co%ld not !e explained !y
ca%se and effect.. There Are :o Accidents!!!
The &!d Man ' (is )s!and!
8n the island of Crete they remem!er the old man who lo$ed his land with a deep
and !ea%tif%l intensity" so m%ch so that when he percei$ed he was a!o%t to die he
ordered his sons to !ring him o%tside and lay him on his !elo$ed earth. As he was
a!o%t to !reath his last" he reached down !y his side and cl%tched some earth into
his hands. 0e died happy.
Later" when he arri$ed at hea$en(s gates" >od answered as an old white?!earded
man.
.9elcome". >od said. .'o%($e !een goodE come into the ;oys of hea$en.. )%t as the
old man started thro%gh the gate" >od said" .-lease. 'o% m%st let the soil go..
.:e$er!. said the old man stepping !ac. .:e$er!.
>od departed sadly" lea$ing the man at the gate. A few eons went !y" and >od
came o%t again" this time as an old friend. They had a few drins" told some stories"
and >od said" .All right" now it(s time to enter" friend. Let(s go.. As they started for
the gate" >od once more re<%ested the old man let go of his soil" and once more he
ref%sed.
+ore eons rolled !y. >od emerged again" this time as a delightf%l and playf%l
grandda%ghter. .8h granddaddy". >od said" .yo%(re so wonderf%l" and we all miss
yo%. -lease come inside with me..
The old man nodded" and she helped him %p for !y this time he had grown old and
arthritic. In fact" so arthritic was he that he had to prop %p the right hand holding
Crete(s soil with his left. As they mo$ed toward the gate" his strength ga$e o%t. 0is
gnarled fingers co%ld no longer stay clenched" and the soil sifted o%t %ntil his hand
was empty.
0e then entered hea$en" and the first thing he saw was his !elo$ed island.
The Cri*ket!
A :ati$e American and his friend were in downtown :ew 'or City" waling near
Times S<%are in +anhattan. It was d%ring the noon l%nch ho%r and the streets were
filled with people. Cars were honing their horns" taxica!s were s<%ealing aro%nd
corners" sirens were wailing" and the so%nds of the city were almost deafening.
S%ddenly" the :ati$e American said" .I hear a cricet..
0is friend said" .9hat1 'o% m%st !e cra=y. 'o% co%ldn/t possi!ly hear a cricet in all
of this noise!.
.:o" I/m s%re of it". the :ati$e American said" .I heard a cricet..
.That/s cra=y". said the friend.
The :ati$e American listened caref%lly for a moment" and then waled across the
street to a !ig cement planter where some shr%!s were growing. 0e looed into the
!%shes" !eneath the !ranches" and s%re eno%gh" he located a small cricet. 0is
friend was %tterly ama=ed.
.That/s incredi!le". said his friend. .'o% m%st ha$e s%per?h%man ears!.
.:o". said the :ati$e American. .+y ears are no different from yo%rs. It all depends
on what yo%/re listening for..
.)%t that can/t !e!. said the friend. .I co%ld ne$er hear a cricet in this noise..
.'es" it/s tr%e". came the reply. .It depends on what is really important to yo%. 0ere"
let me show yo%..
0e reached into his pocet" p%lled o%t a few coins" and discreetly dropped them on
the sidewal. And then" with the noise of the crowded street still !laring in their
ears" they noticed e$ery head within twenty feet t%rn and loo to see if the money
that tinled on the pa$ement was theirs.
.See what I mean1. ased the :ati$e American. .It all depends on what/s important
to yo%..
+ Man ' (is Do"!
A man and his dog were waling along a road. The man was en;oying the
scenery" when it s%ddenly occ%rred to him that he was dead. 0e
remem!ered dying" and that his faithf%l dog had !een dead for many years.
0e wondered where the road was leading them. After a while" they came to
a high" white stone wall along one side of the road. It looed lie fine mar!le.
As he reached the wall" he saw a magnificent gate in the arch" and the street
that led to the gate made from p%re gold. 0e and the dog waled toward the
gate" and as he got closer" he saw a man at a des to one side.
9hen he was close eno%gh" he called o%t" .Exc%se me" where are we1.
.This is hea$en" sir". the man answered.
.9ow! 9o%ld yo% happen to ha$e some water1 9e ha$e tra$eled far". the
man said.
.8f co%rse sir. Come right in" and I/ll ha$e some ice water !ro%ght right %p..
The man gest%red" and the gate !egan to open.
.Can my friend". gest%ring toward his dog" .come in" too1. the tra$eler
ased.
.I/m sorry" sir" !%t we don/t accept pets..
The man tho%ght a moment" remem!ering all the years this dog remained
loyal to him and then t%rned !ac toward the road and contin%ed the way he
had !een going. After another long wal he came to a plain dirt road" which
led thro%gh a farm gate that looed as if it had ne$er !een closed. There was
no fence. As he approached the gate" he saw a man inside" leaning against a
tree and reading a !oo.
.Exc%se me!. he called to the reader. .,o yo% ha$e any water1 9e ha$e
tra$eled far..
.'es" s%re" there/s a fa%cet o$er there.. The man pointed to a place that
co%ldn/t !e seen from o%tside the gate. .Come on in and help yo%rself..
.0ow a!o%t my friend here1. the tra$eler gest%red to his dog.
.There sho%ld !e a !owl !y the fa%cetE he is welcome to share..
They went thro%gh the gate" and s%re eno%gh" there was an old?fashioned
fa%cet with a !owl !eside it. The tra$eler filled the !owl and too a long drin
himself" then he ga$e some to the dog. 9hen they were f%ll" he and the dog
waled !ac toward the man who was standing !y the tree waiting for them.
.9hat do yo% call this place1. the tra$eler ased.
.This is hea$en". was the answer.
.9ell" that/s conf%sing". the tra$eler said. .The man down the road said that
was hea$en" too..
.8h" yo% mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates1 :ope. That/s
hell..
.,oesn/t it mae yo% mad for them to %se yo%r name lie that1.
.:o. 9e/re ;%st happy that they screen o%t the fols who/d lea$e their !est
friends !ehind in exchange for material things..
Life Is An Echo!
A father and his son were waling in the mo%ntains. S%ddenly" the son falls"
h%rts himself and screams# AAAhhhhhhhhhhh !!!.
To his s%rprise" he hears the $oice repeating" somewhere in the mo%ntain#
.AAAhhhhhhhhhhh !!!.
C%rio%s" he yells# .9ho are yo%1.
0e recei$es the answer# .9ho are yo%1.
Angered at the response" he screams# .Coward!.
0e recei$es the answer# .Coward!.
0e loos to his father and ass# .9hat/s going on1.
The father smiles and says# .+y son" pay attention.. And than he yells to the
mo%ntain# .I admire yo%!.
The $oice answers# .I admire yo%!.
Again the man yells# .'o% are a champion!.
The $oice answers# .'o% are a champion!.
The !oy is s%rprised" !%t does not %nderstand.
Then the father explains# .-eople call this EC08" !%t really this is LIFE. It
gi$es yo% !ac e$erything yo% say or do. 8%r life is simply a reflection of o%r
actions.
A Fascinating Story!
A lady in a faded gingham dress and her h%s!and" dressed in a homesp%n thread!are s%it"
stepped off the train in )oston" and waled timidly witho%t an appointment into the
president of 0ar$ard/s o%ter office. The secretary co%ld tell in a moment that s%ch
!acwoods" co%ntry hics had no !%siness at 0ar$ard and pro!a!ly didn/t e$en deser$e to
!e in Cam!ridge.
She frowned. .9e want to see the president". the man said softly. .0e/ll !e !%sy all day".
the secretary snapped. .9e/ll wait". the lady replied. For ho%rs" the secretary ignored them"
hoping that the co%ple wo%ld finally !ecome disco%raged and go away.
They didn/t. And the secretary grew fr%strated and finally decided to dist%r! the president"
e$en tho%gh it was a chore she always regretted to do. .+ay!e if they ;%st see yo% for a few
min%tes" they/ll lea$e". she told him.
And he sighed in exasperation and nodded. Someone of his importance o!$io%sly didn/t
ha$e the time to spend with them" !%t he detested gingham dresses and homesp%n s%its
cl%ttering %p his o%ter office. The president" stern?faced with dignity" str%tted toward the
co%ple. The lady told him" .9e had a son that attended 0ar$ard for one year. 0e lo$ed
0ar$ard. 0e was happy here. )%t a!o%t a year ago" he was accidentally illed. And my
h%s!and and I wo%ld lie to erect a memorial to him" somewhere on camp%s..
The president howe$er" was not to%ched" rather" he was shoced. .+adam". he said gr%ffly.
.9e can/t p%t %p a stat%e for e$ery person who attended 0ar$ard and died. If we did" this
place wo%ld loo lie a cemetery.. .8h" no". the lady explained <%icly. .9e don/t want to
erect a stat%e.
9e tho%ght we wo%ld lie to gi$e a !%ilding to 0ar$ard.. The president rolled his eyes. 0e
glanced at the gingham dress and homesp%n s%it" then exclaimed" .A !%ilding! ,o yo% ha$e
any earthly idea how m%ch a !%ilding costs1 9e ha$e o$er se$en and a half million dollars
that went into the physical !%ilding of 0ar$ard.. For a moment the lady was silent. The
president was pleased for he co%ld finally get rid of them. The lady then t%rned to her
h%s!and and said <%ietly" .Is that all it costs to start a Hni$ersity1 9hy don/t we ;%st start
o%r own1. 0er h%s!and nodded. 0earing that" the president/s face wilted in conf%sion and
c%riosity. And with that +r. and +rs. Leland Stanford t%rned and waled away" tra$eling to
-alo Alto" California where they !%ilt the Hni$ersity that !ears their nameI A memorial to a
son that 0ar$ard no longer cared a!o%t.
.'o% can easily ;%dge the character of others !y how they treat those who can do nothing
for them or to them.. +alcolm For!es