What Makes a Dad

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle's flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so,

He called it ... Dad

The Miser

A miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of an old wall and went to look at daily. One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it. The Miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations. A neighbor, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, "Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there. It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it."

Dad's Blessings

A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer's showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautifully wrapped gift box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed, the young man opened the box and found a lovely, leather-bound Bible, with the young man's name embossed in gold. Angry, he raised his voice to his father and said "With all your money, you give me a Bible?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the Bible.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a beautiful home and wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed to come home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He began to search through his father's important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. And as he did, a car key dropped from the back of the Bible. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words PAID IN FULL.

How many times do we miss Spirit's blessings and answers to our prayers because they do not arrive exactly as we have expected?

Two frogs

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them
fell into a deep pit. When the other frogs saw how deep the pit
was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The
two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit
with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop,
that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took
heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down
and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again,
the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He
jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the
other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to
them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the
entire time.
This story teaches two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging
word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it
through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes
to kill them.

Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your
path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand
that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak
words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in
difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time
to encourage another.

A Box Full of Kisses

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."

The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her, stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he begged for her forgiveness.

Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each one of us, as humans beings, have been given a gold container filled with unconditional love and kisses... from our children, family members, friends, and God. There is simply no other possession, anyone could hold, more precious than this.

A Friend's Greeting

I'd like to be the sort of friend that
you have been to me;
I'd like to be the help that
you've been always glad to be;

I'd like to mean as much to you
each minute of the day
As you have meant, old friend of mine,
to me along the way.

I'd like to do the big things and
the splendid things for you,
To brush the gray from out your skies
and leave them only blue;

I'd like to say the kindly things that
I so oft have heard,
And feel that I could rouse your soul
the way that mine you've stirred.

I'd like to give you back the joy
that you have given me,
Yet that were wishing you a need
I hope will never be;

I'd like to make you feel as rich as I,
who travel on
Undaunted in the darkest hours with you to
lean upon.

I'm wishing at this time that I
could but repay
A portion of the gladness that
you've strewn along my way;

And could I have one wish this year,
this only would it be:
I'd like to be the sort of friend
that you have been to me.

- Edgar A Guest -

The World’s Most Beautiful

I’d give anything to see the sun set on the horizon,
I’d do anything to gaze at a full moon in the night sky;
Even a rainbow would make me smile,
And I’d love to swim in crystal clear waters
Of an untouched sea;
Sometimes I’ll see a shooting star,
And try to gaze from afar,
All the diamonds in the night sky;
The mist on the mountains is breathtaking,
As is walking in rainforest;
To see cascading waterfalls I’d do anything for,
As to stand on the highest peak in the world,
And look at the sights below;
I’d love to soar on wings above the clouds,
Across the bluest skies;
I’d do anything to see
All the beautiful things in the world,
Like a red rose blooming in the Sahara,
Like a river twisting through a dusty land,
All the beautiful things in the world;

But I also know I am looking at
The world’s most beautiful creation,
Every time you smile,
And every time I look into your eyes.

- Muhammad Edwan Shaharir -

Motivational Quotes

There's no such thing as perfection. But, in striving for
perfection, we can achieve excellence.

~ Vince Lombardi

Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to
be done, it's always your choice.

~ Wayne Dyer

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore,
is not an act but a habit.

~ Aristotle

The most essential factor is persistence – the determination
never to allow your energy or enthusiasm to be dampened
by the discouragement that must inevitably come.

~ James Whitcomb Riley

You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your mind.

~ Author Unknown

People become really quite remarkable when they start
thinking that they can do things. When they believe in
themselves they have the first secret of success.

~ Norman Vincent Peale

People who are unable to motivate themselves must be
content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their
other talents.

~ Andrew Carnegie

Do not lower your goals to the level of your abilities.
Instead, raise your abilities to the height of your goals.

~ Swami Vivekananda

Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps
you going.

~ Jim Ryun

Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising
every time we fall.

~ Confucius

You have one thing in common with all successful people:
twenty four hours per day. It’s how you use them that
makes all the difference.

You are friendly, kind and caring
Sensitive, loyal and understanding
Humorous, fun, secure and true
Always there... yes that's you.

Special, accepting, exciting and wise
Truthful and helpful, with honest blue eyes
Confiding, forgiving, cheerful and bright
Yes that's you... not one bit of spite.

You're one of a kind, different from others
Generous, charming, but not one that smothers
Optimistic, thoughtful, happy and game
But not just another... in the long chain.

Appreciative, warm and precious like gold
Our friendship won't tarnish or ever grow old
You'll always be there, I know that is true
I'll always be here... always for you.

Crush and Love Quotes

I gave you the whole sun and stars to play with. I gave you eternity in a singal moment, strength of the mountains in one clasp of your arms, and the volume of the seas in one impulse of your soul ... I have given you the greatest of all things; and you ask me to give you little things. I gave you your own soul: you ask for my body as a plaything. Was it not enough? Was it not enough?

The Shipwreck

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly 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 few 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.

Best Friend Quote

"A friend brings out the best in you."

~Larry Ramirez~ (he's my husband! Contributed by Laura Ramirez)

"Be a Friend to thyself, and others will be so too."

~Thomas Fuller~

"Best friend, my wellspring in the wilderness!"

~ George Eliot~
"A friend is a second self."

~Aristotle~

"My foul-weathered friend."

~Winston Churchill~
"The only way to have a friend is to be one."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

"Your friend is the man who knows all about you, and still likes you."

~Elbert Hubbard~

"A friend in need is a friend indeed."

~John Ray~

Best friend,
My well-spring in the wilderness!

~George Eliot

Friendship marks a life even more
deeply than love.

~Elie Wiesel

Who finds a friend, finds a treasure.

~Jewish saying~

I keep my friends as misers do their treasure
because, of all the things granted us by wisdom,
none is better or greater than friendship.

~Pietro Aretino

A faithful friend is the medicine of life.

~Apocrypha~

I always felt that the great high privilege,
relief and comfort of friendship was the one
had to explain nothing.

~Katherine Mansfield~

A friend is someone who lets you have total
freedom to be yourself.

~Jim Morrison

A true friend champions your successes
and overlooks your failings.

~Laura Ramirez

I don't believe that there is any true
friendship without a bond of honor,
and the honor in friendship is the
respect you give the other that she
also gives you.

~Dorothy Allison

Friendship is a strong and habitual
inclination in two persons to promote
the good and happiness of one another.

~Eustace Budgell

A friend is someone who knows the
song in your heart and can sing it back
to you when you have forgotten the words.

I think that I might fly away, in my hot air balloon,
And hide from worldly worries on the dark side of the moon;
There’s but one thing I need before I float into the blue:
I need a sky companion and I want it to be you.

We’ll fly beyond the storm clouds and we’ll watch from up above,
I’ll cover you in rainbows as we feel each others’ love;
You’ll shower in the stars at midnight in our special place,
I’ll dry you with a comet’s tail and kiss your beaming face.

Dreamy drifting panorama, changing every day,
Every night your loving smile will be my milky way,
The moon will wane before us, sailing there in heaven’s height,
For nothing else can challenge our love’s everlasting light.

Venus shining on us, glowing soft at our devotion,
Our daily drifting dalliance in love’s celestial ocean,
I’ll write you lovers’ poetry, and you will be my muse,
Orion and Andromeda will oversee our cruise.

We’ll sleep with clouds as pillows, maybe steal an angel’s wings,
Then fly as magic lovebirds, or slide round Saturn’s rings,
And should we tire of drifting and the stars all floating by,
We’ll hook onto a meteor and soar across the sky.

Will you consent to be my mate on our celestial ship?
I’m ready, heart all packed with love, to last us for the trip,
Take my hand and step aboard, we’re heading for the sun,
We’re flying till we find the place where our two souls are one.

- Graeme King -

My tears splash against the ground,
Like a heart when its shattered,
These broken tears fall without a sound,
Not like it even matters.

I'll wait as long as I need for you,
Because I know your worth it,
Right now your mending your heart with glue,
Not all the pieces will perfectly fit.

I know when your picking flowers,
It takes longer for you to be there,
After each moment I always wait a bit longer,
But thats the consequence I'll have to bear.


Its only fair
I'll just wait for my day.

.....


Take your time with that glue,
And you can go pick the flowers,
I'll just have my feelings and I'll wait here,
Whether it takes days, or hours.

Create yourself

A human being is part of the whole called
by us universe, a part limited in time and
space. We experience ourselves, our
thoughts and feelings as something
separate from the rest. A kind of optical
delusion of consciousness. This delusion
is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to
our personal desires and to affection for
a few persons nearest to us. Our task must
be to free ourselves from the prison by
widening our circle of compassion to
embrace all living creatures and the
whole of nature in its beauty. ... We
shall require a substantially new manner
of thinking if mankind is to survive.

Mother's love

It takes a mother's patience
To bring a child up right,
And her courage and her cheerfulness
To make a dark day bright.
It takes a mother's thoughtfulness
To mend the heart's deep "hurts,"
And her skill and her endurance
To mend little socks and shirts.
It takes a mother's kindness
To forgive us when we err,
To sympathize in trouble
And bow her head in prayer.
It takes a mother's wisdom
To recognize our needs
And to give us reassurance
By her loving words and deeds.
It takes a mother's endless faith,
Her confidence and trust
To guide us through the pitfalls
Of selfishness and lust. And
that is why in all this world
There could not be another
Who could fulfill God's purpose
As completely as a Mother

The most selfish 1 letter
“I“
Avoid It.

Most Satisfactory 2 letters
“WE“
Use It.

Most Poisonous 3 letters
“EGO“
Kill It.

Most used 4 letters
“LOVE“
Value It.

Most Pleasing 5 letters
“SMILE“
Keep It.

Fastest Spreading 6 letters
“RUMOUR“
Ignore It.

Hard Working 7 letters
“SUCCESS“
Achieve It.

Most Enviable 8 letters
“JEALOUSY“
Distance It.

Most Essential 9 letters
“PRINCIPLE“
Have It.

Most Divine 10 Letters
“FRIENDSHIP

Friendship

Friendship
is the kind of love
that never can grow old.
Warm and cozy it will stay
when other things are cold.
Friendship is a love so true
it won't be denied,
Because a friend
will always be
there close by your side.
Boyfriends and lovers come and go
in this game of life we play,
But a true friend, no matter what,
in your heart will always stay.
So hold these friends dear to you,
and never let them go.
Think how much they mean to you,
and make sure to tell them so