"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

Paul Harvey writes...

We tried so hard to make things better for our kids that we made them worse. For my grandchildren, I'd like better.

I'd really like for them to know about hand me down clothes and homemade ice cream and leftover meat loaf sandwiches. I really would.

I hope you learn humility by being humiliated, and that you learn honesty by being cheated.

I hope you learn to make your own bed and mow the lawn and wash the car.

And I really hope nobody gives you a brand new car when you are sixteen.

It will be good if at least one time you can see puppies born and your old dog put to sleep.

I hope you get a black eye fighting for something you believe in.

I hope you have to share a bedroom with your younger brother/sister. And it's all right if you have to draw a line down the middle of the room,but when he wants to crawl under the covers with you because he's scared, I hope you let him.

When you want to see a movie and your little brother/sister wants to tag along, I hope you'll let him/her.

I hope you have to walk uphill to school with your friends and that you live in a town where you can do it safely.

On rainy days when you have to catch a ride, I hope you don't ask your driver to drop you two blocks away so you won't be seen riding with someone as uncool as your Mom.

If you want a slingshot, I hope your Dad teaches you how to make one instead of buying one.

I hope you learn to dig in the dirt and read books.

When you learn to use computers, I hope you also learn to add and subtract in your head.

I hope you get teased by your friends when you have your first crush on a boy\girl, and when you talk back to your mother that you learn what ivory soap tastes like.

May you skin your knee climbing a mountain, burn your hand on a stove and stick your tongue on a frozen flagpole.

I don't care if you try a beer once, but I hope you don't like it.. And if a friend offers you dope or a joint, I hope you realize he is not your friend.

I sure hope you make time to sit on a porch with your Grandma/Grandpa and go fishing with your Uncle.

May you feel sorrow at a funeral and joy during the holidays.

I hope your mother punishes you when you throw a baseball through your neighbor's window and that she hugs you and kisses you at Hannukah/Christmas time when you give her a plaster mold of your hand.

These things I wish for you - tough times and disappointment, hard work and happiness. To me, it's the only way to appreciate life.

Say it...

Written by a friend and teacher at our church, Jason Renault, I felt this was worth sharing...

You would think that by the time one has taken breathes for 33 years, they would have learned so many basic fundamentals of life and love that nothing would be new to them. Maybe it isn't really new to me, but the last three days of my life have retaught me something I need to share and make sure I never forget. It's pretty simple. If you know me, though, simplicity doesn't make something easy for me. Especially when it involves engaging my heart and emotions. The simple/hard thing for me? Saying it.

Read the rest here...

Transcending: Words on Women and Strength by Kelly Corrigan

Tips for Better Life

  1.  Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
 2.  Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
 3.  Sleep for 7 hours.
 4.  Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
 5.  Play more games.
 6.  Read more books than you did the previous year.
 7.  Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
 8.  Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
 9.  Dream more while you are awake.
1 0. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11.  Drink plenty of water.
12.  Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13.  Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
14.  Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
15.  Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
16.  Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17.  Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18.  Smile and laugh more.
19.  Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20.  Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21.  You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22.  Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23.  Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.
24.  No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25.  Forgive everyone for everything.
26.  What other people think of you is none of your business.
27.  However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
28.  Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
29.  Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
30.  Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
31.  The best is yet to come.
32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
33. Do the right thing!
34. Call your family often.
35. Your inner most is always happy. So be happy.
36. Each day give something good to others.
37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
38. Share this with someone you care about.

God doesn't give you the people you want, He gives you the people you NEED    -  To help you, to hurt you, to leave you, to love you and to make you into the person you were meant to be.