Think & Ponder 25
 

kidssafe  If you have stories of an Inspirational nature and would like to see them listed on these pages please submit the stories to the webmaster by email reply1@fountaingateway.com and state that you would like your story added. All submittals will be reviewed for addition but will only be added if they meet the requirements, responsibilities and integrity that is maintained by this site. Webmaster.

 

All articles marked NEW were last added as per date shown. Articles are listed below in Alphabetical Order or can be accessed by individual pages and scrolling. Now also with Quick Index!

Stories and Inspirational Messages:


~ The Roses Of Life ~

 

I've dreamed many dreams that never came true,

I've seen them vanish at dawn.

But I've realized enough of my dreams, Thank God,

To make me want to dream on.

 

I've prayed many prayers, when no answers came,

Though I waited so patient and long,

But answers came to enough of my prayers

To make me keep praying on.

 

I've trusted many a friend who failed

And left me to weep alone,

But I've found enough of my friends to be true

To make me keep trusting on.

 

I've sown many seeds that fell by the way

For the birds to feed upon,

But I've held enough golden sheaves in my hands

To make me keep sowing on.

 

I've drained the cup of disappointment and pain

And gone many days without song,

But I've sipped enough nectar from the roses of life

To make me want to live on.  - Author Unknown 

(TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


Enough Love

 

There is no difficulty

that enough love

will not conquer,

no disease that enough love

will not heal,

no river that enough love

will not bridge,

no wall that enough love

will not throw down,

no sin that enough love

will not redeem.

 

It makes no difference

how deeply seated

may be the trouble,

how hopeless the outlook,

how muddled the tangle,

how great the mistake,

enough love

will dissolve it all.

If only you could

love enough,

you could be

the happiest

and most powerful being

in the world...  -  Author Unknown   

 (TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


The Eagle And The Storm

 

An eagle can sense that a storm is approaching long before it breaks. The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm.

 

While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

 

When the storms of life come upon us, we can rise above them by setting our minds to our goal and dedicating ourselves to our strength and faith in what we believe in. The storms do not have to overcome us. We can use our own wisdom and strength to rise above them.

 

Our dedication to what we believe in enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm. Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

 

We can soar on our wings like eagles, to freedom, on the winds of the storm.  ~ Author Unknown     (TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


"RULES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE PERSON"

 

Written in 1905 - And still good today!

 

1. Endeavor to develop erect, graceful carriage.

2. Keep clothing clean, brushed and pressed, and shoes clean and polished.

3. Practice working and playing vigorously.

4. Take for granted the friendliness of others. Don't wait for them to speak first.

5. Keep a written record of acquaintances, making it a point to meet new ones to keep the list growing.

6. Help others to get acquainted.

7. Go out of your way to cheer up anyone who may be ill.

8. Study to do the little things that others like, and show your pleasure in doing them.

9. Show special consideration for the helpless and infirm.

10. In public functions be where the hard work is being done, when it is being done, and try to do your part.

11. Practice putting your whole soul into whatever you do.

12. Hold yourself to faithful performance without postponement of tasks that are distasteful.

13. Study your own mistakes to determine how they might have been avoided.

14. Study the personal qualities of effective leaders. To this end, cultivate their friendship as far as possible.

15. Take advantage of opportunities to appear in public, as in leading meetings or taking part in programs.

16. Contribute your ideas in conversation and discussion, if such ideas are good enough to command others' respect.

17. Endeavor to overcome objectionable mannerisms.

18. When appearing before others, look them in the face, and in the eye.

19. In group activities, endeavor to contribute more than you get.

20. Make a list of the things you think you can do better than the average person. Review it occasionally.

21. Try consciously to keep your feelings "in tune" with the feelings of those about you.

22. Refrain from hurting the feelings of another person, no matter how little he is, or how little you favor him.

23. Watch for and seize upon opportunities to do favors unasked.

24. Sacrifice, within reason, personal advantage when it stands clearly in the way of the welfare of the group.

25. Put cooperation in place of competition. Do not disparage others, but help and encourage them instead.

26. Study the needs and interests of others.

27. Inform yourself before condemning.

28. In cases of disagreement, try to get and consider sympathetically the other person's viewpoint.

29. If contention comes, let it always be good-natured.

30. Treat mere differences of opinion as trivial matters to be dismissed quickly from mind.

31. Practice blindness to the faults of others, looking always for their good qualities instead.

32. Resist the temptation to become ruffled with chronic fault-finding, and school yourself in tolerance.

33. Do not oppose the ideas of others but substitute better ones.

34. Lead others to your view by questions, rather than arbitrary statements or argumentation.

35. Study thoughtfully particular situations in which others exhibit tact, or fail to do so.

36. Suggest rather than command or demand.

37. Conceal unpleasant feelings.

38. Overcome the temptation to give way to anger.

39. Keep grievances to yourself when tempted to recite them to others.

40. Admit your mistakes and avoid "alibis".

41. Do committee work when possible.

42. Force yourself to do things you should do but are afraid you cannot do.

43. Search for the bright side of things which look dark.

44. Banish troubles quickly. Do not inflict them upon your friends, or allow the sun to set on them.

45. Practice introducing new topics of conversation with small groups.

46. Avoid making promises that you cannot fulfill.

47. Never fail to keep appointments and promises.

48. Endeavor consciously to find new and better ways of doing ordinary things.

49. Give credit without fail to the proper persons and sources.

50. Make a sincere effort to develop appreciation of good music, art, and literature.       (TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


Pledge Of Allegiance Explained:

 

As a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton's teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. It is followed by an observation of his own.

 

I - - Me; an individual; a committee of one.

Pledge - - Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity.

Allegiance - - My love and my devotion.

To the Flag - - Our standard; Old Glory; a symbol of Freedom; wherever she waves there is respect, because your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts, Freedom is everybody's job.

United - - That means that we have all come together.

States of America- - Individual communities that have united into forty-eight great states. Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity and purpose. All divided with imaginary boundaries, yet united to a common purpose, and that is love for country.

And to the Republic - - a state in which sovereign power is invested in representatives chosen by the people to govern. And government is the people;  and it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to the people.

For which it stands

One Nation - meaning, so blessed by God.

Indivisible - - Incapable of being divided.

With Liberty - - Which is Freedom; the right of power to live one's own life, without threats, fear, or some sort of retaliation.

And Justice - - The principle, or qualities, of dealing fairly with others.

For All - which means, boys and girls, it's as much your country as it is mine.

 

And now, boys and girls, let me hear you recite the Pledge of Allegiance:

 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

 

Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?  -- Red Skelton        (TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


Dust if you must

 

Dust if you must, but wouldn't it be better,

To paint a picture or write a letter,

Bake a cake or plant a seed,

Ponder the difference between want and need?

 

Dust if you must, but there's not much time,

With rivers to swim and mountains to climb,

Music to hear and books to read,

Friends to cherish and life to lead.

 

Dust if you must, but the world's out there

With the sun in your eyes, the wind in your hair,

A flutter of snow, a shower of rain.

This day will not come around again.

 

Dust if you must, but bear in mind,

Old age will come and it's not kind.

And when you go and go you must,

You, yourself, will make more dust.

author unknown

 

A house becomes a home when you can write "I love you" on the furniture.         (TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


Benefits of Growing Older - (and you thought there weren't any)

 

In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.

No one expects you to run into a burning building.

Kidnappers are not very interested in you.

People call at 9 p.m. and ask, "Did I wake you?"

People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

There's nothing left to learn the hard way.

Things you buy now won't wear out.

You can buy a compass for the dash of your car.

You can eat dinner at 4:00.

You can't remember the last time you laid on the floor to watch television.

You consider coffee one of the most important things in life.

You can constantly talk about the price of gasoline.

You enjoy hearing about other people's operations.

You get into a heated argument about pension plans.

You got cable for the weather channel.

You have a party and the neighbors don't even realize it.

You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.

You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.

You give lots of money to charities.

You sing along with the elevator music.

You have an age advantage whenever you need it.

Your Congressman pays attention to you.

You are not expected to keep up with technology or understand it.

You get travel and entertainment discounts.

Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

You can dance to the oldest music and no one laughs at you.

People come to you for help with their antique cars.

Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.       (TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


Senior’s Fight Back

 

Senior citizens are constantly being criticized for every conceivable deficiency of the modern world, real or imaginary. We know we take responsibility for all we have done and do not blame others. BUT, upon reflection, we would like to point out that it was NOT the senior citizens who took ;

 

The melody out of the music,

The pride out of appearance,

The romance out of love,

The commitment out of marriage,

The responsibility out of parenthood,

The togetherness out of the family,

The learning out of education,

The service out of patriotism,

The religion out of schools,

The Golden Rule from rulers,

The nativity scene out of cities,

The civility out of behavior,

The refinement out of language,

The prudence out of spending,

The ambition out of achievement,

 

And we certainly are NOT the ones who eliminated patience and tolerance from personal relationships and interactions with others !!! Does anyone under the age of 50 know the lyrics to the Star Spangled Banner? Just look at the Seniors with tears in their eyes and pride in their hearts as they stand at attention with their hand over their hearts! Remember....inside every older person is a younger person wondering what the heck happened !

 

YES, I'M A SENIOR CITIZEN !

 

The life of the party...even if it lasts until 8 p.m.

I'm very good at opening childproof caps with a hammer. I'm usually interested in going home before I get to where I am going.

I'm awake many hours before my body allows me to get up.

I'm smiling all the time because I can't hear a thing you're saying.

I'm very good at telling stories; over and over and over....

I'm aware that other people's grandchildren are not as cute as mine.

I'm so cared for....long term care, eye care, private care, dental care.

 

I'm not grouchy, I just don't like traffic, waiting, crowds, lawyers, loud music, unruly kids, Toyota commercials, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather, Barking dogs, politicians, and a few other things I can't remember.

I'm sure everything I can't find is in a secure place.

I'm wrinkled, saggy, lumpy, and that's just my left leg.

I'm having trouble remembering simple words like......

I'm realizing that aging is not for wimps.

I'm sure they are making adults much younger these days, and when did they let kids become policemen?

I'm wondering, if you're only as old as you feel, how could I be alive at 150?

I'm a walking storeroom of facts...I've just lost the key to the storeroom door.       (TOP)  (Back to Stories Index)  


FollowMelogo In His Image

 Last Revised July 22, 2006
Copyright 1999 - 2002 Silver & Gold Productions™
Designed and Maintained by Silver & Gold Productions™
ministry@fountaingateway.com