The REAL You!

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Posted on April 5, 2021 by Coach Muller

Photo by **Lucas Ricardo Ignacio** from **Pexels**

Has someone or a certain circumstance ever affected you in such a negative way, that you decided to alter the “REAL YOU” to match the actions of your adversary? Well, today’s short story is a great illustration and reminder that we should always stay true ourselves, maintain our core principles, and remain the people that we really are.

A man saw a snake being burned to death and decided to take it out of the fire. When he did, the snake bit him causing excruciating pain.the man dropped the snake, and it fell back into the fire.

So, the man grabbed a metal pole, took the snake out of the fire, and saved its life.

Someone who was watching approached the man and said, “That snake bit you. Why are you still trying to save it?” the man replied, “The nature of the snake is to bite, but that’s not going to change my nature, which is to help.”

Do not change your nature simply because someone tries to hurt you or does you wrong. Do not lose your good heart and take care to control your emotions so when the time comes, you can let your kindness shine!

Be That One

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Coach Muller

What kind of person are you? Are you compassionate, sympathetic, and kind towards others? Or are you someone who is unsympathetic, callous, and impervious in your relationships with individuals?

The following poem was written by Sheri Eckert and serves as a great reminder that we should all “Be That One” kind of person who looks to inspire, encourage, and assist others in their journey of life.

Be That One

Be that one.

That One who forgives when a deep offense has been committed.

That One who loves when no one else does.

That One who shares kindness to those who are mean.

Be That One who looks past the insult, instead seeing the pain that motivated it.

That One who shines the light upon those who sit in utter darkness.

Because the impact of being That One runs far and wide.It brings healing to the wounded, joy to the sad, and hope to those in despair.

Be That One.

“How beautiful a day can be when KINDNESS touches it” 🙂

Six Little Stories of Wisdom

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Coach Muller

Photo by **Andrea Piacquadio** from **Pexels**

One of the things that I enjoy, is finding stories, anecdotes, and other little nuggets of wisdom and knowledge to share with others. A friend of mine sent me the following Six VERY short stories that demonstrate short examples of simple truths. I hope that you find them as enjoyable and helpful as I did!

Enjoy!

{1}
Once all villagers decided to pray for rain. On the day of prayer all the people gathered, but only one boy came with an umbrella.
That’s FAITH.

{2}
When you throw babies in the air,they laugh because they know you will catch them.
That’s TRUST.

{3}
Every night we go to bed without any assurance of being alive the next morning, but still we set the alarms to wake up.
That’s HOPE

{4}
We plan big things for tomorrow in spite of zero knowledge of the future.
That’s CONFIDENCE

{5}
We see the world suffering,but still we get married and have children.
That’s LOVE.

{6}
On an old man’s shirt was written a sentence’I am not 80 years old; I am sweet 16 with 64 years of experience.’
That’s ATTITUDE.

Have a happy day & live your life like the 6 stories.

When I was a child, I thought nap time was punishment. Now it’s like a mini-vacation.

“GOOD FRIENDS ARE THE RARE JEWELS OF LIFE..DIFFICULT TO FIND AND IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLACE!

The Secret of Winners

Posted on January 23, 2021 by Coach Muller

I recently came across the following story that I found interesting and inspirational. Unfortunately, I do not who wrote this analogy, I think that this is something that will inspire people whose desires and goals in their lives are to become leaders in their everyday lives.

Enjoy!

In the Jungle:

1. The Elephant is the biggest

2. The Giraffe is the tallest

3. The Fox is the wisest

4. The Cheetah is the fastest

Yet, the Lion is the King of the Jungle even without any of these qualities.

Why?

Because:

1. The Lion is courageous, bold, walks with confidence, is daring and never afraid.

2. The Lion believes it is unstoppable.

3. The Lion is a risk taker.

4. The Lion believes any food is for him.

5. The lion believes any opportunity is worth trying.

So…

1. You don’t need to be the biggest.

2. You don’t have to be the tallest.

3. You don’t have to be the wisest.

4. You don’t have to be the fastest.

All you need is “courage.”

All you need is the “will to try.”

All you need is the “Faith” to believe it is “Possible.”

All you need is to believe in yourself and believe that you can do it.

The Lion never walks alone! It is the only big cat that lives, hunts, and eats in groups. This quality demonstrates that we all need each other to succeed…whether it be in a family, neighborhood, workplace, Church/Mosque/Synagogue, and the nation at large!

Never Walk Along!

Stay in the Lion’s Mood!

That’s the mood for winners…regardless how old you are!

Have the Mind of a Lion!!!

The Four Candles – A Story of Peace in Troubled Times

Posted on January 16, 2021 by Coach Muller

If you’ve ever felt despair, suffered tragedy or generally gone through the harshness of life, this is a wonderful story that will lift your spirits…

The Four Candles burned slowly. Their Ambiance was so soft you could hear them speak…

The First Candle said, “I Am Peace, but these days, nobody wants to keep me lit.”

Then Peace’s flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

The Second Candle said, “I Am Faith, but these days, I am no longer indispensable.”

Then Faith’s flame slowly diminishes and goes out completely.

Sadly, The Third Candle Speaks, “I Am Love and I haven’t the strength to stay lit any longer.

People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.” Waiting no longer, Love goes out completely.

Suddenly…A child enters the room and sees the three candles no longer burning. The child begins to cry, “Why are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit until the end!”

Then the Fourth Candle speaks gently to the little child, “Don’t be afraid, for I Am Hope, and while I still burn, we can re-light the other candles.”

With Shining Eyes, the child took the Candle Of Hope and lit the other three candles.

Never let the Flame of Hope go out of your life. With Hope, no matter how bad things look and are…Peace, Faith and Love can Shine Brightly in our lives.

~ Author Unknown

Walk Backwards

Posted on January 12, 2021 by Coach Muller

I hope people can learn how to walk backwards – starting today.

Photo Credit: Quang-Nguyen-Vinh via Pexels

A long time ago, a man got drunk and passed out naked. One of his sons found him and began telling others about his embarrassing position.

Maybe his son felt overlooked by his two brothers, maybe he was sternly corrected by his father, maybe he just like being the center of attention – and this sure got people’s attention.

His two brothers listened and were mortified. They looked at their brother and without saying a word, went to their passed-out father.

As they entered the room, they did not want to see their father disgraced, so they walked in backward.

They actually walked backward.

They carried a blanket and covered their father as he laid there naked and drunk as a skunk.

(Try walking backwards right now where you’re at – unless you’re driving : )

They wouldn’t dare mention this to anybody. No matter how strict, how selfish or how sinful their father was, they were determined to cover his sin, to sober him up and to encourage him to learn from his mistake and start living a better life.

He did. His name was Noah, and he built a pretty famous boat.

There’s an old saying: Love covers a multitude of sins.

What do you do when find out someone posted something years and years ago that is completely offensive (btw why would you even be looking for offensive material from several years ago?)

Do you “out” somebody, post it, tell your friends, tell your neighbors?

That’s a “gotcha!” mentality; why not have a ‘grace’ mentality and walk backwards?

I encourage you try to give mercy and grace to people at their weakest moments. I’m grateful many have shown me that in my life and I’ve tried to show the same.

I truly believe we will reap what we sow. Some people call it karma, call it what you want, but it’s absolutely true.

Noah’s two sons were blessed and their families; the other son and his family were not blessed.

You can hurt people or help people, break people down or build people up, you can laugh at them or love them.

Now more than ever, choose love and walk backwards.

The Right Place

Posted on December 6, 2020 by Coach Muller

Don’t ever forget this:

A father said to his son: You graduated with honors, here is a car that I acquired many years ago … it is several years old.

But before I give it to you, take it to the used car lot downtown and tell them I want to sell it and see how much they offer you.

The son went to the used car lot, returned to his father and said, “They offered me $ 1,000 because it looks very worn out.”

The father said, “Take him to the pawn shop.”

The son went to the pawn shop, returned to his father and said, “The pawn shop offered $ 100 because it was a very old car.”

The father asked his son to go to a car club and show them the car.

The son took the car to the club, returned and told his father: “Some people in the club offered $ 100,000 for it, since it is a Nissan Skyline R34, iconic car and sought after by many.

The father said to his son, “I wanted you to know that the right place values you the right way.” …

If you are not valued, do not be angry, it means that you are in the wrong place. Those who know your value are those who appreciate you, and never stay in a place where no one sees your value.

~ A.J. Morrow

His Journey Has Just Begun

Posted on November 29, 2020 by Coach Muller

My father passed away a few years ago and there isn’t a day that goes past that I don’t think of him. I miss the times that we shared together fishing, traveling, camping, laughing, and doing the plethora of other things that I loved to do with him. He was more than a father to me, he was my buddy, my confidant, my best friend.

Today, I was going through my desk here at home and came across a poem that a friend of mine had shared with us. For some reason, I don’t remember reading it at the time, but after reading it today, it brought a sense of comfort to my heart.

It is for this reason that I felt as though I should share it with other people that may be going through a time of grief, loss, or nostalgia.

So, here is the poem…

“His Journey’s Just Begun”

Don’t think of him as gone away,

His journey’s just begun.

Life holds so many facets,

This earth is only one.

—–

Just think of him as resting,

From the sorrows and the tears.

A place of warmth and comfort,

Where there are no days and years.

—-

Think how he must be wishing,

That we could know today.

How nothing but our sadness,

Can really pass away.

—-

And think of him as living,

In the hearts of those he touched.

For nothing loved is ever lost,

And he was loved so much.

~ Ellen Brenneman

When I Grow Up

Posted on April 14, 2020 by Coach Muller

sabine-van-straaten-HF4Hy8jFhEY-unsplash I remember when I was a little boy, watching and following my dad everywhere and wondering to myself what it would be like to be a “grown-up” and whether or not I would ever be as good as him. My father was a photographer who had his own little studio where he would take family portraits or pictures of people and their pets. He was also the photographer for a little town newspaper which had subscribers all along the New Jersey coast.

Wherever we went, everyone just seemed to know him, and they loved him. He always brought a smile, a laugh, and good cheer to others. I remember thinking how awesome that would be if someday, when I got older, when I became a “grown-up,” I could do the same and have people think the same way about me.

Hopefully…I have become a lot like my dad.

Of course, there were other people in my life that I always thought would be nice if I had some of their attributes as well. They all influenced my life to make me the kind of person that I am today.

What does your children or other people think of you?

Today’s poem is a beautiful writing that shares with us the questioning mind of a little child and how they, so much, want to be like their adult companion. Good “food for thought!”

When I Grow Up

When I grow up

I want to be like you…

I want to be big and strong

I want people to like me just as they like you –

I want to play sports,

I want to dribble

Spike, run, throw, bat, dive and roll…just like you.

I think you’re wonderful

and you always will be…

I wish I was grown up now.

Do you think that I will be tall?

Do you think that I’ll be good like you –

Will there be enough left for me

When I get grown-up?

Will you help me – will you show me the way?

I want you to

Because…

When I grow-up I want to be just like you.

~ Bonnie Beach ~

Easter…With A Nod to Dr. Seuss

Posted on April 11, 2020 by Coach Muller

rod-long-aJvSX36kweg-unsplash Around the world, millions upon millions of people celebrate one of the holiest and most blessed days of the year, the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is through that beautiful hope and promise that Christians base their faith upon, that like Jesus, we too will be someday resurrected and live with Him for eternity.

A friend of mine recently sent me the following poem about Easter…with a modern day twist. It has a hint of the legendary writer, Dr. Seuss, and of the times that we are all now experiencing.

It os my hope that this little poem brings a smile to your face, strengthens your faith, and inspiration to your soul.

“Easter…With A Nod to Dr. Seuss”

‘Twas late in ‘19 when the virus began

Bringing chaos and fear to all people, each land.

People were sick, hospitals full,

Doctors overwhelmed, no one in school.

As winter gave way to the promise of spring,

The virus raged on, touching peasant and king.

People hid in their homes from the enemy unseen.

They YouTubed and Zoomed, social-distanced, and cleaned.

April approached and churches were closed.

“There won’t be an Easter,” the world supposed.

“There won’t be church services, and egg hunts are out.

No reason for new dresses when we can’t go about.”

Holy Week started, as bleak as the rest.

The world was focused on masks and on tests.

“Easter can’t happen this year,” it proclaimed.

“Online and at home, it just won’t be the same.”

Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the days came and went.

The virus pressed on; it just would not relent.

The world woke Sunday and nothing had changed.

The virus still menaced, the people, estranged.

“Pooh pooh to the saints,” the world was grumbling.

“They’re finding out now that no Easter is coming.

“They’re just waking up! We know just what they’ll do!

Their mouths will hang open a minute or two,

And then all the saints will all cry boo-hoo.

“That noise,” said the world, “will be something to hear.”

So it paused and the world put a hand to its ear.

And it did hear a sound coming through all the skies.

It started down low, then it started to rise.

But the sound wasn’t depressed.

Why, this sound was triumphant!

It couldn’t be so!

But it grew with abundance!

The world stared around, popping its eyes.

Then it shook! What it saw was a shocking surprise!

Every saint in every nation, the tall and the small,

Was celebrating Jesus in spite of it all!

It hadn’t stopped Easter from coming! It came!

Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the world with its life quite stuck in quarantine

Stood puzzling and puzzling.

“Just how can it be?”

“It came without bonnets, it came without bunnies,

It came without egg hunts, cantatas, or money.”

Then the world thought of something it hadn’t before.

“Maybe Easter,” it thought, “doesn’t come from a store.

Maybe Easter, perhaps, means a little bit more.”

And what happened then? Well…the story’s not done.

What will YOU do? Will you share with that one?

Or two or more people needing hope in this night?

Will you share the source of your life in this fight?

The churches are empty – but so is the tomb,

And Jesus is victor over death, doom, and gloom.

So, this year at Easter, let this be our prayer,

As the virus still rages all around, everywhere.

May the world see hope when it looks at God’s people.

May the world see the church is not a building or steeple.

May the world find Faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection,

May the world find Joy in a time of dejection.

May 2020 be known as the year of survival,

But not only that – Let it start a revival.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

An Angel’s Hand

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Coach Muller

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

The death and loss of a loved one, family or friend, is never easy. There are times when it comes unexpected and other instances when it arrives after a long period of time. I have experienced this kind of loss with dear friends of mine as well as family and relatives.

For me, I have always found comfort knowing that despite the hard and painful time I was going through, there was a promise and hope that I would see them again…whole, perfect, without pain and suffering.

I recently discovered the following poem, written by John F. Connor, that really gave me a beautiful image about what happens to our lost loved ones and their souls the moment they pass away from this earth.

It is simply a wonderful, heartwarming and beautiful little poem that I felt I needed to share. It is my hope that it will comfort someone today.

An Angel’s Hand

An angel whispered in my ear

Believe in me and have no fear,

Come with me and take my hand,

I will take you to another land.

A place of peace, a place of light,

Don’t be afraid, just hold on tight.

Your earth days are done but don’t be sad

Remember all the times you had;

Loved ones will join you, don’t despair,

You have many in Heaven waiting there.

Your body dies, your soul is free,

That’s why you get to fly with me.

I Will Be Here

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Coach Muller

Photo by Keegan Houser on Pexels.com

Occasionally, I come across a poem or the words to a song, that is very calming and reassuring. Today, I am going to share the lyrics to a song written by Steven Curtis Chapman, “I Will Be Here.” You can interpret them as either coming from a friend’s point of view or from God’s but either way, I hope that you find this comforting.

“I Will Be Here”

Tomorrow morning if you wake

Up and the sun does not appear

I will be here

If in the dark, we lose sight of love

Hold my hand and have no fear

‘Cause I will be here

I will be here

When you feel like being quiet

When you need to speak your mind

I will listen

And I will be here