I am a 61 year old, father of two boys and have been happily married for 33 years. I have been a Physical Education teacher and coach for 38 years and have loved EVERY minute of it. I enjoy making people laugh and feel good about themselves. It’s fun collecting inspiring and heartwarming stories.from people. So, if you have a good story…let me know! I hope you enjoy my page!! :)
Remember:
Everyone is fighting a battle that you know nothing about.
Be kind.
Always.
One of the things I enjoy finding are true-life stories of normal, everyday people that inspire and demonstrate the power and determination of human spirit. Regardless of the socio-economic status of someone, it takes a special degree of willpower and dedication to finish a big project. It is also interesting how some individuals will keep a small object with them as a reminder of what is important to them to keep them motivated to complete the task at hand.
In 1869, nine-year-old Liang Fu stood alone near Promontory Summit, Utah, days after the golden spike was driven into the ground. In his pocket, he carried a small stone — smooth on one side, flat like a hammer head. His father had used it to test iron.
His father had come from Guangdong and died weeks before the railroad’s completion, crushed beneath a load of timber. The company left no marker. Just a final paycheck and a shovel.
Liang was too young to work, too foreign to belong. But he stayed.
He wandered the empty rail bed, collecting bent nails and bits of broken chain. He slept in a burned-out tent and boiled rice with melted snow. Sometimes, he pressed the stone against his cheek, as if it might still hold warmth.
One evening, a freedman named Ezra, also a worker, found Liang shivering under a boxcar.
“Where’s your people, boy?”
Liang didn’t speak English. He just showed the stone.
Ezra took him in. Fed him stew. Called him “Li’l Hammer.”
Liang would go on to work in a blacksmith shop, then run his own foundry in Nevada. He cast every tool himself. In his office sat a single object on velvet: the stone.
“It didn’t build the railroad,” he’d say, “but it told me I could finish something.”
This is a great story to help remind us that we can finish anything we start as long as we put our minds to it.
It was once said that the difference between a mountain and a molehill is perspective…and it is so tue!
Two hikers reached a mountain peak just as the sun was setting. One sighed, complaining about the aching climb and how small the world below looked after all the effort. The other stood quietly, eyes wide, whispering how vast and beautiful everything seemed from above. Same mountain, same view—yet each carried home a different memory.
Everyone learns something new for every experience they perform. Whether it be good or bad, our perspective on the things that happen to us can greatly differ. While some people may look at a certain experience as something as something negative, another person may look at the same experience as a learning opportunity…a lesson of what not to do again for example.
The following little testimony is from a once prominent person from Hollywood that gives us a terrific example of how important it is to have a positive and healthy outlook in some situations that may seem bad.
“For years, I lived in a van with my family…
But in my mind, I was already a star.”
Because poverty can empty your pockets — but never your imagination.
My dad was a musician who gave up his dream for a “safe” job.
They fired him anyway.
And just like that, everything collapsed.
We lost our home…
and ended up living in a Volkswagen van, parked in lots and open fields.
I was 15 and already knew what it meant to see my mom sick…
and my dad broken.
Sometimes, all we had to survive the day… was laughter.
I started working as a janitor at a factory,
all the while dreaming of making the world laugh.
The road was brutal.
Audition after audition, they said I was “too weird.”
I battled anxiety, depression.
But I kept writing, kept practicing in front of the mirror, kept believing.
One day, I wrote myself a fake check for $10 million and kept it in my wallet.
A promise to myself.
Years later, I got paid exactly that for the movie “Dumb and Dumber”.
The hardest part? Losing my dad just as my dreams were coming true.
He was my biggest fan — the one who drove me to every show when no one else would.
But he left me with a lesson I’ll carry forever:
Don’t give up on what you love just because you’re scared to fail.
Even the “safe” path can collapse beneath your feet.
Laughter saved me…
But pain was my teacher.
Because sometimes, the people who make us laugh the hardest…
It really is amazing to me how many things in nature survive. The adaptations and the way that plants and animals are so intricately designed to live for hundreds and thousands of years really are wonderful! In today’s blog, Mr. Avis shares his thoughts and perspectives on one of the oldest living things in the world…the great Sequoias of California. There are countless lessons that we can learn from our natural world, here’s one of them 🙂
“Most people think sequoias survive because they’re massive.
But that’s not even close to the real reason.
If you’ve ever had the privilege standing beside one of these giants, you’ll find it hard NOT to think of resilience.
These trees can live through droughts, fires, storms, and climate shifts that would kill almost anything else.
But as an engineer this is what I’m fixated on:
The tallest tree in the world has roots that only go 6-12 feet deep.
That should be impossible. A 300-foot tree with shallow roots makes no sense from an engineering perspective.
But… Sequoias don’t survive alone.
Their root systems spread 50-80 feet wide and interweave with every other sequoia around them.
They share nutrients, water, and structural support. When storms come in, they support each other.
The forest is the system: Not the individual trees.
I couldn’t stop thinking about this.
Most people try to build resilience by making themselves bigger, stronger, more independent. They stockpile resources, they build higher walls, they go it alone.
But the most resilient systems in nature are interconnected.
Maybe the question isn’t “how do I become more self-sufficient?” but “how do I become more meaningfully connected to the right systems?”” – Rob Avis
Sometimes, the most powerful changes begin with the smallest gestures. This story shows how a simple act of kindness in an ordinary moment can ripple outward, touching lives in unexpected ways.
One chilly afternoon, Maya was leaving the grocery store when she noticed a mother struggling with two heavy bags and a restless toddler. Without hesitating, Maya offered to carry one of the bags to the car. The woman looked surprised, then deeply relieved. “Thank you,” she said softly, her shoulders relaxing.
It was such a small thing, but as Maya walked back to her own car, she felt lighter, too. The next morning, she stopped by her office early and brought coffee for her coworker who had been working late all week. That simple gesture turned into laughter, stories, and a brighter start to their day.
Over the next few weeks, Maya began to notice how kindness spread like sunlight. A stranger held the elevator for her. A neighbor left fresh flowers on her porch. One act seemed to inspire another, and soon her days were full of small but powerful reminders that people are wired for connection.
Maya never thought of herself as extraordinary. She just chose to see where she could help. And through those choices, she discovered a quiet truth: kindness doesn’t just change the day—it changes the world, one moment at a time.
Many of us believe that some of the best things to have in life to make us happy are things like money, boats, cars, big houses, etc. My grandma used to tell me a long time ago that the most important things in a person’s life are the things that are unseen…and it’s true. When it is time for us to leave this earth it won’t be the THINGS that we remember but the LOVE and TIME that we shared and spent with others. With that in mind, today’s little story is a great illustration of how some people chose happiness in the most important aspects of life.
At just 19 years old, Madeline Astor boarded the Titanic as a new bride, five months pregnant, and married to one of America’s wealthiest men. By the end of that tragic night, she was no longer a wife—rescued from the freezing Atlantic waters while her husband, John Jacob Astor IV, disappeared beneath them.
Yet survival carried its own burden. John Jacob Astor’s will ensured Madeline financial security, but only under strict conditions: she would inherit her fortune only if she never remarried. Years later, Madeline defied those terms, choosing love and independence over controlled wealth. She gave up unimaginable riches to reclaim her freedom, remarried, and lived a life of her own choosing.
Her story is more than just a tale from the Titanic—it is a reminder that resilience means not only surviving tragedy, but also daring to live authentically and happily afterward.
Life Lesson: True wealth is not measured in money or possessions, but in the courage to choose freedom, love, and self-determination.
During the Civil War, a friend of Abraham Lincoln was a visitor in the White House. “One night I was restless and could not sleep… From the private room where the President slept, I heard low tones. Instinctively I wandered in, and there was a sight which I have never forgotten, It was the President, kneeling before an open Bible. His back was towards me. I shall never forget his prayer: “Oh, Thou God that heard Solomon when he prayed and cried for wisdom, hear me…I cannot guide the affairs of this nation without Thy help. Hear me and save this nation.”
When the leaders of our country assembled to write the Constitution, Benjamin Franklin proposed that each session be opened in prayer. Franklin said, “I have lived a long time, and the longer I live the more convincing proof I see of this truth – that God governs the affairs of men.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, First Chief Justice John Jay are all names synonymous with the spirit of our country and some of the Founding Fathers of the U.S.A. Over 200 years ago they shook off the chains of tyranny from Great Britain by divine call. Citing 27 biblical violations they wrote the Declaration of Independence
with liberty and justice for all.
But something happened since Jefferson called the Bible the cornerstone for American liberty then put it in our schools as a light or since “Give me liberty or give me death”, Patrick Henry said Our country was founded on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We have eliminated God from the equation of American life thus eliminating the reason this nation first began.
Of the 55 men who formed the Constitution, fifty-two were active members of their church…founding fathers such as Noah Webster, who wrote the first dictionary
could literally quote the Bible chapter and verse. James Madison said, “We’ve staked our future on our ability to fallow the Ten Commandments with all our heart.” These men believed you couldn’t even call yourself an American if you subverted the Word of God
In his farewell address, Washington said, “You can’t have national morality apart from religious principle, ” and it’s true. Abe Lincoln said, “The philosophy of the schoolroom in one generation will be the philosophy of the government of the next.”
So when you eliminate the Word of God from the classroom and politics, you eliminate the nation that Word protects.
Our nation is great because it was founded upon God’s Word and prayer. But today, prayer has been replaced by political intrigue, materialism, and a mistaken notion that our private and national affairs can be run without God.
But here and there throughout America, voices are heard as individuals and groups begin to call on God in prayer. But this whole nation must be moved to prayer. So great are the dangers, so grave the perils, so tremendous the problems, that it is imperative that we lay hold upon the Lord God in prayer for His will.
Prayer CAN save America! There is only one way to go…and that is up! If we do not turn to God, our country will soon disappear like many of the great empires in history have done. It is either revival or ruin. It is now or never. The answer will not be found in the UN or NATO. The answer will only be found when we call upon the Lord God. Spiritual values need to be restored and we must return to the faith of our fathers, to family prayer, and the Bible. If we continue to ignore God and focus on the inadequate philosophies of the world…America will continue its tailspin.
We need to remember the promises that God gave us to keep our nation strong:
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” – Psalm 33:12a
God blesses nations who humbly seek Him. “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land” – 2 Chronicles 7:14
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Special Note: some of the information in the post is from the song, “God in America Again” ~ Carman
Throughout the ages, people have wondered…who is the better sex? Is it the woman or the man? Who is usually right in an argument? Who is usually wrong? Well, I found this humorous little story / quiz that, I think, will help to answer this age-old question…at least a little bit. Enjoy!
The Perfect Man and the Perfect Woman
Once upon a time, a perfect man and a perfect woman met. After a perfect courtship, they had a perfect wedding. Their life together was, of course, perfect.
One snowy, stormy Christmas Eve, this perfect couple was driving their perfect car (a Grand Caravan) along a winding road, when they noticed someone at the side of the road in distress. Being the perfect couple, they stopped to help.
There stood Santa Claus with a huge bundle of toys. Not wanting to disappoint any children on the eve of Christmas, the perfect couple loaded Santa and his toys into their vehicle. Soon they were driving along delivering the toys.
Unfortunately, the driving conditions deteriorated and the perfect couple and Santa Claus had an accident. Only one of them survived the accident.
Who was the survivor? (Scroll down for the answer.)
The perfect woman survived. She’s the only one who really existed in the first place. Everyone knows there is no Santa Claus and there is no such thing as a perfect man.
Women stop reading here, that is the end of the joke.
Men keep scrolling****.
So, if there is no perfect man and no Santa Claus, the perfect woman must have been driving. This explains why there was a car accident.
By the way, if you’re a woman and you’re reading this, this illustrates another point: women never listen.
Alexander Graham Bell never set out to change the way the world communicates. His mission began with something far more personal: helping the deaf hear.
Sound surrounded his life in absence as much as presence. His mother lived with near-total deafness, and so did his wife. His father dedicated his career to teaching elocution and even created a phonetic alphabet for the hearing impaired. Bell didn’t just study sound — he lived inside the silence it left behind.
When his family emigrated from Scotland to North America, Bell carried more than luggage. He carried a purpose. In his Boston lab, surrounded by wires, magnets, and membranes, he asked a question that seemed almost impossible: Could the human voice ride on electricity?
In 1876, the answer arrived. His first words — “Mr. Watson, come here — I want to see you” — weren’t poetic, but they cracked open history. For the first time, a voice moved across distance without its speaker.
With invention came conflict. Courtrooms buzzed with claims that Bell had stolen the idea from Elisha Gray. Patent wars consumed years. Fame followed, yet Bell remained restless. He experimented with hydrofoils, airplanes, devices for the deaf, and even helped co-found the National Geographic Society. When the telephone grew into an empire, he stepped away. For Bell, the work was never about wealth. It was always about possibility.
He passed away holding his wife’s hand. As a tribute, every telephone in North America fell silent for a full minute. A fitting honor for the man who gave the world its voice.
The takeaway? When you start with love and purpose, you just might change the world.
High above the mountains, where clouds kissed the sun and silence ruled the skies, soared an old eagle named Arion. He was known by all as the strongest and wisest of the sky-dwellers, a master of the winds and keeper of peace.
One morning, as Arion glided effortlessly through the golden dawn, a restless crow spotted him from a nearby tree.
“There he is,” the crow cawed to himself. “Flying like he owns the sky.”
With a burst of wings, the crow darted toward Arion and landed squarely on his back. He pecked at the eagle’s neck and squawked in his ear.
“Come on, old bird! Fight me!”
Arion did not flap. Did not twist. Did not even glance back.
He simply rose.
Higher.
Above the trees. Above the clouds. Into air so thin, it whispered instead of howled.
The crow kept pecking, but something began to change. The higher Arion soared, the harder it became for the crow to breathe. His wings grew tired. His pecks slowed. The cold bit his feathers.
Until finally—he gasped, lost his grip, and tumbled into the clouds below.
Arion? He never looked down. He just kept rising.
The Lesson: When distractions, criticism, or negativity come pecking at you—don’t waste your energy fighting back. Don’t lower yourself to respond. Instead, rise. Focus on growth. Focus on purpose. Focus on you strength. The higher you go, the quieter the noise becomes. Let your ascent and positive thinking be your answer.
Time is going faster and faster in today’s day world. MY grandmother used to always say, “The older, you get…the days get longer and the years get shorter.” Wow, is that not the truth! Personally speaking, there were several instances in my life when I wanted to tell some of my family or friends how much I loved and appreciated them but life just got in the way. Then before I knew it, I never had the opportunity to tell those people how much I really cared for them.
After reading the following poem, it made me think that I shouldn’t procrastinate sharing my love and concern with the people that I love. It is my hope that this little anecdote will somehow touch your heart and help you realize the importance of sharing your heart with others.
If I knew it would be the last time that I’d see you fall asleep, I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord, your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that I see you walk out the door, I would give you a hug and kiss and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I’d hear your voice lifted up in praise, I would video tape each action and word, so I could play them back day after day.
If I knew it would be the last time, I could spare an extra minute or two to stop and say “I love you,” instead of assuming, you would know I do.
If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day, well I’m sure you’ll have so many more, so I can let just this one slip away.
For surely there’s always tomorrow to make up for an oversight, and we always get a second chance to make everything right.
There will always be another day to say our “I love you’s”, And certainly there’s another chance to say our “Anything I can do’s?”
But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get, I’d like to say how much I love you and I hope we never forget, Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike, And today may be the last chance you get to hold your loved one tight.
So if you’re waiting for tomorrow, why not do it today?
For if tomorrow never comes, you’ll surely regret the day, That you didn’t take that extra time for a smile, a hug, or a kiss and you were too busy to grant someone, that turned out to be their one last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today, whisper in their ear, Tell them how much you love them and that you’ll always hold them dear, Take time to say “I’m sorry,” “please forgive me,” “thank you” or “it’s okay”.
And if tomorrow never comes, you’ll have no regrets about today!
There are many, many guidelines and rules that are in the world about life. here are seven “rules of life” that I thought are a good reminder how to keep our lives positive and productive.
The Seven Rules of Life
SMILE – Life is short. Enjoy it while you can.
IT’S ON YOU – Only you are in charge of your happiness
LET IT GO – Never ruin a good day by focusing on a bad yesterday
IGNORE THEM – Don’t listen to other people. Live a life that is empowering to you
DON’T COMPARE – The only person you should try to beat is the person you were yesterday
GIVE IT TIME – Time heals everything
STAY CALM – It’s ok to have everything figured out. Know that in time, you’ll get there
What is love? What is TRUE love? I came across the following little story that I think will give us a small glimpse of what TRUE love really is.
“My parents were married for 55 years. One morning, as my mom was heading downstairs to make Dad breakfast, she suffered a heart attack and fell. My father, with all the strength he could muster, picked her up and nearly dragged her into his truck. He drove at full speed to the hospital, ignoring traffic lights, desperate to save her.
By the time they arrived, she was gone.
At the funeral, my father barely spoke. His gaze seemed lost, and tears rarely came. That evening, as my siblings and I sat with him, we shared memories of Mom. The atmosphere was heavy with sorrow and nostalgia. My father turned to my brother, a theologian, and asked, “Where is your mom now?”
My brother began speaking about life after death and where she might be. Dad listened intently. Suddenly, he interrupted: “Take me to the cemetery.”
“Dad, it’s 11 at night,” we protested. “We can’t go now!”
With a steely voice and tear-filled eyes, he replied, “Don’t argue with the man who just lost his wife of 55 years.”
Respectfully, we complied. At the cemetery, under the beam of a flashlight, he knelt by her grave. Gently caressing her resting place, he prayed and then turned to us with words that will stay with me forever:
“It was 55 years… no one can speak of true love unless they’ve lived it. She and I shared everything—crises, moves, the joy of raising you kids, the pain of losing loved ones, hospital prayers, Christmas hugs, and forgiveness for our mistakes.
Now she’s gone, and you know what? I’m at peace. I’m grateful she went first. She didn’t have to bear the pain of losing me or face the loneliness of my absence. I’ll take that burden because I love her too much to let her endure it.”
As he finished, tears streamed down our faces. He pulled us into a hug and said, “It’s okay. We can go home. It’s been a good day.”
That night, I understood the essence of true love. It’s not just about romance or physical attraction. True love is found in shared struggles, unwavering care, forgiveness, and the bond of two people deeply committed to one another.
Today’s little message should be a great reminder to all of us that we can usually make the most of a bad situation when they come our way.
Here is today’s story:
I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I honked again. Since this was going to be my last ride of my shift I thought about just driving away, but instead I put the car in park and walked up to the door and knocked.. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.
After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie.
By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets.
There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.
‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.
She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.
She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her.. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.’
‘Oh, you’re such a good boy,’ she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’
‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly..
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice.’
I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued in a soft voice.. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.
‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.
For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.
We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.
Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.
As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’.
We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.
Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move.
They must have been expecting her.
I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.
‘How much do I owe you?’ She asked, reaching into her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I said.
‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.
‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.
Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.
‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said. ‘Thank you.’
I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day,I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.
We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.
But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.
PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID ~ BUT~ THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.
At the bottom of this great story was a request to forward this – I deleted that request because if you have read to this point, you won’t have to be asked to pass it along you just will…
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
“Clint Eastwood, 94-year-old actor legend, formulated one of the most important lessons of his life so far for the young generation:
“”Don’t look for luxury in watches or bracelets, don’t look for luxury in villas or sailboats!
Luxury is laughter and friends, luxury is rain on your face, luxury is hugs and kisses.
Don’t look for luxury in shops, don’t look for it in gifts, don’t look for it in parties, don’t look for it in events!
Luxury is being loved by people, luxury is being respected, luxury is having your parents alive, luxury is being able to play with your grandchildren. Luxury is what money can’t buy.””
(2024) “
~ Source & Picture: FaceBook Page “This Will Blow Your Socks Off”
In the hustle and bustle of life, we can sometimes lose focus what of the REALLY important things might be. Many people dedicate their whole lives trying to attain lots of money, owning a big house, becoming famous, driving around a lot of fancy cars, etc. The list can go on and on.
It was once said that no one ever brings a U-Haul to a funeral and it is so true. The most important and valued things in life are the things that you cannot see.
Let’s take a look at today’s little story which perfectly illustrates the fact of how blessed WE REALLY ARE!
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Before dying at the age of 40 from stomach cancer, the world-renowned designer and author “Crisda (Kyrzada) Rodríguez” wrote:
1. I had the world’s most expensive car in my garage, but now I have to use a wheelchair.
2. In my house there are all kinds of branded clothes, shoes and price tags, but now my body is wrapped in a small cloth provided by the hospital.
3. I have a lot of money in the bank. But now I don’t benefit from that amount.
4. My house used to be like a castle, but now I sleep in two beds in the hospital.
5. From five star hotel now spending time in hospital moving from one clinic to another
6. I’ve signed autographs to hundreds of people but this time the medical records are my signature.
7. I’ve been to seven barbershops to get my hair done, but now – I don’t have a single hair on my head.
8. With a private jet, I can fly anywhere, but now I need two assistants to walk to the hospital gate.
9. Even though there is a lot of food, now my diet is two tablets a day and a few drops of salt water in the evening.
10. This house, this car, this plane, this furniture, this bank, the excessive fame and glory, none of it works for me. None of this will calm me down. “There is nothing real except death.” “I have no energy to be angry anymore. I just want to live and love.”
“Don’t let anyone waste your time. Eat the cake. Buy the shoes. Be kind. Forgive. Love. And always, always do it with style.”
At the end of the day, the most important thing is health. Always be happy with how little or much you have while you are healthy, have everything, have a plate of food, a place to sleep… YOU ARE NOT LACKING ANYTHING.
My parents were married for 55 years. One morning, my mom was going downstairs to make dad breakfast, she had a heart attack and fell. My father picked her up as best he could and almost dragged her into the truck. At full speed, without respecting traffic lights, he drove her to the hospital.
When he arrived, unfortunately she was no longer with us.
During the funeral, my father did not speak; his gaze was lost. He hardly cried.
That night, his children joined him. In an atmosphere of pain and nostalgia, we remembered beautiful anecdotes and he asked my brother, a theologian, to tell him where Mom would be at that moment. My brother began to talk about life after death and guesses as to how and where she would be.
My father listened carefully. Suddenly he asked us to take him to the cemetery.
“Dad!” we replied, “it’s 11 at night, we can’t go to the cemetery right now!”
He raised his voice, and with a glazed look he said: “Don’t argue with me, please don’t argue with the man who just lost his wife of 55 years.”
There was a moment of respectful silence, we didn’t argue anymore. We went to the cemetery. With a flashlight we reached her grave.
My father sat down, prayed, and told his children: “It was 55 years… you know? No one can really talk about true love if haven’t done life with a person.”
He paused and wiped his face.
“She and I, we were together in the good and in the bad.” he continued. “When I changed jobs, we packed up when we sold the house and moved. We shared the joy of seeing our children become parents, together we mourned the departure of loved ones, we prayed together in the waiting room of some hospitals, we supported each other in pain, we hugged one another each day, and we forgave mistakes.”
And then he paused and added, “Children, that’s all gone and I’m happy tonight. Do you know why I’m happy? Because she left before me. She didn’t have to go through the agony and pain of burying me, of being left alone after my departure. I will be the one to go through that, and I thank God for that. I love her so much that I wouldn’t have liked her to suffer…”
When my father finished speaking, my brothers and I had tears streaming down our faces. We hugged him and he comforted us, “It’s okay. We can go home. It’s been a good day.”
That night I understood what true love is. It is more than just romanticism and sex, it’s two people who stand beside one another, who are committed to one another … through all the good and bad that life throws at you.
I recently came across the following little writing and I thought to myself, “This would be a great thought to share with everyone.” So, without further ado, here it is:
I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn’t granted, it is learned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No
I give you blessings; happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No
Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No
You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked God for all things so that I might enjoy life.
God said, No
I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.
I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.
I have bad news folks…we are all getting older. Unfortunately, some of us are older than others and with that, we need to find the humorous part of life. The following statements are amusing adages that I think that you will find amusing!
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I changed my car horn to gunshot sounds. People get out of the way much faster now.
Gone are the days when girls used to cook like their mothers. Now they drink like their fathers..
I didn’t make it to the gym today. That makes five years in a row.
I decided to stop calling the bathroom the ‘John’ and renamed it the ‘Jim’. I feel so much better saying “I went to the Jim this morning”.
Old age is coming at a really bad time. When I was a child I thought “Nap Time” was a punishment. Now, as a grownup, it feels like a small vacation.
The biggest lie I tell myself is…”I don’t need to write that down, I’ll remember it.”
I don’t have grey hair; I have “wisdom highlights” I’m just very wise.
Don’t ever ask me to bend down and touch my toes. If God wanted me to touch my toes, He would have put them on my knees.
Last year I joined a support group for procrastinators, we haven’t met yet.
Of course I talk to myself; sometimes when I need expert advice.
At my age “Getting lucky” means walking into a room and remembering what I came in there for.
Actually I’m not complaining because I am a Senager. (Senior teenager)
I have everything that I wanted as a teenager, only 60 years later. – I don’t have to go to school or work. – I have a driver’s license and my own car. – I get an allowance every month. – I have my own ipad (although I can’t recall where I kept it) – I don’t have a curfew.
Life is great.
I have more friends I should send this to, but right now I can’t remember their names. Now, I’m wondering…did I send this to you, or did you send it to me?
“ I’ve always been fairly open about dad’s progression, even though it’s hard, because you never know if your experience can help someone else who feels alone in a similar situation. Soo.. My dad called me yesterday. He asked if I lived at home (the usual), so I told him about my apartment and downplayed the cost of my rent as always. He asked what I do for work and he thinks it’s pretty cool, I do too. I heard my mom in the background talking to a friend. Then, my dad asked me how “mommy” was. I thought it was odd considering she was in the other room, but I answered “she’s doing well I think”. He sounded happy and asked me if she’s “found a new boyfriend yet”. I was going for a walk through town and had to stop. Why would mommy have a new boyfriend I asked myself? “Nana Betty, I think I have her number I should call her”. Nana Betty is my dad’s mom who passed away shortly after I was born. I was so confused and then I realized that my dad thought his mother is my mom. “Our mommy?” I asked. “Yeah Nana Betty!” I corrected him explaining who Nana Betty was- “no, Nana Betty is my wife, she gave birth to you”. I called his sister crying, I called my aunt, and then I called my mom. How do I tell my mom that her husband, my dad, thinks I have a different mom? Apparently this wasn’t a new thought for him because a few days ago he asked her “Danielle…is she your daughter?” My dad thinks that he’s 18 years old and still in high school. He wakes my mom up at 2 am wondering when he has to get ready. He has no recollection of college at the University of Miami, which we all know he loves, go canes!
Life changes quickly and we often only recognize the changes after they’ve happened. So, cherish the small moments just as you would the big. Remember the happy days but also accept the hard ones. Answer every phone call, smile for the 10th photo, and make your hugs a little tighter. Whether it’s Alzheimer’s, ALS, Cancer or another disease a parent, friend or family member is fighting, you don’t have to go through it alone “
When we face a major disaster such as a tornado, epidemic, storm, earthquake, or flood … are you anxious and fearful? Do you wonder if God really cares for you? Is He truly someone you can turn to when disaster strikes … even in times of great personal crisis? The answer is “Yes!” God is well-aware of what disaster you are facing right now.
God changes lives through crisis. Sometimes it is the life of the one going through the crisis. Other times it is the lives of those around a suffering person. Most of the time, it is both. Sometimes He changes lives in ways that we might not understand NOW but will in the future.
When disaster strikes, here’s a story that might provide some insight and hope…
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed fervently for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his new possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.
The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. “God, how could you do this to me!?” he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.
It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground—it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of God.
A lady asks: “How much do you sell your eggs for?”
The old vendor replies “50¢ an egg, madam.” The lady says, “I’ll take 6 eggs for $2.50 or I’m leaving.”
The old salesman replies “Buy them at the price you want, Madam. This is a good start for me because I haven’t sold a single egg today and I need this to live.”
She bought her eggs at a bargain price and left with the feeling that she had won.
She got into her fancy car and went to a fancy restaurant with her friend. She and her friend ordered what they wanted. They ate a little and left a lot of what they had asked for.
They paid the bill, which was $150. The ladies gave $200 and told the fancy restaurant owner to keep the change as a tip…
This story might seem quite normal to the owner of the fancy restaurant, but very unfair to the egg seller…
I once read this somewhere ,that a father used to buy goods from poor people at high prices, even though he didn’t need the things. Sometimes he paid more for them.
I was amazed. One day his son asked him “Why are you doing this Dad?” His father replied: “It’s charity wrapped in dignity, son.”
I want to challenge each one of us to do better. We can do that.
A few days ago, I read the following story on rishikajain.com, that is simply a very beautiful and heartwarming story. Warning, tissues may be needed!
Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport as the daughter’s departure had been announced. Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said: “I love you and I wish you enough.”
The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mom.” They kissed and the daughter left.
The mother walked over to the window where I sat. Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy but she welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say good-bye to someone knowing it would be forever?” “Yes, I have,” I replied. “Forgive me for asking but why is this a forever good-bye?”
“I am old and she lives so far away. I have challenges ahead and the reality is the next trip back will be for my funeral,” she said. When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, “I wish you enough.” May I ask what that means?”
She began to smile. “That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.” She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail and she smiled even more.
“When we said ‘I wish you enough’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them”. Then turning toward me, she shared the following, reciting it from memory,
“I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.”
She then began to cry and walked away.
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Nurture Relationships…..As they say….It takes a minute to find a special person ~ An hour to appreciate them ~ A day to love them ~ And then an entire life to forget them.
You know … time has a way of moving quickly and catching you unaware of the passing years. It seems just yesterday that I was young, just married and embarking on my new life with my mate. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went. I know that I lived them all. I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.But, here it is… the back nine of my life and it catches me by surprise…How did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first hole and the back nine was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would be like.But, here it is…my friends are retired and getting grey..they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me…but, I see the great change….Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant…but, like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become. Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! And taking a nap is not a treat anymore… it’s mandatory! Cause if I don’t on my own free will… I just fall asleep where I sit!
And so…now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did!! But, at least I know, that though I’m on the back nine, and I’m not sure how long it will last..this I know, that when it’s over on this earth…it’s over. A new adventure will begin! Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done..things I should have done, but indeed, there are many things I’m happy to have done. It’s all in a lifetime.
So, if you’re not on the back nine yet…let me remind you, that it will be here faster than you think.
So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life please do it quickly! Don’t put things off too long!!
Life goes by quickly. So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re on the back nine or not!You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of your life….so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember…and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!!”Life” is a gift to you.
The way you live your life is your gift to those who come after. Make it a fantastic one.
LIVE IT WELL! ENJOY TODAY! DO SOMETHING FUN! BE HAPPY ! HAVE A GREAT DAY
Remember “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.
LASTLY, CONSIDER THIS: Your kids are becoming you……but your grandchildren are perfect!
Going out is good.. Coming home is better!~You forget names…. But it’s OK because some people forgot they even knew you!!!
You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything like golf.
The things you used to care to do, you aren’t as interested in anymore, but you really don’t care that you aren’t as interested.
You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV ‘ON’ than in bed. It’s called “pre-sleep”.
You miss the days when everything worked with just an “ON” and “OFF” switch.
You tend to use more 4 letter words … “what?”…”when?”… ???
You notice everything they sell in stores is “sleeveless”?!!!
What used to be freckles are now liver spots.
Everybody whispers.
You have 3 sizes of clothes in your closet…. 2 of which you will never wear.
Old is good in some things: Old Songs, Old movies, and best of all, OLD FRIENDS!!Stay well, “OLD FRIEND!” Send this on to other “Old Friends!” and let them laugh in AGREEMENT!!! It’s Not What You Gather, But What You Scatter That Tells What Kind Of Life You Have Lived.
TODAY IS THE OLDEST YOU’VE EVER BEEN; YET THE YOUNGEST YOU’LL EVER BE, SO ENJOY THIS DAY WHILE IT LASTS!
The wisdom that people learn in life through both difficult and positive experiences, can serve as a great way for other people to apply to their lives. Having the gift of using wisdom in things throughout a life, can lead a person to enjoying a much more happy and fulfilling life.
A while ago, I came across the following list that I found to be very interesting. The words of wisdom were gleaned from an individual who was in their 70’s and heading toward 80 years old. The person was asked, “What sort of changes they were feeling about themself”? The following statements were both fascinating and intriguing…I hope that they are the same for you 🙂
After loving my parents, my siblings, my spouse, and my friends, I have started to love myself.
I have realized that I am not “Atlas” and the world does not rest on my shoulders.
I have stopped bargaining with vegetable and fruit vendors. A few pennies more is not going to break me, but it might help the poor fellow save for his daughter’s school fees.
I leave my waitress a big tip. The extra money might bring a big smile to her face. She is toiling much harder for a living than I am.
I stopped telling the elderly that they’ve already narrated that story many times. The story makes them walk down memory lane and relive their past.
I have learned not to correct people even when I know that they are wrong. The onus of making everyone perfect is not on me. Peace is more precious than perfection.
I give compliments freely and generously. Compliments are a mood enhancer not only for the recipient but also for me. And a small tip to the recipient of a compliment…never, NEVER turn it down…just say, “Thank You.”
I have learned not to bother about a crease or a spot on my shirt. Personality speaks louder than appearances.
I walk away from people who do not value me. They may not know worth… but I do.
I remain cool when someone plays dirty to outrun me in the rat race. I am not a rat and neither am I in a race.
I am learning not to be embarrassed by my emotions. It is my emotions that make me human.
I have learned that it is better to drop the ego than to break up a relationship. My ego will keep me aloof, whereas with relationships, I will never be alone.
I have learned to live each day as if it’s the last. After all, it might be the last.
I am doing what makes me happy. I am responsible for my happiness, and I owe it to myself. Happiness is a choice. You can be happy at any time, just choose to be!
Why do we have to wait to be 60, 70, or 80? Why can’t we practice some of these pearls of wisdom at any age or stage of our lives? Food for thought…
My Good Time Stories 