Thoughts
        The best and most beautiful things in the world  cannot
        be seen or even touched.  They must be felt....
        with the heart.
        ~Helen Keller~
         
        The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty
        of their dreams.
        ~Eleanor Roosevelt~
         
         
        The work will wait while you show the child the rainbow,
        but the rainbow won't wait while you do the work.
        A woman is like a tea bag, you never know
        her strength until you drop her in hot water.
         
        Angela's World
        When Angela was very young,
        Age two or three or so,
        Her mother and her father
        Taught her never to say NO.
        They taught her that she must agree
        With everything they said,
        And if she didn't, she was spanked,
        And sent upstairs to bed.
        So Angela grew up to be
        A most agreeable child;
        She was never angry
        And she was never wild;
        She always shared, she always cared,
        She never picked a fight,
        And no matter what her parents said,
        She thought that there were right.
        Angela the angel did very well in school
        And, as you might imagine, she followed every rule;
        Her teachers said she was so well-bred,
        So quiet and so good,
        But how Angela felt inside
        They never understood.
        Angela had lots of friends
        Who liked her for her smile
        They knew she was the kind of gal
        Who'd go the extra mile;
        And even when she had a cold
        And really needed rest,
        When someone asked her if she'd help
        She always answered Yes.
        When Angela was thirty-three, she was a lawyer's wife.
        She had a home and family, and a nice suburban life.
        She had a little girl of four
        And a little boy of nine,
        And if someone asked her how she felt
        She always answered, "Fine."
        But one cold night near Christmastime
        When her family was in bed,
        She lay awake as awful thoughts went spinning through
        her head;
        She didn't know why, and she didn't know how,
        But she wanted her life to end;
        So she begged Whoever put her here
        To take her back again.
        And then she heard, from deep inside,
        A voice that was soft and low;
        It only said a single word
        And the word it said was....NO.
        From that moment on, Angela knew
        Exactly what she had to do.
        Her life depended on that word,
        So this is what her loved ones heard:
        NO, I just don't want to;
        NO, I don't agree;
        NO, that's yours to handle;
        NO, that's wrong for me;
        NO, I wanted something else;
        NO, that hurt alot!
        NO, I'm tired, and NO, I'm busy,
        And NO, I'd rather not!
        Well, her family found it shocking,
        Her friends reacted with surprise;
        But Angela was very different, you could see it in her eyes;
        For they've held no meek submission
        Since that night three years ago
        When Angela the Angel
        Got permission to say NO.
        Today Angela's a person first, then a mother and a wife.
        She knows where she begins and ends,
        She has a separate life.
        She has talents and ambitions,
        She has feelings, needs and goals.
        She has money in the bank and
        An opinion at the polls.
        And to her boy and girl she says,
        "It's nice when we agree;
        But if you can't say NO, you'll never grow
        To be all you're meant to be.
        Because I know I'm sometimes wrong
        And because I love you so,
        You'll always be my angels
        Even when you tell me NO."
        Barbara K. Bassett
         
         
        ICECREAM
        Last week I took my children to a restaurant.  My six-year-old
        son asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said,
        "God is good, God is great.  Thank you for the food,
        and I would thank you even more if Mom gets
        us Ice Cream for dessert. And liberty and justice for all!
        Amen!"
        Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby,
         heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country.
        Kids today don't even know how to pray.  Asking God for Ice Cream!
        Why, I never!"  Hearing this, my son burst into tears and
        asked me,Did I do it wrong?  Is God mad at me?"
        As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific
        job and God was certainly not mad at him,
        an elderly gentleman approached the table.
        He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God
        thought that was a great prayer."
        "Really?", my son asked.
        "Cross my heart", then in theatrical whisper he added
        (indicating to the woman whose remark had started this
        whole thing), "too bad she never asks God for Ice Cream.
        A little Ice Cream is good for the soul sometimes."
        Naturally, I bought my kid Ice Cream at the end of the meal.
        My son stared at his for a moment and then did something
        I will remember the rest of my life.
        He picked up his Sundae and without a word walked over
        and placed it in front of the woman.
        With a big smile he told her,
        "Here, this is for you.  Ice Cream is good for the soul sometimes
        and my soul is good already!"
         
         
        24 Things to Remember
        and one thing to
        never forget
        Your presence is a present to the world
        You're unique and one of a kind
        Your life can be what you want it to be
        Take the days just one at a time
        Count your blessings, not your troubles
        You'll make it through whatever comes along
        Within you are so many answers
        Understand, have courage, be strong
        Don't put limits on yourself
        So many dreams are waiting to be realized
        Decisions are too important to leave to chance
        Reach for your peak, your goal, your prize
        Nothing wastes more energy than worrying
        The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets
        Don't take things too seriously
        Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets
        Remember that a little love goes a long way
        Remember that a lot....goes forever
        Remember that friendship is a wise investment
        Life's treasures are people...together
        Realize that it's never too late
        Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way
        Have health and hope and happiness
        Take time to wish upon a star
        And don't ever forget....even for a day.....
        how very special you are
        ~Collin McCarty~
        Next