Pause For Thought!

[MajestyJo]

FIGHT AGAINST CHILD ABUSE


My name is Sarah
I am but three,
My eyes are swollen,
I cannot see,


I must be stupid,
I must be bad,
What else could have made
My daddy so mad?


I wish I were better
I wish I weren't ugly,
Then maybe my mommy
Would still want to hug me.


I can't speak at all
I can't do a wrong,
Or else I'm locked up
All the day long.


When I awake
I'm all alone
The house is dark,
My folks aren't home.


When my mommy does come,
I'll try and be nice,
So maybe I'll get just
One whipping tonight.


Don't make a sound!
I just heard a car,
My daddy is back
From Charlie's Bar.


I hear him curse
My name he calls,
I press myself
Against
the wall.


I try and hide
From his evil eyes,
I'm so afraid now
I'm starting to cry.


He finds me weeping.
He shouts ugly words,
He says it's my fault
That he suffers at work.


He slaps me and hits me
And yells at me more,
I finally get free
And I run for the door.


He's already locked it
And I start to bawl,
He takes me and throws me
Against the hard wall.


I fall to the floor
With my bones nearly broken,
And my daddy continues
With more bad words spoken.


"I'm sorry!" I scream
But its now much too late,
His face has been twisted
Into unimaginable hate.


The hurt and the pain
Again and again,
Oh please God, have mercy!
Oh please let it end!


And he finally stops
And heads for the door,
While I lay there motionless
Sprawled on the
floor.


My name is Sarah
And I am but three,
Tonight my daddy
Murdered me.


There are thousands of kids out there just like Sarah. And you can help.

It sickens me to my soul, and if you just read this and don't pass it on I
pray for your forgiveness, cause you would have to be one heartless person
to not be effected by this e-mail. And because you are affected, do
something about it!!

So all I am asking you to do, is take some time to send this on and
acknowledge that this stuff does happen, and that people like her dad do
live in our society, and I pray for child abuse to wither out and die, but
also pray for the safety of our children.

Please pass this poem on because as crazy as it might sound, it might just
indirectly change a life. Hey, you NEVER know.


Please forward if you are

*~*~*AGAINST CHILD ABUSE *~*~*

[MajestyJo]

The Necklace

The cheerful little girl with bouncy golden curls was almost five.

Waiting with her mother at the checkout stand, she saw them, a

circle of glistening white pearls in a pink foil box.

"Oh mommy please, Mommy. Can I have them? Please, Mommy,
please?"

Quickly the mother checked the back of the little foil box and
then looked back into the pleading blue eyes of her little girl's
upturned face.

"A dollar ninety-five. That's almost $2.00. If you really want them, I'll think of some extra chores for you and in no time you can save enough money to buy them for
yourself.

Your birthday's only a week away and you might get another
crisp dollar bill from Grandma."

As soon as Jenny got home, she emptied her penny bank and
counted out 17 pennies. After dinner, she did more than her share
of chores and she went to the neighbor and asked Mrs. McJames if she could
pick dandelions for ten cents. On her birthday, Grandma did give
her another new dollar bill and at last she had enough money to buy
the necklace.

Jenny loved her pearls.
They made her feel dressed up and
grown up.

She wore them everywhere, Sunday school, kindergarten, even to bed.

The only time she took them off was when she went swimming or
had a bubble bath.

Mother said if they got wet, they might turn her neck green.

Jenny had a very loving daddy and every night when she was
ready for bed, he would stop whatever he was doing and come
upstairs to read her a story. One night as he finished the story, he asked
Jenny, "Do you love me?"

"Oh yes, daddy. You know that I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh, daddy, not my pearls. But you can have Princess, the

white horse from my collection, the one with the pink tail.
Remember, daddy? The one you gave me. She's my very favorite."

"That's okay, Honey, daddy loves you. Good night." And he
brushed her cheek with a kiss.

About a week later, after the story time, Jenny's daddy asked
again, "Do you love me?"

"Daddy, you know I love you."

"Then give me your pearls."

"Oh Daddy, not my pearls. But you can have my baby doll. The
brand new one I got for my birthday. She is beautiful and you can
have the yellow blanket that matches her sleeper."

"That's okay. Sleep well. God bless you, little one. Daddy!
loves you."


And as always, he brushed her cheek with a gentle kiss.

A few nights later when her daddy came in, Jenny was sitting
on her bed with her legs crossed Indian style.

As he came close, he noticed her chin was trembling and one
silent tear rolled down her cheek.

"What is it, Jenny? What's the matter?"

Jenny didn't say
anything but lifted her little hand up to her
daddy.

And when she opened it, there was her little pearl necklace.
With a little quiver, she finally said, "Here, daddy, this is for
you."

With tears gathering in his own eyes, Jenny's daddy reached
out with one hand to take the dime store
necklace, and with the
other hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a blue velvet case with a
strand of genuine pearls and gave them to Jenny.

He had them all the time. He was just waiting for her to give
up the dime-store stuff so he could give her the genuine treasure.
So it is, with our Heavenly Father. He is waiting for us to
give up the cheap things in our lives so that he can give us
beautiful treasures.

Isn't God good? Are you holding onto things that God wants
you to let go of? Are you holding on to harmful or unnecessary
partners, relationships, habits and activities that you have come
so attached to that it seems impossible to let go? Sometimes it is
so hard to see what is in the other hand but do believe this one thing .

God will never take away something without giving you
something better in its place.

You can do two things with this story:

A. Pass it on and let others be touched by its message;

B. Throw it away and not let it touch your heart.
The greatest gifts happen when you share love and touch others.

[MajestyJo]

Pass It On...


A teacher in New York decided to honor each of her seniors in High School by telling them the difference each of them had made. She called each student to the front of the class, one at a time. First, she told each of them how they had made a difference to her, and the class. Then she presented each of them with a blue ribbon, imprinted with gold letters, which read, "Who I Am Makes a Difference."

Afterwards, the teacher decided to do a class project, to see what kind of impact recognition would have on a Community. She gave each of the students three more blue ribbons, and instructed them to go out and spread this acknowledgment ceremony. Then they were to follow up on the results, see who honored whom, and report back to the class in about a week.

One of the boys in the class went to a junior executive in a nearby company, and honored him for helping him with his career planning. He gave him a blue ribbon, and put it on his shirt. Then he gave him two extra ribbons and said, We're doing a class project on recognition, and we'd like for you to go out, find somebody to honor, give them a blue ribbon, then give them the extra blue ribbon so they can acknowledge a third person, to keep this acknowledgment ceremony going. Then please report back to me and tell me what happened."

Later that day, the junior executive went in to see his boss, who had been noted, by the way, as being kind of a grouchy fellow. He sat his boss down, and he told him that he deeply admired him for being a creative genius.

The boss seemed very surprised. The junior executive asked him if he would accept the gift of the blue ribbon, and would he give him permission to put it on him. His surprised boss said, "Well, sure." The junior executive took the blue ribbon and placed it right on his boss's jacket, above his heart. As he gave him the last extra ribbon, he said, "Would you take this extra ribbon, and pass it on by honoring somebody else. The young boy who first gave me the ribbons is doing a project in school, and we want to keep this recognition ceremony going and find out how it affects people."

That night, the boss came home to his 14-year-old son, and sat him down. He said, "The most incredible thing happened to me today. I was in my office, and one of the junior executives came in and told me he admired me, and gave me a blue ribbon for being a creative genius. Imagine! He thinks I'm a creative genius! Then he put this blue ribbon that says, "Who I Am Makes a Difference", on my jacket above my heart. He gave me an extra ribbon and asked me to find somebody else to honor. As I was driving home tonight, I started thinking about whom I would honor with this ribbon, and I thought about you. I want to honor you. My days are really hectic and when I come home, I don't pay a lot of attention to you. Sometimes I scream at you for not getting good enough grades in school, and for your bedroom being a mess. But somehow tonight, I just wanted to sit here and, well, just let you know that you do make a difference to me. Besides your mother, you are the most important person in my life. You're a great kid, and I love you!"

The startled boy started to sob and sob, and he couldn't stop crying. His whole body shook. He looked up at his father and said through his tears, "Dad, earlier tonight I sat in my room and wrote a letter to you and Mom, explaining what I had done, and I asked you to forgive me. I was going to kill myself tonight after you were asleep. I just didn't think that you cared at all. The letter is upstairs. I don't think I need it after all."

His father walked upstairs and found a heartfelt letter full of anguish and pain. The boss went back to work a changed man. He was no longer a grouch, but made sure to let all of his employees know that they made a difference. The junior executive helped several other young people with career planning, and never forgot to let them know that they made a difference in his life......one being the boss' son.

And the young boy and his classmates learned a valuable lesson, "Who you are DOES make a difference".

You are under no obligation to pass this on to anyone.......not to two people, or to two hundred. As far as I am concerned, you can forget it and move on. On the other hand, if you want, you could send it to all of the people who mean something to you, or send it to the one, two, or three people who mean the most. Or, just smile and know that someone thinks that you are important, or you wouldn't have received this in the first place.

Who you are does make a difference, and I wanted you to know that.

Isn't this a wonderful story? I'm passing the blue ribbon to you, for who YOU are does make a difference, too.

author unknown


Received in email.
PixiaBrat

[MajestyJo]

May the candle of Peace burn in your Heart.

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/christmas-wreaths/0071.gif

As this candle is carried from one to another, the flame of spiritual love and healing continues to light the way for those who seek to know the true self. Take this light with you and pass it forward, that it may light the way to love and healing. Watch as it travels from one place to another and in so doing it embraces our world with hope.

Peace, Love and Light !

[MajestyJo]

The message will change daily.

http://angeleyes2.com/pod4/podb.jpg

[schell08122008]

Yes John, you said it well...that hole in the soul..I have grown up most of my life feeling this..somehow left out and alone..feeling like no one would understand the depths of my inner pain...I was tormenting myself from the inside out..I believed in God, grew up in the church..but turned away when I was 17 out of the despise for organized religion...I turned to nature and eastern meditation...I also turned to drugs and alcohol..the booze filled the whole faster than the meditation did...that became my stable..if it worked so well, it must be good. When I came down from the drunk or high..I was lonlier than ever..in more psychic pain and became more distant from God. It took many years for me to find myself in the program of AA..still not understanding what it was the others seemed to have but I did not...I yearned for it..I learned it wasn't just going to be an instant fix like the booze and drugs...it was going to take action..as I took the suggested actions..I no longer thought of coincidences..God was working in my life..and I realized He had always been..as there were many events that happened in my drunken days which should have rendered me dead. I will still look outside myself to fill that hole..but I see the trap..Fellowship, service, and sponsorship has freed me..but only when I head the suggestions and work, really work the program..Sobriety is never a given..When I don't do the work I fall back ..I feel it and don't like it. Peace to you for your message, Schell

[Pythonpappy]

Good stuff John, ...

I love your approach to new sponsees ... your share speaks to me of my own methods in dealing with the 'new-comer' ... and how I should 'back-off' some, to allow God's message to do more of the work ...

You've managed to somehow convey exactly what I needed to hear ... and for that, I am grateful ... I still have lots to learn and I'm very glad you're a part of that ... thanks so much ...

Your 'evil twin',:42:
Pappy

[MajestyJo]

Thank you so much for sharing. I like the idea of praying to be willing to be willing, has worked for me for years in all areas of my life.

So often the abused becomes the abused and starts a chain that is hard to break.

Every time I picked up, I lost a little bit of me. I lived my life through other people, and when they were gone, they took a piece of me with them. There wasn't very much me left by the time I came to recovery. Someone saw me at two years sober and thought I was a newcomer. I was one of the really sick ones. One day at a time, I filled that hole, and became whole. I went to 2 meetings a day, sometimes 3 for 2 years. I had a thirst. I was like a sponge. My way hadn't worked and I had to find another way of living. I knew I couldn't go back to where I came from, so fear kept me here at first until I got true faith in the program because I could see it work in others and just knew it would work for me, IF I did the do things. I had tried to quit my way for 8 years and my way didn't work. I found out that my God was an old tape. I had to make God personal. I had to build a relationship with this new God. I prefer saying my God instead of Higher Power, because He is personal to me. In today, my religious belief enhance my spiritual beliefs and my spiritual beliefs enhance my reliigous beliefs. Spirituality isn't religion. For me, Spirituality is that new attitude it talks about at the end of the Big Book. It is about me walking my talk to the best of my ability. It is about me giving, but not only giving but willing to receive where a lot of people fail to do. Spirituality is a two way street. It doesn't be returned necessarily from the same person and doesn't always return in the same form it was given, but it is returned. If it isn't received, it is stock piled waiting for you to reach out and receive.

I like to sit in my chair with the palms of both hands up. One hand to receive and the other in surrender and in a position to let go and let God. I turn it over to you God and I let go, your will not mine be done. Sometimes we receive energies that are not ours to take on and we need to recognize that all that comes our way isn't always for our Highest Good. I like to think of my Higher Power as my (W)Holy Spirit, that resides in me as a result of that surrender and asking for help. I think it is there, it is up to us to build a relationship with it.

[MajestyJo]

I love your approach to new sponsees ... your share speaks to me of my own methods in dealing with the 'new-comer' ... and how I should 'back-off' some, to allow God's message to do more of the work ...

Dear Pappy,

Thought this was great too. I have worked with athiest, religionist and spiritualist, Native American and I have a strong affinity with their teachings and their Creator. Just because they don't believe the same as we do, it doesn't mean they can't find their own God, and hopefully they will see it in you. I know that if I am preached to, I back off.

God was an old tape, and I had to make God personal. I don't want to know who God is, I just want an understanding of Him because then I might stop looking for Him.

Let each of us, find our own understanding, that is why I think this program is so awesome, it doesn't exclude anyone.

Just as it doesn't matter what substance you use, it all leads to the same soul sickness.

It doesn't matter what you choose to call God as long as you reach out to Him/Her/It and ask for help. He is the Source, He is the Light, and He is the Way to Live and live without using people, places and things.

i.e. I had an emotional days on Saturday and Sunday. A friend who has been in recovery for 26 years lived downstairs. He has escorted me to several places and we have become friends. I almost picked up the phone to call him but I knew he was watching football. For me to have picked up the phone and called him would have been using, we seldom talk that much about recovery, and I come from a much different place than he does. He would probably be embarrassed or given a different picture than what I wanted him to see. I would have been looking outside of myself for SOMEONE to make ME feel better. I had to sit with my emotions and deal with them. I could have gone on my computer and played Bejewelled2 or watched TV, and I would have been using a THING(S) to make me feel better. I could have crawled into my bed and gone to sleep and I would have been using a PLACE to make me feel better because I wanted to shut down and shut off or taken a walk down to the library so I could run away from home and myself to pick up a book that I could come home to and bury myself in it. I did none of this. I sat with the emotions, did meditation, talked to my sponsor, and a friend. I later came online and posted on the message boards. When I go to the site and read, I am feeding my body, mind and spirit with spiritual food.

God Bless.

[Pythonpappy]

Dear Pappy,

Thought this was great too. I have worked with athiest, religionist and spiritualist, Native American and I have a strong affinity with their teachings and their Creator. Just because they don't believe the same as we do, it doesn't mean they can't find their own God, and hopefully they will see it in you. I know that if I am preached to, I back off.

God was an old tape, and I had to make God personal. I don't want to know who God is, I just want an understanding of Him because then I might stop looking for Him.

Let each of us, find our own understanding, that is why I think this program is so awesome, it doesn't exclude anyone.

Just as it doesn't matter what substance you use, it all leads to the same soul sickness.

It doesn't matter what you choose to call God as long as you reach out to Him/Her/It and ask for help. He is the Source, He is the Light, and He is the Way to Live and live without using people, places and things.

i.e. I had an emotional days on Saturday and Sunday. A friend who has been in recovery for 26 years lived downstairs. He has escorted me to several places and we have become friends. I almost picked up the phone to call him but I knew he was watching football. For me to have picked up the phone and called him would have been using, we seldom talk that much about recovery, and I come from a much different place than he does. He would probably be embarrassed or given a different picture than what I wanted him to see. I would have been looking outside of myself for SOMEONE to make ME feel better. I had to sit with my emotions and deal with them. I could have gone on my computer and played Bejewelled2 or watched TV, and I would have been using a THING(S) to make me feel better. I could have crawled into my bed and gone to sleep and I would have been using a PLACE to make me feel better because I wanted to shut down and shut off or taken a walk down to the library so I could run away from home and myself to pick up a book that I could come home to and bury myself in it. I did none of this. I sat with the emotions, did meditation, talked to my sponsor, and a friend. I later came online and posted on the message boards. When I go to the site and read, I am feeding my body, mind and spirit with spiritual food.
God Bless.

Dearest JoJo, ...

You are, without a doubt, one of the most unique persons I've ever known ... you are unendingly working to spread good cheer and your experience , strength, and hope with others ... all while suffering with the many maladies that make life a constant battle with physical pains ... you are a blessing to many ...

You and I have many of the same desires when it comes to helping others, but there a few times where our ideas differ somewhat ... For instance, you said: "I don't want to know who God is, I just want an understanding of Him because then I might stop looking for Him." ...I feel that we are all born of God and it takes some of us longer than others to discover that He resides within us ... I know I looked for years to find Him, just to realize He had a room in my heart all the while ... I finally let Him out to use me as He sees fit ... But I don't waste time to try and understand Him, I try to accept His glory as it is and go with it ... I think to try and 'understand' God would be like trying to be His 'equal' ...

You said: "It doesn't matter what you choose to call God as long as you reach out to Him/Her/It and ask for help." ... To me, God is NOT a 'what' ...
In other words, you can't possibly call a 'doorknob', nor an 'oak tree', nor a 'babbling brook', nor the 'sun' for instance, God ... and to lead others to think that that is acceptable is to be misleading and is a terrible injustice to God ... It's like John said, we should let the new-comer think what they will early on and just get them in the habit of praying and then as time allows, then nurse the God spirit into maturity ...

In your last paragraph, you listed some things you thought about doing, "so I could run away from home and myself", but you did none of these ... you wanted to shut down for a while ... I think in all honesty, that's exactly what you need to do sometimes, Because all the time you have spent emersing yourself in helping others is perhaps too much ... you, of all the people I know, need more 'you time' than anyone I can think of ... My goodness, you post at all hours of the day, you never give it a break, like someone will suffer if you're not posting all the time ... Take a break for yourself ... You finally said: "When I go to the site and read, I am feeding my body, mind and spirit with spiritual food." ... This is true .... But when do you give yourself time for the spiritual food to digest? ... Even a diver has to come for air once in a while!

I am concerned for your health ... and I may be wrong, but ....... I think you're on the very edge of information 'overload' ... It may help to break the habit a bit ... change things up, play the TV game or go to the library without feeling guilty that you're 'using these' as a copout of some kind, or as a drug 'substitute' ...

That's just the way it came across to me in your post, maybe I'm way off base and if so, feel free to put me in my place, so to speak ...

Love you lots and God Bless,:42:
Pappy

[MajestyJo]

Thank you Pappy, today was a diifficult day and I quit a site tonight, one is that I couldn't post what I wanted and respond where I wanted and when I wanted. I would not be sober today if it were not for that site. It was my lifeline for about 6 years. The person who is being controlling and deleting my posts wasn't there for all that time. No one can seem to understand that posting and sharing on message boards is what I do. It is where I get my recovery. I post like I talk. If someone was f2f with me now, I would be telling you the same thing. AA gave me a purpose and a reason for living. If you take that away from me, or I should say, if I allowed other to take away from me, I am empowering them and draining myself.

My first sponsor's Higher Power when she came into recovery was a Leprechaun that sat on her shoulder. Her view changed over the years, but it kept her sober in the beginning and that is what counted. She had 11 years when I came into the program. I had a service sponsor who said to me when I was 5 years sober, "I don't care what your Higher Power is as long as it isn't you."

Through that journey of finding what and who my Higher Power is, I found myself. I learned to trust Him, I learned to trust myself. As Al-Anon slogan says, "Let it begin with me." Stop looking out and look inward.

I was raised in the Gospel Halls, I was saved at 10 at Bible Camp, baptized at 14, taught Sunday School from 16-17, dedicated my life to God at 18 (Youth for Christ at Philpott Memorial Church, which I joined in recovery). As I have stated, I was 7 years sober when I took Communion and made my amends to God. I have not been in a church since except at Christmas Eve for a candlelight service put on by my sister's church. I think I was once called a Spiritual Religionist. I mean it, when I say, I might stop looking for Him. Like sobriety, I may think I know all I know and stop working my program. I seek God many time in a day, I don't remember him never being there for me.

I do play Bejewelled 2. I also use to go to see where people are reading and what section there were looking for information. Then pray and asked to be guided to what I needed to do, on this other site, I shared on AA, NA, Al-Anon, Nar-Anon, ACoA, CoDA, GA, OA, have even been to a meeting of SA because they used the same facility I did when I put on 7 meeting in 6 days for 7 years. I was told I didn't qualify. I also don't qualify for addiction to street drugs (tried hash and mary jane once), I was so sick never went near them again. When I quit smoking, I found out I was allergic to all smoke, even a fireplace. I also play bridge, if I wanted to go, I could play twice a week. Depending on the weather, I hope to get out to some day meetings, but until I can get my sleep regulated, I can't commit to anything. I now have to wait until April to do that.

You are right, some times I am so tired. Emotions are tiring. I love this program, it gave me a reason for being. It gave me purpose and direction. Being on disability and not in a relationship, I have the time. I was told by a man who was my NA sponsor and spiritual advisor, that when you don't have a partner in your life, you have the time to give. I also read it in the 12 & 12. Even eating is a chore these day. It is more of a chore if I have to cook it too. The Fibromyalgia has flared up recently, it was in remission. I had to find acceptance of it the same as I did for depression, addiction and alcoholism.

Recovery is about giving and receiving, when someone continues to take and doesn't give or ask for help, they are stealing energy from others. A friend in the program gave me a book called "Energy Vampires." I seem to have a lot in my life. I have to sit with a carpet under my feet to stay grounded. A woman came to the Hamilton Women's group one night and she put her tiny hands on my arm and said, "Oh JoAnne, I am so glad you are here. I have been so sick and feeling so bad lately." When she walked away, I looked down at my arm, it felt like I had a big hole in it, and I looked to see if there was a mark. She is a Reiki Master. She also had 35 years of sobriety. I would have about 10 years at the time, but time for me means nothing, all I have is today. I was sponsoring a woman who had 16 years sober when I had 6 years. Only because she felt safe talking to me and she had some outside issues as well. Sometimes all we have to do is be there.

I don't think I am a good sponsor. It isn't something that is my forte. I never asked anyone to do anything I wouldn't do, but most people were not willing to did what I did, yet as one guy said, "I don't care if people look at me funny when I tell them JoAnne is my sponsor, I want what she has. I was his sponsor until he found a man he felt comfortable with. His girlfriend came too and I talked to her about Al-Anon. I sponsored two gay men as well.

I am starting to ramble so time to quit and finish my posting.

God Bless.

[MajestyJo]

You may have read this before. I had. I read it again and was blessed. May I humbly suggest that you read it again. You too will be blessed.

http://ts4.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1434719231503&id=dba94b6b33fe8c5addd4274b211a50c5

The old man sat in his gas station on a cold Christmas Eve. He hadn't been anywhere in years since his wife had passed away. It was just another day to him. He didn't hate Christmas, just couldn't find a reason to celebrate. He was sitting there looking at the snow that had been falling for the last hour and wondering what it was all about when the door opened and a homeless man stepped through.

Instead of throwing the man out, Old George as he was known by his customers, told the man to come and sit by the heater and warm up. "Thank you, but I don't mean to intrude," said the stranger. "I see you're busy, I'll just go."

"Not without something hot in your belly." George said.

He turned and opened a wide mouth Thermos and handed it to the stranger. "It ain't much, but it's hot and tasty. Stew ... Made it myself. When you're done, there's coffee and it's fresh."

Just at that moment he heard the "ding" of the driveway bell. "Excuse me, be right back," George said. There in the driveway was an old '53 Chevy. Steam was rolling out of the front. The driver was panicked. "Mister can you help me!" said the driver, with a deep Spanish accent. "My wife is with child and my car is broken." George opened the hood. It was bad. The block looked cracked from the cold, the car was dead.

"You ain't going in this thing," George said as he turned away.

"But Mister, please help ..." The door of the office closed behind George as he went inside. He went to the office wall and got the keys to his old truck, and went back outside. He walked around the building, opened the garage, started the truck and drove it around to where the couple was waiting. "Here, take my truck," he said. "She ain't the best thing you ever looked at, but she runs real good."

George helped put the woman in the truck and watched as it sped off into the night. He turned and walked back inside the office. "Glad I gave 'em the truck, their tires were shot too. That 'ol truck has brand new ." George thought he was talking to the stranger, but the man had gone. The Thermos was on the desk, empty, with a used coffee cup beside it. "Well, at least he got something in his belly," George thought.

George went back outside to see if the old Chevy would start. It cranked slowly, but it started. He pulled it into the garage where the truck had been He thought he would tinker with it for something to do. Christmas Eve meant no customers. He discovered the the block hadn't cracked, it was just the bottom hose on the radiator. "Well, shoot, I can fix this," he said to himself. So he put a new one on.

"Those tires ain't gonna get 'em through the winter either." He took the snow treads off of his wife's old Lincoln. They were like new and he wasn't going to drive the car anyway.

As he was working, he heard shots being fired. He ran outside and beside a police car an officer lay on the cold ground. Bleeding from the left shoulder, the officer moaned, "Please help me."

George helped the officer inside as he remembered the training he had received in the Army as a medic. He knew the wound needed attention. "Pressure to stop the bleeding," he thought. The uniform company had been there that morning and had left clean shop towels. He used those and duct tape to bind the wound. "Hey, they say duct tape can fix anythin'," he said, trying to make the policeman feel at ease.

"Something for pain," George thought. All he had was the pills he used for his back. "These ought to work." He put some water in a cup and gave the policeman the pills. "You hang in there, I'm going to get you an ambulance."

The phone was dead. "Maybe I can get one of your buddies on that there talk box out in your car." He went out only to find that a bullet had gone into the dashboard destroying the two way radio.

He went back in to find the policeman sitting up. "Thanks," said the officer. "You could have left me there. The guy that shot me is still in the area."

George sat down beside him, "I would never leave an injured man in the Army and I ain't gonna leave you." George pulled back the bandage to check for bleeding. "Looks worse than what it is. Bullet passed right through 'ya. Good thing it missed the important stuff though. I think with time your gonna be right as rain."

George got up and poured a cup of coffee. "How do you take it?" he asked.

"None for me," said the officer.

"Oh, yer gonna drink this. Best in the city. Too bad I ain't got no donuts." The officer laughed and winced at the same time.

The front door of the office flew open. In burst a young man with a gun. "Give me all your cash! Do it now!" the young man yelled. His hand was shaking and George could tell that he had never done anything like this before.

"That's the guy that shot me!" exclaimed the officer.

"Son, why are you doing this?" asked George, "You need to put the cannon away. Somebody else might get hurt."

The young man was confused. "Shut up old man, or I'll shoot you, too. Now give me the cash!"

The cop was reaching for his gun. "Put that thing away," George said to the cop, "we got one too many in here now."

He turned his attention to the young man. "Son, it's Christmas Eve. If you need money, well then, here. It ain't much but it's all I got. Now put that pea shooter away."

George pulled $150 out of his pocket and handed it to the young man, reaching for the barrel of the gun at the same time. The young man released his grip on the gun, fell to his knees and began to cry. "I'm not very good at this am I? All I wanted was to buy something for my wife and son," he went on. "I've lost my job, my rent is due, my car got repossessed last week."

George handed the gun to the cop. "Son, we all get in a bit of squeeze now and then. The road gets hard sometimes, but we make it through the best we can."

He got the young man to his feet, and sat him down on a chair across from the cop. "Sometimes we do stupid things." George handed the young man a cup of coffee. "Bein' stupid is one of the things that makes us human. Comin' in here with a gun ain't the answer. Now sit there and get warm and we'll sort this thing out."

The young man had stopped crying. He looked over to the cop. "Sorry I shot you. It just went off. I'm sorry officer."

"Shut up and drink your coffee " the cop said.

George could hear the sounds of sirens outside. A police car and an ambulance skidded to a halt. Two cops came through the door, guns drawn. "Chuck! You ok?" one of the cops asked the wounded officer.

"Not bad for a guy who took a bullet. How did you find me?"

"GPS locator in the car. Best thing since sliced bread. Who did this?" the other cop asked as he approached the young man.

Chuck answered him, "I don't know. The guy ran off into the dark. Just dropped his gun and ran."

George and the young man both looked puzzled at each other.

"That guy work here?" the wounded cop continued.

"Yep," George said, "just hired him this morning. Boy lost his job."

The paramedics came in and loaded Chuck onto the stretcher. The young man leaned over the wounded cop and whispered, "Why?"

Chuck just said, "Merry Christmas boy ... and you too, George, and thanks for everything."

"Well, looks like you got one doozy of a break there. That ought to solve some of your problems."

George went into the back room and came out with a box. He pulled out a ring box. "Here you go, something for the little woman. I don't think Martha would mind. She said it would come in handy some day."

The young man looked inside to see the biggest diamond ring he ever saw. "I can't take this," said the young man. "It means something to you."

"And now it means something to you," replied George. "I got my memories. That's all I need."

George reached into the box again. An airplane, a car and a truck appeared next. They were toys that the oil company had left for him to sell. "Here's something for that little man of yours."

The young man began to cry again as he handed back the $150 that the old man had handed him earlier.

"And what are you supposed to buy Christmas dinner with? You keep that too," George said. "Now git home to your family."

The young man turned with tears streaming down his face. "I'll be here in the morning for work, if that job offer is still good."

"Nope. I'm closed Christmas day," George said. "See ya the day after."

George turned around to find that the stranger had returned. "Where'd you come from? I thought you left?"

"I have been here. I have always been here," said the stranger. "You say you don't celebrate Christmas. Why?"

"Well, after my wife passed away, I just couldn't see what all the bother was. Puttin' up a tree and all seemed a waste of a good pine tree. Bakin' cookies like I used to with Martha just wasn't the same by myself and besides I was gettin' a little chubby."

The stranger put his hand on George's shoulder. "But you do celebrate the holiday, George. You gave me food and drink and warmed me when I was cold and hungry. The woman with child will bear a son and he will become a great doctor.

The policeman you helped will go on to save 19 people from being killed by terrorists. The young man who tried to rob you will make you a rich man and not take any for himself. "That is the spirit of the season and you keep it as good as any man."

George was taken aback by all this stranger had said. "And how do you know all this?" asked the old man.

"Trust me, George. I have the inside track on this sort of thing. And when your days are done you will be with Martha again."

The stranger moved toward the door. "If you will excuse me, George, I have to go now. I have to go home where there is a big celebration planned."

George watched as the old leather jacket and the torn pants that the stranger was wearing turned into a white robe. A golden light began to fill the room.

"You see, George ... it's My birthday. Merry Christmas."

George fell to his knees and replied, "Happy Birthday, Lord Jesus"

[schell08122008]

Wow Jo, what a great story...I am up early today, read this in a silent house...I am truly inspired. May I share this? I am always down this time of year, too much commercialism ..I don't like that , its about what this story has to say..I am grateful for this post, it lifted my heart and spirit...I needed that. Peace to you and Merry Christmas. Schell

[MajestyJo]

Anything I post can be snagged if it is to help others. If I got permission for only me to post on my sites, it would be noted. Some of the stuff was posted as far back as 2004, so my memory is a bit hazy, but anything I write you are welcome to, especially if you think it will help others.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/mammals-cats-holidays/0061.gif

MountainWings A MountainWings Moment #2066 Wings Over The Mountains of Life
-------------------------------------------------

Hurt
=====

Dear MountainWings,

This story changed my life and I thought maybe it could change others too, so I'm sharing it with you.

This story was told to me by my sister, whom it happened to.

She was really upset because she hadn't seen or spoken to her best friend Jim in a couple of weeks. Finally he shows up at her door and commands her to get dressed and go riding with him. So she finally does.

As they were riding, they passed a garden full of flowers.

Jim says "Do you see those flowers?"

"Yes," she says.

"Do you think that when someone steps on those flowers that they lie there and feel sorry for themselves?" Jim asks.

"No."

"No, they immediately start to mend their wounds so they can heal, and grow strong and healthy!"

They ride a little further and Jim points up in a tree, "You see those squirrels up there?

Do you think that when people shoot at them they go hide forever?"

"No," she says.

About that time the ocean comes into sight.

Jim says "You see that ocean out there?

Do you think that when there's a hurricane out there that the ocean doesn't go back out because it's afraid to face the storm?"

"No," she says.

"Then, why have you stopped living because you have been hurt?"

That story really hit me like a ton of bricks! The worst part was the fact that Jim died a short time later. And that's when she realized how much precious time she wasted.

Why have you stopped living because you have been hurt?

~A MountainWings Original~

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-christmas/0176.gif


So many of you asked us (since Yuletide's drawing near)
"What do you want for Christmas? What can we give you this year?
If we say, "We want nothing!" you buy something anyway,
So here's a list of what we'd like; believe now what we say:
Pajamas for a little child, food to feed the poor.

Blankets for a shelter, and we ask a little bit more--
Perform good deeds and let us know, or volunteer your time.
These last are worth a fortune, and they needn't cost a dime.
We have to many things now, vases, candles, tapes and clocks.
We have our fill of garments, ties, underwear and socks.

Candy is too fattening, crossword books we've more than 20.
We don't need trays or plates or cups, and knickknacks we have plenty.
We've no walls to hang more pictures; we have books we've not yet read;
So please take what you'd spend on us and help the poor instead!
Just send a Christmas card to us and tell us what you've done;

We'll open them on Christmas Eve, and read them one by one.
It won't cost as much for postage as a package sent would do,
You'll need no wrapping paper, ribbons, ink or glue.
And we'll thank God you listened to what we had to say,
So we could be the instruments to help someone this way.

-- Author Unknown



A poem sent to Dear Abby from a couple who have too much stuff.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-christmas/0014.gif


Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities. But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving.
It was Christmas Eve 1881. I was fifteen years old and feeling like the world had caved in on me because there just hadn’t been enough money to buy me the rifle that I’d wanted for Christmas. We did the chores early that night for some reason. I just figured Pa wanted a little extra time so we could read in the Bible.

After supper was over I took my boots off and stretched out in front of the fireplace and waited for Pa to get down the old Bible. I was still feeling sorry for myself and, to be honest, I wasn’t in much of a mood to read Scriptures. But Pa didn’t get the Bible, instead he bundled up again and went outside. I couldn’t figure it out because we had already done all the chores. I didn’t worry about it long though, I was too busy wallowing in self-pity. Soon Pa came back in. It was a cold clear night out and there was ice in his beard. “Come on, Matt,” he said. “Bundle up good, it’s cold out tonight.” I was really upset then. Not only wasn’t I getting the rifle for Christmas, now Pa was dragging me out in the cold, and for no earthly reason that I could see. We’d already done all the chores, and I couldn’t think of anything else that needed doing, especially not on a night like this. But I knew Pa was not very patient at one dragging one’s feet when he’d told them to do something, so I got up and put my boots back on and got my cap, coat, and mittens. Ma gave me a mysterious smile as I opened the door to leave the house. Something was up, but I didn’t know what..

Outside, I became even more dismayed. There in front of the house was the work team, already hitched to the big sled. Whatever it was we were going to do wasn’t going to be a short, quick, little job. I could tell. We never hitched up this sled unless we were going to haul a big load. Pa was already up on the seat, reins in hand. I reluctantly climbed up beside him. The cold was already biting at me. I wasn’t happy. When I was on, Pa pulled the sled around the house and stopped in front of the woodshed. He got off and I followed. “I think we’ll put on the high sideboards,” he said. “Here, help me.” The high sideboards! It had been a bigger job than I wanted to do with just the low sideboards on, but whatever it was we were going to do would be a lot bigger with the high side boards on.

After we had exchanged the sideboards, Pa went into the woodshed and came out with an armload of wood – the wood I’d spent all summer hauling down from the mountain, and then all Fall sawing into blocks and splitting. What was he doing? Finally I said something. “Pa,” I asked, “what are you doing?” You been by the Widow Jensen’s lately?” he asked. The Widow Jensen lived about two miles down the road. Her husband had died a year or so before and left her with three children, the oldest being eight. Sure, I’d been by, but so what? Yeah,” I said, “Why?”

“I rode by just today,” Pa said. “Little Jakey was out digging around in the woodpile trying to find a few chips. They’re out of wood, Matt.” That was all he said and then he turned and went back into the woodshed for another armload of wood. I followed him. We loaded the sled so high that I began to wonder if the horses would be able to pull it. Finally, Pa called a halt to our loading, then we went to the smoke house and Pa took down a big ham and a side of bacon. He handed them to me and told me to put them in the sled and wait. When he returned he was carrying a sack of flour over his right shoulder and a smaller sack of something in his left hand. “What’s in the little sack?” I asked. Shoes, they’re out of shoes. Little Jakey just had gunny sacks wrapped around his feet when he was out in the woodpile this morning. I got the children a little candy too. It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a little candy.”

We rode the two miles to Widow Jensen’s pretty much in silence. I tried to think through what Pa was doing. We didn’t have much by worldly standards. Of course, we did have a big woodpile, though most of what was left now was still in the form of logs that I would have to saw into blocks and split before we could use it. We also had meat and flour, so we could spare that, but I knew we didn’t have any money, so why was Pa buying them shoes and candy? Really, why was he doing any of this? Widow Jensen had closer neighbors than us; it shouldn’t have been our concern.

We came in from the blind side of the Jensen house and unloaded the wood as quietly as possible, then we took the meat and flour and shoes to the door. We knocked. The door opened a crack and a timid voice said, “Who is it?” “Lucas Miles, Ma’am, and my son, Matt, could we come in for a bit?”
Widow Jensen opened the door and let us in. She had a blanket wrapped around her shoulders. The children were wrapped in another and were sitting in front of the fireplace by a very small fire that hardly gave off any heat at all. Widow Jensen fumbled with a match and finally lit the lamp.

“We brought you a few things, Ma’am,” Pa said and set down the sack of flour. I put the meat on the table. Then Pa handed her the sack that had the shoes in it. She opened it hesitantly and took the shoes out one pair at a time. There was a pair for her and one for each of the children – sturdy shoes, the best, shoes that would last. I watched her carefully. She bit her lower lip to keep it from trembling and then tears filled her eyes and started running down her cheeks. She looked up at Pa like she wanted to say something, but it wouldn’t come out.

“We brought a load of wood too, Ma’am,” Pa said. He turned to me and said, “Matt, go bring in enough to last awhile. Let’s get that fire up to size and heat this place up.” I wasn’t the same person when I went back out to bring in the wood. I had a big lump in my throat and as much as I hate to admit it, there were tears in my eyes too. In my mind I kept seeing those three kids huddled around the fireplace and their mother standing there with tears running down her cheeks with so much gratitude in her heart that she couldn’t speak.

My heart swelled within me and a joy that I’d never known before, filled my soul. I had given at Christmas many times before, but never when it had made so much difference. I could see we were literally saving the lives of these people.

I soon had the fire blazing and everyone’s spirits soared. The kids started giggling when Pa handed them each a piece of candy and Widow Jensen looked on with a smile that probably hadn’t crossed her face for a long time. She finally turned to us. “God bless you,” she said. “I know the Lord has sent you. The children and I have been praying that he would send one of his angels to spare us.”

In spite of myself, the lump returned to my throat and the tears welled up in my eyes again. I’d never thought of Pa in those exact terms before, but after Widow Jensen mentioned it I could see that it was probably true. I was sure that a better man than Pa had never walked the earth. I started remembering all the times he had gone out of his way for Ma and me, and many others. The list seemed endless as I thought on it.

Pa insisted that everyone try on the shoes before we left. I was amazed when they all fit and I wondered how he had known what sizes to get. Then I guessed that if he was on an errand for the Lord that the Lord would make sure he got the right sizes.

Tears were running down Widow Jensen’s face again when we stood up to leave. Pa took each of the kids in his big arms and gave them a hug. They clung to him and didn’t want us to go. I could see that they missed their Pa, and I was glad that I still had mine.

At the door Pa turned to Widow Jensen and said, “The Mrs. wanted me to invite you and the children over for Christmas dinner tomorrow. The turkey will be more than the three of us can eat, and a man can get cantankerous if he has to eat turkey for too many meals. We’ll be by to get you about eleven. It’ll be nice to have some little ones around again. Matt, here, hasn’t been little for quite a spell.” I was the youngest. My two brothers and two sisters had all married and had moved away.

Widow Jensen nodded and said, “Thank you, Brother Miles. I don’t have to say, May the Lord bless you, I know for certain that He will.”

Out on the sled I felt a warmth that came from deep within and I didn’t even notice the cold. When we had gone a ways, Pa turned to me and said, “Matt, I want you to know something. Your ma and me have been tucking a little money away here and there all year so we could buy that rifle for you, but we didn’t have quite enough. Then yesterday a man who owed me a little money from years back came by to make things square. Your ma and me were real excited, thinking that now we could get you that rifle, and I started into town this morning to do just that, but on the way I saw little Jakey out scratching in the woodpile with his feet wrapped in those gunny sacks and I knew what I had to do. Son, I spent the money for shoes and a little candy for those children. I hope you understand.”

I understood, and my eyes became wet with tears again. I understood very well, and I was so glad Pa had done it. Now the rifle seemed very low on my list of priorities. Pa had given me a lot more. He had given me the look on Widow Jensen’s face and the radiant smiles of her three children.

For the rest of my life, whenever I saw any of the Jensens, or split a block of wood, I remembered, and remembering brought back that same joy I felt riding home beside Pa that night. Pa had given me much more than a rifle that night, he had given me the best Christmas of my life.

Author Unknown

Please pass it on...

[MajestyJo]

Daily OM

Underneath The Noise
Hearing The Whisper

You may have noticed that if you want to speak to someone in a noisy, crowded room, the best thing to do is lean close and whisper. Yelling in an attempt to be louder than the room’s noise generally only hurts your throat and adds to the chaos. Similarly, that still, small voice within each of us does not try to compete with the mental chatter on the surface of our minds, nor does it attempt to overpower the volume of the raucous world outside. If we want to hear it, no matter what is going on around us or even inside us, we can always tune in to that soft voice underneath the surrounding noise.

It is generally true that the more insistent voices in our heads delivering messages that make us feel panicky or afraid are of questionable authority. They may be voices we internalized from childhood or from the culture, and as such they possess only half-truths. Their urgency stems from their disconnectedness from the center of our being, and their urgency is what catches our attention. The other voice that whispers reassurances that everything is fundamentally okay simply delivers its message with quiet confidence. Once we hear it, we know it speaks the truth. Generally, once we have heard what it has to say, a powerful sense of calm settles over our entire being, and the other voices and sounds, once so dominant, fade into the background, suddenly seeming small and far away.

We may find that our own communications in the world begin to be influenced by the quiet certainty of this voice. We may be less inclined to indulge in idle chatter as we become more interested in maintaining our connection to the whisper of truth that broadcasts its message like the sound of the wind shaking the leaves of a tree. As we align ourselves more with this quiet confidence, we become an extension of the whisper, penetrating the noise of the world and creating more peace, trust, and confidence.

What do you think?

[schell08122008]

Thanks Jo. This kinda put things in prespective for me. I am the quiet one now, I listen to the constant chatter of this world..seems like there is noise and meaningless conversations around me..I look at myself as a gentler, deeper individual..maybe my way my look to others as if I am shy or stupid..but this is me and I may get upset and anxious about it at times, but when I do share i.e at a family event people do listen. Yelling and trying to be louder was a part of my using days. I am not that person anymore. Peace to you Schell

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-birds/0157.gif

DO IT ANYWAY…


People are often unreasonable,

Illogical, and self centered;

Forgive them anyway.


People may accuse you of selfish

Ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.


If you are successful,

You will win some false friends

And some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.


If you are honest and frank,

People may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.


What you spend years building,

Someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.


If you find serenity and happiness,

They may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.


The good you do today,

People will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.


Give the world the best you have,

And it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.


You see, in the final analysis,

It is between you and God;

It never was between you and them anyway.




HAPPINESS



The key is to pursue happiness in a dedicated way that actually works.


Keep a journal of blessings. Everyday write down three items in your journal of things you are grateful for in your life. Write as much as you can about each one.

Perform three acts of random kindness before noon and three more befor sundown. Hurry. Make sure you will get no credit for them and that no one else will ever know about them.

Write testimonials of gratitude to three individuals who meant a great deal to you in your life. If they are still alive, hand deliver them in person. If they have passed away, deliver them in person to the next of kin.

Fill out three “Thank You” cards each morning.

Buy three books for three friends, and send them anonymously to their attention.

Make three apologies for three wrongs you have committed.

Give three days of earnings anonymously to a charity in the name of three individuals who have wronged you.

[MajestyJo]

Found this on my site Jo's Kitchen and it reminded me that I had talked to my pharmacist today and said, "Since I have been on Cymbalta, which is suppose to help neuropathy, fibromyalgia and depression, I have been in a lot of pain and had a lot of memory loss and fatigue. I am more depressed than I have ever been, but then generally get depressed when bad wheather comes. We have had rain, turned cold and today it has been snowing.


What are the symptoms?

FM is characterized by the presence of multiple tender points and a
constellation of symptoms.

Pain The pain of FM is profound, widespread and chronic. It knows
no boundaries, migrating to all parts of the body and varying in
intensity. FM pain has been described as deep muscular aching,
throbbing, twitching, stabbing and shooting pain that defines the
very existence of the Fibromyalgia patient. Neurological complaints
such as numbness, tingling and burning are often present and add to
the discomfort of the patient. The severity of the pain and
stiffness is often worse in the morning. Aggravating factors which
affect pain include cold/humid weather, non-restorative sleep,
physical and mental fatigue, excessive physical activity, physical
inactivity, anxiety and stress.

Fatigue In today's world many people complain of fatigue; however,
the fatigue of FM is much more than being tired. It is an all-
encompassing exhaustion that interferes with even the simplest daily
activities. It feels like every drop of energy has been drained from
the body, which at times can leave the patient with a limited ability
to function both mentally and physically.

Sleep Problems Many Fibromyalgia patients have an associated sleep
disorder which prevents them from getting deep, restful, restorative
sleep. Medical researchers have documented specific and distinctive
abnormalities in the stage 4 deep sleep of FM patients. During
sleep, individuals with FM are constantly interrupted by bursts of
awake-like brain activity, limiting the amount of time they spend in
deep sleep.

Other symptoms Additional symptoms may include: irritable bowel and
bladder, headaches and migraines, restless legs syndrome (periodic
limb movement disorder), impaired memory and concentration, skin
sensitivities and rashes, dry eyes and mouth, anxiety, depression,
ringing in the ears, dizziness, vision problems, raynaud's syndrome,
neurological symptoms and impaired coordination.

How is it diagnosed?

Currently there are no laboratory tests available for diagnosing
Fibromyalgia. Doctors must rely on patient histories, self-reported
symptoms, a physical examination and an accurate manual tender point
examination. This exam is based on the standardized ACR criteria.
Proper implementation of the exam determines the presence of multiple
tender points at characteristic locations.

It is estimated that it takes an average of five years for a FM
patient to get an accurate diagnosis. Many doctors are still not
adequately informed or educated about FM. Laboratory tests often
prove negative and many FM symptoms overlap with the symptoms of
other conditions, thus leading to extensive investigative costs and
frustration for both the doctor and patient. Another essential point
that must be considered is that the presence of other diseases, such
as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, does not rule out a FM diagnosis.
Fibromyalgia is not a diagnosis of exclusion and must be diagnosed by
its own characteristic features.

To receive a diagnosis of FM, the patient must meet the following
diagnostic criteria:

Widespread pain in all four quadrants of the body for a minimum
duration of three months
Tenderness or pain in at least 11 of the 18 specified tender points
when pressure is applied (see figure above)


What causes FM?


While the underlying cause or causes of FM still remain a mystery,
new research findings continue to bring us closer to understanding
the basic mechanisms of Fibromyalgia. Most researchers agree that FM
is a disorder of central processing with
neuroendocrine/neurotransmitter dysregulation. The FM patient
experiences pain amplification due to abnormal sensory processing in
the central nervous system. An increasing number of scientific
studies now show multiple physiological abnormalities in the FM
patient, including: increased levels of substance P in the spinal
cord, low levels of blood flow to the thalamus region of the brain,
HPA axis hypofunction, low levels of serotonin and tryptophan and
abnormalities in cytokine function.

Recent studies show that genetic factors may predispose individuals
to a genetic susceptibility to FM. For some, the onset of FM is
slow; however, in a large percentage of patients the onset is
triggered by an illness or injury that causes trauma to the body.
These events may act to incite an undetected physiological problem
already present.

Exciting new research has also begun in the areas of brain imaging
and neurosurgery. Continued work will look at the hypothesis that FM
is caused by an interpretative defect in the central nervous system
that brings about abnormal pain perception. Medical researchers have
just begun to untangle the truths about this life-altering disease.

How is FM treated?

One of the most important factors in improving the symptoms of FM is
for the patient to recognize the need for lifestyle adaptation. Most
people are resistant to change because it implies adjustment,
discomfort and effort. However, in the case of FM, change can bring
about recognizable improvement in function and quality of life.
Becoming educated about FM gives the patient more potential for
improvement.

An empathetic physician who is knowledgeable about the diagnosis and
treatment of FM and who will listen to and work with the patient is
an important component of treatment. It may be a family practitioner,
an internist or a specialist (rheumatologist or neurologist, for
example). Conventional medical intervention may be only part of a
potential treatment program. Alternative treatments, nutrition,
relaxation techniques and exercise play an important role in FM
treatment as well. Each patient should, along with the healthcare
practitioner, establish a multifaceted and individualized approach
that works for them.

Pain Management Over-the-counter pain medications, such as
acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may be helpful in relieving pain. The
physician may decide to prescribe one of the newer non-narcotic pain
relievers (e.g. tramadol) or low doses of antidepressants (e.g.
tricyclic antidepressants, serotonin reuptake inhibitors) or
benzodiazepines. Patients must remember that antidepressants
are "serotonin builders" and can be prescribed at low levels to help
improve sleep and relieve pain. If the patient is experiencing
depression, higher levels of these or other medications may need to
be prescribed. Another beneficial pain therapy, which works well on
localized areas of pain, is lidocaine injections into the patient's
tender points. An important aspect of pain management is a regular
program of gentle exercise and stretching, which helps maintain
muscle tone and reduces pain and stiffness.

Sleep Management Improved sleep can be obtained by implementing a
healthy sleep regimen, which includes going to bed and getting up at
the same time every day, making sure that the sleeping environment is
conducive to sleep (i.e. quiet, free from distractions, a comfortable
room temperature, a supportive bed), avoiding caffeine, sugar and
alcohol before bed, doing some type of light exercise during the day,
avoiding eating immediately before bedtime and practicing relaxation
exercises as you fall to sleep. When necessary, there are new sleep
medications that can be prescribed, some of which can be especially
helpful if the patient's sleep is disturbed by restless legs or
periodic limb movement disorder.

Psychological Support Learning to live with a chronic illness often
challenges an individual emotionally. The FM patient needs to
develop a program that provides emotional support and increases
communication with family and friends. Many communities throughout
the United States and abroad have organized Fibromyalgia support
groups. These groups often provide important information and have
guest speakers who discuss subjects of particular interest to the FM
patient. Counseling sessions with a trained professional may help
improve communication and understanding about the illness and help to
build healthier relationships within the patient's family.

Other Treatments Complementary therapies can be very beneficial.
These include: physical therapy, therapeutic massage, myofascial
release therapy, water therapy, light aerobics, acupressure,
application of heat or cold, acupuncture, yoga, relaxation exercises,
breathing techniques, aromatherapy, cognitive therapy, biofeedback,
herbs, nutritional supplements, and osteopathic or chiropractic
manipulation.

What is the prognosis?

Better than ever before! The efforts of individuals, support groups,
organizations and medical professionals to help improve the quality
of life for people with FM are starting to pay off. Better ways to
diagnose and treat FM are on the horizon. The symptoms of FM can
vary in severity and often wax and wane, but most patients do tend to
improve over time. By actively seeking new information, talking to
others who have FM, re-evaluating daily priorities, making lifestyle
changes, and working hard to keep a hopeful attitude, the FM sufferer
can become the FM survivor!

[schell08122008]

Thanks for sharing Jo. Information like this is important for any friend or family member...to let them know what you go through on a daily basis. I appreciate that..I hope and pray the winter doesn't get the best of your energy and aggravate your symptoms more. Peace Schell

[MajestyJo]

Like any disease, it amounts to acceptance and my not fighting it. Can't always do what I use to do. Can't always do what I want to do, but that is okay. Tried sleeping today and it didn't happen until late. My day only started about 3 hours ago. Tried watching TV and couldn't stand the noise (fibro very sensitive to smells and sound), so switched over to my music and came on the computer, which I was going to stay off of.

Happy New Year to you.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.imgag.com/product/full/ap/3032366/good1cp.gif

You know friends are never earned
They are a gift from the loving God
They're precious beyond human evaluation
You dare not take them for granted
Or they'll drift away like smoke
And the warmth of there caring
Will vanish into the chill of the endless night.

Most of my friends are unknowns
They probably won't even rate an obituary
Unless they live and die in a small town
Some where, where nothing much ever happens
But some of my friends are big people
They are famous, sensitive and talented
Their names are household words
And yet they are no more precious
In God's eyes or in mine.

Then those wonderful nobodies
Who live and die in obscurity
Who is your friend?
He's someone who warns you with a nod
Or with an unspoken word in hard times
When you are hurting beyond words
She's someone who holds you to her breast
And sighs softly into your hair.

When no other medicine
Could possibly stop the pain
A friend is someone who clinks
A glass against yours
Or answers the phone
At three in the morning when you're lost
And with a few words of encouragement
And concern makes you realize
Your not really lost at all.

Friends come in both sexes
In all shapes and sizes
The most important thing
They have in common is
Their ability to share with you
Your most sky splitting joys
Or your' deepest most awesome sorrows.

I think of all the things I have in this world
I'm most grateful for my friends...

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/insects-dragonflies/0028.gif
A day that dawns bright and optimistic, can unravel as quickly and completely as one that begins with a tangle of trouble.

Whether I see it coming, or not, whether the undoing is of my own doing, or not, there are days when I find myself on the backside of the bright side.

Life sends everyone for a ride on the backside. People let you down. You disappoint yourself or someone else. Things hoped for, don't materialize. Jobs disappear. Finances escalate. Health deteriorates. Loved ones pass away.

Unless you live in an insulated bubble, a ride on the backside is inevitable.

Experience on the backside has taught me not to run to the company of misery -- those faithless, open, outstretched arms of self pity & hopelessness. I am not pitiful. I am not without hope and I am faith-filled. I have returned, victorious, to the bright side after every experience on the backside.

Where I am, is never as important as, who I am, while I'm there.

I can sit in darkness and I can despair over being there. I can moan and groan, pick up the phone and wail about my troubles to everyone who will listen. I can pound people with my problems every chance I get. I can seek out the company of those who enjoy misery's embrace and learn nothing from the experience.

Or...

I can poke a hole in the veil that separates the backside from the bright side and create a small stream of light to serve as reminder of the victory ahead. I can pray, and I can work my way through trials with ever increasing patience and ever growing strength of endurance. I can pay attention to the parts of my character that show up during difficult times and acknowledge the areas of weakness that need building up.

I can stand straighter and taller each step of the way, until the day I can rip the veil from top to bottom and claim my victory.

Even when life is at its darkest, you are never on the backside of nowhere. The bright side is always there, waiting for you to step back into it and experience your victory.


I AM
The Ancient One-Lordès

Used with permission)

[MajestyJo]

http://multiply.com/mu/otter008/image/2/photos/1/1200x120/1/0170.gif?et=l%2CzEfGPdGCx0B0CnPK5yig&nmid=261639651

NAIL IN THE FENCE

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the back of the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks, as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.

Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence."

The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Friends are very rare jewels, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share words of praise and they always want to open their hearts to us.

Please forgive me if I have ever left a hole.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-planets/0109.gif

What Colour is the Wind by Charlie Landsborough - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNJEJTrVZdY&feature=related)


Inspiring song about a blind child talking with his dad about the colour of the wind and relating it to his life.

WHAT COLOUR IS THE WIND written and sung by Charlie Landsborough


This is a great song shared to me by a friend from South Africa.
This singer is British.. Hope you'll enjoy this! Charlie Landsborough



My Forever Friend MV - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOVvJHxshWc&feature=related)



I'm a fan of Charlie, ever since I heard him on the local radio station.
I've loved his music ever since. He is such a kind spirited man.

Received with thanks from my friend Maureen

[MajestyJo]

BUTTERFLY FRIENDSHIP


http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-butterflies/0301.gif

http://www.angel9oh7.com/gbbutterflyfrndship.html

[MajestyJo]

http://angelwinks.net/images/naturepod/naturepod182.jpg

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
Raised a glass of water and asked
'How heavy is this glass of water?'

Answers called out ranged from 1oz to 25ozs.

The lecturer replied, 'The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance.
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.'

He continued,
'And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
We won't be able to carry on. '

'As with the glass of water,
You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden.'
'So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home. You can pick it up tomorrow.

Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
Let them down for a moment if you can.'
So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while.

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:

* Accept that some days you're the pigeon,
And some days you're the statue.

* Always keep your words soft and sweet,
Just in case you have to eat them.

* Always wear stuff that will make you look good
If you die in the middle of it.

* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be
"Recalled" by their maker.

* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.

* If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again,
It was probably worth it.

* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.

* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time,
Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.

* Nobody cares if you can't dance well.
Just get up and dance.

* Since it's the early worm that gets eaten by the bird, sleep late.

* The second mouse gets the cheese.

* When everything's coming your way,
You're in the wrong lane.

* Birthdays are good for you.
The more you have, the longer you live.

* You may be only one person in the world,
But you may also be the world to one person.

* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.

* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colours, but they all have to live in the same box.

*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
Have a Fantabulous day and know that someone has thought about you today... I Did XxX .

[MajestyJo]

http://angelwinks.net/images/nostalgicpod/nostalgicpod42.jpg

The Mayonnaise Jar

When things in your life seem, almost too much to handle,
When 24 Hours in a day is not enough,
Remember the mayonnaise jar and 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class
And had some items in front of him.
When the class began, wordlessly,
He picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar
and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.

He then asked the students, if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.

The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured
them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open Areas between the golf balls.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else.
He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'

The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively
filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.

'Now,' said the professor, as the laughter subsided,
'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.
The golf balls are the important things - family,
children, health, Friends, and Favorite passions ˆ
Things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, Your life would still be full.

The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house, and car.

The sand is everything else --The small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' He continued,
'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.

If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff,
You will never have room for the things that are important to you.

So...

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Play With your children.
Take time to get medical checkups.
Take your partner out to dinner.

There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.

'Take care of the golf balls first --
The things that really matter.
Set your priorities. The rest is just sand.'

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented.

The professor smiled.
'I'm glad you asked'.

It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem,
there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.'

Please share this with other "Golf Balls" and friends

I Just Did...Have A Fantabulous Week.XxX

Received with thanks from my friend Lisa

[MajestyJo]

DAILY OM

Staying Afloat Amidst The Spin

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/mammals-cats-love/0053.gif

Taking Things Personally

Every time you interact with others, you have the choice to listen to, acknowledge, and let go of their words, or you can take what they are saying personally. Taking things personally is often the result of perceiving a person's actions or words as an affront or slight. In order to take something personally, you must read negative intent in an individual's words or actions. But what people do and say has no bearing upon you and is usually based on their own experiences, emotions, and perceptions. If you attempt to take what they do or say personally, you may end up feeling hurt without reason.

If you are tempted to take a comment or action personally, creating some distance between yourself and the other person can help you. Try to determine what is at the root of your feelings. Ask yourself if the other person's words or actions are just reinforcing some insecurity within you or if you can really be sure that an offense was intended. You may even want to ask them what they meant. Finally, put yourself in the other person's shoes. Instead of taking their words as the truth, or as a personal affront, remember that whatever was said or done is based on their opinion and is more reflective of what is going on inside of them, rather than having anything to do with you. You may have been an easy target for someone having a bad day, and their comments may have been offered with no ill intentions.

When you recognize that what anyone says or does doesn't necessarily have anything to do with you, you will no longer feel hurt or attacked. While it's easy to take things personally, you should never let anyone's perceptions or actions affect how you see yourself or your worth. Your life is personal to you, and it is up to you to influence your own value and sense of well-being.

What do you think?

[MajestyJo]

As a friend says, "Take your Q-Tip with you." Quit Taking It Personally! They aren't always talking about you, and if they are, it is none of your business, jus the same as it is none of their business as to what you say about them.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-cherubs/0002.gif

Potato Chips

A little boy wanted to meet God.
He knew it was a long trip to where God
lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of
potato chips and a six-pack of root beer
and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks,
he met an old woman. She wassitting in
the park, just staring at some pigeons.

The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase.
He was about to take a drink from his root beer
when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry,
so he offered her some chips.

She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.
Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to
see it again, so he offered her a root beer.
Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted!
They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling,
but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired
he was and he got up to leave; but before he had
gone more than a few steps, he turned around,
ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug.
She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a
short time later, his mother was surprised by the
look of joy on his face. She asked him,
"What did you do today that made you so happy?"
He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before
his mother could respond, he added, "You know what?
She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy,
returned to her home.

Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face
and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that
made you so happy?" She replied, "I ate potato chips
in the park with God."

However, before her son responded, she added,
"You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch,
a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest
compliment, or the smallest act of caring,
all of which have the potential to turn a life
around. People come into our lives for a reason,
a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

Have lunch with God..... bring chips !!

Blessings from Above~

Lisa

[MajestyJo]

http://multiply.com/mu/spirituallady2/image/1:naturesinspiration/photos/5/500x500/11/pond.gif?et=bkQ2WrH8UrGbY%2C2l5m96Iw&nmid=246659177


There was once a man who didn't believe in God, and he didn't hesitate to let others know how he felt about religion and religious holidays.

His wife, however, did believe, and she raised their children to also have faith in God and Jesus, despite his disparaging comments. One snowy Eve, his wife was taking their children to service in the farm community in which they lived. They were to talk about Jesus' birth. She asked him to come, but he refused. "That story is nonsense!" he said. "Why would God lower Himself to come to Earth as a man? That's ridiculous!"

So she and the children left, and he stayed home. A while later, the winds grew stronger and the snow turned into a blizzard. As the man looked out the window, all he saw was a blinding snowstorm. He sat down to relax before the fire for the evening. Then he heard a loud thump. Something had hit the window. He looked out, but couldn't see more than a few feet. When the snow let up a little, he ventured outside to see what could have been beating on his window.

In the field near his house he saw a flock of wild geese. Apparently they had been flying south for the winter when they got caught in the snowstorm and couldn't go on. They were lost and stranded on his farm, with no food or shelter. They just flapped their wings and flew around the field in low circles, blindly and aimlessly. A couple of them had flown into his window, it seemed.

The man felt sorry for the geese and wanted to help them. The barn would be a great place for them to stay, he thought. It's warm and safe; surely they could spend the night and wait out the storm. So he walked over to the barn and opened the doors wide, then watched and waited, hoping they would notice the open barn and go inside.

But the geese just fluttered around aimlessly and didn't seem to notice the barn or realize what it could mean for them. The man tried to get their attention, but that just seemed to scare them, and they moved further away. He went into the house and came with some bread, broke it up, and made a bread crumb trail leading to the barn. They still didn't catch on.

Now he was getting frustrated. He got behind them and tried to shoo them toward the barn, but they only got more scared and scattered in every direction except toward the barn. Nothing he did could get them to go into the barn where they would be warm and safe. "Why don't they follow me?!" he exclaimed. "Can't they see this is the only place where they can survive the storm?"

He thought for a moment and realized that they just wouldn't follow a human. "If only I were a goose, then I could save them," he said out loud. Then he had an idea. He went into barn, got one of his own geese, and carried it in his arms as he circled around behind the flock of wild geese.

He then released it. His goose flew through the flock and straight into the barn -- and one-by-one, the other geese followed it to safety. He stood silently for a moment as the words he had spoken a few minutes earlier replayed in his mind: "If only I were a goose, then I could save them!" Then he thought about what he had said to his wife earlier. "Why would God want to be like us? That's ridiculous!"

Suddenly it all made sense. That is what God had done. We were like the geese--blind, lost, perishing. God became like us so we could shown the way and to save us.

As the winds and blinding snow died down, his soul became quiet and pondered this wonderful thought. Suddenly he understood why Christ had come. Years of doubt and disbelief vanished with the passing storm. He fell to his knees in the snow, and prayed his first prayer:


"Thank You, God, for coming in human form to get me out of the storm!"

Received with thanks from my friend Carey

[MajestyJo]

http://multiply.com/mu/spirituallady2/image/1:naturesinspiration/photos/5/500x500/2/0007.gif?et=jsE%2CJHiJ%2CqMATTTqEHnV6w&nmid=246659177

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.


Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just ; tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. Yo u've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't h ave regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets"

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At th e year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it! These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Received with thanks from my friend Karen

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-dogs/0026.gif

The Creator is my real boss, and I shall not want.

God gives me peace, when chaos is all around me.

God gently reminds me to pray and do all things without murmuring and complaining.

God reminds me that God is my source and not my job.

God restores my sanity everyday and guides my decisions that I might give honor in all that I do.

Even though I face absurd amounts of e-mails, system crashes, unrealistic deadlines, budget cutbacks, gossiping co-workers, discriminating supervisors and an aging body that doesn't cooperate every morning, I still will not stop------for our Creator is with me!

God's presence, peace, and power will see me through.

God raises me up, even when they fail to promote me.

God claims me even when the company threatens to let me go.

The Creator's Faithfulness and love is better than any bonus check.

God's retirement plan beats every 401k there is!

When it's all said and done, I'll be working for our Creator a whole lot longer and for that, I BLESS THE CREATOR'S NAME!!!!!!

Received with thans from my friend Carey

[schell08122008]

Jo, Thank you for all these beautiful messages. Just want you to know, I forwarded them to my parents..they are both in their 70's..I want them to hear these messages..and to know how much I love them and appreciate them today..I always didn't in my addictions..my amends to them were heartfelt..I am living them today. Peace to you Schell

[MajestyJo]

A little girl stood near a small church from which she had been turned away because it was "too crowded."

"I can't go to Sunday School," she sobbed to the pastor as he walked by.

Seeing her shabby, unkempt appearance, the pastor guessed the reason and, taking her by the hand, took her inside and found a place for her in the Sunday school class. The child was so happy that they found room for her, and she went to bed that night thinking of the children who have no place to worship Jesus. Some two years later, this child lays dead in one of the poor tenement buildings. Her parents called for the kind hearted pastor who had befriended their daughter to handle the final arrangements.

As her poor little body was being moved, a worn and crumpled red purse was found which seemed to have been rummaged from some trash dump.

Inside was found 57 cents and a note, scribbled in childish handwriting, which read: "This is to help build the little church bigger so more children can go to Sunday School."

For two years she had saved for this offering of love. When the pastor tearfully read that note, he knew instantly what he would do. Carrying this note and the cracked, red pocketbook to the pulpit, he told the story of her unselfish love and devotion. He challenged his deacons to get busy and raise enough money for the larger building.

But the story does not end there...

A newspaper learned of the story and published It. It was read by a wealthy realtor who offered them a parcel of land worth many thousands.

When told that the church could not pay so much, he offered to sell it to the little church for 57 cents.

Church members made large donations. Checks came from far and wide.

Within five years the little girl's gift had increased to $250,000.00--a huge sum for that time (near the turn of the century). Her unselfish love had paid large dividends.

When you are in the city of Philadelphia, look up Temple Baptist Church, with a seating capacity of 3,300. And be sure to visit Temple University, where thousands of students are educated.

Have a look, too, at the Good Samaritan Hospital and at a Sunday School building which houses hundreds of beautiful children, built so that no child in the area will ever need to be left outside during Sunday school time.

In one of the rooms of this building may be seen the picture of the sweet face of the little girl whose 57 cents, so sacrificially saved, made such remarkable history. Alongside of it is a portrait of her kind of pastor, Dr. Russell H. Conwell, author of the book, "Acres of Diamonds".

This is a true story, which goes to show WHAT GOD CAN DO WITH 57 CENTS.

Received with thanks from my friend Gini.

NOTE: It is my belief that a lot of these stories are not true and I do take exception to sensationalism on the internet especially when it involves children. A lot of stories make the circuit and have been in circulation for several years, which makes me think that the stories are phoney. When I see things that was news breaking 5-6 years ago when I first got my computer still being passed on in today, I tend to not believe what I am seeing and reading. Because this involves a story of a child, I almost didn't post it. It says it is a true story, so I am taking a risk and posting it. I don't want anything posted to my sites which are not based on truth.

Love Always,

Jo

Posted on The Angel of Health

[MajestyJo]

http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/11286334/sn/118730990/name/n_a

The Serenity Prayer

GOD...
With the saying of this word, I am admitting the existence of a Higher Power; a being far greater than I.

GRANT...
With the repeating of this second word, I am admitting that a Higher Power is an authority who can bestow and give.

ME...
I am asking something for myself. If I ask, I shall be given. It is not wrong to ask for betterment of myself, for with the improvement of my character, people around me will be made happier.

the SERENITY...
I am asking for calmness, composure and peace in my life which will enable me to think straight and govern myself properly.

to ACCEPT.....
I am resigning myself to conditions as they are right now, rather than fight for how I want them to be.

the THINGS I CANNOT CHANGE...
I am accepting my lot in life as it is. Until I have the courage to change any part of my life I don't like, I must accept it without resentment.

COURAGE...
I am asking for conditions to be different, and for me to have the faith I need to make the changes in myself.

to CHANGE...
I am asking for a quality of spirit to become aware of those things I do that do not serve me in my recovery.

the THINGS I CAN...
I am asking for my Higher Power's guidance in making the right decisions. Everything in my life is not perfect, I must continue to face reality and constantly work towards continued growth and recovery.

WISDOM....
I am asking HP to give me the ability to form sound judgments in any and all matters.

to KNOW...
I want to be able to understand clearly and see the reality in any situation.

the DIFFERENCE...
I want to see things differently in my life so there can be some distinction. I need to sense a definite value in love over selfishness, where my will gets in the way of my Higher Power's will.

The Serenity Prayer has been a valuable tool in my recovery and has been a rescuer many times over, and has never grown old, never worn out, and is always there.

I embrace change today. I learned a long time ago that without it, I don't grow unless I do. I also discovered that what stood me in good stead at the beginning of my program, is no longer of service in today. Hopefully, I will continue to grow and look for new ways to connect with the God of my understanding. This prayer has been a big part of that conscious contact.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/mammals-elephants/0199.gif

One Caring Smile

Everything's gone
wrong today.
No one reacts to
anything you say.

No matter how much
you scream and cry,
the world seems to
be passing you by.

No one seems to notice or care,
that you are trying to be heard
over your despair.

But on one face a
smile shines through,
a smile that knows
and cares about you.

A smile with love to lend,
on a face you recognize
as a friend!

- Author Unknown

[MajestyJo]

Light bulb changer. They totally don't get paid enough!

Yikes!!! I wonder what they pay these guys per hour.

1768 feet straight up ... wait until you see this!It is incredible what people do for a living!!!!!!!!!!Just wait for the cartoon intro to finish, then hold on to your seat.

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/transportation-boats-lighthouses/0072.gif


www.liveleak.com/e/07b_1284580365

Received in an e-mail from a friend in Texas.

I was wondering if he does it clean and sober. The higher he climbs the more I held my breath and was going to shut it down, had trouble watching it.

[MajestyJo]

http://images.spirituallady2.multiply.com/image/1:naturesinspiration/photos/3/300x300/4/0015Fcarousel6.gif?et=ykqf0Lx+xTV6lY,cKqxNwA&nmid=164924863

For many years, I didn't find much joy in living. It seemed like the days would never pass and time was never ending. When I got clean and sober, and I found my feeling or should I say my true feelings, not those imposed on me or feelings that I never allowed myself to feel; either from fear of rebuttal or reaction, fear of rejection and disapproval; fear of lack of acceptance and validation; for what ever reason, they were surpressed and I used to help do the suppression. Then they came bubbling up and I didn't know what to do with them, how to control them or if I needed to, how to express them in a healthy way, and more importantly how to identify them.

Joy is a choice. It is something I try to put in my day. I don't choose to be sad, but when I do, that is okay. It is an emotion too. The day I came first in the individual bridge tournament at my club was a joyful event. I have played before and the highest I had come was fourth. I find joy just in playing. But when I found I won, I think joy was too mild of a word to use. I was ecstatic. I found happiness when I got home, my son who was at my home watching TV while mother was away, cooked me a chicken dinner with mashed potatoes and creamed corn. Two of my favorite comfort foods that brought more joy into my day. I even found joy in making the gravy. Food always tastes better when someone else cooks it. I was so comforted that I started to yawn and made the decision to go to bed. I had a good sleep.

Joy and comfort is where we choose to find it. What may be a joy to me may be a chore to someone else. The nice thing is, that is okay! It is how I look at things, I have freedom of choice. Just little things like walking downtown and seeing someone I know. Those little things can add up to big things.

[schell08122008]

Thanks Jo. Addiction masked my true feelings for so long, that when I got sober, and I began to experience those buried feelings, my mind was in a tail spin..I didn't know what to do with them..I couldn't mask them anymore. Though I desired the joy of actually feeling again..I was scared of them. It was only through the work in the program (took many years) that I began to not fear the feelings..I talked about them..learned to recognize them, feel them, and let some of them go (as I could not change them)..the reality of living set in..feelings are part of what makes us human. Today, I am learning to see the joy in living..I look for the little things which can bring joy. Today it was going outside and feeling the sense of springtime, listening to the happy birds feeding this morning, the joy of having true friends, the joy of my animals bonding to me and me being able to truly care again. It rained last night, and this morning I noticed a glistening drop of rain clinging to a small tree branch..it was reflecting the sunlight..it was beautiful..there I experienced joy..I wouldn't have even been aware of this if I was using. It is a God given gift to experience feelings and joy. Every day offers us opportunities to see beauty in people and nature. Every day offers us chances to feel joy in life again. Using was a nightmare..we could choose to live in that nightmarish world or get sober and through working the program, learn that feelings are real, and are okay to feel..in sobriety joy is there for the taking. This is part of the process of growth in sobriety. Lord, may I feel the feeling, recognize it, talk about it if it is uncomfortable, then move on. Peace, Schell

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-faces/0028.gif

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder.

I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being. She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"

I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze. "Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me.

After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake. We became instant friends. Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me.


Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up.

At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us. She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just ; tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing.

There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. Yo u've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die.

We have so many people walking around who are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older. That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't h ave regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets"

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose."

She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At th e year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago.

One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be. When you finish reading this, please send this peaceful word of advice to your friends and family, they'll really enjoy it! These words have been passed along in loving memory of ROSE.

REMEMBER, GROWING OLDER IS MANDATORY. GROWING UP IS OPTIONAL.

We make a Living by what we get, We make a Life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Received with thanks from my friend Karen

[MajestyJo]

Do you love yourself?

"At the heart of personality is the need to feel a sense of being lovable without having to qualify for that acceptance."

-- Dr. Paul Tournier

How do you see yourself as unlovable?

Take a few minutes to write down why you perceive yourself to be unlovable. Look at the list and see if you can identify where those characterizations originated. Can you pinpoint old messages from parents, teachers, and friends that led you to negative conclusions about yourself? Are those messages valid today?

The beliefs we adopt as children usually don't hold when we view them objectively as adults. Can you let them go? Can you begin to see yourself as a unique expression of life, a genuine gift to the world?

"You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection."

-- Buddha

"Limitless like the ocean are your excellent qualities."

-- Dalai Lama

Used with permission from Higher Awareness

For so many years, I thought myself unlovable. When my husband was seeing other women shortly after our marriage and was with another woman the night our son was born, I thought there was something wrong with me. It had to be all my fault. I wasn't good enough as a wife, mother, lover, friend, sibling, and daughter.

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/alphabet-hearts-10/0012.gifhttp://www.animated-gifs.eu/alphabet-hearts-10/0015.gifhttp://www.animated-gifs.eu/alphabet-hearts-10/0022.gifhttp://www.animated-gifs.eu/alphabet-hearts-10/0005.gif

[schell08122008]

Thanks Jo! This did give me "pause for thought" . I held onto those old tapes from kids, teachers, and lovers in the long past which told me in different ways I was worthless, and therefore..lead me to believe ..unloveable. I grew up with these rolling around in my head..any situation later on that occurred and went wrong I would say "of course this happened, I am worthless and incapable of having others love me" In early recovery, while living in a half-way house, the house mother talked to me about this..I cried..no, I felt no one loved me..and therefore, I really hated myself..she had me do a daily exercise..she called it "mirror work" where I had to look into a mirror and tell myself "I am loveable" and I love you..(meaning me) there was more involved, but I no longer have the paper I read from. For many weeks doing this..I would break out in tears..I just couldn't get through it..I didn't believe it..I complained to the house mother.."I hate myself, this is stupid etc." She had me press on..finally, I was able to do the mirror work, without crying..I am not saying this solved the problem or erased those old tapes, but it did force me to look at myself realistically. I like the idea of writing down why I feel unlovable. Peace to you, Schell

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-faces/0102.gif

Do you believe in yourself?

"We cannot rise higher than our thought of ourselves."
-- Orison Swett Marden

What do you believe about yourself?

If you are experiencing a lack of something in your life, chances are that you hold a belief in your subconscious that says you aren't worthy of having that quality. Write in your journal the answer to these questions for yourself:

- Where are you not good enough, not worthy enough?
- How willing are you to receive?

"We do not believe in ourselves until someone reveals that deep inside us something is valuable, worth listening to, worthy of our trust, sacred to our touch. Once we believe in ourselves we can risk curiosity, wonder, spontaneous delight or any experience that reveals the human spirit."

-- e. e. cummings

From Higher Awareness (used with permission)

Sure didn't prior to recovery. It took several years in recovery for the insides to match the outside. It didn't help that all my life I thought I was ugly.

[schell08122008]

Thanks Jo, saw this yesterday..but had to think about it a little. I grew up feeling unworthy of friendship and love..thought I was so ugly too...the low self-esteem prevented me from trying new things..I grew up very afraid of failure and being made fun of..so I didn't venture out..when complimented on something, like my poetry or art work..I never accepted the compliment.."they must be lying..just trying to make me feel good" The things I did well, I could never accept. It wasn't until I worked the program thoroughly..and attended meetings regularly..allowing others to get to know the real me..that I began to feel some acceptance..I still remember the first time I was the speaker for a group...so much fear...my sponsor had me get down on my knees and pray before speaking..I even prayed with my sister-sponsees in a group..this gave me some peace and freedom from the anxiety..needless to say, I was able to speak from the heart..it was quit the experience for me..I was never able to talk in front of a group of people before! The program has brought so many gifts into my life..the fear of being myself has lessened greatly..today I have somewhat better self-esteem..and I say somewhat..I still feel ugly, and can be resentful toward women who are so pretty..I need reassurance from my family and Terry that I look okay..I am sure this will pass too in time..Thanks for your share Jo. Peace , Schell

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-animals/0154.gif

SOMEONE
who makes you feel good
about lving, who brings out
the you who is joyful and giving ~
This is the Meaning of Love.

SOMETHING
that gives you a chance to be strong,
or trust in anotehr to hely you along ~
this is the Meaning of Love.

SOMEWHERE
that you feel like you've been forever ~
a place where you're growing
and learn together ~
This is the Meaning of Love.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/insects/0134.gif

Dear God, are you listening,

I must talk to you

I need you to hear me,

I know this is true

You remember what happened,

just Yesterday?

Can you please light tomorrow,

with today?



Yesterday is gone,

and the bad time too

All because,

I prayed to you

But today is much better,

this I must say

So please light tomorrow,

with today?

The burdens were heavy,

a few times this week

As I'm still learning,

to turn the other cheek

I know in my heart,

you guide my way

If you'll just light tomorrow,

with today.



Had we known our problems,

would all disappear

The moment we prayed,

it would all be so clear

You the master of all,

the giver of life

Caring for us,

in the midst of all strife.
Dear God, are you listening,

I must talk to you

I need you to hear me,

I know this is true

You remember what happened,

just Yesterday?

Can you please light tomorrow,

with today?



Yesterday is gone,

and the bad time too

All because,

I prayed to you

But today is much better,

this I must say

So please light tomorrow,

with today?
Many times we don't see,

the future as bright

We worry, and fret;

we don't see your light

But then sun comes up,

in the sky, there it lay

For you've lit our tomorrow,

with today.

[MajestyJo]

http://multiply.com/mu/eaglewolf88/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/Te1kUQooCpUAAH3-7iI1/0056.gif?et=WLR6nQR0ZZWDLsZkYVPCOw&nmid=0

God grant us this year a wider view,
So we see others' faults through the eyes of You;
Teach us to judge not with hasty tongue,
Neither the adult ... nor the young.

Give us patience and grace to endure
And a stronger faith so we feel secure;
And instead of remembering, help us forget
The irritations that caused us to fret.


Freely forgiving for some offense
And finding each day a rich recompense,
In offering a friendly, helping hand
And trying in all ways to understand,
That all of us whoever we are ...
Are trying to reach "an unreachable star."


For the great and small ... the good and bad,
The young and old ... the sad and glad,
Are asking today, "Is life worth living?"
And the answer is only in "loving" and "giving."


For only "Love" can make man kind
And Kindness of Heart brings Peace of Mind,
And by giving love we can start this year
To lift the clouds of hate and fear.

~ Helen Steiner Rice ~

[MajestyJo]

http://multiply.com/mu/ccmoi2/image/1:angelhealth/photos/19/500x500/11/butterflyglobe2Dvi.gif?et=9fyFWOaDWq4KS%2BKgCYEJzg&nmid=246574607

"Everybody Knows"

You can't be all things to all people.
You can't do all things at once.
You can't do all things equally well.
You can't do all things better than everyone else.
Your humanity is showing just like everyone else's.

So...

You have to find out who you are, and be that.
You have to decide what comes first and do that.
You have to discover your strengths, and use them.
You have to learn not to compete with others,
Because no one else is in the contest of "being you".

Then...

You will have learned to accept your own uniqueness.
You will have learned to set priorities and make decisions.
You will have learned to live with your limitations.
You will have learned to give yourself the respect that is due,
And you'll be a being that's vitally alive.

Dare To Believe...

That you are a wonderful unique person.
That you are a once-in-all-history event.
That it's more than a right, it's your duty, to be who you are.
That life is not a problem to solve, but a gift to cherish,
And you'll be able to stay one up on what used to get you down.


--Author Unknown

[schell08122008]

I tried to be everything to everyone..I thought I was soul searching all the time I was just getting high. Sobriety has given me the gift of truly looking at myself and my behavior toward others..it has also let me truly be a seeker of a Divine power..others are there to help me explore by their sharing..I have found something today in sobriety which has brought an incredible sense of peace to my soul..though life is chaotic at times, and I often revert to acting out on emotions running high, when I talk to someone in the program, do some reflecting, or go to a meeting, I learn about myself..I can grow today..I can help others without trying to be their God! Peace Schell

[MajestyJo]

http://angelwinks.net/images/generalpod/generalpod1262.jpg

Morning Thoughts

On awakening, let us think about the twenty-four hours ahead. We ask God to direct our thinking, especially asking that it be divorced fro self-pity and from dishonest or self-seeking motives. Free of these, we can employ our mental faculties with assurance, for God gave us brains to use. Our thought-life will be on a higher plane when our thinking begins to be cleared of wrong motives.

If we have to determine which of two coures to take, we ask God for inspiration, an intuitive thought, or a decision. Then we relax and take it easy, and we are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.

We usually conclude our meditation with prayer that we be shown all through the day what our next step is to be, asking especially for freedom from damaging self-will.

-
Alcoholics Anonymous, pp. 86, 87 From: As Bill Sees It

[MajestyJo]

Healing Meditation

http://images.freedomangel22.multiply.com/image/0Ro4EFFCxCdJrZfNv3BTsQ/photos/1M/300x300/148/CDocuments-and-SettingsJoanneMy-DocumentsMy-PicturesAngels1.JPG?et=Bd7gK%2Bkd97fPREnaJFSdYg&nmid=0


The healing art of meditation using color.

http://www.meditationcenter.com/healing/color.html

[schell08122008]

Thanks Jo, I learned of the light spectrum meditation during a course I took in college..not a class..it was something I was interested in and took on the side..very enlightening. And beneficial. Of course I stopped using it many, many years ago, so this was a good refresher. Peace Schell

[MajestyJo]

LET GO...LET GOD...

http://images.spirituallady2.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/SgnsHQoKCC8AAAYRSFU1/8.jpg?et=UNZArrqtlnFJlwNrOJFfkA&nmid=0

Let go of all your worries,
Let God see you through;
Just turn it over to Him,
Then they will be so few.

He's there just for the asking,
As we pray to Him each day;
To help us climb the mountains,
That might get in our way.

So when troubles fall upon us,
Get down upon your knees;
He'll lift your spirits upward,
If only you'll say, "Please."

"Help me, God, I need you now,
Don't ever go away;
Your precious Son, my Jesus,
His life for me did pay."

So, today, I will let go,
And let God have it all;
Then tomorrow I'll look back,
And say, "It seemed so small."
Faith is not believing that God can,
it is knowing that He will......

- source unknown to me -

[schell08122008]

A Prayer of Hope-for people who want to make that change

Oh Heavenly Father I Pray
Unto Thee
That you Give me the Strength
To become alcohol and drug free
I am only human Father
And for Drugs I am weak
But I know with your help
This drug thing I can beat
I pray to stay away from drugs
For Which I Have No More Use
So please Lord Great me the Serenity
From alcohol and Drug abuse
And Let me begin to live
my life all anew
Cause deep down in side my sould
This is what I really Want to do
To Be able to say no to drugs
And to Mean It All a While
For with your grace and blessings Father
I can once again feel free
Proud to say no to a drug
That was taking me down
For truly I was lost Father
But now I am foundSo please hear me Heavenly Father
As I pray Unto Thee
Give me the strength and serenity
To become Alcohol and Drug free
This I ask of you Father, In Jesus Name, Amen!

by Rene Maxwell and Family 1994


:85:

[MajestyJo]

Thank you for sharing. Prayer work any and at all times.

[MajestyJo]

�When I was a kid, my Mom liked to make breakfast food for dinner every now and then

� And I remember one night in particular when she had made breakfast after a long, hard day at work.

� On that evening so long ago, my Mom placed a plate of eggs, sausage and extremely burned biscuits in front of my dad.

� I remember waiting to see if anyone noticed!

� Yet all my dad did was reach for his biscuit, smile at my Mom and ask me how my day was at school.

� I don't remember what I told him that night, but I do remember watching him smear butter and jelly on that ugly burned biscuit
.
� He ate every bite of that thing... Never made a face nor uttered a word about it!

� When I got up from the table that evening, I remember hearing my Mom apologize to my dad for burning the biscuits.

� And I'll never forget what he said: "Honey, I love burned biscuits every now and then."

� Later that night, I went to kiss Daddy good night and I asked him if he really liked his biscuits burned.

� He wrapped me in his arms and said. "Mom put in a hard day at work today and she's real tired".

� And besides - a little burned biscuit never hurt anyone!"

� As I've grown older, I've thought about that many times.

� Life is full of imperfect things and imperfect people.

� I'm not the best at hardly anything, and I forget birthdays and anniversaries just like everyone else. But what I've learned over the years is that learning to accept each other's faults - and choosing to celebrate each other's differences - is one of the most important keys to creating a healthy, growing, and lasting relationship.

�And that's my prayer for you today...
That you will learn to take the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of your life and lay them at the feet of God.

� Because in the end, He's the only One who will be able to give you a relationship where a burnt biscuit isn't a deal-breaker!

We could extend this to any relationship.
In fact, understanding is the base of any relationship, be it a husband-wife or parent-child or friendship!

"Don't put the key to your happiness in someone else's pocket - keep it in your own."

�So, please pass me a biscuit, and yes, the burned one will do just fine.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-babies/0181.gif


Twinkle Twinkle Little Star


When the house lights dimmed and the concert was about to begin,the mother returned to her seat and discovered that the child was missing.
Suddenly, the curtains parted and spotlights focused on the impressive Steinway on stage.

In horror, the mother saw her little boy sitting at the keyboard,innocently picking out "Twinkle,Twinkle Little Star."

At that moment, the great piano master made his entrance, quickly moved to the piano, and whispered in the boy's ear,

"Don't quit.""Keep playing."
Then, leaning over, Paderewski reached down with his left hand and began filling in a bass part. Soon his right arm reached around to the other side of the child,and he added a running obbligato.

Together, the old master and the young novice transformed what could have been a frightening situation into a wonderfully creative experience. The audience was so mesmerized that they couldn't recall what else the great master played.

Only the classic, " Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star."

Perhaps that's the way it is with God.

What we can accomplish on our own is hardly noteworthy.

We try our best, but the results aren't always graceful flowing music. However, with the hand of the Master, our life's work can truly be beautiful.

Perhaps we should listen more closely. We might hear the voice of the Master, whispering in our ear, "Don't quit." "Keep playing."

May you feel His arms around you today and know that His hands are there, helping you turn your feeble attempts into true masterpieces.

Life is more accurately measured by the lives we touch than by the things we acquire.

May God bless you and be with you always!

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-butterflies/0297.gif

How would you rate your level of "Inner Peace"?
Enough to stay calm in a den of lions?
Enough to get through a good day?
Enough for the next five minutes,
so long as everybody leaves you alone?

You may need a good case of inner peace,
a disease that could leave you stress-free
and contented for years to come.
A chiropractor named Jeff Rockwell
composed a list he calls
"Symptoms of Inner Peace."
You may have already caught this disease!
See how many of these symptoms you exhibit:

1.
A tendency to think and act
spontaneously rather than from
fears based on past experiences.

2.
An unmistakable ability
to enjoy each moment.

3.
A loss of interest in judging self.

4.
A loss of interest in judging others.

5.
A loss of interest in conflict.

6.
A loss of interest in interpreting
the actions of others.

7.
A loss of ability to worry
(this is a serious symptom).

8.
Frequent,
overwhelming episodes of appreciation.

9.
Contented feelings of connectedness
with others and nature.

10.
Frequent attacks of smiling
through the eyes of the heart.

11.
Increasing susceptibility to love
extended by others as well as
the uncontrollable urge to extend it.

12.
An increasing tendency
to let things happen.

Inner peace is a communicable disease
that could possibly infect
your home or workplace.
You may already be showing signs of it
and quite possibly be passing it along to others!

Rockwell warns:
"If you have all or even most
of the above symptoms,
please be advised that your condition
of PEACE may be so far advanced
as to not be treatable."

Have you caught it?

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/water-aquariums/0048.gif

GOING AROUND IN CIRCLES?

NEED SOME GOOD ORDERLY DIRECTION IN YOUR LIFE?

CONNECT WITH YOUR HIGHER POWER!

GET IN TOUCH WITH NATURE. BE A PART OF HIS WORLD.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/birds-corbels/0040.gif

NO MATTER WHAT WAY YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU HAVE TO ACCEPT IT IN ORDER TO CHANGE IT!

THE 5 As OF CHANGE: AWARENESS, ADMITTANCE, ACCEPTANCE, ACTION, AND ATTITUDE.

[MajestyJo]

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ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their
conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, "I love you," mean it.

FIVE. When you say, "I'm sorry," look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dream. People who don't have dreams
don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the
only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer,
smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve
great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self;

Respect for others; and responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake,

take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone.

The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

[MajestyJo]

http://angelwinks.net/images//flowerpod/flowerpod31.jpg

Today Is The Very First Day
of The Rest Of Your Life

This is the beginning of a new day.
I have been given this day
to use as I WILL.
I can waste it...
or use it for good,
But what I do today is important,
Because I am exchanging
a day of my life for it!

When tomorrow comes,
this day will be gone forever,
Leaving in its place
something that I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain,
and not loss;
Good and not evil;
success and not failure;
In order that I shall not regret
the price I have paid for it.

I will try just for today,
for you never fail until you stop trying.

- - unknown

[MajestyJo]

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SHAKE OFF WHAT IS BOTHERING YOU!

LET GO OF THE OLD, MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW!

THAT IS WHY WE DO A STEP FOUR AND FIVE!

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YOU NEED TO FEEL THE FEELINGS BEFORE YOU CAN LET THEM

[MajestyJo]

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YOU WILL RECEIVE A BODY...
You may like it or hate it, but it will be yours for the entire period you're around.

YOU WILL LEARN LESSONS...
You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called life.
Each day in this school you will have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons or think them irrelevant and stupid.

THERE ARE NO MISTAKES, ONLY LESSONS...
Growth is a process of trial and error, experimentation.
The "Failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiment that ultimately "works".

LESSON IS REPEATED UNTIL LEARNED...
A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can then go on to the next lesson.

LEARNING LESSONS DOES NOT END...
There is no part of life that does not contain its lessons. If you are alive, there are lessons to be learned.

"THERE" IS NO BETTER THAN "HERE"...
When your "There" has become a "Here", you will simply obtain another "There" that will, again, look better than "Here".

OTHERS ARE MERELY MIRRORS OF YOU...
You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.

WHAT YOU MAKE OF YOUR LIFE IS UP TO YOU...
You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.

YOUR ANSWERS LIE INSIDE YOU...
The answers to life's questions lie inside you. All you need to do is look, listen and trust.

YOU WILL FORGET ALL THIS...
Unless you consistently stay focused on the goals you have set for yourself, everything you've just read won't mean a thing.

From White owl - The Antesian Newsletter

[MajestyJo]

http://angelwinks.net/images/iq/qckittywflowers1.jpg

"Belief is not always easy for me. Most of all, my thinking gets in the way." - Anne Wilson Schaef

So many of my beliefs were old tapes. They also added to my dyfunction and inability to cope with life on life's terms because I received so many 'mixed' messages.

When you hear people like your parents, doctor, minister, boss, etc. say, "This is what you should do!" I know that I tended to believe. They were the authority, the people in the know!

How could I disbelieve? More importantly, who was I to believe otherwise? "Who died and made me God?" was something I was asked numerous times, and that brought on projected guilt and shame. I had no belief of self so how could I believe that God loved me, especially when I didn't act and think the way I was told I should.

In today, I have learned to trust my Higher Self. I am very grateful for the person who told me, "If you are doubting yourself, you are doubting God!" How dare you be so presumptious? If you turn your life over to the care of God, He will give you that inner knowingness. The good orderly direction will be there, and when you align your will with God's, then you are doing what He would have you do, not what other people think you should do.

That inner affirmation was so important for me, and it meant I didn't have to go outside of myself for approval and live my life through other people. I could believe in myself and the God of my understanding, not the understanding of others.

[MajestyJo]

EASY DOES IT

MAY 4

WINNING ATTITUDE

If I should lose, let me stand by the road and cheer as the winners go by.

- Berton Bradley


If we are to be among the winners in the recovery from addiction and obsession, we must maintain the attitude of success.

Winners in any 12 Step Program take fearless inventories, correct shortcomings, and willingly make amends. By taking charge of ourselves in this manner, we neither blame nor credit others or events. With confidence and willingness, we hold ourselves responsible for our lives.

We take responsibility for our pre-Program faults and conduct. We can then count ourselves among those who, with the help of our Higher Power, can control compulsive and excessive behavior. But we don't do it with pride. We do it with humility and gratitude.

I will begin to lose hold of a winning attitude if I choose to leave spiritual growth to chance.

I must make life happen not let it happen to me.

Attitude has always been something that I had to learn to check at the door. It was often found wanting and had to be left behind.


http://www.animated-gifs.eu/easter-rabbits/0150.gif

[schell08122008]

Winners in any 12 Step Program take fearless inventories, correct shortcomings, and willingly make amends. By taking charge of ourselves in this manner, we neither blame nor credit others or events. With confidence and willingness, we hold ourselves responsible for our lives." Thanks Jo, I don't know how to use the quote thing where it boxes it. Anyway, I used to go to a group called Winners and Beginners'. My old sponsor always used to say "stick with the winners" I was never sure who those winners where she was referring to ...but like this part of your share says, the winners are those who take responsibility for their actions by taking fearless inventories and making amends when the inventory shows they were in the wrong. The winners are those who suit up and show up for this program. That doesn't mean there are losers in the program..there are only those who may not be taking the necessary actions to live a happy sober life. When I first heard this statement, and pondered on it, I was able to look around a room and see those who had spirit in their eyes..spoke from their experience and from their hearts...in my belief, those were the winners. To be able to have this courage and confidence in life...they had something I wanted. On your part about the attitudes. reminds me on days I go to work, or to a family event..I may start out very negative before going..oh I just shouldn't go, they don't like me anyway, etc...I find that if I go and say the serenity prayer and put a smile on my face..my attitude changes..act as if..the smile puts me in a good mood..people will actually ask me what are your smiling about, or you look so happy, I answer , its better to smile than to cry (i said this at work one time when things were bad there). It works! Peace Schell

[MajestyJo]

My spiritual advisor and sometimes NA sponsor, said to me, "Anyone who stay sober for one day, is a winner. He also said, "If you got up before 7 a.m. this morning, you have more sobriety than me. My life wasn't a good example for that quote. I didn't go to bed until 1 p.m. and didn't wake up until 11:30 p.m. I have been fighting sleep since I got up, and now I thinking of going back to my bed. As they say, a day can start any time.

Thanks for sharing, I always like what you have to say.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/insects-bees/0042.gif

HOPE YOU HAVE http://www.animated-gifs.eu/cartoons-maya/0001.gif'N FINE!

MY MOUTH HAS BEEN BUSY AND MY FINGERS WON'T http://www.animated-gifs.eu/cartoons-maya/0001.gif QUIET!!

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YOU HAVE SEEN THE END OF ME FOR THE DAY!

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HOPE YOUR DAY WAS FULL OF GOOD THINGS!

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[MajestyJo]

What Color Are You?

Read this and then send it to as many friends as you can ncluding the person who sent it to you.....after discovering what "color" you are, read the description at the bottom for that color.....send this back to the person who sent it to you and to other friends...don't forget to change the color in the "subject" of your e-mail!
(PUT YOUR OWN COLOR IN THE SUBJECT LINE)

If your birthday is on......

December 23rd~ January 1st = Red
January 2nd ~ January 11th = Orange
January 12th ~ January 24th = Yellow
January 25th ~ February 3rd = Pink
February 4th ~ February 8th = Blue
February 9th ~ February 18th = Green
February 19th ~ February 28th = Brown
March 1st ~ March 10th = Aqua
March 11th ~ March 20th = Lime
March 21st = Black
March 22nd ~ March 31st = Purple
April 1st ~ April 10th = Navy
April 11th ~ April 20th = Silver
April 21st ~ April 30th = White
May 1st ~ May 14th = Blue
May 15th ~ May 24th = Gold
May 25th ~ June 3rd= Cream
June 4th ~ June 13th = Grey
June 14th ~ June 23rd = Maroon
June 24th = Grey
June 25th ~ July 4th = Red
July 5th ~ July 14th = Orange
July 15th ~ July 25th = Yellow
July 26th ~ August 4th = Pink
August 5th ~ August 13th = Blue
August 14th ~ August 23rd = Green
August 24th ~ September 2nd = Brown
September 3rd ~ September 12th = Aqua
September 13th ~ September 22nd = Lime
September 23rd = Olive
September 24th ~October 3rd = Purple
October 4th ~ October 13th = Navy
October 14th ~ October 23rd = Silver
October 24th ~November 11th = White
November 12th ~ November 21st = Gold
November 22nd ~ December 1st = Cream
December 2nd ~ December 11th = Grey
December 12th~ December 21st = Maroon
December 22nd = Teal

**********************************************

*RED*
Cute and lovable type, you are picky but always in love... and liked to be loved. Fresh and cheerful, but can be "moody" at times. Capable with people nice, soft, and that can love you for the way you are. Likes people that are easy to talk to, and can make you feel comfortable.
----------------------------------------------

*CREAM*
Competitive and sportive. Don't like losing and always cheerful! You are trustworthy, and very out going. You choose love carefully, and don't fall in love easily. But once you find the right one, you don't let go or a long time.
----------------------------------------------

*TEAL*
You are mostly interested in your looks. And have high standards in picking love. You think and make a solution precisely, and hardly make
stupid mistakes. You like to lead, and is easy for you to make new friends.
----------------------------------------------

*GREY*
You are attractive, and active. You never hide your feelings, and express everything that's inside. But can be selfish at times. You want to be noticed, and don't like to be treated unequally. You can brighten up people's day. You know what to say at the right time, and you have a good sense of humor.
----------------------------------------------

*GREEN*
You get along well with new people. You are not really a shy person, but sometimes you can hurt people's feelings by your words... You like to be loved and noticed by your lover, but mostly you are single, waiting
for the right person.
----------------------------------------------

*GOLD*
You know what's right and what's wrong. You are cheerful and outgoing.
It's hard for you to find the one you want, but once you find the right person, you won't be able to fall in love again for a long time.
----------------------------------------------

*PINK*
You are always trying your best in everything, and like to help and care for other people. But you are not easily satisfied. You have negative thoughts, and you look for romantic love like in a fairytale.
----------------------------------------------

*YELLOW*
You are sweet and innocent. Trusted by many people, and have a strong leadership towards relationships. You make good decision and make the right choice at the right time. And always dreaming of romantic
relationship.
----------------------------------------------

*MAROON*
You are intelligent, and know what's right. You like to make things go your way, which can sometimes cause trouble for not thinking about other people's feelings. But you be patient when it comes to love... Once you get a hold of the right person, it's hard for you to find a better love.
----------------------------------------------

*ORANGE*
You are responsible for your own actions, and you know how to treat people. You always have goals to reach and you really work hard to get there, you are competitive. Your friends are really important to you and you appreciate what you have, you sometimes over react that's because you are sensitive.
----------------------------------------------

*PURPLE*
You are mysterious, never selfish and get interested in things easily.
Your day can be sad or happy depending on your mood. You are popular between friends but you can act stupid at times, and forget things easily. You go for a person that's trustworthy.
----------------------------------------------

*LIME*
You are calm, but easily stressed out. You get jealous easily, and complain over little things. You can't get stuck into one thing, but you have a capable personality for everyone to trust you and like you.
----------------------------------------------

*SILVER*
You are imaginative and fun, you love trying new things. You like to challenge yourself and you learn things easily, you're easy to talk to and you give good advice. When comes to friendship, you find it hard
to trust someone, but once you find the right friend, you trust them forever.
----------------------------------------------

*BLACK*
You are challenging, and have the "guts". But you don't like changes in your life. And once you make a decision, you keep it that way for a long time. Your love life is also challenging, and different.
----------------------------------------------

*OLIVE*
You are warm and light hearted. You seem to flow well with Friends and family. You don't like violence and know what's right. You are kind and
cheerful, but don't envy other people easily.
----------------------------------------------

*BROWN*
You are active and sportive. It's hard for other people to become close with you, but you fall in love easily. But once you find out you can't get something, you give up and let go easily as well.
----------------------------------------------

*BLUE*
You may have low self-esteem, and can be very picky. You are artistic and like to fall in love, but you let your love pass by, by loving with your mind, not your heart.
----------------------------------------------

*NAVY*
You are attractive, and love your life. You have a strong feeling towards everything. And very easily distracted. Once you get angry at someone, its hard for you to forgive them.
----------------------------------------------

*WHITE*
You dream and have goals in your life. You get jealous easily and you don't react to things easily. You are different and sometimes weird, but everyone loves that in you.
----------------------------------------------

*AQUA*
Your feelings change suddenly and easily. You are always lonely, and like traveling. You are truthful, but listen and believe other people too easily. It's hard to find love for you, and get lost in love easily,
sometimes get hurt by love.

N.B. They say color is healing. When you want healing wear a color and think a color that will make you feel better.

[schell08122008]

Loved your posts Jo! The first one , which I missed yesterday was so real with those piggies..they went with the words perfectly! And the color one was amazing! Mine came up Pink...which in reality I do not like pink...but what it meant was really like me! I also looked up Terry's which was silver..and came pretty darn close to him too. Thanks, Schell

[MajestyJo]

Didn't post mine, just coloured the print. Mine was navy. I don't like pink either. If I have pink in my wardrobe it is because someone gave it to me.

[MajestyJo]

Using dreams were always warning in my recovery. Either I have an emotion I haven't dealt with and in denial about, I am setting myself up for a relapse, or I have an issue that needs addressing.

This dream was posted 4 years ago. It is 22 years since I lived with husband #2.

My son came and woke me up today. He said, "I wanted to see if you were still breathing." I had the phone shut off because I had a bad night last night and couldn't sleep. I had read for a long time, didn't want to put the book down and then when I wanted to sleep I wasn't sleepy.

I was glad he woke me up because I was having a dream. I was in the Legion playing darts with two girls and a guy who I didn't know. Just before he woke me, husband number two came rushing in, ordered a beer and came and sat at the table. I remember I was angry at him because he had been gone a long time and was wondering what he had been up to.

I had sat watching the other people play and then just before he arrived I started playing with them. I was playing good but when he arrived, I only had two darts in the board not three.

Think maybe there is a message there besides the anger, will have to think about it for a while.

Not sure of the end result and what conclusion I came to. Perhaps the 2 out of 3, means you are not finished yet, there is more to come.

[MajestyJo]

I Will Come Home To You

~*Marge Tindal*~

O' Maker Of Life
into this earthly shell I am bound
until I am washed upon your shore
awaiting passage
forevermore at peace
among the oceans of my people
Having floated many moon-moved waves
I now await the tide that will bring me
into the serenity of your gentle waters
Whenever you are ready
I will come home to you

http://www.wcnet.org/~bro13256/marge2.html



http://www.wcnet.org/~bro13256/mt40.html

[MajestyJo]

We cannot do all things. --Virgil


My old tapes told me a different story. They are hard to replace because I feel like a failure if I can't be there for someone when they need me. Mind you, it is in my mind that they need me, it may not be in theirs. It can also be a projection that is not mine to take on.

Many times I suffered burn out as a result of trying to be all things to all people. It is just not possible and I end up spreading myself so thin that I don't have the time to do a complete job and beat myself up again for being less than.

Often my complete job, far exceeds what is expected of me, it is what I put onto myself that makes things unreachable.

Through my God all things are possible, yet I also believe, if it is not suppose to happen, I am given warning that it isn't good. What He leads me to, He will see me through. Even if I find myself in a place of my choosing, He is there, He is with me.


http://d.yimg.com/kq/groups/11286334/sn/1215530342/name/n_a

We are given freedom of choice.

We are Co-Creators of our own Universe.

[MajestyJo]

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[schell08122008]

Thanks for those beautiful pictures and saying Jo. I copied all the pictures. Nice way to start my morning. Peace to you all, Schell
My pause for thought today is this.."Peace comes within the souls of men When they realize their oneness with the universe" Black Elk
found in the book "Wherever you go, there you are"

[MajestyJo]

Like the quote and like the title of the book. It reminds me of the saying, "Wherever you go, you take you with you."

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[MajestyJo]

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*Lesser Known Breeds of Dogs*
Cross Breeds



For all you dog lovers out there,
here are some of the lesser known breeds
that are being bred in different parts
of the United States,

Cross breed Dogs:

Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter,
a traditional Christmas pet

Kerry Blue Terrier + Skye Terrier = Blue Skye,
a dog for visionaries

Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs,
a puzzling breed

Pekingnese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso,
an abstract dog

Irish Water Spaniel + English Springer Spaniel =
Irish Springer,
a dog fresh and clean as a whistle

Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever =
Lab Coat Retriever,
the choice of research scientists

Newfoundland + Basset Hound =
Newfound Asset Hound,
a dog for financial advisors

Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull,
a dog that makes awful mistakes

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador,
a dog that barks incessantly

Malamute + Pointer = Moot Point,
owned by....oh, well,
it doesn't matter anyway

Collie + Malamute = Commute,
a dog that travels to work

Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere,
a dog that's true to the end

Bull Terrier + Sh*tzu = Bullsh*tz
a gregarious but unreliable breed

[MajestyJo]

"Reach for your Star"

http://i667.photobucket.com/albums/vv36/MajestyJo/Today/0079.gif

Do not take anything
as being forever,
because forever is only
as long as today.
Know that the people who
are the richest
are not those who have the most,
but those who need the least.
That we are at our strongest
when life is at its worst,
and at our weakest when life
no longer offers a challenge.
That it is wiser not to expect,
but to hope,
for in expecting you ask for
disappointment,
whereas in hoping, you invite
surprise.
That unhappiness doesn't come from
not having something you want,
but from the lack of something
inside that you need.
That there are things to hold
and things to let go,
and letting go doesn't mean you lose,
but that you acquire that which
has been waiting around the corner.

Most of all...
remember to use your dreams as a
way of knowing yourself better,
and as an inspiration to reach
for your star.

Received with thanks from Inspiration Plus

[MajestyJo]

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Tune Into The Inner Critic

"A critic is a legless man who teaches running."

-- Channing Pollock

Are you aware of your inner critic? We all have this voice that tells
us we are bad, stupid, clumsy, cowardly.... Although its intent is to
help us succeed, the harsh self talk of our critic just serves to drain
our energy and lower our morale and immune system.

To defuse the inner critic, we need to recognize when the critic is
speaking. We need to know that this voice does not necessarily speak for
who we really are. This is an old pattern that may no longer be serving
us. We want to open to the possibility that the words are not likely
true. We can ask ourselves, "Are these words helpful?"

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent."

-- Eleanor Roosevelt

"Abilities wither under faultfinding, blossom with encouragement."

-- Donald A. Laird

"Never react emotionally to criticism. Analyze yourself to determine
whether it is justified. If it is, correct yourself. Otherwise, go on
about your business."

-- Norman Vincent Peale

************************************************** ***
These quotes are supplied courtesy of Higher Awareness. They offer
inspiring, thought-provoking self development programs to help you clearly
understand how life and natural laws work, whilst enhancing intuition
and creating the future you desire.

************************************************** ***

[MajestyJo]

http://www.angelwinks.net/images/butterfly11.jpg

Butterflies and Flowers

~*Marge Tindal*~

'Midst the ink of meadowed think
butterflies flit on flowers of pink
Winging thoughts from poet's of measure
who share with us their greatest treasure~

Words take wing in the come of Spring
pleasured keep that nature brings
Amongst the pages of truest blue
we share a thought, or maybe two~

Knowing that there are those
who send a word-bouquet of the rose
With pretty thoughts on flit of wing
for just the simple joy they bring~

Count me among the admirers true
that love the beauteous ink
of butterflies flit
on flowers pink~

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/meteo-spring-uk/0004.gif

A Walk in the Woods

Have you ever taken a walk in the woods, and seen the beauty of the trees, the coolness of their shade, their gentle whispers as the wind flirts with their branches...

Have you seen a deer grazing in the middle of a clearing with her fawn...

Have you seen a bear drinking from a soft, gurgling stream while her cubs frolic gleefully nearby...

Have you heard the faint chirping of birds while they gossip with one another...

Have you noticed the glory and brilliance of a blossoming flower on the moist carpet of the forest...

These are things of God... In them, do you see jealousy or vengeance...

I don't...

Have you ever seen the magnificence of a solitary Eagle in flight, working the updrafts beside a cliff at dusk...

Have you ever studied the strength of a horse as it gallops headlong across a pasture with the wind teasing it's mane and tail...

Have you ever watched a bee as it scurries from flower to flower, gathering all it can to take home to share with it's fellows...

These are things of God...

In them, do you see greed or fear...

I don't...

Have you ever sat out on the porch and watched a summer storm, seen the quick brilliance of a lightning flash, and heard the throaty roar of the ensuing thunder...

Have you seen the devastation of a forest fire caused by that same lightning...

Have you seen the raw power of a tornado as it buries a small piece of straw deep into a telephone pole, or bends railroad tracks as it bounces by...

Have you seen the devastation wrought by an earthquake, a volcano, or a flash flood...

These too are things of God...

In them, do you see sin and retribution...

I don’t…

When you see a rainbow reach across the expanse of the sky, or smell the clean fresh scent of the air after a gentle spring rain, or hear the dead silence of snowfall at midnight, do you quake in fear of God's judgment...

I don't...

I don't find God between the pages of an old book put together ages ago by men trying to prove their righteousness and superiority over others...

I find God inside myself and outside myself, all around, in everything I see, smell or hear...

And the God I find is good, loving and welcoming...

God doesn’t need Man to write a book for Him in order to communicate with us…

He speaks to each and every one of us, every day;

All we need to do is listen.

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[MajestyJo]

http://angelwinks.net/images/nostalgicpod/nostalgicpod13.jpg

How often we substitute other (people, places and things) for our drug of choice. This can materialize in many forms but it all leads to the same soul sickness.

I was told that anything that came between me and the kind of person God wants me to be and becomes an obsessive, compulsive action in my life and it becomes the 'god' of my life

Sobriety for me means soundness of mind. Anything that takes me out of that state puts me at risk, and I may pick up. I can be clean and sober and not have sobriety.

It has materialized in many forms for me:

1) My bed (hiding from reality and life as a whole

2) Food - stuffing feelings I don't want to deal with or I have allowed myself to become empty and I am looking for something outside of myself to 'fill' me up.

3) Work - redirecting my energies so I don't have to stop and look at myself. An outlet for the emotions I don't want to acknowledge and takes away from time I need to work on my recovery.

4)My compuer - this is a biggy for me. Even though a lot of the work I do on the computer is recovery it is generally to help others, and often I am copy typing, or reading other people's material, and even if I can identify, I need time to process that material. If I don't take that time, then it doesn't do me any good if I don't apply it to my life. I don't like to admit it, but a couple of times I have had friends say to me, "Practice what you preach!" Apply what you know to yourself! Take time for you, this is a living program. All I have is today. Am I living or am I back existing?

5) People, a biggy for me who has been Ms. Caretaker for many years. It is always so much easier to focus and help someone else rather than look at myself. There is also that old "If you don't love me, then I will find someone else who does" Syndrome, along with that "What's good for the goose is good for the gander" Solution which generally hurts everyone.

6) Things like chocolate (sweets are good when you first come into recovery and the cure becomes a curse), pills (depression and nervous disorders which are common to detoxing becomes treated with the "almighty" pill and becomes like "dried-up" alcohol to our system, meetings (go to 90 meetings in 90 days - then what do you do? Stop? I don't think so! Yet they can be a dependency too, and you don't want to leave the safe stronghold and step out into the real world.

Maybe that is why this is called a "One Day At A Time" program. We have to live it, each moment, each hour of the day.

Maybe you have some substitutions you would like to share? We can't know what we haven't been taught or experienced!

[schell08122008]

Good topic Jo! This did give me "pause for thought" . I looked for every way to escape..not all the things you mentioned but surely many of them. I definitely abused food..in a big way..binging and purging seemed to fill that emptiness within me..and let me not feel my feelings..the food drowned out the world around me..I was out of control with it and didn't see it as an addiction..I don't feel sober when I am acting out on my eating disorder..even though I am not picking up alcohol or drugs..I am abusing food to escape.

I also turned to pills..I don't count my sobriety date until I let of of the illegal internet drugs I would order from all over the world..they were pure poison, and unlike even prescription drugs..I don't know what was in these, but they made me not just high, but always blacked out from them..the worse blackouts I have ever had..they didn't even give me a chance to feel escape..I just simply blacked out..they could have killed me and almost did.

I am a people-pleaser and caretaker too..if I am trying to cure someone elses problems I don't need to look at myself..I abused this too and used this as a substitute for the booze and drugs.

I liked what you said about involving yourself in so many activities that they became a substitute and a form of escape from myself. I used cleaning (in the name of cleaning the house) but I over did and sometimes still do..the day goes faster and yes, it is an escape again because I lose myself in it and don't focus on recovery or me. It can be meditative..if I do one thing a day, one thing at a time..but when I am abusing doing, I seem to not be able to stop..going from one task to another.
I do use books as an escape..thinking I am scholarly..I try to read for a couple of hours at a time..but I do love a good story to escape. I can properly use reading as relaxation..I need to watch for abuse of this, like missing meetings in the name of wanting to finish a book..in other words read rather than associate with others..this is a form of isolation.

I used to abuse sleep , in the name of depression..I could cover up and sleep the day away..today, thank God I don't do this. I feel better and in tune with the day.

Well, when I reflected on the topic this is what came directly to me. Thanks for letting me look at this. Peace, Schell

[MajestyJo]

http://angelwinks.net/images/naturepod/naturepod278.jpg

What is yours will come to you. - Runes

When I did a meditation, I pulled the Movement Rune reversed, which means when the time is right, you will know. Sometimes the action you need to do is do nothing. You can't make something happen if the timing isn't right.

How many times, I have searched for something outside of myself. Thanks to recovery, I can go within to find the answers. Even more important was the lesson that what I heard was not to be discounted. To doubt myself, meant to doubt my God.

So many times we think we should be doing, when in fact, all we have to do is just be. It is an old tape that is running, "The devil makes work for idle hands. If you aren't doing you are lazy."

I was told to go to a quiet place. You can picture a scene like the one above or one of your own favorites. I was also told to go to a place from my childhood where I was happy. Meditation took a long time to develop, and I must admit to sometimes being lax, and often just take a few moments, often through the day, but the longer, heavier duty ones, are farther apart unless I am troubled about something. Meditation is good all day long, any time during the day or night, and as they say, prayer is asking, meditation is listening.

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-dogs/0112.gif

Anyone who has pets will really like this. You'll like it even if you don't and may decide you need one.

Mary and her husband Jim had a dog, Lucky. Lucky was a real character. Whenever Mary and Jim had company come for a weekend visit they would warn their friends to not leave their luggage open because Lucky would help himself to whatever struck his fancy. Inevitably someone would forget and something would come up missing. Mary or Jim would go to Lucky's toy box in the basement and there the treasure would be, amid all of Lucky's favorite toys.

Lucky always stashed his finds in his toy box and he was very particular that his toys stay in the box.

It happened that Mary found out she had breast cancer. Something told her she was going to die of this disease...she was just sure it was fatal. She scheduled the double mastectomy, fear riding her shoulders.

The night before she was to go to the hospital she cuddled with Lucky. A thought struck her...what would happen to Lucky? Although the three-year-old dog liked Jim he was Mary's dog through and through. If I die Lucky will be abandoned, Mary thought. He won't understand that I didn't want to leave him. The thought made her sadder than thinking of her own death.

The double mastectomy was harder on Mary than her doctors had anticipated and Mary was hospitalized for over two weeks. Jim took Lucky for his evening walk faithfully but the dog just drooped, whining and miserable.

But finally the day came for Mary to leave the hospital. When she arrived home, Mary was so exhausted she couldn't even make it up the steps to her bedroom. Jim made his wife comfortable on the couch and left her to
nap. Lucky stood watching Mary, but he didn't come to her when she called. It made Mary sad, but sleep soon overcame her and she dozed.

When Mary woke for a second she couldn't understand what was wrong. She couldn't move her head and her body felt heavy and hot. Panic soon gave way to laughter though when Mary realized the problem. She was covered, literally blanketed in every treasure Lucky owned! While she had slept, the sorrowing dog had made trip after trip to the basement and back bringing his beloved mistress his favorite things in life. He had covered her with his love. Mary forgot about dying. Instead she and Lucky began living again, walking further and further together every night.

It's been 12 years now and Mary is still cancer-free. Lucky? He still steals treasures and stashes them in his toy box but Mary remains his greatest treasure.

Live everyday to the fullest...because every day is a blessing from God! He covers you with His treasures and His love!

May you always have work for your hands to do. May yourpockets hold always a coin or two. May the sun shine bright on your windowpane. May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain. May the hand of a friend always be near you. And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.
--
Author Unknown

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[schell08122008]

Thank you so much Jo. This brought tears to my eyes! I related so much because of my dog Magoo, a terrior mix who also loves his toy box and continually brings me toys from it..he is half blind but he is so attached to me..if something happened to me I would be just like Mary and worry more about him. Terry says when I go away , like up to see my parents and spend a night or two up there, Magoo just won't settle down, he looks for me..Even writing this brings me tears. I won't forget this. Peace to you , Schell

[MajestyJo]

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The first step to forgiveness

"To get to forgiveness, we first have to work through the painful experiences that require it."

-- Christiane Northrup

To forgive, we do not have to say that whatever happened was okay. In fact, before we can forgive, we need to allow ourselves to really feel the pain of the experience. If we don’t fully acknowledge our hurts, we will continue to carry them subconsciously and they will drain our energy.

To forgive, we need to decide that we won’t allow the memories of the event to poison us any longer. We’re ready to heal this wound from the past and open to a fresh new beginning.

The blessing is that when we’re really ready to experience our pain and we open to it, it usually fades away. By honouring our pain, we release it.

"We must let ourselves feel all the painful destruction we want to forgive rather than swallow it in denial. If we do not face it, we cannot choose to forgive it."

-- Kenneth McNoll

C) Reproductions Permitted: http://www.higherawareness.com

This is from my site JoAnne's Recovery Site. I have posted so many, not sure now what has been posted when and where.

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I am a Healer?

If you never had to pray, How would you know that I am a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, how could you call yourself an overcomer?

If you never felt sadness, How would you know that I am a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, How would you know that I am a forgiver?

If you knew all, How would you know that I will answer your questions?

If you never were in trouble, How would you know that I will come to your rescue

If you never were broken, Then how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem, How would you know that I can solve them?

If you never had any suffering, Then how would you know what I went through?

If you never went through the fire, Then how would you become pure?

If I gave you all things, How would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you, How would you know that I love you?

If you had all power, Then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect, Then what would you need me for?

Love,
Jesus

God our Father, walk through my house and take away all my worries and illnesses and please watch over and heal my family in Jesus name, Amen.

We need to feel the feelings in order to let them go.

Pathway to Peace

http://www.pathways-to-peace.com/popframeset.html

[MajestyJo]

Motherly Love just in time for the season.

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[MajestyJo]

Garbage Truck

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How often do you let other people's nonsense
change your mood?

Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss,
or an insensitive employee ruin your day?

Unless you're the Terminator,
for an instant you're probably
set back on your heels.
However,
the mark of a successful person is
how quickly she can get back
her focus on what's important.

Sixteen years ago I learned this lesson.
I learned it in the back of
a New York City taxi cab.
Here's what happened.

I hopped in a taxi,
and we took off for Grand Central Station.
We were driving in the right lane when,
all of a sudden,
a black car jumped out of a
parking space right in front of us.
My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded,
and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

The driver of the other car,
the guy who almost caused a big accident,
whipped his head around
and he started yelling bad words at us.

My taxi driver just smiled
and waved at the guy.
And I mean, he was friendly.
So, I said,
"Why did you just do that?
This guy almost ruined your car
and sent us to the hospital!"
And this is when my taxi driver
told me what I now call,
"The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks.
They run around full of garbage,
full of frustration, full of anger,
and full of disappointment.
As their garbage piles up,
they need a place to dump it.
And if you let them,
they'll dump it on you.
When someone wants to dump on you,
don't take it personally.
You just smile, wave,
wish them well, and move on.
You'll be happy you did.
So this was it:
The "Law of the Garbage Truck.."

I started thinking,
how often do I let
Garbage Trucks run right over me?
And how often do I take their garbage
and spread it to other people:
at work, at home, on the streets?
It was that day I said,
"I'm not going to do it anymore."

I began to see garbage trucks.
Like in the movie
"The Sixth Sense,"
the little boy said,
"I see Dead People."
Well, now
"I see Garbage Trucks."
I see the load they're carrying.
I see them coming to drop it off.
And like my Taxi Driver,
I don't make it a personal thing;
I just smile, wave, wish them well,
and I move on.

One of my favorite football players
of all time,
Walter Peyton,
did this every day on the football field.
He would jump up as quickly
as he hit the ground after being tackled.
He never dwelled on a hit.
Peyton was ready to make
the next play his best.

Good leaders know they have to be
ready for their next meeting.

Good parents know that they have to
welcome their children home from school
with hugs and kisses.

Leaders and parents know that
they have to be fully present,
and at their best for the people
they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people
do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

What about you?
What would happen in your life,
starting today,
if you let more garbage trucks pass you by?

Here's my bet.
You'll be happier.

Life's too short to wake up
in the morning with regrets, so . . .

Love the people who treat you right.
Forget about the ones who don't.
Believe that everything happens
for a reason.
If you get a chance ,
TAKE IT!
If it changes your life,
LET IT!

He never promised it would easy...
He only promised we would
never go alone!

From my site The Gathering of Eagles.

http://naturesinspiration.multiply.com/tag/custom%20page

[schell08122008]

Great stuff Jo. Love the one about the "Garbage Truck" I think I will use a little of this in my coping skills group tomorrow at work..the residents will appreciate what it says. Thanks for sharing, Peace, Schell

[MajestyJo]

WE DON'T HAVE TO HAVE THESE KIND OF MORNINGS ANY MORE!

http://angelwinks.net/images/gmpod/gmpod71.jpg

WHEN YOU ARE CLEAN AND SOBER, YOU DON'T WAKE UP TO THE MORNING BLUES! YOU EVEN REMEMBER WHAT YOU DID THE NIGHT BEFORE!

[MajestyJo]

I have been a Travel Agent for thirty years in Washington, D.C..

http://images.multiply.com//common/dot_clear.gif


Here are examples why we might just be in trouble!

I had a New Hampshire Congresswoman ask for an aisle seat so that her hair wouldn't get messed up by being near the window.

I got a call from a candidate's staffer, who wanted to go to Capetown. I started to explain the length of the flight and the passport information, then she interrupted me with, "I'm not trying to make you look stupid, but Capetown is in Massachusetts." Without trying to make her look like the stupid one, I calmly explained, "Cape Cod is in Massachusetts, Capetown is in Africa." Her response
(click).


A senior Vermont Congressman called, furious about a Florida package we did. I asked what was wrong with the vacation in Orlando. He said he was expecting an ocean-view room. I tried to explain that is not possible, since Orlando is in the middle of the state. He replied, "Don't lie to me. I looked on the map, and Florida is a very thin state!"


I got a call from a lawmaker's wife who asked, "Is it possible to see England from Canada?" I said, "No." She said, "But they look so close on the map."


An aide for a Bush cabinet member once called and asked if he could rent a car in Dallas. When I pulled up the reservation, I noticed he had only a
1-hour layover in Dallas. When I asked him why he wanted to rent a car, he said, "I heard Dallas was a big airport, and we will need a car to drive between the gates to save time."


An Illinois Congresswoman called last week. She needed to know how it was possible that her flight from Detroit left at 8:20 a.m. and got into Chicago at 8:33 am. I tried to explain that Michigan was an hour ahead of Illinois, but she could not understand the concept of time zones. Finally, I told her the plane went very fast, and she bought that!


A New York lawmaker called and asked, "Do airlines put your physical description on luggage tags? I said, "No, why do you ask?" She replied, "Well, when I checked in with the airline, they put a tag on my luggage that said (FAT), and I'm overweight. I think that is very rude?" After putting her on hold for a minute while I 'looked into it' (I was actually laughing) I came back and explained the city code for Fresno, CA is (FAT), and that the airline was just putting a destination tag on her luggage.


A Senator's aide called to inquire about a trip package to Hawaii. After going over all the cost info, she asked, "Would it be cheaper to fly to California and then take the train to Hawaii?"


I just got off the phone with a freshman Congressman who asked, "How do I know which plane to get on?" I asked him what exactly he meant, to which he replied, "I was told my flight number is 823, but none of these darn planes have numbers on them."


A lady Senator called and said, "I need to fly to Pepsi-Cola, FL. Do I have to get on one of those little computer planes?" I asked if she meant fly to Pensacola, FL on a commuter plane. She said, "Yeah, whatever!"


A senior Senator called and had a question about the documents he needed in order to fly to China. After a lengthy discussion about passports, I reminded him that he needed a visa. "Oh, no I don't. I've been to China many times and never had to have one of those." I double checked and sure enough, his stay required a visa. When I told him this he said, "Look, I've been to China four times and every time they have accepted my American Express!"


A New Mexico Congresswoman called to make reservations, "I want to go from Chicago to Rhino, New York." The agent was at a loss for words. Finally, the agent said, "Are you sure that's the name of the town?" "Yes, what flights do you have?" replied the lady. After some searching, the agent came back with, "I'm sorry, ma'am, I've looked up every airport code in the country and can't find a Rhino anywhere." The lady retorted, "Oh, don't be silly! Everyone knows where it is. Check your map!" The agent scoured a map of the state of New York and finally offered, "You don't mean Buffalo, do you?" "That's it! I knew it was a big animal!" she said.

Now you know why Government is in the shape that it's in. :)

Posted on my site The Eagle and the Wolf. Original Source Unknown.

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[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-girls/0400.gif

Lost, then found

This is a heads up to those friends who haven't experienced it yet, and an explanation to those friends and family who have.

Most of you have read the scare-mail about the person whose kidneys were stolen while he was passed out. Well, read on. While the kidney story was an urban legend, this one is not. It's happening every day.

My thighs were stolen from me during the night a few years ago. It was just that quick. I went to sleep in my body and woke up with someone else's thighs. The new ones had the texture of cooked oatmeal. Who would have done such a cruel thing to legs that had been mine for years? Whose thighs were these and what happened to mine?

I spent the entire summer looking for my thighs. Finally, hurt and angry, I resigned myself to living out my life in jeans and Sheer Energy pantyhose.

Then, just when my guard was down, the thieves struck again. My butt was next. I know it was the same gang, because they took pains to match my new rear end (although badly attached at least three inches lower than my
original) to the thighs they stuck me with earlier. Now, my rear end complimented my legs, lump for lump. Frantic, I prayed that long skirts would stay in fashion.

It was two years ago when I realized my arms had been switched. One morning I was fixing my hair and I watched horrified but fascinated as the flesh of my upper arms swung to and fro with the motion of the hairbrush. This was really getting scary. My body was being replaced one section at a time. How clever and fiendish.

Age? Age had nothing to do with it. Age is supposed to creep up, unnoticed, something like maturity. NO, I was being attacked repeatedly and without warning.

In despair I gave up my T-shirts. What could they do to me next? My poor neck disappeared more quickly than the Thanksgiving turkey it now resembled.

That's why I decided to tell my story. I can't take on the medical profession by myself. Women of the world, wake up and smell the coffee.

That really isn't plastic that those surgeons are using. You KNOW where they are getting those replacement part, don't you?

The next time you suspect someone has had a face "lifted", look again. Was it lifted from you? I think I finally found my thighs...and I hope Cindy Crawford paid a really good price for them!

This is not a hoax. This is happening to women in every town every night.
WARN YOUR FRIENDS.

P.S. I must say that last year I thought someone had stolen my breasts. I was lying in bed and they were gone! As I jumped out of bed I was relieved to see that they had just been hiding in my armpits as I slept. Now I keep them hidden in my waistband.

Received with thanks from my friend Carey

Posted on The Eagle and the Wolf Apr 25, '05

[MajestyJo]

http://www.animated-gifs.eu/phone-240x320-butterflies/0191.gif

TOUCH MY HEART

http://www.inspiringthots.net/movie/bj-touch-heart.php

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Today, when I awoke, I suddenly realized that this is the best day of my life, ever.

There were times when I wondered if I would make it to today; but I did!
And because I did I'm going to celebrate!

Today, I'm going to celebrate what an unbelievable life I have had so far: the accomplishments, the many blessings, and, yes, even the hardships because they have served to make me stronger.

I will go through this day with my head held high and a happy heart. I will marvel at God's seemingly simple gifts: the morning dew, the sun, the clouds,
the trees, the flowers, the birds.

Today, none of these miraculous creations will escape my notice

Today, I will share my excitement for life with other people.

I'll make someone smile.

I'll go out of my way to perform an unexpected act of kindness for someone I don't even know. Today, I'll give a sincere compliment to someone who seems down. I'll tell a child how special he is, and I'll tell someone I love just how deeply I care for them and how much they mean to me.

Today is the day I quit worrying about what I don't have and start being grateful for all the wonderful things God has already given me. I'll remember that to worry is just a waste of time because my faith in God and his Divine Plan ensures everything will be just fine.

And tonight, before I go to bed, I'll go outside and raise my eyes to the heavens. I will stand in awe at the beauty of the stars and the moon, and I will praise God for these magnificent treasures.

As the day ends and I lay my head down on my pillow, I will thank the Almighty for the best day of my life.
And I will sleep the sleep of a contented child, excited with expectation because I know tomorrow is going to be the best day of my life, ever!


I NEEDED TO RECEIVE THIS MESSAGE TODAY!

Do you know of others who might be waiting to receive it from you?

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