I have in my hands two boxes
 which God gave me to hold.
 He said, "Put all your sorrows in the black,
 And all your joys in the gold."

 I heeded His words, and in the two boxes
 Both my joys and sorrows I stored
 But though the gold became heavier each day
 The black was as light as before

With curiosity, I opened the black
 I wanted to find out why
 And I saw, in the base of the box, a hole
 Which my sorrows had fallen out by

 I showed the hole to God, and mused aloud,
 "I wonder where my sorrows could be."
 He smiled a gentle smile at me."
 "My child, they're all here with me."

 I asked, "God, why give me the boxes,
 Why the gold, and the black with the hole?"
 "My child, the gold is for you to count your blessings,
 The black is for you to let go." 

-----------------
 A ball is a circle, No beginning, no end.
 It keeps us together Like our Circle of Friends
 But the treasure inside for you to see
 is the treasure of friendship You've granted to me.
 Today I pass the friendship ball to you.

                                    Contributed by Nell
 
 
 
 

        People are often unreasonable,
        illogical,
        and self-centered;
        Forgive them anyway.

        If you are kind, 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 was never between you and them anyway.

                         Contributed by Inia