THE STORY OF THE RED SHIRT

This is an inspirational story about the innumerable sacrifices every soldier of every country gives towards his country-men. I believe that the most important qualification of a soldier is fortitude under fatigue and privation. Courage is only second; hardship, poverty, and want are the best school for a soldier. Please read the story that I have to share with you.

THE RED SHIRT - A VERY TOUCHING STORY

If the red shirt thing is new to you, read below how it went for a man…

Last week, while traveling to Toronto on business, I noticed an army sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together.

After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who’d been invited to sit in First Class ( across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

‘No’, he responded.

‘Heading out’, I asked?

‘No. I’m escorting a soldier home.’

‘Going to pick him up?’

‘No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Afganistan, I’m taking him home to his family.’

The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn’t know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier’s family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days.

I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, ‘Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.’

Upon landing in Toronto , the pilot stopped short of the gate and made the following announcement over the intercom.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note that we have had the honor of having Sergeant Steeley of the Canadian Armed Forces join us on this flight. He is escorting a fallen comrade back home to his family. I ask that you please remain in your seats when we open the forward door to allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn off the seat belt sign.’

Without a sound, all went as requested. I noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as it was brought off the plane, and his action made me realize that I am proud to be a Canadian.

So here’s a public Thank You to our military Men and Women for what you do so we can live the way we do.

Red Fridays.

Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing Red every Friday. The reason? Canadians who support our troops used to be called the ‘silent majority.’ We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.

Many Canadians, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of Canadians supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded Canadian who supports our men and women afar, will wear something red.

By word of mouth, press, TV — let’s make Canada on every Friday a sea of red much like a homecoming Hockey game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, co-workers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the Canada is covered in RED and it will let our troops know the once ‘silent’ majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on.

The first thing a soldier says when asked ‘What can we do to make things better for you?’ is ‘We need your support and your prayers.’ Let’s get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something red every Friday.

CREATING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS

CREATING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TO ACHIEVE POSITIVE RESULTS
by Mark Victor Hansen

Your attitude determines the state of world you live in. It is the foundation for every success and every failure you have had and will have. Your attitude will make you or break you.

Attitude creates the way you feel about people and situations. Your actions are a result of your attitude, which, in turn, creates a reaction from others. So, basically, what you think … you get. It is your attitude toward others and the Universe that determines the resultant attitude toward you. Incorporate a positive, joyful attitude and you’ll have positive, joyful results. Put out a bad, negative attitude and you’ve failed before you begin.

I know it sounds simple, but the truth is….it IS simple!

WHERE DO NEGATIVE ATTITUDES COME FROM IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Negative attitudes come from thinking negative thoughts over and over until they have become a part of your subconscious – they’ve become habitual, a part of your personality. You may not even realize you have a negative attitude because it’s been with you for so long. Once you have a bad attitude, you expect failure and disaster. This expectation turns you into a strong magnet for failure and disaster. Then it becomes a vicious circle. You expect the worst – you get the worst – your negative beliefs are reinforced – you expect the worst – you get …

. . Got the picture?

SO, HOW DO WE SHIFT OUR THOUGHTS AND CREATE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE?

It takes work, but creating anything of value takes work. In order to have a new attitude we have to change our subconscious thinking. How do we do this? By analyzing every thought we have until positive thinking becomes habit. You’re merely replacing an old habit with a healthy habit, much like replacing exercise for smoking.

You can’t just stop being negative – you have to replace those negative thoughts with positive ones.

Some people would say, “But negative situations are a reality. They just show up in every day life.”

This is absolutely not true. Situations are a reality, yes. They do show up. It is your ATTITUDE that makes a situation positive or negative. It’s time for you to realize that YOU are in control of how you think and feel – no one else on earth has this power unless you give it away. Take control of your attitude, and you take control of your results.

“Your state of mind creates the state of your results.”

A MOTHER'S LOVE GOES DEEP...

A MOTHER’S LOVE GOES DEEP ( As narrated by a Mother...)

“You don’t love me!”
How many times have your kids laid that one on you? 
And how many times have you, as a parent, resisted the urge to tell them how much?

Someday, when my children are old enough to understand the logic that motivates a mother, I’ll tell them.

I loved you enough to insist you buy a bike with your own money that we could afford and you couldn’t.

I loved you enough to be silent and let you discover your handpicked friend was a creep;

I loved you enough to make you return a Milky Way with a bite out of it to a drugstore and say, “I stole this.”

I loved you enough to stand over you for two hours while you cleaned your bedroom, a job that would have taken me fifteen minutes.

I loved you enough to say, “Yes, you may go to Disney World on Mother’s Day.”

I loved you enough to let you see anger, disappointment, disgust and tears in my eyes.

I loved you enough not to make excuses for your lack of respect or you bad manners.

I loved you enough to admit that I was wrong and ask your forgiveness.

I loved you enough to ignore “what every other mother” did or said.

I loved you enough to let you stumble, fall, hurt and fail.

I loved you enough to let you assume the responsibility for your own actions, at 6, 10, and 16.

I loved you enough to figure you would lie about the party being chaperoned but forgave you for it after discovering I was right.

I loved you enough to shove you off my lap, let go of your hand, and be mute to your pleas and insensitive to your demands so that you had to stand-alone.

I loved you enough to accept you for what you are, 
not what I wanted you to be.

But most of all, I loved you enough to say No
 when you hated me for it.

THAT WAS THE HARDEST PART OF ALL.

A MAN AND HIS SON

A MAN AND HIS SON

An upstate NY man was rich in almost every way. His estate was worth millions. He owned houses, land, antiques, and cattle. But though on the outside he had it all, he was very unhappy on the inside. He had always wanted a little boy to carry on the family legacy. 

Miraculously, his wife became pregnant in her later years, and she gave birth to a little boy. The boy was severely handicapped, but the man loved him with his whole heart. 

When the boy was five, his mom died. The dad drew closer to his special son. At age 13, the boy's birth defects cost him his life and the father died soon after from a broken heart. 

The estate was auctioned before hundreds of bidders. The first item offered was a painting of the boy. No one bid. They waited like vultures for the riches. Finally, the poor housemaid, who helped raise the boy, offered $5 for the picture and easily took the bid. To everyone's shock, the auctioneer ripped a hand-written will from the back of the picture. This is what it said, 

"To the person who thinks enough of my son to buy this painting, to this person I give my entire estate." The auction was over. The greedy crowd walked away in shock and dismay. 



How many of us have sought after what we thought were true riches only to find out later that our Father was prepared to give us His entire estate if we had only sought after His Son alone? 


STAY SAFE

Please Be careful…! BE AWARE! NEW WARNING!! Incident has been confirmed

In Katy, Tx a man came over and offered his services as a painter to a female putting gas in her car and left his card. She said no , but accepted his card out of kindness and got in the car. The man then got into a car driven by another gentleman. As the lady left the service station and saw the men following her out of the station at the same time. Almost immediately, she started to feel dizzy and could not catch her breath. She tried to open the window and realized that the odor was on her hand; the same hand which accepted the card from the gentleman at the gas station.

She then noticed the men were immediately behind her and she felt she needed to do something at that moment. She drove into the first driveway and began to honk her horn to ask for help. The men drove away but the lady still felt pretty bad for several minutes after she could finally catch her breath. Apparently there was a substance on the card and could have seriously injured her. The drug is called ‘BURUNDANGA’ and it is used by people who wish to incapacitate a victim in order to steal or take advantage of them.

Four times greater than date rape drug and is transferable on simple cards. So take heed and make sure you don’t accept cards at any given time alone or from someone on the streets. This applies to those making house calls and slipping you a card when they offer their services.

This incident has been confirmed. Ladies please be careful and share w/everyone you know!

What is burundanga?

Burundanga is the street version of a pharmaceutical drug called scopolamine. It is made from the extracts of plants in the nightshade family such as henbane and jimson weed. It’s a deliriant, meaning it can induce symptoms of delirium such as disorientation, loss of memory, hallucinations, and stupor.

You can see why it would be popular with criminals.

In powdered form scopolamine can be easily mixed into food or drink, or blown directly into victims’ faces, forcing them to inhale it.

The drug achieves its “zombifying” effects by inhibiting the transmission of nerve impulses in the brain and muscles. It has several legitimate medicinal uses, including the treatment of nausea, motion sickness, and gastrointestinal cramps. Historically, it has also been used as a “truth serum” by law enforcement agencies. And, like its street cousin burundanga, scopolamine has frequently been implicated as astupefying agent or “knockout drug” in the commission of crimes such as robbery, kidnapping, and date rape.

In South America burundanga is associated in popular lore with potions long used to induce a trance-like state in shamanic rituals. Reports of the drug’s use in criminal activities first surfaced in Colombia during the 1980s. According to a lurid Wall Street Journal article published in 1995, the number of reported burundanga-assisted crimes in the country approached “epidemic” proportions in the 1990s.

“In one common scenario, a person will be offered a soda or drink laced with the substance,” the article stated. “The next the person remembers is waking up miles away, extremely groggy and with no memory of what happened. People soon discover that they have handed over jewelry, money, car keys, and sometimes have even made multiple bank withdrawals for the benefit of their assailants.”

Though the frequency of such assaults has presumably declined along with the country’s overall crime rate in more recent years, the U.S. State Department still warns travelers to beware of “criminals in Colombia using disabling drugs to temporarily incapacitate tourists.

Share with everybody you know, particularly your wife, sisters, daughters, nieces, mother, female friends and colleagues.

THE RICH AND THE POOR - JULIUS BABARINSA

Everybody will like to be called a rich person

To be rich is to be labeled successful and prosperous

Many will call you affluent, high-class and wealthy

Nobody will like to be known as a poor creature

To be a poor creature is to be wretched and deprived

Many will tag you as underprivileged and a destitute

The poor are also labeled impoverished and lower-class

We all know that we live in a world of contrast

While some are born rich, many are born poor

Many princes and princesses are born into opulence

While the off-spring of refugees are born into poverty

Everybody knows that human fingers are not equal

The question here is – can the rich become poor?

On the other side of the coin – can the poor become rich?

There have been instances when the rich later become poor

The rich can become poor through massive gambling

The rich can become poor through ill-advised investments

The rich can become poor through reckless spending

Conversely, we have witnessed some poor becoming rich

The poor can become rich by winning the lottery

The poor can become rich through inheritance

The poor can become rich through savings and investments

The poor can become rich through marriage

Many ask – do the zodiac signs determine our fortune on earth?

The answer is negative as there are rich and poor in all signs

Others ask – does our place of birth determine our fortune?

Since we humans can migrate to other countries

There are no definite answers to linking our birth-place

to whether we are rich or poor on this earth

All said and done, we humans possess enough intelligence

to improve our fortune and have better existence on this earth

Whether you are rich or poor, always remember that

No condition is permanent. Good luck and happy destiny

REFLECTIONS OF A MOTHER

REFLECTIONS OF A MOTHER

I gave you life, but cannot live it for you.

I can teach you things, but I cannot make you learn.

I can give you directions, but I cannot be there to lead you.

I can allow you freedom, but I cannot account for it.

I can take you to temple, but I cannot make you believe.

I can teach you right from wrong, but I cannot always decide for you.

I can buy you beautiful clothes, but I cannot make you beautiful inside.

I can offer you advice, but I cannot accept it for you.

I can give you love, but I cannot force it upon you.

I can teach you to share, but I cannot make you unselfish.

I can teach you respect, but I cannot force you to show honor.

I can advise you about friends, but cannot choose them for you.

I can advise you about sex, but I cannot keep you pure.

I can tell you the facts of life, but I can't build your reputation.

I can tell you about drinking, but I can't say "no" for you.

I can warn you about drugs, but I can't prevent you from using them.

I can tell you about lofty goals, but I can't achieve them for you.

I can teach you about kindness, but I can't force you to be gracious.

I can warn you about sins, but I cannot make you moral.

I can love you as a child, but I cannot place you in God's family.

I can teach you how to live, but I cannot give you eternal life.

I WISH YOU ENOUGH - Bob Perks

Recently I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.

Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the mother said, 'I love you, and I wish you enough.'

The daughter replied, 'Mum, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I wish you enough, too, Mum.'

They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. 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 goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?'

'Yes, I have,' I replied. 'Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?'.

'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 goodbye, 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 that, 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 as if she were reciting it from memory.

I Wish You Enough

Sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how grey the day may appear.

Rain to appreciate the sun even more.

Happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

Pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

Gain to satisfy your wanting.

Loss to appreciate all that you possess.

Hellos to get you through the final goodbye.

She then began to cry and walked away. They say it takes a minute to find a special person, an hour to appreciate them, a day to love them; but then an entire life to forget them.

BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE

BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU HAVE

My dear friends, I would like to share this short story that has inspired me, please read on:

A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet. He held up a sign, which said: 'I am blind, please help.' There were only a few coins in the hat.

A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat. He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words.

Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy. That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, 'Were you the one who changed my sign this morning? What did you write?'

The man said, 'I only wrote the truth. I said what you said but in a different way.' What he had written was: 'Today is a beautiful day and I cannot see it.'

Do you think the first sign and the second sign were saying the same thing?

Of course both signs told people the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign told people they were so lucky that they were not blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?

Moral of the Story: Be thankful for what you have. Be creative. Be innovative. Think differently and positively.

Invite others towards good with wisdom. Live life with no excuse and love with no regrets. When life gives you a 100 reasons to cry, show life that you have 1000 reasons to smile.

Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear. Keep the faith and drop the fear!

Great men say, 'Life has to be an incessant process of repair and reconstruction, of discarding evil and developing goodness. In the journey of life, if you want to travel without fear, you must have the ticket of a good conscience.'

The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling. And even more beautiful is, knowing that you are the reason behind it!

THE PERFECT HEART

My dear friends, here is a short story that has inspired me to share it with each one of you. I am sorry but I just wasn't successful in finding the author. Yet, I decided to post it so that all of you could just remember the moral behind this beautiful story. Please read on:

The Perfect Heart

One day a young man was standing in the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen. The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart. Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said, "Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine." The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart. It was beating strongly, but full of scars, it had places where pieces had been removed and other pieces put in, but they didn't fit quite right and there were several jagged edges. In fact, in some places there were deep gouges where whole pieces were missing. The people stared -- how can he say his heart is more beautiful, they thought? The young man looked at the old man's heart and saw its state and laughed. "You must be joking," he said. "Compare your heart with mine, mine is perfect and yours is a mess of scars and tears." "Yes," said the old man, "yours is perfect looking but I would never trade with you. You see, every scar represents a person to whom I have given my love - I tear out a piece of my heart and give it to them, and often they give me a piece of their heart which fits into the empty place in my heart, but because the pieces aren't exact, I have some rough edges, which I cherish, because they remind me of the love we shared. Sometimes I have given pieces of my heart away, and the other person hasn't returned a piece of his heart to me. These are the empty gouges -- giving love is taking a chance. Although these gouges are painful, they stay open, reminding me of the love I have for these people too, and I hope someday they may return and fill the space I have waiting. So now do you see what true beauty is?" The young man stood silently with tears running down his cheeks. He walked up to the old man, reached into his perfect young and beautiful heart, and ripped a piece out. He offered it to the old man with trembling hands. The old man took his offering, placed it in his heart and then took a piece from his old scarred heart and placed it in the wound in the young man's heart. It fit, but not perfectly, as there were some jagged edges. The young man looked at his heart, not perfect anymore but more beautiful than ever, since love from the old man's heart flowed into his. They embraced and walked away side by side. I hope this has inspired all of you too.

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE POOR...

The difficulties, hardships, and trials of life, the obstacles one encounters on the road to fortune, are positive blessings. They teach you self-reliance. The person who has battled with poverty and hard toil will be found stronger and more expert than the one who could stay away from the battle.

My dear friends, here is a short description of what it means to be poor, unloved and uncared for, in the eyes of the destitute that are scattered all over our world.

Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful. Being poor is knowing very well that you are being judged with every step you take, and every breath you breathe. Being poor is hoping that you will be invited for a sumptuous meal.

Being poor is not talking or meeting people because they will probably laugh at your clothes and your living conditions. Being poor is not taking the job because you just cannot find someone whom you can trust to watch over your kids.

Being poor is finding the letter your loved one has written to a charitable institute asking earnestly for child support. Being poor is relying on people who do not give a damn about you.

Being poor is wondering if your well-off sibling is lying when he/she says he does not mind when you ask for help. Being poor is knowing very well that your children visit friend’s houses but never have their friends over to yours.

Being poor is knowing exactly how much everything costs. It is heartening when you get angry with your kids for asking for all the crap that they see on the television. It takes guts for a woman to come back home after shopping, clutching a box of food that she has bought with her savings and then trying to think of a way to make her children understand that the box has to last for as long as the next savings.

Being poor is accepting the fact with a heavy heart that any type of hand-me-downs is always accepted as new, since ‘ Beggars cannot be choosers.’ Being poor is people wondering why you didn’t leave.

I would like to end this note with a small quote by Muhammad Yunus, who is a banker to the poor.

“ When a destitute mother starts earning an income, her dreams of success invariably center around her children. A woman’s second priority is the household. She wants to buy utensils, build a stronger roof, or find a bed for herself and her family. A man has an entirely different set of priorities. When a destitute father earns an income, he focuses more attention on himself. Thus money entering a household through a woman brings more benefits to the family as a whole.”

Yet, we find so many women all over the world being mercilessly abused and tortured. WHY???

Nothing is IMPOSSIBLE

Prayer is the answer to every problem in life. It puts us in tune with divine wisdom, which knows how to adjust everything perfectly. So often we do not pray in certain situations, because from our standpoint the outlook is hopeless. But nothing is impossible with God.

Nothing is so entangled that it cannot be remedied; no human relationship is too strained for God to bring about human reconciliation and understanding; no habit so deep-rooted that it cannot be overcome; no one is so weak that he cannot be strong. No one is so ill that he cannot be healed. No mind is so dull that it cannot be made brilliant.

Whatever we need if we trust God, He will supply it. If anything is causing worry or anxiety, let us stop rehearsing the difficulty and trust God for healing, love, and power.

Into the experience of all there come times of keen disappointment and utter discouragement--days when sorrow is the portion, and it is hard to believe that God is still the kind benefactor of His earth born children; days when troubles harass the soul, till death seems preferable to life.

It is then that many lose their hold on God and are brought into the slavery of doubt, the bondage of unbelief. Could we at such times discern with spiritual insight the meaning of God's providences we should see angels seeking to save us from ourselves, striving to plant our feet upon a foundation more from that the everlasting hills, and new faith would spring into being.

MAKING THE MOST OF WHEREVER YOU ARE...

My dear friends, here is an inspirational poem that I wish to share with you, to make the most of wherever you are:

"Wherever you are, be there fully. For where you are is where you can most effectively act and live.

If you're constantly wishing that you were somewhere else, you diminish the opportunities for where you are now. When your thoughts are in another place or time, your actions lose much of their effectiveness.

It's great to dream, to plan, to aspire, to reach for new and improved circumstances and yet the way to successfully do that is by being the best you can be in the place where you now find yourself. It's great to keep yourself focused on an ambitious goal and that focus is the most effective when it is crafted from the perspective of where you are now.

To successfully travel the path from here to there, you must start with being fully here. The more you give your attention and energy to making the most of where you are, the more quickly you'll move along that path. There is much to be accomplished, much to be lived in every place and in every moment. Be there fully for all of them, and life will be rich indeed."

The Role of A Mother Best Described

Dear Readers, this is a perfect description of the role of a mother which I wish to share with you:

POSITION:

Mother, Mom, Mama, Mommy, Momma, Ma

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The rest of your life. Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.

Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.

Must be willing to be indispensable one minute, an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.

THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE

There is no egg in eggplant, nor ham in hamburger; neither
apple or pine in pineapple. And while no one knows what is
in a hotdog, you can be pretty sure it isn't canine.

English muffins were not invented in England nor French
fries in France.

Sweetmeats are candies, while sweetbreads, which aren't
sweet, are meat.

We take English for granted. But if we explore its paradoxes,
we find that quicksand can work slowly, boxing rings are
square, and guinea pig is neither from Guinea nor is it a pig.

And why is it that writers write, but fingers don't fing,
grocers don't groce, and hammers don't ham?

If the plural of tooth is teeth, why isn't the plural of
booth, beeth? One goose, 2 geese. So one moose, two meese?
Is cheese the plural of choose? One mouse, 2 mice. One louse,
2 lice. One house, 2 hice?

If teachers taught, why didn't preachers praught?

If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian
eat?

Why do people recite at a play, and play at a recital?
Ship by truck or car and send cargo by ship? Have noses
that run and feet that smell? Park on driveways and drive
on parkways?

How can a slim chance and a fat chance be the same, while a
wise man and a wise guy are opposites?

How can the weather be hot as heck one day and cold as
heck another? When a house burns up, it burns down. You fill
in a form by filling it out and an alarm clock goes off by
going on. You get in and out of a car, yet you get on and
off a bus. When the stars are out, they are visible, but when
the lights are out, they are invisible.

And why, when I wind up my watch, I start it, but when I
wind up this essay, I end it?

English is a silly language ... it doesn't know if it is
coming or going!!!

ONE FLAW IN WOMEN

Women have strengths that amaze men… They bear hardships and they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love, and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy and laugh when they are nervous. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up to injustice. They don’t take “no” for an answer when they believe there is a better solution. They go without, so their families can have. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. They love unconditionally. They cry when their children excel… and they cheer when their friends get awards. They are happy when they hear about a birth or a wedding. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They grieve at the loss of a family member… yet, they are strong when they think there is no strength left. They know that a hug and a kiss can heal a broken heart. Women come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. They’ll drive, fly, walk, run, or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world keep turning. They bring joy, hope, and love. They have compassion and ideals… They give moral support to their families and friends. Women have vital things to say and everything to give; however, if there is one flaw in women… It’s that they sometimes forget their own worth.

BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT WE ARE NOT...

I would like to share this short poem with my friends:

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

COINCIDENCE

Dear friends,

I would like to share this small poem that I came across, do read on:

Have you ever been just sitting there and all of a sudden you feel like doing something nice for someone you care for?
THAT'S GOD talking to you through the Holy Spirit.

Have you ever been down and out and nobody seems to be around for you to talk to?
THAT'S GOD wanting you to talk to Him.

Have you ever been thinking about somebody that you haven't seen in a long time and then next thing you know you see them or receive a phone call from them?
THAT'S GOD. There is no such thing as coincidence.

Have you ever received something wonderful that you didn't even ask for, like money in the mail, a debt that had mysteriously been cleared, or a coupon to a department store where you had just seen something you needed, but couldn't afford?
THAT'S GOD knowing the desires of your heart.

Have you ever been in a situation and you had no clue how it was going to get better, how the hurting would stop, how the pain would ease, but now you look back on it. .
THAT'S GOD passing us through tribulation to see a brighter day.

Do you think that this e-mail was accidentally sent to you?
NO! I was thinking of you!

Please pass this along and share the Power of God.
In all that we do, we should totally give thanks and our blessings will continue to multiply.
Keep this going. You have no idea which one of your e-mail buddies could use a little hope today.

Thank you, dear friends!