There comes a time in life when you walk away from all the pointless drama
and people who create it, and surround yourself with people who make you
laugh so hard that you forget the bad and focus on the good. Life is too short to be anything but happy.
(Thank you to Sara for posting this)
Beautiful pictures are developed from negatives in a dark room…So if you see darkness in your life be reassured that a beautiful picture is being prepared. ~author unknown
Show off your true potential. Trust in yourself and believe that you are all that and a bag of chips. ~Gigi Galluzzo
And as always, thank you for your thoughts of the day Gigi!!
Yet, there is no way to divorce the spiritual from the celebration of Thanksgiving – at least not the way the Pilgrims envisioned it, a tradition dating back to the ancient Hebrews and their feasts of Succoth and Passover.
The Pilgrims came to America for one reason – to form a separate community in which they could worship God as they saw fit. They had fled England because King James I was persecuting those who did not recognize the Church of England’s absolute civil and spiritual authority.
On the two-month journey of 1620, William Bradford and the other elders wrote an extraordinary charter – the Mayflower Compact. Why was it extraordinary? Because it established just and equal laws for all members of their new community – believers and non-believers alike. Where did they get such revolutionary ideas? From the Bible, of course.
When the Pilgrims landed in the New World, they found a cold, rocky, barren, desolate wilderness. There were no friends to greet them, Bradford wrote. No houses to shelter them. No inns where they could refresh themselves. During the first winter, half the Pilgrims died of sickness or exposure – including Bradford’s wife. Though life improved for the Pilgrims when spring came, they did not really prosper. Why? Once again, the textbooks don’t tell the story, but Bradford’s own journal does. The reason they didn’t succeed initially is because they were practicing an early form of socialism.
The original contract the Pilgrims had with their merchant-sponsors in London called for everything they produced to go into a common store. Each member of the community was entitled to one common share. All of the land they cleared and the houses they built belonged to the community. Bradford, as governor, recognized the inherent problem with this collectivist system.
“The experience that was had in this common course and condition, tried sundry years … that by taking away property, and bringing community into common wealth, would make them happy and flourishing – as if they were wiser than God,” Bradford wrote. “For this community [so far as it was] was found to breed much confusion and discontent, and retard much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For young men that were most able and fit for labor and service did repine that they should spend their time and strength to work for other men’s wives and children without any recompense … that was thought injustice.”
What a surprise! Even back then people did not want to work without incentive. Bradford decided to assign a plot of land to each family to work and manage, thus turning loose the power of free enterprise. What was the result?
“This had very good success,” wrote Bradford, “for it made all hands industrious, so as much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been.”
As a result, the Pilgrims soon found they had more food than they could eat themselves. They set up trading posts and exchanged goods with the Indians. The profits allowed them to pay off their debts to the merchants in London much faster than expected. The success of the Plymouth colony thus attracted more Europeans and set off what we call the “Great Puritan Migration.”
But it wasn’t just an economic system that allowed the Pilgrims to prosper. It was their devotion to God and His laws. And that’s what Thanksgiving is really all about. The Pilgrims recognized that everything we have is a gift from God – even our sorrows. Their Thanksgiving tradition was established to honor God and thank Him for His blessings and His grace.
Today we continue that tradition in my home – and I hope in yours. God bless you, God bless America, and Happy Thanksgiving.
Strive to have the kind of strength that can see in the darkest of nights.
~Gigi Galluzzo
Does it really take any more time to be kind than it does to be a jerk?
Some would argue that being thoughtful and kind does take more time and effort than being thoughtless or rude. But I would disagree. When I am thoughtless or rude or short with people …it bothers me, it eats at me until I go back and make it right by apologizing or whatever it takes. And until I do that… I find myself replaying the situation over and over again sometimes with the intent to justify my lack of courtesy by horriblizing the other party.
As if somehow I can create a reason why it’s OK for me to treat someone, anyone with less respect, dignity or kindness than I am capable of ?! Even if they were rude or unkind first… choosing to mirror their poor behavior doesn’t accomplish any good thing. In fact its like wrestling with a pig and you can’t do that without getting muddy.
So even if you believe that kindness takes more time ….then I suggest that you take the time that it takes to do what’s right… so it will take less time to have to get cleaned up as you try to go back and make it right.
It’s cool to be kind…(isn’t that a song?)
Kirk
God grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do, and the eyesight to tell the difference. Now that I’m ‘older’ here’s what I’ve discovered:
I. started out with nothing, and I still have most of it.
2. My wild oats have turned into prunes and All Bran.
3. I finally got my head together; now my body is falling apart.
4. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded…
4. Funny, I don’t remember being absent-minded…
5. All reports are in; life is now officially unfair.
6. If all is not lost, where is it?
7. It is easier to get older than it is to get wiser.
8. Some days you’re the dog; some days you’re the hydrant.
9. I wish the buck stopped here; I sure could use a few…
11. If God wanted me to touch my toes, he would have put them on my knee
12. It’s hard to make a comeback when you haven’t been anywhere.
13. The only time the world beats a path to your door is when you’re in the bathroom.
A bit of laughter, a bit of wisdom…. hopefully just what you needed today. I know I did. Kirk out
(Author Unknown but shared by a friend)
In Phoenix, Arizona a 26 year-old mother stared down at her 6 year-old son who was dying of terminal leukemia.
Although her heart was filled with sadness, she also had a strong feeling of determination.
Like any parent she wanted her son to grow up & fulfill all his dreams. Now that was no longer possible.
The leukemia would see to that. But she still wanted her son’s dream to come true.
She took her son’s hand and asked, ‘Billy, did you ever think about what you wanted to be once you grew up? Did you ever dream and wish what you would do with your life?’
Mommy, I always wanted to be a fireman.
Mom smiled back and said, ‘Let’s see if we can make your wish come true.’
Later that day she went to her local fire Department in Phoenix, Arizona where she met Fireman Bob who had a heart as big as Phoenix!
She explained her son’s final wish and asked if it might be possible to give her 6 year-old son a ride around the block on a fire engine.
Fireman Bob said, ‘Look, we can do better than that. If you’ll have your son ready at seven o’clock Wednesday morning, we’ll make him an honorary Fireman for the whole day. He can come down to the fire station, eat with us, go out on all the fire calls, the whole nine yards!
And if you’ll give us his sizes, we’ll get a real fire uniform for him, with a real fire hat – not a toy — one-with the emblem of the Phoenix Fire Department on it, a yellow slicker like we wear and rubber boots.’
‘They’re all manufactured right here in Phoenix , so we can get them fast.’
Three days later Fireman Bob picked up Billy, dressed him in his uniform and escorted him from his hospital bed to the waiting hook and ladder truck.
Billy got to sit on the back of the truck and help steer it back to the fire station. He was in heaven.
There were three fire calls in Phoenix that day and Billy got to go out on all three calls.
He rode in the different fire engines, the Paramedic’s van and even the fire chief’s car.
He was also videotaped for the Local news program.
Having his dream come true and with all the love and attention that was lavished upon him, Billy was touched so deeply that he lived three months longer than any doctor thought possible.
One night all of his vital signs began to drop dramatically and the head nurse, who believed in the hospice concept – that no one should die alone – began to call the family members to the hospital.
Then she remembered the day Billy had spent as a Fireman, so she called the Fire Chief and asked if it would be possible to send a fireman in uniform to the hospital to be with Billy as he made his transition.
The chief replied, ‘We can do better than that. We’ll be there in five minutes. Will you please do me a favor?
When you hear the sirens screaming and see the lights flashing, will you announce over the PA system that there is not a fire?’
‘It’s the department coming to see one of its finest members one more time. And will you open the window to his room?’
About five minutes later a hook and ladder truck arrived at the hospital and extended its ladder up to Billy’s third floor open window——– 16 fire-fighters climbed up the ladder into Billy’s room.
With his mother’s permission, they hugged him and held him and told him how much they LOVED him.
With his dying breath, Billy looked up at the fire chief and said, ’Chief am I really a fireman now?’
‘Billy you are and the Head Chief Jesus, is holding your hand,’ the chief said.
With those words Billy smiled and said, ‘I know, He’s been holding my hand all day and the angels have been singing.’
He closed his eyes one last time.
Diamonds are formed from ugly rocks under great pressure.
The pressures of life can cause us to transform into something strong & beautiful. ~Author Unknown
What the What?!?My son Donovan has lost his mind! My husband told Donovan to get dress so that they could cut the rest of the lawns. My boys have a couple of lawns that they take care of every week and they just picked up another lawn. So today they had to finish up the last two lawns. I’m trying to get my “sleep on” but kept hearing my husband tell Donovan to hurry up and get dressed and while he is at it, to separate his clothes to be washed. Well after a few times of hearing my husband yell out, I decided my “sleep on” is over. I get up to see what Donovan is doing and guess what? He was still sitting on his bed with his jammies on and the clothes basket was empty. My pressure is heading towards the boiling point. I asked him if he heard daddy talking to him and he said yes. I said, “why aren’t you dressed?” and he said he didn’t want to cut lawns. Mind you they are being paid to cut the lawns. I said, he didn’t ask you, he told you to get dressed and get moving. Ooohhweee!! So I told my husband that he is sitting on the bed, not dressed and not moving at all. (The boy has truly lost his mind) My husband told Donovan to come here. He asked him what’s the problem? Donovan just shrugged his shoulders. He told him that this was his last time asking him and this time Donovan said, “I didn’t sign up for this”. WHAT?!? Wow, now Donovan has to cut both lawns by himself.
Imagine someone baking a chocolate cake. In addition of the flour, sugar and salt, he or she adds a tiny teaspoon full of sand to the recipe. Then the cake batter is stirred completely, carefully baked, and frosted and decorated with nuts, cherries and whipped cream. It appears to be perfect.
At dinner, when you see the cake, what do you do? I would probably cut the biggest slice possible without looking too piggy- and take a huge bite. My first reaction would be “Mmmmm”, but then I’d probably push it away, saying, “Thanks – it’s a beautiful cake – except for the sand.”
In the same way it takes only a teaspoon full of negative attitudes or remarks to ruin an otherwise perfect day. People who greet you in the morning at work and complain what of went wrong already; relatives who just smile a little when you tell them about your big raise, promotion or something else exciting. These people are grains of sand in your life. The funny thing is that it doesn’t matter whether a friend or a stranger puts the sand in the day, the effect is the same.
Of course sometimes you are related to people who specialize in grains of sand, and you can’t cut them out of your life. But you can make them aware of what they are doing. One day, when they are in a good mood tell them the story of the sandy cake. Then, when they react negatively to your good news, simply say nicely, “Hey, do you know you are putting sand in my cake?” Maybe then they will fully realize how infective their negative reactions have been – in that sandy direction.
Thank you Gary Stang for giving us a recipe to help eliminate negativity from the mix of your relationships.
Kirk out
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