13
October 2000
Subject:
You Are “A People”
Dear Ones,
Well, it's that time of the week
to take another marble out of the jar. Here's hoping you have a GREAT Saturday.
Just remember..... You are “a people”!
Don
YOU
ARE "A PEOPLE"
A little girl was asked to bring her birth certificate to school one day. Her
mother wisely cautioned her about the important document and told her to be
especially careful with it. But in spite of her good intentions, the child lost
it. When she became aware of its loss, she began to cry.
"What's the problem, Honey?" her teacher asked sympathetically.
The little girl wailed, "I lost my excuse for being born!"
Isn't it wonderful that we don't need an excuse for being born? We need make no
apologies for being who we are. Nobody on planet earth is more or less valuable
than you. Sometimes we need to be reminded of that, especially when our sense of
self worth is less than it ought to be.
Several years ago, an older friend of mine developed Alzheimer's disease. Bill
had lived an active and productive professional life. But in his latter years,
his wife cared for him at home. He was aware of his increasing dependency on
her, and of the debilitating effect of the disease on his mind. Bill gave up
everything he had ever done for himself until eventually nothing was left. As
his mind suffered, his sense of worthiness also took
a beating. He felt as if he were nobody.
There was one group to which he belonged that decided to stay with him during
his decline. He sat on a college board of trustees that encouraged him to
continue attending meetings as long as he was able. One of the board members
drove Bill to the meetings and brought him back home afterward. This continued
even after he had lost his ability to remember names, track a conversation or
participate in any meaningful way.
His wife knew that he remained a board member in name only, and that their
decision to include him was made solely out of compassion. But Bill seemed to
enjoy himself at the meetings and she reasoned that they were probably good for
him. After he returned from one such meeting of the trustees, his wife asked
him, "Did you have a good meeting, Bill?"
He thought for a moment before replying. Then he answered quite honestly,
"I don't know." After a pause, he added this heartfelt comment:
"But they still think I'm a people."
To them, he was somebody. To them, he mattered. He was a still a person of value
and worth. He could no longer read or write or do any of the things which had
been important earlier. But he was still "a people."
You need make no apologies for being who you are. You are a person of value --
unique and beautiful. You are "a people" --unrepeatable and of
infinite worth. That is something to celebrate!
- Steve
Goodier
Thoughts
to ponder...
*People rarely
disclose their character so clearly as when they describe someone else's. Cited in More of...The Best of BITS & PIECES
*Violent
delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die; like fire and powder,
which, as they kiss, consume. They are as sick that surfeit with too much, as
they that starve with nothing. - William Shakespeare
*Never
explain -- your friends do not need it and your enemies won't believe you
anyway. - Elbert Hubbard
*Every
noble acquisition is attended with its risks; he who fears to encounter the one
must not expect to obtain the other. - Metastasio
*A good idea will keep you awake during the morning, but a great
idea will keep you awake during the night. - Marilyn Vos Savant
*Our
greatest good, and what we least can spare, is hope. - John Armstrong
NO
WONDER
When
I look at a patch of dandelions, I see a bunch of weeds that are going to take
over my yard. My kids see flowers for Mom and blowing white fluff, you can
wish on.
When I look at an old drunk and he smiles at me, I see a smelly, dirty person
who probably wants money and I look away. My kids see someone smiling at
them and they smile back.
When I hear music I love, I know I can't carry a tune and don't have much rhythm
so I sit self-consciously and listen. My kids feel the beat and move to it. They
sing out the words. If they don't know them, they make up their own.
When I feel wind on my face, I brace myself against it. I feel it messing
up my hair and pulling me back when I walk. My kids close their eyes,
spread their arms and fly with it, until they fall to the ground laughing.
When I pray I say "Thee" and "Thou" and grant me this, give
me that. My kids say, "Hi God!!! Thanks for my toys and my
friends. Please keep the bad dreams away tonight. Sorry, I don't want to go
to Heaven yet. I would miss my Mommy and Daddy."
When I see a mud puddle I step around it. I see muddy shoes and clothes and
dirty carpets. My kids sit in it. They see dams to build, rivers to
cross and worms to play with.
I wonder if we are given kids to teach or to learn from? No wonder God
loves the little children!!