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I am trying to collect a compilation of poems, quotes, articles, etc…. They should be inspiring, something that that can teach us a lesson, etc….. If any one can help me out and post anything that they may have i would greatly appreciate! Thank you!
I posted this awhile ago on another thread, but your post is off to a slow start (probably beacuse of the taanis) I’ll get the ball rolling:
Last summer, my friend’s car broke down in the Home Depot parking lot on the NJ 17. Within 5 minutes, Chaverim was there. Pretty standard so far.
Unfortunatly, they could not help us. So with little choice, we settled down until AAA showed. So why am I telling you this story? Becuase “it just so happened” that we broke down on Tisha B’av and “it just so happened” that I had picked up a copy of Tisha B’av to Go from YU, and “it just so happened” that Dr. D Pelcovits had an article in that issue on the subject of dealing with loss, that helped me address the issue with my son, who had just lost a friend in a car accident.
2 hours later, AAA showed up and towed us away. But in those 2 hours, I was able to reach my son when / and in a way he needed me to. Was is becuase it was Tisha B’av that I was more receptive to dealing with pain? Was it because I was stranded in the middle of NJ, so I was able to relate to being alone and know how meaningful it would be if someone were able to reach out and help me? Not sure, but its probaly a combination of all the above (not to mention hashgacha pratis from The One Above)
So I guess you could still call this a Chaverim success story, after all.
My life is but a weaving
between Hashem and me
I may not choose the colors
He knows what they should be
For He can view the pattern
upon the upperside
While I can see it only
On this the underside
Sometimes He weaveth sorrow
which seems so strange to me
But I will trust His judgment
and work on faithfully
He knows just what is best
So I shall weave in earnest
and leave with him the rest
At last when life is ended
With Him I shall abide
Then I may view the pattern
upon the upperside
Then I shall know the reason
why pain with joy entwined
Was Woven in the fabric
of the life Hashem designed.
A PENNY
You always hear the usual stories of pennies on the sidewalk being good luck, gifts from angels, etc. This is the first time I’ve ever heard this twist on the story. Gives you something to think about.
Several years ago, a friend of mine was invited to spend the weekend at his employer’s home. My friend, Michael was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than his house.
The first day and evening went well and Michael was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. His employer was quite generous as a host and took him to the finest restaurants for dinner. Michael knew he would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again so he was enjoying himself immensely.
As the two of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of Michael. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment. Michael wondered, there was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts. Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at him. Finally, he could stand it no longer. He casually mentioned that his daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value. A smile crept across the man’s face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for Michael to see.
He had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?
‘Look at it.’ He said. ‘Read what it says.’ Michael read the words” United States of America “
“No, not that; read further.” “One cent?”
“No, keep reading.” “In God we Trust?”
“Yes!”
“And?”
‘And if I trust in God, the name of Hashem is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin, I see that inscription.. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! Hashem drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I stop to see if my trust IS in Hashem at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to Hashem; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold.
When I was out shopping today, I found a penny on the sidewalk. I stopped and picked it up, and realized that I had been worrying and fretting in my mind about things I cannot change. I read the words, ‘In God We Trust,’ and had to laugh. Yes, Hashem, I get the message.
Thought for the Day:
Face it, friend – Hashem is crazy about you!
He sends you flowers every spring.
He sends you a sunrise every morning.
Read this line very slowly and let it sink in…
If Hashem brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
My spouse is involved in a specific support group. She is always looking for poems and articles about children. (raising children, spending time with children, being a mom etc.)
If you have anything about this topic(sweet, funny, or inspirational) please post, I will greatly appreciate it.
After thinking a moment, Mr. XYZ decides to give it to one of the senior partners at his firm (seeing as how the firm was paying for the seminar in the first place). Mr. XYZ proceeds to explain how the seminar asked him the find someone that inspired him and in thinking about all the people he knows at the firm, he realized that Mr. Senior Partner has over the years been a good mentor and shown good leadership qualities, and has been a good role model, and as such, Mr. XYZ has in many ways become a better manager himself, ect, ect, ect, and feels that Mr. Senior Partner made a difference in his life. He presents the sticker, along with the 2nd sticker for Mr. Partner to pass along to someone else.
I think this is a great Moshol to remind us to go on even if/when the going is hard.
Leaving the City of Regret
I had not really planned on taking a trip this time of year, and yet I found myself packing rather hurriedly. This trip was going to be unpleasant and I knew in advance that no real good would come of it. I’m talking about my annual “Guilt Trip.”
I got tickets to fly there on Wish I Had airlines. It was an extremely short flight. I got my baggage, which I could not check. I chose to carry it myself all the way. It was weighted down with a thousand memories of what might have been. No one greeted me as I entered the terminal to the Regret City International Airport. I say international because people from all over the world come to this dismal town.
As I checked into the Last Resort Hotel, I noticed that they would be hosting the year’s most important event, the Annual Pity Party. I wasn’t going to miss that great social occasion. Many of the towns leading citizens would be there.
First, there would be the Done family, you know, Should Have, Would Have and Could Have. Then came the I Had family. You probably know ol’ Wish and his clan. Of course, the Opportunities would be present, Missed and Lost. The biggest family would be the Yesterday’s. There are far too many of them to count, but each one would have a very sad story to share.
Then Shattered Dreams would surely make and appearance. And It’s Their Fault would regale us with stories (excuses) about how things had failed in his life, and each story would be loudly applauded by Don’t Blame Me and I Couldn’t Help It.
Well, to make a long story short, I went to this depressing party knowing that there would be no real benefit in doing so. And, as usual, I became very depressed. But as I thought about all of the stories of failures brought back from the past, it occurred to me that all of this trip and subsequent “pity party” could be cancelled by ME! I started to truly realize that I did not have to be there. I didn’t have to be depressed. One thing kept going through my mind, I CAN’T CHANGE YESTERDAY, BUT I DO HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE TODAY A WONDERFUL DAY. I can be happy, joyous, fulfilled, encouraged, as well as encouraging. Knowing this, I left the City of Regret immediately and left no forwarding address. Am I sorry for mistakes I’ve made in the past? YES! But there is no physical way to undo them.
So, if you’re planning a trip back to the City of Regret, please cancel all your reservations now. Instead, take a trip to a place called, Starting Again. I liked it so much that I have now taken up permanent residence there. My neighbours, the I Forgive Myselfs and the New Starts are so very helpful. By the way, you don’t have to carry around heavy baggage, because the load is lifted from your shoulders upon arrival. G-d bless you in finding this great town. If you can find it — it’s in your own heart — please look me up. I live on I Can Do It street.
“A Soul in Costume”
A soul floats in the brilliant vastness,
Moments before it enters Earth,
Upon entry it is cloaked in its guise,
Which is revealed upon birth.
A facinating costume this gift from God,
To hide the now unfathomable, divine soul,
In an awe inspiring garment of the human body,
So that it can fulfill it’s divine role.
Will Man remember or forget,
That concealed behind his coporeal eyes,
Is the soul that lies in purity,
Beneath the flesh’s diguise?
Will the costume be primped in vanity,
Will he squander the gift of life for naught,
Will he aspire to aquire temporal gain,
Leaving the soul empty and distraught?
Or will the truth of life be a remembrance,
The purpose of life his quest,
With every beat of his human heart,
Triumph over life’s challenges and tests?
The soul, obscured in its costume, gets polished or sullied,
As Man determines his spiritual destiny.
And his actions carve his soul’s perpetual fate,
Until it is called to its place in Eternity.
Hashem’sprincess, is this for personal use or a possible book? If the latter, then let people know so they can give you sources; you’ll need to track them down for permission, copyright purposes, etc..
to HELLO KITTY i have been collecting articles on every topic for about 15 years now and have a nice amount on moms, childcare and such both serious and funny. if you feel comfortable posting your email address i could email several to you and yasher koach for looking out for your wife!!
bh18, my wife is very excited about those articles. I dont think YWN allows to post any personal info. How can I get it?
bh18, check your email for kitty’s email address.
Has everyone heard the “P’tach student / Parent at the baseball game” story? Another classic, so if anyone has not heard it, please say so, and I’ll post it
BP Totty, post it. I would like to read it.
SLOW DANCE
Have you ever watched kids
On a merry-go-round?
Or listened to the rain
Slapping on the ground?
Ever followed a
butterfly’s erratic flight?
Or gazed at the sun into the fading night?
You better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Do you run through each day
On the fly?
When you ask How are you?
Do you hear the reply?
When the day is done
Do you lie in your bed
With the next hundred chores
Running through your head?
You’d better slow down
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last.
Ever told your child,
We’ll do it tomorrow?
And in your haste,
Not see his sorrow?
Ever lost touch,
Let a good friendship die
Cause you never had time
To call and say,’Hi’?
You’d better slow down.
Don’t dance so fast.
Time is short.
The music won’t last..
When you run so fast to get somewhere
You miss half the fun of getting there.
When you worry and hurry through your day,
It is like an unopened gift….
Thrown away.
Life is not a race.
Do take it slower
Hear the music
Before the song is over.
Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers…
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full…
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with a unanimous ‘yes.’ The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand..
The students laughed..
‘Now,’ said the professor as the laughter subsided, ‘I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things—your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions—and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car.
The sand is everything else—the small stuff.
‘If you put the sand into the jar first,’ he continued, ‘there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents.
Enjoy your friendships.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first—the things that really matter. Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, ‘I’m glad you asked.’
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there’s always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.
Stone
TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING
THROUGH THE DESERT
DURING SOME POINT OF THE
JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND
SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE
THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED
WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING,
WROTE IN THE SAND
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE
THEY KEPT ON WALKING,
UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED
TO TAKE A BATH
THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN
SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIRE! AND STARTED DROWNING,
BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.
AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM
THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE:
“TODAY MY BEST FRIEND
SAVED MY LIFE”
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED
AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND
ASKED HIM, “AFTER I HURT YOU,
YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW,
YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?”
THE FRIEND REPLIED
“WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US
WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND, WHERE W INDS OF
FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.
BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES
SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE
WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT”
LEARN TO WRITE
YOUR HURTS IN
THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR
BENEFITS IN STONE.
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.
anyone has some more articles???
Here is the story of the P’tach kid at the baseball game. I was going through my emails and saw it.
At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech
that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its
dedicated staff, he offered a question:
‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?’
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an
opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’
Then he told the following story:
that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to
play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.
I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and
Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in
my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.
In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously
ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again.
Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?
Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat
properly, much less connect with the ball.
However, as Shay stepped up to the
plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob
the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.
The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.
The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman .
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.
Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates.
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base..
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly
ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball, the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance
to be the hero for his team.
He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally
threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.
Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
third!
Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team
Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home
and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day !
First I was dying to finish my high school and to start college.
And then I was dying to finish college and start working.
Then I was dying to marry and have kids.
And then I was dying for my children to grow old so I could go back to work.
But then I was dying to retire.
And now I’m dying…
And suddenly I’ve realized I forgot to live.
Please don’t let this happen to you. Appreciate your current situation and enjoy each day.
– Old Friend
You should check out the Good Fwds thread http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/good-forwards
They have a bunch of inspiring emails. Also I get quite a few Chicken Soup for the Little Soul stories as emails, so you might want to try those out.
‘I Hope You Dance… ‘
This was written by an 83-year-old woman to her friend.
*The last line says it all. *
Dear Bertha,
I’m reading more and dusting less. I’m sitting in the yard and admiring the view without fussing about the weeds in the garden. I’m spending more time with my family and friends and less time working.
Whenever possible, life should be a pattern of experiences to savor, not to endure. I’m trying to recognize these moments now and cherish them.
I’m not “saving” anything; we use our good china and crystal for every special event such as losing a pound, getting the sink unstopped, or the first Amaryllis blossom.
I wear my good blazer to the market. My theory is if I look prosperous, I can shell out $28.49 for one small bag of groceries. I’m not saving my good perfume for special parties, but wearing it for clerks in the hardware store and tellers at the bank.
“Someday” and “one of these days” are losing their grip on my vocabulary. If it’s worth seeing or hearing or doing, I want to see and hear and do it now
I’m not sure what others would’ve done had they known they wouldn’t be here for the tomorrow that we all take for granted. I think they would have called family members and a few close friends. They might have called a few former friends to apologize and mend fences for past squabbles. I like to think they would have gone out for a Chinese dinner or for whatever their favorite food was.
I’m guessing; I’ll never know.
It’s those little things left undone that would make me angry if I knew my hours were limited. Angry because I hadn’t written certain letters that I intended to write one of these days. Angry and sorry that I didn’t tell my husband and parents often enough how much I truly love them. I’m trying very hard not to put off, hold back, or save anything that would add laughter and luster to our lives. And every morning when I open my eyes, tell myself that it is special.
Every day, every minute, every breath truly is a gift from God.
If you received this, it is because someone cares for you. If you’re too busy to take the few minutes that it takes right now to forward this, would it be the first time you didn’t do the little thing that would make a difference in your relationships? I can tell you it certainly won’t be the last.
Take a few minutes to send this to a few people you care about, just to let them know that you’re thinking of them.
“People say true friends must always hold hands, but true friends don’t need to hold hands because they know the other hand will always be there.”
Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.
To: YOU
Date: TODAY
From: Hashem
Subject: YOURSELF
Reference: LIFE
This is Hashem. Today I will be handling all of your problems for you… I do Not need your help. So, have a nice day.
I love you.
P.S. And, remember…
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself! Kindly put it in the SFHTD (something for Hashem to do) box. I will get to it in MY TIME. All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.
Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.
If you find yourself stuck in traffic, don’t despair. There are people in this world for whom driving is an unheard of privilege.
Should you have a bad day at work; think of the man who has been out of work for years.
Should you despair over a relationship gone bad; think of the person who has never known what it’s like to love and be loved in return.
Should you grieve the passing of another weekend; think of the woman in dire straits, working twelve hours a day, seven days a week to feed her children.
Should your car break down, leaving you miles away from assistance; think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk.
Should you notice a new gray hair in the mirror; think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine.
Should you find yourself at a loss and pondering what is life all about, asking what is my purpose? Be thankful. There are those who didn’t live long enough to get the opportunity.
Should you find yourself the victim of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities; remember, things could be worse. You could be one of them!
Should you decide to send this to a friend; Thank you. You may have touched their life in ways you will never know!
Now, you have a nice day….Hashem
Hashem has seen you struggling,
Hashem says it’s over.
There are four things you cannot recover:
1. The stone…after it’s thrown.
2. The word…after it’s said.
3. The occasion…after the loss. (I think it’s after it’s over or something like that.)
4. The time…after it’s gone.
It’s a Palindrome, so you got to read it first down ward and then read it backwards (from bottom up)
I realize this may be a shock but
‘Happiness comes from within’
is a lie, and
‘Money will make me happy’
So in thirty years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
this is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
Thirty years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it. (Read the poem in reverse, line by line.)
Thanks, Sister bear.
I heard the story somewhat different, though. At the end of the father telling the story, he says “my son will never be mainstream. He will never be a regular kid. And I often wonder, what is his tachlis in life? And now I know the answer; he was sent here to give the 18 boys on the baseball field a chance to grow… and chance to do the right thing.
Either way, a great story, and a great lesson.
Yeah, I actually heard it your way but I just copied and pasted the email.
There was a man who had four sons. He wanted his sons to learn not to judge things too quickly. So he sent each of them on a quest, in turn, to go look at a pear tree a great distance away. The first son went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in the winter, and the fourth in the fall.
When they had all gone and come back he called them all together to describe what they had seen.
The first son said it was ugly, bent and twisted.
The second son said, no it was covered with green buds and full of promise.
The third son disagreed, he said it was laden with blossoms and smelled sweet and looked so beautiful, it was the most graceful thing he had ever seen.
The fourth son disagreed with them all. He said it was ripe and drooping with fruit, full of life and fulfillment.
The man then explained to his sons that they were all right since they had each seen the tree, but only in one season. He told them you cannot judge a person or a tree by only one season. and that the essence of who they are and the pleasure, joy, and love that
come from that life can only be measured at the end, when all the seasons are up.
If you give up when it’s winter, you will miss the promise of your spring, the beauty of your summer,fulfilment of your fall.
Don’t let the pain of one season destroy the joy of all the rest.
Don’t judge life by one difficult season.
Persevere through the difficult patches and better times are sure to come some time.
Aspire to Inspire Before You Expire
Live Simply Love Generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly.
Leave the Rest to God.
Happiness keeps You Sweet,
Trials keep You Strong,
Sorrows keep You Human
Failures keep You Humble
Success keeps You Glowing,
But Only God keeps You Going. (I also heard this that only friends keep you going.)
‘MEET ME IN THE STAIRWELL’
You say you will never forget where you were when
you heard the news On September 11, 2001.
Neither will I.
I was on the 110th floor in a smoke filled room
with a man who called his wife to say ‘Good-Bye.’ I
held his fingers steady as he dialed. I gave him the
peace to say, ‘Honey, I am not going to make it, but it
is OK..I am ready to go.’
I was with his wife when he called as she fed
breakfast to their children. I held her up as she
tried to understand his words and as she realized
he wasn’t coming home that night.
I was in the stairwell of the 23rd floor when a
woman cried out to Me for help. ‘I have been
knocking on the door of your heart for 50 years!’ I said.
‘Of course I will show you the way home – only
believe in Me now.’
I was at the base of the building with the Priest
ministering to the injured and devastated souls.
I took him home to tend to his Flock in Heaven. He
heard my voice and answered.
I was on all four of those planes, in every seat,
with every prayer. I was with the crew as they
were overtaken. I was in the very hearts of the
believers there, comforting and assuring them that their
faith has saved them.
I was in Texas , Virginia , California , Michigan , Afghanistan .
I was standing next to you when you heard the terrible news.
Did you sense Me?
I want you to know that I saw every face. I knew
every name – though not all know Me. Some met Me
for the first time on the 86th floor.
Some sought Me with their last breath.
Some couldn’t hear Me calling to them through the
smoke and flames; ‘Come to Me… this way… take
my hand.’ Some chose, for the final time, to ignore Me.
But, I was there.
I did not place you in the Tower that day. You
may not know why, but I do. However, if you were
there in that explosive moment in time, would you have
reached for Me?
Sept. 11, 2001, was not the end of the journey
for you. But someday your journey will end. And I
will be there for you as well. Seek Me now while I may
be found. Then, at any moment, you know you are
‘ready to go.’
I will be in the stairwell of your final moments.
G-d
STONE
TWO FRIENDS WERE WALKING THROUGH THE DESERT .
DURING SOME POINT OF THE JOURNEY, THEY HAD AN
ARGUMENT; AND ONE FRIEND SLAPPED THE OTHER ONE
IN THE FACE
THE ONE WHO GOT SLAPPED WAS HURT, BUT WITHOUT
SAYING ANYTHING, WROTE IN THE SAND ,
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE .
THEY KEPT ON WALKING, UNTIL THEY FOUND AN OASIS,
WHERE THEY DECIDED TO TAKE A BATH
THE ONE WHO HAD BEEN SLAPPED GOT STUCK IN THE
MIRE AND STARTED DROWNING, BUT THE FRIEND SAVED HIM.
AFTER HE RECOVERED FROM THE NEAR DROWNING,
HE WROTE ON A STONE:
‘TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE’
THE FRIEND WHO HAD SLAPPED AND SAVED HIS BEST FRIEND
ASKED HIM, ‘AFTER I HURT YOU, YOU WROTE IN THE SAND AND NOW, YOU WRITE ON A STONE, WHY?’
THE FRIEND REPLIED
‘WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN
IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.
BUT, WHEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING GOOD FOR US,
WE MUST ENGRAVE IT IN STONE WHERE NO WIND
CAN EVER ERASE IT’
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO
CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
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.
SEND THIS TO THE PEOPLE YOU’LL NEVER FORGET.
I JUST DID..
IF YOU DON’T SEND IT TO ANYONE,
IT MEANS YOU’RE IN A HURRY AND THAT YOU’VE FORGOTTEN YOUR FRIENDS.
TAKE THE TIME TO LIVE!
DO NOT VALUE THE THINGS
YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, BUT VALUE
WHO YOU HAVE KNOWN IN YOUR LIFE!
Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.
The day pencil skirts were created, I laughed.
>From my perch in Paris where I direct the Designers, I laughed.
A laugh of approval. A laugh of deception. A laugh of
cruelty.The evilest of evil laughs.Why did I laugh? Because I realized I’ve got them.
No, not the weak ones.
Not the ones falling between the cracks.
But the best of the best.
Only THEY can help me.
They’re the ones I can feed off of.
The weak have nothing to offer me.
The strong ones are the ones I need.
Yes, the best of the best.
The “Bais Yaakov Girls”
So she’ll do her daily mirror check
Pearl earrings in place.
Button down.
Black tights.
Skirt covers knees.
A true Bais Yaakov Girl.
I watch from afar.
And I continue to laugh my evil laugh.
Just wait till she sits down.
I’ve tried in the past with the collarbone, but theres no fooling them.
They’re too strong for me. with the elbows, there’s no way. that leaves me
with only one solution- the knees. Covered when they look in the mirror, and
so -they innocently think- covered the whole day.
True, there are those few moments here and there when she notices, so
she’ll tug on her skirt a bit but I’m not worried because there will be plenty a moment when she won’t notice.But fortunately, the Rabbis in front of the classroom do.
And so do the weak girls.
And so does G-d.
Even for those who do realize perhaps this skirt is too short, there’s
always the black tights excuse to help me out.
Thankfully, they don’t seem to realize that black knees are still knees.Oh I’ve educated them well.Secretly, slipped the word “Duty-length” into their vocabulary.That did it.They’re more defensive about it than anyone else.
If they buy a skirt that by mistake is “duty length” I watch proudly as they run to the seamstress to chop it off to just below the knee.
The stronger amongst them will say a little longer below the knee, but they
also don’t realize that that won’t help them very much when they’re sitting.Then there are those who do scare me because they really are trying to do
the right thing. So when they sit down, they’ll tug on their skirts and pull it over their knees. Or so they think. I just hope they’ll be sitting with one leg on top of the other and then they think their knees are covered but in actuality, only one is.
Thank G-d, they don’t take their leaders too seriously when they encourage them to go for four inches below the knee. I’ve succeeded in getting them into defensive mode when it comes to these things.
I’d worried way back that they would realize that their relationship with
G-d is ideally that of a good marriage, and their leaders merely their husbands close friends coming to tell them what they’re husband REALLY likes.
Because if they would realize that, they would RUN to buy the “Duty length”
skirts. Because when you truly love your husband, you run to prepare whatever it is he likes.
But then I would be out of business.
Thanks to my hard work, that’s not the case.
Seems their marriage is a bit shaky after all.
And to my credit, their “Husband” watches them sadly thinking is that all our marriage means to you? All you can give me are skirts that JUST cover the knees. Is our marriage merely an obligation to get over with in the easiest way possible? Is that how much you value me?
And I laugh.
With much appreciation to all those who’ve assisted my cause over the years,
And with gratitude to all those who’ve provided me with many good laughs,
The Satan
Editors note:
Yes, he has got us in more ways than not, and yes it’s so easy to think I’m a good BY girl so what are a few inches anyway?
But just recently, we were forced to see that when it comes to the aim of a gun or a rocket, a few inches really DO matter.
And we witnessed Hashem being SO careful with His inches, so many rockets JUST missing their aim.
Maybe we can show our “Husband” some well deserved love.
And be careful with our inches too.
I like the quote from Pirkei Avos, “you don’t have to complete the task, but you are not free to withdraw from it.” Sometimes we feel a lot of pressure in life. But we should realize that the journey is just as important as the finish line. Every effort counts.
There are a bunch of good quotes on the Inspiring Quotes thread if you’re ready to sift through 22 pages. 🙂 Good Luck! http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/inspiring-quotes
Growing up
their favorite memories
were of those quality
times with their family
After lunch on Shabbos
they continued singing
and played in the
living room with dad
just for a bit
At night mom tucked
them in and said Shema
might be small but
It’s the little things
that make a difference
you accomplish more
than you know
RED MARBLES
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas..
I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.
Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.
‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’
‘H’lo , Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.’
‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?’
‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’
‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’
‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’
‘Would you like to take some home ?’ asked Mr.. Miller.
‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ’em with.’
‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’
‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’
‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller..
‘Here ’tis. She’s a dandy.’
‘I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home ?’ the store owner asked.
‘Not zackley but almost..’
‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’.. Mr. Miller told the boy.
‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.’ A
Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.. With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store..’
I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.
Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr… Miller had died.
They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.
Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts….all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the casket..
Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.
Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.
‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about colour or size…..they came to pay their debt.’
‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.’
With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband.. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.
The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds…. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath…..
Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t make yourself…An unexpected phone call from an old friend…Green traffic lights on your way to work….The fastest line at the grocery store…A good sing-along song on the radio…Your keys found right where you left them.
Send this to the people you’ll never forget.. I just Did….
If you don’t send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.
IT’S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED
Back in the mid nineties a Jewish advertising executive in New York came up with an idea. What if the New York Times, considered the world’s most prestigious newspaper, listed the weekly Shabbat candle lighting time each week. Sure someone would have to pay for the space. But imagine the Jewish awareness and pride that might result from such a prominent mention of the Jewish Shabbat each week. He got in touch with a Jewish philanthropist and sold him on the idea. It cost almost two thousand dollars a week. But he did it. And for the next five years, each Friday, Jews around the world would see ‘Jewish Women: Shabbat candle lighting time this Friday is ……’
Eventually the philanthropist had to cut back on a number of his projects. And in June 1999, the little Shabbat notice and stopped appearing in the Friday Times. and from that week on it never appeared again. Except once. On January 1, 2000, the NY Times ran a Millennium edition. It was a special issue that featured three front pages. One had the news from January 1, 1900. The second was the actual news ofthe day, January 1, 2000. And then they had a third front page. Projecting future events of January 1, 2100. This fictional page included things like a welcome to the fifty-first state: Cuba . As well as a discussion as to whether robots should be allowed to vote. And so on. And in addition to the fascinating articles, there was one more thing. Down on the bottom of the Year 2100 front page, was the candle lighting time in New York for January 1, 2100. Nobody paid for it. It was just put in by the Times.
The production manager of the New York Times, an Irish Catholic, was asked about it. His answer was right on the mark. And it speaks to the eternity of our people. And to the power of Jewish ritual. “We don’t know what will happen in the year 2100. It is impossible to predict the future. But of one thing you can be certain. That in the year 2100 Jewish women will be lighting Shabbos candles.”
“Life is not meant to enjoy, it is meant to prepare.While preparing you may enjoy the preparation!”
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