You are Wonderful Dad !!

The following story captured my heart. It happened several years ago in the Paris opera house.
A famous singer had been contracted to sing, and ticket sales were booming. In fact, the night of the concert found the house packed and every ticket sold.

The feeling of anticipation and excitement was in the air as the house manager took the stage and said, Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your enthusiastic support.
I am afraid that due to illness, the man whom you've all come to hear will not be performing tonight.

However, we have found a suitable substitute we hope will provide you with comparable entertainment.
The crowd groaned in disappointment and failed to hear the announcer mention the stand-in's name. The environment turned from excitement to frustration.

The stand-in performer gave the performance everything he had. When he had finished, there was nothing but an uncomfortable silence. No one applauded.
Suddenly, from the balcony, a little boy stood up and shouted, Daddy, I think you are wonderful! The crowd broke into thunderous applause.

We all need people in our Lives who are willing to stand up once in a while and say, I think you are wonderful.

And at times others are expecting this from you. Are you telling them how wonderful you are?
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7C's of Effective Communication

Here are seven C's as they relate to effective writing:

1. Be clear: have a definite purpose for writing and make sure it is clearly communicated up front. Be bold and connect quickly.

2. Be complete: include all the necessary facts and background information to support the message you are communicating. Partial instructions would not work if we were to survive.

3. Be concise: keep in mind the reader's knowledge of the subject and their time constraints. Convey the information as quickly and easily as possible.

4. Be creative: use different formats (vs. straight narrative) to communicate your message. Q & A format, graphics, Idea lists, etc.

5. Be considerate: keep your reader's needs in mind as you write. Ask yourself, 'Why should my reader spend time reading this?'

6. Be correct: by checking all your information is accurate and timely. Double- check your spelling, punctuation and grammar. Proof read it before you send it!

7. Be credible: strive to present yourself from a position of reliability and competence. Write to reinforce your message and make it more believable.
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A Letter from a Father to his Little Son

Dear Ivan,
It's been 20 months since you set foot in the world. When I held you for the first time in my arms at the hospital, your tiny hands were twitching and your eyes were shut tight.

Your clenched fist reminded me of a science lesson that said to get an idea about the size of your heart, you should clench your fist.
I could imagine the little heart throbbing inside you. The eternal miracle of birth. When it was my turn to witness it, I cried.

Before I married your mother, I used to debate one question endlessly with my friend. Which is, "Is it really worth bringing another life into this world?"
Especially when terror has become an ugly leitmotif in the canvas of our lives?

When I switched on the TV that Wednesday night, the question of whether I was right in bringing you into this world haunted me again. This is my attempt at an answer. Call it catharsis.

I feel there are two ways to raise you. One is to wean you on cynicism. Where you'll erect a sky-high wall in your mind and live your life pouring scorn on everything you see.
Which is one way of insulating yourself from fear... A kind of indifferent machismo.

The other way is to prepare you to live in this world. I can't imagine the world for you, son. But i can certainly show you the way to live in an uncertain world. Make a pact with yourself. Understand the following early on.

Life is precious. And equally fragile. So every day is a gift. Get up early once in a while just to watch the sun rise. Stare at it intently and burn it in your memory.
Be aware of every passing second. Look around you. There's a thin stalk of plant finding its place under the sun in a crevice on the wall of our apartment.

Appreciate mother's cooking. Praise it to heavens... Make it a habit to eat together as a family. No, make it a rule. Fall in love with books. Words will transport you to worlds far away. It will also keep you informed and prepared.

Follow your heart. The mind can waver but the heart seldom does. Respect your conscience. It's like a post-it note from God.

When you grow up, seek a job you love. As you enter the world of careers and cocktails, you'll get sucked into a vortex called rat race. Don't be overwhelmed. We're all human. But have the courage to step out of it.
Nothing will be lost. Some illusions will shatter. Good riddance.

Money. It's important. But it has its place. Don't make the mistake of putting it right on top. Find your love. Hold it dearly. Be a good husband. A patient father.
Give your children space to make their mistakes. But hold them when they fall.

Speak up when you have to. Like this occasion. Whether we like it or not, we're living in a democracy. Sure it has its pitfalls. But don't forget the positives too.
The real fight in a democracy is between remembering and forgetting. Go and vote. It's your chance to give shape to the kind of society you want to live in.

Be alert. But try not to live in a state of fear.
It you were to get caught in a situation similar to what happened and should we lose you, then you will have left us with enough lovely memories for the remaining years.
That will only happen if you start living every day like it is the last day of your life. Though it can never compensate your loss, at least we'll find strength in your love for life.

Don't have regrets. They defeat the very purpose of life.
Immersed as I am in work most of the time, this letter is also a wake-up call for me.

Love, Dad
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How To Disagree Politely ?

All of us disagree with others at times. Here are some useful tips for managing discord with grace and finesse.
It's easy to get along with another person until you disagree. That's when things get sticky. Many of us have trouble managing our emotions, sharing our viewpoints, and inviting the opinions of others.
Since disagreement is inevitable in the course of extended communication, here are some practical tips for sharing a dissenting perspective without irreparably damaging a relationship with the speaker.

Be a good listener. The first thing to do in any communication setting where disagreement rears its curious head is to listen carefully to the other person's opinion.
That includes asking questions for clarity and affirming the person's comments periodically with expressions like "um hm," "oh?," and "hm" while nodding or smiling politely.
Only when we fully understand an opposing viewpoint can we hope to adequately articulate our own. Being a polite listener increases the likelihood that your views will likewise fall on willing ears.

Address a specific point with which to disagree rather than the entire position. For example, if you disagree with a social issue, you may be able to understand why some folks feel the way they do, or why they desire a particular benefit.
But you may not be able to endorse the means of achieving that benefit. Simply say so, which will limit the conflict to a small part of the whole and decrease the risk of an all-out verbal war.

You can deny someone's perspective but not the person. Don't get involved in making personal attacks on someone who disagrees with you.
That only gets the discussion off focus and escalates differences to the point that relationships are in danger of being harmed or severed.
Avoid "you" statements, such as "You're all wrong about this." Instead, emphasize the issue: "That position is understandable, but it does not take into account the moral aspects of the counter-position."

Stay calm. If you feel yourself tensing up, mentally force your palms to open, your arms to relax, and your posture to unbend a bit.
Remember to make casual eye contact with the other person, and try to smile in a polite or understanding way unless something truly outrageous is said.
Remember that most people will be more willing to share their views and entertain opposing ideas with someone whom they feel safe in airing delicate positions.
If you retreat, become forceful, or take a sarcastic tone, you may well annoy the person into refusing to interact with you in the future.

Agree to disagree. When you cannot reach consensus, remain cordial. It is wise to accept a disagreement that cannot be resolved so that the relationship remains intact.
Even in important issues, keeping the friendship door open means either of you can slip through to open negotiations in the future. Two or more people need not agree on every point.

The bottom line is to remain respectful and polite, even if the other person fails to do so. Self-control is a universal virtue admired by all.
The man who controls his spirit is like one who conquers a city, the proverb says. So keep disagreements in perspective and watch for subtle opportunities of sharing your viewpoint without badgering or belittling others.
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How the Fight Started !

" I love being married. It's so great to find that one special person you want to annoy for the rest of your life."
~Rita Rudner

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My wife sat down on the couch next to me as I was flipping channels. She asked, 'What's on TV?'

I said, 'Dust.'

And then the fight started...

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My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, 'I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds.'

I bought her a scale.

And then the fight started...

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When I got home last night, my wife demanded that
I take her someplace expensive... so, I took her to a gas station...

And then the fight started....

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After retiring, I went to the Social Security office to apply for Social Security.
The woman behind the counter asked me for my driver's license to verify my age.
I looked in my pockets and realized I had left my wallet at home.

I told the woman that I was very sorry, but I would have to go home and come back later.

The woman said, 'Unbutton your shirt'. So I opened my shirt revealing my curly silver hair.

She said, 'That silver hair on your chest is proof enough for me' and she processed my Social Security application.

When I got home, I excitedly told my wife about my experience at the Social Security office.

She said, 'you should have dropped your pants. You might have gotten disability, too.'

And then the fight started...

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My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school reunion,
and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table.

My wife asked, 'Do you know her?'

'Yes ,' I sighed, 'She's my old girlfriend.
I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago,
and I hear she hasn't been sober since.'

'My God!' says my wife, 'who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?'

And then the fight started...

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"Trouble is part of your life, and if you don't share it, you don't give the person who loves you enough chance to love you enough."
~Dinah Shore
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I aM JEJE !

“I assure you that whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.” – Mark 10:15

Jac, my five-year-old son, was playing with his three-year-old friend Jeje in the playground. Jeje was struggling to cross the monkey bars.
He was having a difficult time catching up with Jac but he gave it his best.
To catch his breath, he decided to stop halfway and hang on the bars tightly.
Another kid approached Jeje. He must have noticed that Jeje was breathing hard because of fatigue, so he asked him “Hey, are you OK?”
To which Jeje quickly retorted, “No, I’m Jeje!

Most of us are not like Jeje. We forget who we really are.
In times of trial, we say, “I cannot overcome this problem, I am doomed.”
When faced with temptation, we say, “This temptation is too much. I have to give in.” During sickness, we say, “I am weak. I was destined to get sick all the time.”
When we lack resources, we say, “I don’t have the gifts to generate more funds.”

We are God’s children and that title gives us special privilege to His kingdom.
Let’s take time to focus on who we are and what our God can do for us.
Trials of this world are nothing compared to God’s Kingdom. -Alvin Fabella

REFLECTION:
In times of trial, we should say, “The Lord is my shepherd, He will not abandon me.” When faced with temptation: “With the Prince of Peace at my back, the devil has no power over me!” During sickness: “Jesus is the mighty healer, no need to fear!”

Lord, let me not forget who I am in You.
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10 First Date Ideas

The first date is always the hardest. You never know what to do. Most people will choose the old stand-byes, dinner or a movie. Now, for me this is always a great idea. I love movies.
I am an avid film buff and I prefer watching a movie to television any day. And, I usually try to find someone who shares my passion for film. Sometimes, I just want to do something different, so here are a few suggestions that can be fun.

1. Theater – Most metropolitan cities have some sort of theater. And, for me it is close to watching a movie. So, I think it is fun and a little different. For the date to be successful, you need to know what your dating partner likes. Drama’s can be a little heavy on the first date. I tend to like comedies or a musical.

2. Ice Skating – Ice rinks are harder to find unless you are in a large city. But, they are loads of fun. I love to go to Rockefeller Center or the Wollman Rink in Central Park. These are both in New York City and are in a beautiful setting. It is a great way to laugh, talk and just have fun.

3. Miniature Golf – An old stand-bye that is still very fun. This is mostly a summer activity unless your city has a indoor miniature golf course. In 10 holes you will do a lot of talking and a lot of laughing. Don’t be afraid if you are not that good. No one shines at miniature golf. It is just a great ice breaker.

4. Roller Skating – Rollerblading is still a current sport. Lot’s of people do it. It is great exercise and a great way to talk and get to know one another. If you both are not good at the sport or have never tried it then take a 1 hour mini course. And, then you can spend many a weekend having fun and getting fit.

5. Jazz Clubs – Many people love Jazz. And, if you are not familiar with it, what better way to learn a little about that great musical era. A Jazz club is a fun scene and not loud enough that you can’t talk and get to know each other.

6. Art Gallery – This is only good if you both love art. Otherwise, it could get a little boring if only one person has fun and not too good an idea. This gives you and your date a way to talk about something other than yourselves. A great first date jitter breaker.

7. Bowling – An old stand bye that is lots of fun. Even if you are not good and as long as you don’t embarrass easily it will get you talking and laughing. And, laughing is the best thing to do on a date.

8. Walking Tour – This is great for an afternoon date. Lot’s of cities have walking tours. And, many people never think of a tour unless they are traveling. But, this is another great way to do something special on your first date that will help you find common ground between each other. And, it is a great way to learn about your city and each other.

9. Park – Parks are fun especially if you are athletic. Taking your date for a walk in the park gives you both lots of time to relax with each other and just talk. There are plenty of activities you can do in the park. Bring a Frisbee or rollerblades and just have fun.

10. Billiards – Billiards is also an old stand-bye that is a lot of fun. It gives you both a great opportunity to just talk, get to know each other and is lots of fun. And, don’t be embarrassed if you are not good. No one is watching you both miss. They will just see a couple having fun, so by all means laugh and make the other tables jealous.

These are a few activities to get you going on your first date. There are loads of other activities to try out. Just use your imagination and try something a little different. Your date will appreciate the thought and effort you put into having a fun first date.
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Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!

A woman came out of her house and saw 3 old men with long white beards sitting in her front yard. She did not recognize them.

She said "I don't think I know you, but you must be hungry. Please come in and have something to eat."

"Is the man of the house home?", they asked.

"No", she said. "He's out."

"Then we cannot come in", they replied.

In the evening when her husband came home, she told him what had happened.

"Go tell them I am home and invite them in!"

The woman went out and invited the men in.

"We do not go into a House together," they replied.

"Why is that?" she wanted to know.

One of the old men explained: "His name is Wealth," he said pointing to one of his friends, and said pointing to another one, "He is Success, and I am Love." Then he added, "Now go in and discuss with your husband which one of us you want in your home."

The woman went in and told her husband what was said. Her husband was overjoyed. "How nice!!", he said. "Since that is the case, let us invite Wealth. Let him come and fill our home with wealth!"

His wife disagreed. "My dear, why don't we invite Success?"

Their daughter-in-law was listening from the other corner of the house. She jumped in with her own suggestion: "Would it not be better to invite Love?

Our home will then be filled with love!"

"Let us heed our daughter-in-law's advice," said the husband to his wife. "Go out and invite Love to be our guest."

The woman went out and asked the 3 old men, "Which one of you is Love? Please come in and be our guest."

Love got up and started walking toward the house. The other 2 also got up and followed him. Surprised, the lady asked Wealth and Success: "I only invited Love, Why are you coming in?"

The old men replied together: "If you had invited Wealth or Success, the other two of us would've stayed out, but since you invited Love, wherever He goes, we go with him. Wherever there is Love, there is also Wealth and Success!"

Where there is pain, we wish you peace and mercy. Where there is self-doubting, we wish you a renewed confidence in your ability to work through them.

Where there is self-doubting, we wish you a renewed confidence
in your ability to work through them. Where there is fear, we wish you love, and courage.
Now let us fill our home with Love ...
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Beauty Tips for Everyone ..!

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

To lose weight, let go of stress, hatred, anger, contentment and the need to control others.

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

To improve your ears, listen to the word of God. Rather than focus on the thorns of life, smell the roses and count your blessings, giving thanks for each one of them.

For poise, walk with knowledge and self-esteem.

To strengthen your arms, hug at least 3 people a day. Touch someone with your love.

For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.

To strengthen your heart, forgive yourself and others. Don't worry and hurry so much.

Rather than walk this earth lightly, walk firmly with determination and leave your mark.

For the ultimate in business, casual or evening attire put on the robe of Christ; it fits like a glove but allows room for growth. Best of all, it never goes out of style and is appropriate for any occasion.

We leave you a tradition of the future. The tender loving care of human beings will never become obsolete.

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, redeemed and redeemed and redeemed. Never throw anyone away.

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you'll discover that you have two hands - one for helping yourself, the second for helping others.

Doing these things on a daily basis will certainly make you a more beautiful person.

Peace Is Not The Absence Of Trouble But The Presence of God..!
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Alphabetize Relationship Secrets

ANNIVERSARIES Always celebrate! Whether it's the 1st or the 50th, each year together is a triumph.

APPRECIATION Let each other know how much you appreciate each other. You may already know but hearing it from each other is always better.

BEST FRIENDS Be best friends preferably before being boyfriend-girlfriend. Take time to know each other so the relationship will be a deep one. Tell each other about your crushes, dreams and problems. Make sure he/she is your best friend before getting engaged. The strong bond of friendship will help you both survive tough times.

BOND Make it a point to spend time together often but leave room for each other. Also spend time alone w/ each other, so that at the end of the day you could both share your experiences. This way, you stay interesting with your partner.

CHANGING EACH OTHER Don't marry an as...le, je... or a bi.... (an unsuitable person) You'll never change each other.

COMPLIMENTS Always compliment each other. This will prevent feelings of resentment & thinking that one is being taken for granted.

DATE Keep doings things that you both enjoy, do them together. Make time & continue to date to keep the romance - look good, smell good to maintain physical attraction

DIFFERENCES Celebrate differences. Never force your ideologies down each other's throat. Give up trying to turn your partner into you. Accept differences, appreciate them.

FIGHTS Fight w/the aim to resolve the issue. Don't outdo each other. The longer you extend the fight. The more chances that you'll say something hurtful that you don't really mean. As mad as you were w/ your partner, he/she is still the person who laughs at your jokes & thinks you're hot. Hear each other out, don't dig up old issues. Choose your battles. Make sure the fight will be worth it & that something will change in the relationship as a result of the fight.

FLAWS Know that the perfect person does not exist. Know that just as there are things that you love about him/her, there will be things that will make you go crazy. We are only human with our own flaws.

FUN Have fun together! This means keeping the fun & spontaneity that was there in the early days. Allow yourselves to get silly - shower together, pee w/the door open etc. Being able to make each other laugh & see the lighter, crazier, absurd side is the best way to get through all the differences in personalities, adjustments in lifestyle & opposing viewpoints.

GOALS Make sure you have similar goals. It would be difficult to keep your bond intact if your views are complete opposite.

GRUDGES Quit tabulating grudges. Let it off. Discuss it, then trash it, don't recycle it.

KEEPING IT HOT Keep it hot by traveling to diff. places together. A new setting will do wonders. Always have skin contact - be it holding hands, a massage or just plain leg rubbing.

HONESTY Don't lie or hide things. The problem will only get bigger.

KNOW EACH OTHER Learn each other's interest. It really keeps the conversation flowing!

HUG A hug can be far better more intimate than a kiss.

IDENTITY Don't lose your personality - that's why he/she fell in love w/you. Have separate interest & activities to keep your individual, & to be able to contribute more to the relationship.

INDEPENDENCE Having your own income means you're the boss in your life.

IN-LAWS Make rooms for the in-laws.

INTENTIONS Wish each other well. Don't wish each other worst

ISSUES Speak up about the awkward stuff now,like money & sex. The earlier, the better.

LISTEN Listen, listen, listen. Hear each other out especially during arguments.

LOOK GOOD Mind your appearance! Stay fit & healthy for each other.

LOVE It all boils down to your love, chemistry & respect for each other.

MEMORIES Remind each other of the old days. Do something that you used to do for each other before. It may even be corny but it made you two together. Experience new things together- from dining into a new restaurant to experiencing street food together to exploring to new places. It's the little surprises that make great memories.

MIND READING No matter how long you've been together, do not think that you can read each other's mind.

NEEDS Be good to yourself, then be good to your partner. That's what love is all about. Think about your partner. Will it make him/her happy? Will she/he enjoy it? Consider each other's feelings. Be very attentive & sensitive to each other's needs, physically & emotionally, that way your partner learns to do the same for you. Never take your partner for granted.

PRIORITIES If one says it's important, then it is! Prioritize each other among other things!

SPACE Give each other space. Have dates with your girlfriends, have your boy's night out. If you can't trust each other with this, then don't get married.

SORRY Say sorry when you're wrong.

SURPRISES No matter how long you've known each other, be open to surprises, both good or bad.

SUPPORT Support each other's dream. Be willing to follow your passions, support your partner in his/her decisions & create new ones together. Two heads are better than one.

TEAMWORK Think for two & always work as a team. Consult each other before making a decision because everything will always affect both of you. Strengthen couple power. In many ways, we have to decide based on what is best for the relationship in favor of our individual selves.

TALK Tell each other's stories. Life goes by so fast & its easy to see how easily couple can grow apart. Whenever something funny, scary, exciting or juicy happened to you or to someone you know, tell each other about it & have your partner do the same. Keep each other in the loop of life, even by email if you have to.
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Inspirational letter from a father..Abraham Lincoln to Teacher of his son

This letter is written by the great American President Abraham Lincoln to the teacher of his Son. Very inspiring and sometime in life you might need to give it to your children to read...

"My son starts school today. It is all going to be strange and new to him for a while and I wish you would treat him gently.
It is an adventure that might take him across continents. All adventures that probably include wars, tragedy and sorrow. To live this life will require faith, love and courage.

So dear Teacher, will you please take him by his hand and teach him things he will have to know, teaching him - but gently, if you can.
Teach him that for every enemy, there is a friend. He will have to know that all men are not just, that all men are not true.
But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero, that for every crooked politician, there is a dedicated leader.
Teach him if you can that 10 cents earned is of far more value than a dollar found.

In school, teacher, it is far more honorable to fail than to cheat. Teach him to learn how to gracefully lose, and enjoy winning when he does win.
Teach him to be gentle with people, tough with tough people. Steer him away from envy if you can and teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Teach him if you can - how to laugh when he is sad, teach him there is no shame in tears. Teach him there can be glory in failure and despair in success.
Teach him to scoff at cynics. Teach him if you can the wonders of books, but also give time to ponder the extreme mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hill. Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if every one tell him they are wrong.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone else is doing it. Teach him to listen to every one, but teach him also to filters all that he hears on a screen of truth and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him to sell his talents and brains to the highest bidder but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Let him have the courage to be impatient, let him have the patient to be brave.
Teach him to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will always have sublime faith in mankind, in God.

This is the order, teacher, but see what best you can do. He is such a nice little boy and he is my son.

Regards,
Lincoln.
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6 Perfect Parenting Myths Revealed

“Perfect” parents trying hard to meet their children''s every need may be doing more harm than good, claims a book.
Sydney psychologist Renee Mill said that parents are exhausted and stressed while trying to fulfil every demand of their kids.

In her new book, ‘No Sweat Parenting’, Mill has listed out six “perfect parenting” myths.
She writes that this is in a well intentioned but misguided belief that quality time means sitting on the floor playing whatever game their child wants.

Other myths include that parents must be perfect;
firm discipline will quash a child''s self-esteem;
parenting and adult life have to be conducted separately; parents cannot deprive their kids of material goods;
and that parents have to shield children from any problems or disappointments in life.

Mill insists that, with these myths, parents are bringing up a generation of kids believe they are the centre of the universe.
"We are growing monsters," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted her as saying.

The six ‘perfect parenting’ myths are:

1. Need to spend 'quality time'
2. Parents must be perfect
3. Firm discipline will quash a child's self-esteem
4. Parenting and adult life have to be conducted separately
5. Parents cannot deprive their kids of material goods
6. Parents have to shield children from any problems or disappointments in life
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Just too touching, Spare some time to read..

A touching story and A good reminder:
"Take time to appreciate what you have now."

On the last day before Christmas, I hurried to go to the supermarket to buy the remaining of the gift I didn't manage to buy earlier.
When I saw all the people there, I started to complain to myself,"It is going to take forever here and I still have so many other places to go.
Christmas really is getting more and more annoying every year. How I wish I could just lie down, go to sleep and only wake up after it..." Nonetheless, I made my way to the toy section, and there I started to curse the prices, wondering if after all kids really playwith such expensive toys.

While looking in the toy section, I noticed a small boy of about 5 years old, pressing a doll against his chest. He kept on touching the hair of the doll and looked so sad. I wondered who was this doll for.
Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him, "Granny, are you sure I don't have enough money?" The old lady replied, "You know that you don't have enough money to buy this doll, my dear."
Then she asked him to stay here for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly. The little boy was still holding the doll in his hand.

Finally, I started to walk toward him and I asked him who did he want to give this doll to. "It is the doll that my sister loved most and wanted so much for this Christmas.
She was so sure that Santa Claus would bring it to her." I replied to him that may be Santa Claus will bring it to her, after all, and not to worry.
But he replied to me sadly. "No, Santa Claus can not bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the doll to my mother so that she can give it to her when she goes there.
"His eyes were so sad while saying this. "
My sister has gone to be with God. Daddy says that Mummy will also go to see God very soon, so I thought that she could bring the doll with her to give it to my sister."
My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said, "I told daddy to tell mummy not to go yet. I asked him to wait until I come back from the supermarket."

Then he showed me a very nice photo of him where he was laughing. He then told me, "I also want mummy to take this photo with her so that she will not forget me."
I love my mummy and I wish she doesn't have to leave me but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister."
Then he looked again at the doll with sad eyes, very quietly.I quickly reached for my wallet and took a few notes and said to the boy,
"What if we checked again, just in case if you have enough money?" "Ok," he said. "I hope that I have enough." I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for the doll, and even some spare money.
The little boy said, "Thank you God for giving me enough money." Then he looked at me and added, "I asked yesterday before I slept for God to make sure I have enough money to buy this doll so that mummy can give it to my sister.
He heard me." "I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mummy, but I didn't dare to ask God too much. But He gave me enough to buy the doll and the white rose." "You know, my mummy loves white rose."

A few minutes later, the old lady came again and I left with my trolley. I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn't get the little boy out of my mind. Then I remembered a local newspaper article 2 days ago, which mentioned of a drunk man in a truck who hit a car where there was one young lady and a little girl.
The little girl died right away, and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, because the young lady would not be able to get out of the coma.

Was this the family of the little boy? Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young lady had passed away.
I couldn't stop myself and went to buy a bunch of white roses and I went to the mortuary where the body of the young woman was exposed for people to see and make last wish before burial.
She was there, in her coffin, holding a beautiful white rose in her hand with the photo of the little boy and the doll placed over her chest.
I left the place crying, feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to that day, hard to imagine.
And in a fraction of a second, a DRUNK man had taken all this away from him.

SOURCE UNKNOWN...
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Till Debt do us Part

Will tell you for a fact that getting out of debt is just like losing
weight. Who among us wants to lose weight?
Let me ask you. When did we gain weight? Was it overnight, after we ate? Of course not! It could have been the accumulation of the food we ate over a period of six months or one year.
It’s a slow process. It takes time. If we want to lose weight, it cannot be done overnight.

Debt is like that in many ways. If you have accumulated debts through the years, it means that in order for you to disaccumulate it or pay it off, it will also take time. Paying off your debt is a slow process.
Like those people who lose weight, those who lose fast put it back fast because they tend to celebrate with their
little victory by eating more again. That is why being conscious of the process is very important.
We should not be in a hurry. When you are trying to lose weight and keep it off, health experts say we need to do two things:
decrease your caloric intake and increase your physical activity.
A similar strategy also works when you are trying to lose a lot of debt. You can either decrease your spending or increase your income.
Often you have to do both because you can cut only so much.
Getting out of debt is not fun, I tell you. In fact, it can be a painful process.

Some people come to me and ask me, “Chinkee, how can I get out of
debt? I don’t think you understand how much my debt is.”
Maybe your question is “How in the world can I pay off my debt?”
Well, I may not understand how much debt you have, but I have great news for you.
You can be on your way out of debt before you finish reading this book.
It is the Willingness to Pay That Matters. In paying off your debt, it is not the amount that is more important. The real issue is your willingness to pay your debts.

I will share another person’s testimony.
He was in business in the early 90’s, not really a good time to be in business because of the series of coup d’état attempts. Because of the coup attempts, he was in debt
and his business went bankrupt. Do you know what he did?
That person was probably earning P30,000 a month. Now, what he did was pay
half of what he was earning to his creditors.
He did not pay everything to a single person. What he did was to divide his budget among his
creditors.
He went to the people he owed money from and diligently paid P500 or P1,000 every single week faithfully. After doing it for several months, around six months, his creditors took pity on him. You know what they told my friend?
The creditors said that because they saw his heart, his sincerity, and his commitment to pay,
they were willing to slash the interest rates.
Some even told my friend that they were willing to forego the interest expense and that he could pay the whole debt in lump sum when he had the money. Others even told
him that they would forget about his debts because they saw his sincerity.

All those favors came because his creditors saw my friend’s willingness to pay.
So I would suggest that if you are in debt right now, just pay back your creditors.
Regardless of how much you owe, whether it is P10,000 or P100,000, pay them back every month faithfully no matter how small the amount may be. If they see your willingness to pay, maybe God can also move into the hearts of these people and also help you overcome
your financial situation.

by :
Chinkee Tan
( a portion of his book entitled"Till debt do us part" )

Change Begins With Choice

Any day we wish, we can discipline ourselves to change it all. Any day we wish, we can open the book that will open our mind to new knowledge.
Any day we wish, we can start a new activity.
Any day we wish, we can start the process of life change.

We can do it immediately, or next week, or next month or next year. We can also do nothing.
We can pretend rather than perform.
And if the idea of having to change ourselves makes us uncomfortable, we can remain as we are.
We can choose rest over labor, entertainment over education, delusion over truth, and doubt over confidence.

The choices are ours to make. But while we curse the effect, we continue to nourish the cause.

As Shakespeare uniquely observed, "The fault is not in the stars, but in ourselves."

We created our circumstances by our past choices.
We have both the ability and the responsibility to make better choices beginning today. Those who are in search of the good life do not need more answers or more time to think things over to reach better conclusions.
They need the truth. They need the whole truth.
And they need nothing but the truth.
We cannot allow our errors in judgment, repeated every day, to lead us down the wrong path.
We must keep coming back to those basics that make the biggest difference in how our life works out.
And then we must make the very choices that will bring life, happiness and joy into our daily lives. And, if I may be so bold to offer my last piece of advice, for someone seeking and needing to make changes in their life
- If you don't like how things are, change it! You're not a tree.
You have the ability to totally transform every area in your life - and it all begins with your very own power of choice.

Credited to:
--- Jim Rohn

Nine Promises this Year that Bring Happiness

As the meaning goes :
A promise (also called troth) is a psychological contract indicating a transaction between two persons
whereby the first person undertakes in the future to render some service or gift to the second person or devotes something valuable now and here to his or her use.

A promise may also refer to any kind of vow or guarantee to others or to yourself.

We seek happiness in the wrong places and in the wrong form.
The primary cause of unhappiness is simply wanting too much, overemphasizing the material things...
Happiness begins where selfishness ends.

Strategy to find happiness is to make and keep nine promises:

PROMISE to talk about health, happiness, and prosperity as often as possible.

PROMISE to make all your friends know there is something in them that is special and that you value.

PROMISE to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best in yourself and others.

PROMISE to be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

PROMISE to be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

PROMISE to forget the mistakes of the past and press on to greater achievements in the future.

PROMISE to wear a cheerful appearance at all times and give every person you meet a smile.

PROMISE to give so much time improving yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

PROMISE to be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit trouble to press on you.

Let this promises be your New Year's resolutions and be happy !!
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