Life's Lessons

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

 2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

 3. Life is too short – enjoy it.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and

 family will.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Stay true to yourself. It’s better to lose an argument than a Friend.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye But don't worry; God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't

 save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

 23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

 24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

 25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

 26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will

 this matter?'

 27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive but don’t forget.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd

 grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have not what you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio .

Surrender

Have you been to the bottom of a very deep valley?

Well I have been there and I don’t like the feel of it.

Lately, I have been at the bottom of the pit. It’s not the best place to be but I guess that is when true character is tested. Since early last month I have been going through a roller coaster and have had no grip over what has been happening around me at all. At some point I felt like someone else was pushing me all the directions I did not want to go into. I felt I was out of control and nothing was working right, at least to my expectation. This was very frustrating. I had no control over my finance, my friendships or my job. I was being tossed from one end to another by day to day situations.

It is during this time that I learnt to be still. By this I don’t mean standing or sitting in one position without making any movement.  I mean letting the worry of all the cares of life not move you in all sorts of way. It was not an easy thing to do. It needed me to surrender everything to God. This meant letting go of even the things I think I can fix and just letting go…..

I can tell you, it is not an easy thing to do. This I say because there were situations where I felt that I could a much better job than God was doing and even much faster but I needed to surrender and let go… and majorly let God. In his perfect time He makes all things Perfect. Well I learnt that the hard way. I needed to learn how to be patient with myself, others and God.

Some of the most encouraging words were from the song, “it is well”. Since I was not doing much, I had time to really picture what the author of the song was really going through. After having lost his business, his family and all that he held dear, he still said it is well with his soul. I guess he understood some things most of us don’t understand.

He knew that everything he had is from God.

He understood that God’s grace would be sufficient for his every situation.

He counted his blessings of having a Savior die for him.

Well I got encouraged by him. I cannot promise to have arrived but for this one reason that an innocent man gave His life for me, I will do my best to get to that place where I can say, IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL. It may take a day, month or even years but I am not giving up. I will do my best to be still and know that God is in control of everything.

He shines the moon at night for and the sun by day. The sun and Moon don’t get confused as when to shine or not! Therefore, my situations are not a mess anymore. I will choose to learn what I can from every situation and move on. Baggage that only slows me down is to be left behind….

 

LOVE IS....

she wrote...

My husband is an Engineer by profession, I love him for his steady nature, 'n I love the warm feeling when I lean against his broad shoulders. Three years of courtship 'n now, two years into marriage, I would have to admit, that I am getting tired of it.

The reasons of me loving him before, has now
transformed into the cause of all my restlessness. I am a sentimental woman 'n extremely sensitive when it comes to a relationship 'n my feelings, I yearn for the romantic moments, like a little girl yearning for candy. My husband, is my complete opposite, his lack of sensitivity, 'n the inability of bringing romantic moments into our marriage has disheartened me about love. One day, I finally decided to tell him my decision, that I wanted a divorce.

“Why?” he asked, shocked. “I am tired, there are no reasons for everything in the world!” I answered. He kept silent the whole night, seems to be in deep thought with a lighted cigarette at all times.

My feeling of disappointment only increased, here was a man who can’t even express his predicament, what else can I hope from him? 'n finally he asked me:” What can I do to change your mind?” Somebody said it right, it’s hard to change a person’s personality, 'n I guess, I have started losing faith in him.

Looking deep into his eyes I slowly answered : “Here is the question, if you can answer 'n convince my heart, I will change my mind, Let’s say, I want a flower located on the face of a mountain cliff, 'n we both are sure that picking the flower will cause your death, will you do it for me?” He said :” I will give you your answer tomorrow ...” My hopes just sank by listening to his response.

I woke up the next morning to find him gone, 'n saw a piece of paper with his scratchy handwriting, underneath a milk glass, on the dining table near the front door, that goes….

My dear, “I would not pick that flower for you, but please allow me to explain the reasons further..” This first line was already breaking my heart. I continued reading. “When you use the computer you always mess up the Software programs, 'n you cry in front of the screen, I have to save my fingers so that I can help to restore the programs.

You always leave the house keys behind, thus I have to save my legs to rush home to open the door for you. You love traveling but always lose your way in a new city, I have to save my eyes to show you the way.

You always have the cramps whenever your “good friend” approaches every month, I have to save my palms so that I can calm the cramps in your tummy. You like to stay indoors, 'n I worry that you will be infected by infantile autism. I have to save my mouth to tell you jokes 'n stories to cure your boredom.

You always stare at the computer, 'n that will do nothing good for your eyes, I have to save my eyes so that when we grow old, I can help to clip your nails,'n help to remove those annoying white hairs. So I can also hold your hand while strolling down the beach, as you enjoy the sunshine 'n the beautiful sand… 'n tell you the color of flowers, just like the color of the glow on your young face…

Thus, my dear, unless I am sure that there is someone who loves you more than I do… I could not pick that flower yet, 'n die.. ” My tears fell on the letter, 'n blurred the ink of his handwriting… 'n as I continue on reading…

“Now, that you have finished reading my answer, if you are satisfied, please open the front door for I am standing outside bringing your favorite bread 'n fresh milk …

I rush to pull open the door, 'n saw his anxious face, clutching tightly with his hands, the milk bottle 'n loaf of bread ... Now I am very sure that no one will ever love me as much as he does, 'n I have decided to leave the flower alone…

That’s life, 'n love. When one is surrounded by love, the feeling of excitement fades away, 'n one tends to ignore the true love that lies in between the peace 'n dullness.

Love shows up in all forms, even very small 'n cheeky forms, it has never been a model, it could be the most dull 'n boring form... flowers, 'n romantic moments are only used 'n appear on the surface of the relationship.

Borrowed from a friend...

Guard your Heart and Mind

If you can get this, this will change your life… I was out taking my morning run. I love how still it is when I’m running. I can hear clearly and really commune with God. I wanted to share this with you. It’s a lesson I had to learn.

 One of the keys to success is to be able to guard your heart. Now, usually when someone says guard your heart they are talking about keeping yourself from heartbreak. Although that is important (as long as you don’t go overboard... but that’s another conversation) that isn’t what I’m talking about. When we are born into this world we enter with such a pure heart but as we grow older situations, circumstances and people tend to make us change. Now I know it is nearly impossible to keep a childlike innocence in our hearts all of our lives, especially after people have betrayed, lied, mistreated and downright been the devil. Trust me when I tell you, I have seen it all. I have been there big time. If you’re like me you’ve been there too. But if this is your situation I want you to know two very important things about those moments of heartbreak. Number one, learn the lesson in it. See how it will work together for your good, because it will. Once you do, it’s easier to forgive and move on. Secondly, and this is just as important as the first one, you must not let that person or people change your heart. What do I mean by that? Well, if you are a giver and someone you have given to misuses your gift, don’t stop giving… just give to someone else. If you are a person that loves people and someone you love hates you, don’t stop loving… love someone else. Eventually, you will find people who appreciate your kindness and your love. Remember this, lots of people have been conditioned to not be able to accept purity of heart. They can’t take it in. Most times it’s not even their fault. It’s just what has happened to them on their journey in life. But don’t let them turn you into one of them. There will be a lot of people in your life who will not appreciate your pureness of heart. If they hurt you don’t stop being you… just be you with someone else.

 Why is this so important? Because God blesses you according to what is in your heart. If you are being kind, giving, loving and sharing because it is in your heart and you are not looking for anything in return, then that is a heart that God wants to bless. If you change who you are because you’ve been hurt, then you’ve changed the thing that God wants to bless you according to, and that is your heart. The people who hurt you are not worth that. You can lose everything that you have, but don’t let anybody change your heart.

By Tyler Perry