Ants
Sometimes we see an ant being carried by other ants. If one ant is injured or exhausted, they will carry it to the nest and there it is watched over until it is OK. There is one type of ant whose soul purpose in life is to help other ants. It is the Honeypot ant. It will go and
fill up on nectar and gets so full that it’s stomach is huge. It waddles back to the nest and climbs to the ceiling of the nest and waits for other ants to come and stroke it’s belly. The honeypot ant then feeds the other ant. What does this teach us? We need to show love and concern for others.
Deep sea diver
There’s an old story about a man named captain of a ship in the British navy. He wanted to impress his new crew with his bravery and wisdom.
The first assignment was to check the anchors and the only way to do that was to send down a deep sea diver. The crew said their previous captain always liked to go down first.
The problem was, however, this particular captain had never done any diving. He knew absolutely nothing about it. Of course, his pride prevented him from saying so the to crew.
So over the side he went. He was terrified what with the heavy suit, lead soled shoes and heavy helment.
When he hit the ocean floor he found he couldn’t walk and finally fell face first in the mud. He thought that was it and he would die there because he had turned loose of his “life line”.
The “life line” was used to signal if a person was in trouble and this man had let his go and had no way to signal above that he was in trouble.
So he was very surprised to soon feel a tab on his shoulder and another diver showed up to help him. The crew noticed the slack “life line” and sent another man down.
We can be like that captain and get ourselves into real trouble. But when another “diver” in the person of an elder reaches out to help, shouldn’t we accept his compassion and concern?
— contributed
I’ll sit in the mud with you
A farmer was out plowing his field one spring morning. The spring thaw had just occurred and there were many muddy valleys in the field. Through one particularly wet place his tractor became stuck in the mud. The harder he tried, the deeper he became stuck. Finally, he walked over to his neighbor’s to ask for help. The neighbor came over and looked at the situation. He shook his head, and then said, “It doesn’t look good, but I tell you what. I’ll give it a try pulling you out. But if we don’t get it out, I’ll come sit in the mud with ya!”
I’ll walk with you
A story is told of a child who had to walk each evening past a dark, spooky house. Some adults sought to give him courage. One handed him a good luck charm to ward off the ghosts. Another had a light put on the dreaded corner. Still another said earnestly, “It is sinful to be afraid. Trust God and be brave!” The advice was good, but he offered nothing more. Then someone said with compassion, “I know what it is to be afraid. I will walk with you past the house.” He did nothing to remove the fear — except to lift it from the child’s shoulders and place it on his own.
Poems
RIGHT NOW:
-somebody is very proud of you.
-somebody is thinking of you.
-somebody is caring about you.
-somebody misses you.
-somebody wants to talk to you.
-somebody wants to be with you.
-somebody hopes you aren’t in trouble.
-somebody is thankful for the support you have provided.
-somebody wants to hold your hand.
-somebody hopes everything turns out all right.
-somebody wants you to be happy.
-somebody wants you to find him/her.
-somebody is celebrating your successes.
-somebody wants to give you a gift.
-somebody thinks that you ARE a gift.
-somebody hopes you’re not too cold, or too hot
-somebody wants to hug you.
-somebody loves you.
-somebody admires your strength.
-somebody is thinking of you and smiling
-somebody wants to be your shoulder to cry on.
-somebody wants to go out with you and have a lot of fun.
-somebody thinks the world of you.
-somebody wants to protect you.
-somebody would do anything for you.
-somebody wants to be forgiven.
-somebody is grateful for your forgiveness
-somebody wants to laugh with you.
-somebody remembers you and wishes that you were there.
-somebody is praising God for you.
-somebody needs to know that your love is unconditional
-somebody values your advice.
-somebody wants to tell you how much they care.
-somebody wants to share their dreams with you.
-somebody wants to hold you in their arms.
-somebody wants YOU to hold them in your arms
-somebody treasures your spirit.
-somebody wishes they could STOP time because of you.
-somebody praises God for your friendship and love.
-somebody can’t wait to see you.
-somebody loves you for who you are.
-somebody loves the way you make them feel.
-somebody wants to be with you.
-somebody wants you to know they are there for you.
-somebody’s glad that you’re his/her friend.
-somebody wants to be your friend.
-somebody stayed up all night thinking about you.
-somebody is alive because of you.
-somebody is wishing that you noticed him/her.
-somebody wants to get to know you better.
-somebody wants to be near you.
-somebody misses your advice/guidance.
-somebody has faith in you. -somebody trusts you.
-somebody needs you to send them this letter
-somebody needs your support.
-somebody needs you to have faith in them.
-somebody will cry when they read this.
-somebody needs you to let them be your friend.
-somebody hears a song that reminds them of you.
SOMEBODY NEEDS YOU TO SEND THIS TO THEM.
“The Flower”
The park bench was deserted as I sat down to read
Beneath the long, straggly branches of an old willow tree.
Disillusioned by life with good reason to frown,
For the world was intent on dragging me down.
And if that weren’t enough to ruin my day,
A young boy out of breath approached me, all tired from play.
He stood right before me with his head tilted down
And said with great excitement, “Look what I found!”
In his hand was a flower, and what a pitiful sight,
With its petals all worn-not enough rain, or too little light.
Wanting him to take his dead flower and go off to play,
I faked a small smile and then shifted away.
But instead of retreating he sat next to my side
And placed the flower to his nose and declared with overacted surprise,
“It sure smells pretty and it’s beautiful, too.
That’s why I picked it; here, it’s for you.”
The weed before me was dying or dead.
Not vibrant of colors, orange, yellow or red
But I knew I must take it, or he might never leave.
So I reached for the flower, and replied, “Just what I need.”
But instead of him placing the flower in my hand,
He held it midair without reason or plan.
It was then that I noticed for the very first time
That weed-toting boy could not see: he was blind.
I heard my voice quiver, tears shone like the sun
As I thanked him for picking the very best one.
“You’re welcome,” he smiled, and then ran off to play,
Unaware of the impact he’d had on my day.
I sat there and wondered how he managed to see
A self-pitying woman beneath an old willow tree.
How did he know of my self-indulged plight?
Perhaps from his heart, he’d been blessed with true sight.
Through the eyes of a blind child, at last I could see
The problem was not with the world; the problem was me.
And for all of those times I myself had been blind,
I vowed to see the beauty in life and appreciate every second that’s mine.
And then I held that wilted flower up to my nose
And breathed in the fragrance of a beautiful rose
And smiled as I watched that young boy, another weed in his hand
About to change the life of an unsuspecting old man.
Pray, don’t find fault with the man who limps
Or stumbles along the road,
Unless you have worn the shoes he wears
Or struggled beneath his load.
There may be tacks in his shoes that hurt
Though hidden away from view;
Or the burden he bears, placed on your back,
Might cause you to stumble too.
Don’t be harsh with the man who sins
Or pelt him with words or stones,
Unless you are sure, yea doubly sure
That you have no sins of your own.
For you know, perhaps, if the tempters voice
Should whisper as soft to you
As it did to him when he went astray,
T’would cause you to stagger, too.
Don’t sneer at the man who’s down today
Unless you have felt the blow
That caused his fall, or felt the shame
That only the fallen know.
You maybe strong, but still the blows
That were his, if dealt to you
In the self-same way at the self-same time
Might cause you to stagger, too.
— Author unknown
WEEP WITH ME
Weep with Me
Share with me, brother,
your heartfelt pain,
Perhaps we can get on our feet again.
For how can I ever help to heal
The wounds of others I do not feel?
If my eyes are dry and I never weep,
How do I know if the hurt is deep?
If my heart is cold and it never bleeds,
How can I tell what my brother needs?
If I close my eyes and refuse to see;
If my ears are deaf to another’s plea;
If I steel my heart and harden my mind,
How can I ever be giving, Kind?
Jehovah has given us each a brother
To help and love and lift each other.
Only through tears can we recognize
The suffering that lies in our brother’s eyes.
It’s our empathy that helps us understand
The burdens carried in another’s hand.
So look through my eyes at your pain and sorrow,
Jehovah will help to a brighter tomorrow.
— Wallace E. Agy
When You Know a Fellow
When you get to know a fellow , know his joys and know his cares,
When you’ve come to understand him and the burdens that he bears,
When you’ve learned the fight he’s making and the troubles in his way,
Then you find that he is different than you thought him yesterday.
You find his faults are trivial and there’s not so much to blame
In the brother that you jeered at when you only knew his name.
You are quick to see the blemish in the distant neighbor’s style,
You can point to all his errors and may sneer at him the while,
And your prejudices fatten and your hates more violent grow
As you talk about the failures of the man you do not know,
But when drawn a little closer, and your hands and shoulders touch,
You find the traits you hated really don’t amount to much.
When you get to know a fellow, know his every mood and whim,
You begin to find the texture of the splendid side of him;
You begin to understand him, and you cease to scoff and sneer,
For with understanding always prejudices disappear.
You begin to find his virtues and his faults you cease to tell,
For you seldom hate a fellow when you know him very well.
When next you start in sneering and your phrases turn to blame,
Know more of him you censure than his business and his name;
For it’s likely that acquaintance would your prejudice dispel
And you’d really come to like him if you knew him very well.
When you get to know a fellow and you understand his ways,
Then his faults won’t really matter, for you’ll find a lot to praise.
From the writings of: Edgar Guest 1881
