Be granted the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and to have the wisdom to know the difference...

I’m much better at accepting the things that can’t be changed now. But having the courage to change the things that can be is waaaaaay harder :-/

I AM THANKFUL:

FOR THE WIFEWHO SAYS IT’S HOT DOGS TONIGHT,
BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH ME,
AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.

FOR THE HUSBANDWHO IS ON THE SOFABEING A COUCH POTATO,
BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH MEAND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.

FOR THE TEENAGERWHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHESBECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME,
NOT ON THE STREETS.

FOR THE TAXES I PAYBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM EMPLOYED .

FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTYBECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.

FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUGBECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.

FOR MY SHADOW THAT WATCHES ME WORKBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM OUT IN THE SUNSHINE

FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING,
WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING,
AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXINGBECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE A HOME

FOR ALL THE COMPLAININGI HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENTBECAUSE IT MEANS WE HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..

FOR THE PARKING SPOTI FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOTBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM CAPABLE OF WALKINGAND I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MY HUGE HEATING BILLBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM WARM.

FOR THE LADY BEHIND ME IN CHURCHWHO SINGS OFF KEYBECAUSE IT MEANS I CAN HEAR.

FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONINGBECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.

FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLESAT THE END OF THE DAYBECAUSE IT MEANS I HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.

FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFFIN THE EARLY MORNING HOURSBECAUSE IT MEANS I AM ALIVE.

People can be very inconsistent with their behavior. That leaves you hanging, clueless on where you stand in his life…

Now…
– i am learning to accept that I can never dictate someone to value me the way that I do him. It’s something subjective…In fact, very subjective that no matter how well you treat that person, its not a guarantee that your friendship will be valued high enough.

- i am having the courage to stay fun and accommodating when he's around; and just be my natural happy self.

- i know that i am special. and i don't deserve feeling less of a person because there are a lot who prices my friendship well. It's just a matter of knowing who to keep in our hearts...those people who really deserve to be loved and cared for.

A Box of gold

_*~*~*~*

With a secret inside

that has never been told

_*~*~*~

This box is priceless

but as I see

*_*~*~

The treasure inside is

precious to me

*_*~*~

Today I share this

treasure with thee

*_*~*~

It’s the treasure of

friendship you’ve

given me.

*_*~*~*

Breakfast at McDonald’s

I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have recently completed my college degree.

The last class I had to take was Sociology.

The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the qualities that I wish every human being had been graced with.

Her last project of the term was called, ‘Smile.’

The class was asked to go out and smile at three people and document their reactions.

I am a very friendly person and always smile at everyone and say hello anyway. So, I thought this would be a piece of cake,

literally.

Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, youngest son, and I went out to McDonald’s one crisp March morning.

It was just our way of sharing special playtime with our son.

We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when all of a sudden everyone around us began to back away, and then

even my husband did.

I did not move an inch… an overwhelming feeling of panic welled up inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved.

As I turned around I smelled a horrible ‘dirty body’ smell, and there standing b! ehind me were two poor homeless men.

As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to me, he was ‘smiling’.

His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God’s Light as he searched for acceptance.

He said, ‘Good day’ as he counted the few coins he had been clutching.

The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood behind his friend. I realized the second man was mentally challenged and the blue-eyed gentleman was his salvation.

I held my tears as I stood there with them.

The young lady at the counter asked him what they wanted.

He said, ‘Coffee is all Miss’ because that was all they could afford. (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm up, they had to buy something. He just wanted to be warm).

Then I really felt it – the compulsion was so great I almost reached out and embraced the little man with the blue eyes.

That is when I noticed all eyes in the

restaurant were set on me, judging

my every action.

I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter to give me two more breakfast meals on a separate tray.

I then walked around the corner to the table that the men had chosen as a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and laid my hand on the blue-eyed gentleman’s cold hand.

He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and said, ‘Thank you.’

I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, ‘I did not do this for you. God is here working through me to give you hope.’

I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband and son. When I sat down my husband smiled at me and said, ‘That is why God gave you to me, Honey, to give me hope.’

We held hands for a moment and at that time, we knew that only because of the Grace that we had been given were we able to give.

We are not church goers, but we are believers.

That day showed me the pure Light of God’s sweet love.

I returned to college, on the last evening of class, with this story in hand.

I turned in ‘my project’ and the instructor read it.

Then she looked up at me and said, ‘Can I share this?’

I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the class.

She began to read and that is when I knew that we as human beings and being part of God share this need to heal people and to be healed.

In my own way I had touched the people at McDonald’s, my son,the instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom on the last night I spent as a college student.

I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would ever learn:

UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE.

They’re like everywhere. And i cant believe im in an environment where these rodents thrive.

I hope to be granted the serenity to accept that these people exist and probably that’s just the role they’re meant to play in my life.

I hope to be granted the courage to change the unpleasant things that I do. Not to please them, but for me to become better, and do better at all times.

And have the wisdom to know where to draw the line, the wisdom to know how well to react on things and the wisdom to choose the words that I use….

=)

I just met this person. she’s like miss know-it-all. sometimes she’s tactless and a little arrogant. and everybody hates her. I didnt like her at first but, since we got in the job together, I had no choice. Having no choice can be a good thing sometimes, i guess, coz i was able to see the other side of her: caring sweet helpful generous. and i thought maybe she really has the right to boss around and act like a pro…coz she really knows a lot. she’s experienced and she really knows what she’s doing.

However, all our other colleagues hate her now. And she’s about to quit the job. She gave me a different reason but i know that one big contributor for her resignation is knowing that everyone despises her.

Do I tell her that she should not be assertive-aggressive at all times? Or, I dunno…I’m afraid she might feel that I belong to the enemy’s team now.

beautiful thought that i hope to turn into my reality

That, my everyday prayer.
That, made me survive all my tribulations.
That, provided me the guidance in making decisions.
That, I think, is just what we need to live right and live in peace.

he left…finally had the courage with my blessing to go. i hope it is what he wants…if not we can talk about it. i cant change him, i cant controll how he feels about me/us. i want us to live happily ever after but ….not right now. i will always love him