More Inspirations

I asked God to take away my pain. God said, No. It is not
for me to take away, but for you to give it up.

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole. God said,
No. Her spirit is whole, her body is only temporary.

I asked God to grant me patience. God said, No. Patience is
a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.

I asked God to give me happiness. God said, No. I give you
Blessings. Happiness is up to you.

I asked God to spare me pain. God said, No. Suffering
draws you apart from worldly causes and brings you closer to
me.

I asked God to make my spirit grow. God said, No. You
must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you
fruitful.

I asked for all things that I might enjoy life. God said, No. I
will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.

I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me.
God said...
Ahh, finally you have the idea!

One bright summer morning a little child
stood in a great church. Sunlight streamed through
the beautiful stained glass windows, And the
figures in the windows of the servants of God
were radiant with brilliant colors.

"Faith is to believe what we
do not see;
The reward of this faith is to
see what we believe."
-St. Augustine

"It is said and it is true, that just before we are born a
cavern angel puts his finger to our lips and says, 'Hush,
don't tell what you know.' This is why we are born
with a cleft on our upper lips and remembering nothing
from where we came from."
Roderick MacLeish
Prince Ombra

"Coincidence is God's way of
performing a miracle anonymously"
-unknown

Don't Throw it Away

Have you made someone happy,
or made someone sad,
What have you done with the day that you had.
God gave it to you to do just as you would.
Did you do what was wicked or do what was good?
Did you hand out a smile or just give a frown,
Did you lift someone up, or push someone down?
Did you lighten some load or some progress impede,
Did you look for a rose or just gather a weed?
What did you do with your beautiful day,
God gave it to you, did you throw it away?

"There is for each of us the opportunity
for a life of unbounded possibilities.
Within each of us there has been at some moment,
a sense of the infinite,
a sense that we are capable of doing and being anything.
And perhaps, there have been moments when we
have acted freely from this space of infinite possibility."

-Stephen Schwartz

If I Had My Life To Live Over
by Erma Bombeck
(In memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.)

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

I would have talked less and listened more.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the
fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have sat on the lawn with my children and not worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television-and more while watching life.

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said," Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love
you's." More "I'm sorry's"...

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live
it...and never give it back.

Stop sweating the small stuff. Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us. Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we
are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well as spiritually.

Life is too short to let it pass you by.
We only have one shot at this and then it's gone.

The more love we give,
the more love permeates the world.
People will forget what you say.
People will forget what you do.
People will never forget how you make them feel.

Indeed, love is the answer to the ultimate question.
But how will others understand if we do not
show by nature of our own example?

A wave of love can melt all resistance and
change the world for all of us.
Love is the living, breathing message of Jesus.
Love is the heartbeat of life.