Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene, he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand; one belonged to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it. "LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."

The LORD replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

Believe in God

Written by Danny Dutton, age 8, from Chula Vista, California, for his third grade homework assignment to "Explain God."

"One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth.

He doesn't make grown-ups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way, He doesn't have to take up His valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.

God's second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times besides bedtime.

God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this.

Because He hears everything there must be a terrible lot of noise in His ears, unless He has thought of a way to turn it off.

God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting His time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.

Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista. At least there aren't any who come to our church.

Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God. They finally got tired of Him preaching to them and they crucified Him.

But He was good and kind like His Father and He told His Father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said OK.

His Dad (God) appreciated everything that He had done and all His hard work on earth so He told Him He didn't have to go out on the road anymore, He could stay in heaven. So He did.

And now He helps His Dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones He can take care of Himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary only more important.

You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to hear you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the times.

You should always go to Church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God.

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong! And, besides, the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.

If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can.

It is good to know He's around you when you're scared in the dark or when you can't swim very good and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.

But you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and He can take me back anytime He pleases.

And that's why I believe in God."

Friend

Around the corner I have a friend,
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone.
And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell.
And he rang mine
if, we were younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men.
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name.
"Tomorrow" I say "I will call on Jim"
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes
And distance between us grows and grows,
Around the corner! yet miles away,

"Here's a telegram sir"
"Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.

Remember to always say what you mean. If you love someone, tell them. Don't be afraid to express yourself. Reach out and tell someone what they mean to you. Because when you decide that it is the right time, it might be too late. Seize the day. Never have regrets. And most importantly, stay close to your friends , family and those who have helped making you the person that you are today. It could make a difference. The difference between doing all that you can or having regrets which may stay with you forever.

Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

There are two days in every week
that we should not worry about,
two days that should be kept free,
from fear and apprehension.

One is Yesterday
with its mistakes and cares,
its faults and blunders,
its aches and pains.

Yesterday has passed forever
beyond our control.

All the money in the world
cannot bring back yesterday.
We cannot undo a certain act
or take back a word we've said-

Yesterday is gone.

The other day we shouldn't
worry about is Tomorrow-
with its impossible adversaries,
its burdens, its hopeful promise,
and poor performance.

Tomorrows sun
will either rise in splendor
or behind a mask of clouds,
but it will rise
and until it does,
we have no stake in tomorrow,
for it is yet unknown.
This leaves only one day-

Today
person can fight the battle
for just one day.
It is only when we add
the burdens of yesterday
and tomorrow that we break down.

The sadness comes not from
the experience of today
but the remorse of bitterness
for something which happened
yesterday and the dread of what
tomorrow may bring.

Be Happy, Where You Are!

Sadly, many of us continually postpone our happiness - indefinitely. It's not that we consciously set out to do so, but that we keep convincing ourselves, "Someday I'll be happy."

We tell ourselves we'll be happy when our bills are paid, when we get out of school, get our first job, a promotion. We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.

Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.

If not now, when? Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway.

One of my favorite quotes comes from Alfred D'Souza. He said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped me to see that there is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way. So, treasure every moment that you have! And treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time. .... and remember that time waits for no one...

Yesterday is history
Tomorrow a mystery
Today is a gift
That's why it's called the present!

The Station

Tucked away in our subconscious is an idyllic vision. We are traveling by train - out the windows, we drink in the passing scenes of children waving at a crossing, cattle grazing on a distant hillside, row upon row of corn and wheat, flatlands and valleys, mountains and rolling hillsides and city skylines.

But uppermost in our minds is the final destination.

On a certain day, we will pull into the station. Bands will be playing and flags waving. Once we get there, our dreams will come true and the pieces of our lives will fit together like a completed jigsaw puzzle. Restlessly we pace the aisles, damning the minutes - waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

"When we reach the station, that will be it!" we cry.

"When I'm 18." "When I buy a new 450sl Mercedes Benz!" "When I put the last kid through college!" "When I have paid off the mortgage!" " When I get a promotion!" "When I reach retirement, I shall live happily ever after!" Sooner or later, we realize there is no station, no one place to arrive. The true joy of life is the trip. The station is only a dream. It constantly outdistances us.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." It isn't the burdens of today that drive men mad. It is the regrets over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and fear are twin thieves who rob us of today. So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, climb more mountains, eat more ice cream, go barefoot more often, swim more rivers, watch more sunsets, laugh more, cry less. Life must be lived as we go along. The station will come soon enough.

Someone is waiting for you

A Mother who gave sour medicine to her son, because she wanted him to to recover soon, who let her son move miles apart though the thought was to bring her apart, she let him go as she wanted him to be happy and successful, who hides her agony in telling others that her son is in america.... And who cries a lot whenever she listens to the song "sandeshe aate hain"....

A Father who understands his son's ambitions and the limitation and frustation he has to overcome if in India, who would not let his voice reveal that says i'll miss you son!, I love you but am unable to xpress the feeling.... And who will never tell you that he wants you at this stage of his life most....

A brother who would miss the brotherhood, though it had often been fights and not talking terms, who cannot deny the fact that a brother s still a brother, a friend, Who expected you to understand him as he is, and when you didn't, it upset.... But moving miles in distances has overlooked all minute failures....

A sister who would not have her adoring one to escort her, to help her out of troublesome situations, who knows she has to send 'Rakhi' by post, who wishes he would turn up for her wedding, if not at least to fondle her baby that longs for his love & affection....

A friend, who is left with mundane tasks, unable to exchange the chirpy jokes & comments, discuss various thoughts from family, friends, politics, & economics, who visits your home because he still remembers you not only on a day but everyday.... who would jump with joy on receiving an air mail, who tries to keep himself free for all the days then his friend is coming back on a holiday....

The girl next door, who didn't know if she had to rejoice or not when she overheard that the boy next door is moving away, who silently takes it that he has a career and would wish for his best from afar, bids goodbye with a tear in her eye....

The girl who smiled at you across the bus-stop and suddenly finds you no longer there, who changes her route only to avoid the void which seems at the same bus-stop she had been once smiling.... The girl with whom you talked just with your eyes.... She is confused and shocked not to find you in the bus on any seat.... But daily morning she hopes that may be someday you will come back and she will find you on the same seat.... (She is still taking the same bus daily morning)....

The girl who never confessed her love for you, the girl you knew cared for you, missing & waiting for a word from you.... If only you would come back and say that to her

Whatever our roles, it is only to say that we still love and care for you, wherever you are, you are still dear to us.... We don't know what you have to go through, we only know we have love & wishes to give for you....

You might have learnt or the circumstances might have taught you to handle emotions and that time and work are more important than feelings and their expessions but we are still in India and are still the same, waiting and wishing for those who moved away from India,

INDIA - a land of love ,emotion & sentiments....... our wishes are ever with you .......

PLEASE COME BACK.

THIS WORLD WOULD BE A LOT MORE BEAUTIFUL...
NOT JUST FOR YOU BUT FOR ALL OF US...
IF YOU COME BACK....

PLEASE COME BACK........

SMILE ALWAYS!

This is something which u all r gonna like.......it's about the magic of a wonderful thing that costs nothing......

She smiled at a sorrowful stranger.
The smile seemed to make him feel better.
He remembered past kindness of a friend
and wrote him a thank you letter.
The friend was so pleased with the thank-you
that he left a large tip after lunch.
The waitress surprised by the size of the tip,
bet the whole thing on a hunch.
The next day she picked up her winnings,
and gave part to a man on the street.
The man on the street was greatful;
for two days he'd had nothing to eat.
After he finished his dinner,
he left for his small dingy room.
(He didn't know at that moment
that he might be facing his doom.)
On the way he picked up a shivering puppy
and took him home to get warm.
The puppy was very greatful
to be in out of the storm.
That night the house caught on fire.
The puppy barked the alarm.
He barked till he woke the whole household
and saved everybody from harm.
One of the boys that he rescued
grew up to be President.
All this because of a simple smile
that haden't cost a cent.

***** smile and the world smiles with you *****