"Do the right thing"

 

 The only moments in our lives that count for anything are those when we do the right thing, when we don’t have to look down at the table but can raise our heads and look each other in the eye. Nothing else matters. Alexei Navalny, PATRIOT . 239 .

 

“It’s not always easy to do what’s right.” Well, that’s true. Doing the next right thing has consequences just as doing the next wrong thing. However, doing the next right thing leaves one with a feeling of satisfaction of doing what is right regardless of the consequences.                                                                                                                                       In a sea of corruption, Alexei Navalny became a leader among millions of Russians who want a democracy and do away with corruption. For his work, Navalny was poisoned, imprisoned under false pretences, and finally murdered in prison. Murdered for doing the next right thing.                                                                                                                                    This happens on a daily basis in terms of character assassination around the “water cooler” in offices; it happens daily, nowadays, in various media where the name of good people is destroyed.                                                                                                                         “The only moments in our lives that count for anything are those when we do the right thing…” there is a tremendous satisfaction in a healthy sense when we do something we know to be right, to take  a stand against those whose words and behavior is bent on destruction. It was said of Jesus “It is better that one man die for the country.” It was thought that if Mahatma Gandhi, Dag Hammarskjold or Martin Luther King, were out of the way then things could “get back to normal. These men lived doing ‘the next right thing” and for doing so they  paid the price.                                                                                                                      In school yards. Offices, in the work place, students, men and women are shunned, silenced, abandoned, sneered at, for daring to do the next right thing and, despite all the jeering, they0 stand their ground because they know that what they are doing is Right.                 Across the world today in church and in society, locally, nationally, internationally, there are those who stand for equality, respect, democracy, justice, and they will pay the price of following their conscience, following Jesus, living the Beatitudes, their scripture.                      Creator God, Great Spirit, I give thanks for those men and women who shine a light in the darkness to offer us hope for a better future. May the Holy Spirit guide us in these dark days to do the Right thing regardless of the price to be paid so that future generations will live in peace and freedom with respect and justice for all. Amen                                 

Keep your circle of friends small

 

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KEEP YOUR CIRCLE SMALL

A Short Valuable Story

A young girl asked an elderly woman:

"Do I really need friends in life?"

The elderly woman responded:

"Yes. Life is truly very rough. There should be someone by your side with whom you can talk for hours without feeling that they would judge you; on whose shoulders you can cry, one who will give you emotional support. When no one will be there for you, they should be there. One who should help you share the good times and overcome the difficult ones."

The young girl asked:

"Is it true that a fake friend is more dangerous than an enemy?"

The elderly woman responded:

"Yes. It's because you know who your enemy is and you're not going to let them get close to you. But a false friend is pretending while getting your trust. They find out your vulnerabilities, your secrets and your dreams. They know which button to press and how to stab you in the back."

The young girl asked:

"How do I avoid being surrounded by fake friends?"

The elderly woman paused for a short moment, then asked,

"Between a small garden and a forest, which one has more snakes and scorpions?"

The young girl responded:

"The forest, sure!"

The elderly woman smiled, and then said:

"Good! When you keep your circle of friends small like a small garden, the less snakes and scorpions you have to worry about, even rats. The fewer people you hang out with, the fewer problems you have to deal with. When I was young, I had a very big group of friends. But as I grew old and wise with experience, my circle of friends became smaller. I realized that quality outweighs quantity when it comes to friendship. Don’t fool yourself by holding onto the illusion that everyone is your friend. You may have numerous acquaintances, but real friends will always be just a few people you love and trust. The best way to prevent yourself from falling into the fake friend trap is by being more mindful about the size of your circle."

"Teachers can Make a Difference"

 

 

The Heart of a Teacher

The child arrives like a mystery box…
with puzzle pieces inside
some of the pieces are broken or missing…
and others just seem to hide

But the HEART of a teacher can sort them out…
and help the child to see
the potential for greatness he has within…
a picture of what he can be

Her goal isn’t just to teach knowledge…
by filling the box with more parts
it’s putting the pieces together…
to create a work of art.

The process is painfully slow at times…
some need more help than others
each child is a work in progress…
with assorted shapes and colors

First she creates a classroom…
where the child can feel safe in school
where he never feels threatened or afraid to try…
and kindness is always the rule

She knows that a child can achieve
much more when he feels secure inside
when he’s valued and loved…and believes in himself …
and he has a sense of pride

She models and teaches good character…

and respect for one another
how to focus on strengths…not weaknesses
and how to encourage each other

She gives the child the freedom he needs…
to make choices on his own
so he learns to become more responsible…
and is able to stand alone

He’s taught to be strong and think for himself…
as his soul and spirit heal
and the puzzle that’s taking shape inside…
has a much more positive feel

The child discovers the joy that comes…
from learning something new…
and his vision grows as he begins
to see all the things he can do

A picture is formed as more pieces fit…
an image of the child within
with greater strength and confidence…
and a belief that he can win!

All because a hero was there…
in the HEART of a teacher who cared
enabling the child to become much more…
than he ever imagined…or dared

A teacher with a HEART for her children…
knows what teaching is all about
she may not have all the answers…
but on this…she has no doubt

When asked which subjects she loved to teach,
she answered this way and smiled…
“It’s not the subjects that matter…

It’s all about teaching the CHILD.”

Paula Fox

 

Humanity at its most beautiful!                                                                                                                                        “I believe Compassion is the most essential quality of civilization.”

“Compassion grows as we journey through life.”

“Never look down on anybody unless you're helping him up.”  

“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show Compassion and the will to help others.”

the Teddy Stallard story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xkQHh0HUxU&t=52s&ab_channel=MaryReynolds00

"Wise advice from a Farmer's Wife"

 

𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗙𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗿'𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗳𝗲:

•Whenever you return a borrowed pie pan, make sure it's got a warm pie in it.

•Make home a happy place for the children. Everybody returns to their happy place.

•Always keep a small light on in the kitchen window at night.

•It's a whole lot easier to get breakfast from a chicken than a pig.

•Always pat the chickens when you take their eggs.

•Biscuits brown better with a little butter brushed on 'em.

•Check your shoelaces before runnin' to help somebody.

•Homemade's always better'n supermarket bought.

•A tongue's like a knife. The sharper it is the deeper it cuts.

•It's easy to clean an empty house, but hard to live in one.

•Enjoy doing your children's laundry. Some day they'll be gone.

•All children spill milk. Learn to smile and wipe it up.

•There's no such thing as woman's work on a farm. There's just work.

•Invite lots of folks to supper. You can always add more water to the soup.

•A good neighbour always knows when to visit and when to leave.

•A city dog wants to run out the door, but a country dog stays on the porch 'cause he's not fenced-in.

•Always light birthday candles from the middle outward.

•Nothin' gets the frustrations out better'n splittn' wood.

•You'll never catch a runnin' chicken but if you throw seed around the back door you'll have a skillet full by supper.

•Visit old people who can't get out. Some day you'll be one.

•The softer you talk, the closer folks'll listen.

•The colder the outhouse, the warmer the bed.

-Unknown

Appreciate your Parents

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Birthday Conversation

Wake up, my love, today is your birthday.

No, my old man, I don't want to get up today.

Why not,  Today is a very special day, it's your birthday...

No,  it will be like the last few years, eating dinner alone, staying up a little longer than usual, hoping that our children will arrive. Falling asleep crying in each other's arms, seeing that dawn broke and they didn't arrive once again.

Don't cry, my darling. There were always two of us, you and me. Our children were a gift from God, but they are grown. We have to let them fly. We already gave them all the love we could, we can't do more.

I know, my old man, but it doesn't stop hurting, this hole they leave in our soul, this pain of loneliness, another little broken piece, every year one more.

Don't cry anymore, my old lady. Think about it: when you were children, all happy together, opening the gifts and cutting the cake. We gave them what we could, it was not up to us. We gave them all our love. Now they are grown up, they are doing well in life. We must be happy for them, even though with their wealth, they have taken us out of their hearts and lives.

 Our rich children, one more birthday without them. They forgot what love really is.

Get up, my darling. Today is the day to thank God for the beautiful years we lived with our

children. We should not be sad or cry for what we cannot change. Get up, my old lady. Today is a day to celebrate.

...Yes, my old man, I'm going to get up, because I don't want you alone.

"Not even having all the money in the world could you match the love of a father or mother. Enjoy them today while they are here, because the day they are gone, you will have the worst regrets."

Reflection: In short, the text reminds us that we should value and enjoy our parents while we have them, since their love is irreplaceable, and their absence will leave an irreplaceable void.

  

the Barren Tree

 

THE BARREN TREE

A Short Moral Story.

There was a tree in the forest, an olive tree called Amalia. Sadly, she was barren, and that pained her greatly. Unlike her mates, she never bore any fruit ever since she came of age.

Amalia was insulted, mocked and called useless by the other trees in the forest. They taunted her too many times; shouted at her and threw rotten fruits at her due to her inability to produce fruits.

One day, a king and his woodcutters came to the forest to cut down a big tree for a building project. The king asked the trees as loudly as possible,

"We've come to cut down a useless tree! So tell us, which tree is useless?"

All the trees pointed at Amalia and began to wail,

"It's Amalia! It's Amalia! She is entirely useless and worthless! She has been struck down by a terrible curse! She has not bore a single fruit in her whole life! Cut her down! Cut her!"

Without hesitation, the king ordered his woodcutters to cut down Amalia. However, just as they were about to slash her with an axe, Amalia pleaded,

"Please, don't kill me, I'm begging you! I may be barren, but I swear I'm not useless. Why not ask the animals? If they say I'm useless, then cut me down!"

The king and his woodcutters stopped for a moment. The king called all the nearby animals and asked as loudly as possible,

"Hey, animals, I want to ask you all a simple question! Is Amalia a useless tree?"

At once, the monkey hollered,

"Amalia has been a tremendous help to me. She provides a home for me and my family! We are very grateful to her!"

The bird chirped,

"Amalia is extremely helpful to me. She let me build my nests on her strong branches. I can't thank her enough!"

The squirrel whistled,

"Amalia has been a big help to me and my brother this winter. She let us sleep inside her hollow to stay warm. We are deeply indebted to her for her help!"

The deer bleated,

"Amalia has been incredibly helpful to me and the herd. On hot summer days, we come to her shade to take a rest. She has been such a blessing!"

Upon hearing all that, the king smiled widely and exclaimed,

"Wow, you're such a useful tree, Amalia! You don't deserve to be cut down! We'll just look for another tree to cut down!"

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Truly, in this world, there is no one person who is useless. The notion that some people are useless or that others are more important is pure fallacy, everyone has different roles to play, time and opportunity happens to us. And at the right time, our usefulness will unfold. Every bad situation will have something positive. Even a dead clock shows correct time twice a day. Learning to appreciate other people can play a vital role in erasing the mindset that they are not useful, this can help to remind them of their self worth, how valuable they can be and teach them to make the most of themselves.

 

Colours of the Wind / Soul

 

Colours of the Wind

You think you own whatever land you land on
The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim
But I know every rock and tree and creature
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a stranger
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew

Have you ever heard the wolf cry to the blue corn moon?
Or asked the grinning bobcat why he grinned?
Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?

Come run the hidden pine trails of the forest
Come taste the sun sweet berries of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The rainstorm and the river are my brothers
The heron and the otter are my friends
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How high does the sycamore grow?
If you cut it down, then you'll never know

And you'll never hear the wolf cry to the blue corn moon
For whether we are white or copper skinned
We need to sing with all the voices of the mountain
We need to paint with all the colours of the wind

You can own the Earth and still
All you'll own is Earth until
You can paint with all the colours of the wind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob5UggoNtjc&ab_channel=Dranreb

Colours of the Soul in Gaza

You think you own whatever land you land on
Palestine is something you can claim
But I know every child, man and woman
Has a life, has a spirit, has a name

You think the only people who are people
Are the people who look and think like you
But if you walk the footsteps of a Gazen
You'll learn things you never knew, you never knew

Have you ever heard the whispers in the olive trees?
Stories of a history untold
Can you hear all the voices of the silenced?
Can you see all the colours of our soul ?
Can you find a humanity within us all?

Come hear the ancient church bells of my village
Come taste the sun-sweet orange of the Earth
Come roll in all the riches all around you
And for once, never wonder what they're worth

The Muslims and the Jews are my brothers
The river and the sea are my friends0
And we are all connected to each other
In a circle, in a hoop that never ends

How deep does our roots grow?
If you cut them out, the world will never know

And you'll never hear the whispers of the olive trees
Stories of a history untold
We need to sing with all the voices of the silenced
We need to paint with all the colours of our soul

They can own the land and still
All they'll own is land until
You can find humanity within us all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FlDwUM4t7M&ab_channel=PalestineWillBeFree

Here's to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world.

They are the unsung heroes in a world at war with itself.

They are the whisperers of hope that peace is possible.

Look for them in this present darkness.

Light your candle with their flame. And then go.

Build bridges. Hold hands.

Bring light to a dark and desperate world.

Be the hero you are looking for.

Peace is possible.

It begins with us ..

L.R. Knost