CHINESE STORY

A long time ago in China, a girl named Li-Li got married & Went to live with her husband and mother-in-law. In a very short time, Li-Li found that she couldn’t get along with her mother-in-law at all. Their personalities were very different, and Li-Li was angered by Many of her mother-in-law’ s habits. In addition, she criticized Li-Li Constantly.
Days passed and weeks passed. Li-Li and her mother-in-law Never stopped arguing and fighting. But what made the situation even Worse was that,
According to ancient Chinese tradition, Li-Li had to bow To her mother-in-law and obey her every wish. All the anger and Unhappiness in the house was causing Li-Li’s poor husband great distress. Finally, Li-Li could not stand her mother-in-law’ s bad temper And dictatorship any longer, and she decided to do something about It.
Li-Li went to see her father’s good friend, Mr. Huang, who sold herbs. She told him the situation and asked if he would give her some poison So that she could solve the problem once and for all. Mr. Huang thought For a while,and finally said, ” Li-Li, I will help you solve your problem, But you must listen to me and obey what I tell you.”

Li-Li said, ” Yes, Mr. Huang, I will do whatever you tell me to Do.”
Mr. Huang went into the back room, and returned in a few Minutes with a package of herbs. He told Li-Li, ” You can’t use a quick-acting Poison to get rid of your mother-in-law, because that would cause people To become suspicious .
Therefore, I have given you a number of herbs that will slowly Build up poison in her body. Every other day prepare some delicious meal and Put a little of these herbs in her serving. Now, in order to make sure That nobody suspect you when she dies.
You must be very careful to act very friendly towards her.

Don’t argue with her, obey her every wish, and treat her like A queen.”

Li-Li was so happy. She thanked Mr. Huang and hurried home to Start her plot of murdering her mother-in-law. Weeks went by and months Went by, and every other day, Li-Li served the specially treated food to her

Mother-in-law. She remembered what Mr. Huang had said about Avoiding suspicion, so she controlled her temper, obeyed her Mother-in-law, and treated her like her own mother.

After six months had passed, the whole household had changed. Li-Li had practiced controlling her temper so much that she found that she almost never got mad or upset.

She hadn’t had an argument with her mother-in-law in six Months because she now seemed much kinder and easier to get along with. The Mother-in-law’ s attitude toward Li-Li changed, and she began to love Li-Li Like her own daughter. She kept telling friends and relatives that Li-Li was the Best daughter-in- law one could ever find. Li-Li and her mother-in-law Were now treating each other like a real mother and daughter. Li-Li’s husband was very happy to see what was happening. One day, Li-Li came to see Mr. Huang and asked for his help Again.
She said, ” Dear Mr. Huang, please help me to keep the poison from Killing my mother-in-law! She’s changed into such a nice woman, and I Love her like my own mother. I do not want her to die because of the poison I gave her.”
Mr. Huang smiled and nodded his head. ” Li-Li, there’s Nothing to worry about. I never gave you any poison. The herbs I gave You were vitamins to improve her health. The only poison was in your Mind and your attitude toward her, but that has been all washed away by the Love which you gave to her.”

HAVE YOU REALIZED that how you treat others is exactly how They will treat you? There is a wise Chinese saying: ” The person who loves Others will also be loved in return.”

God was standing at the window

There was a little boy visiting his grandparents on their farm.

He was given a slingshot to play with out in the woods.

He Practiced in the woods, but he could never hit the target.

Getting A little discouraged, he headed back for dinner. As he was
Walking back he saw Grandma’s pet duck.

Just out of impulse, he let the slingshot fly, hit the duck Square in
the head, and killed it. He was shocked and grieved.

In a panic, he hid the dead duck in the wood pile, only to see His
sister watching! Sally had seen it all, but she said nothing.

After lunch the next day Grandma said, “Sally, let’s wash the
Dishes.” But Sally said, “Grandma, Johnny told me he wanted to help
in The kitchen.” Then she whispered to him, ” Remember the duck?” So
Johnny did the dishes.

Later that day, Grandpa asked if the children wanted to go Fishing
and Grandma said, “I’m sorry but I need Sally to help make Supper.”

Sally just smiled and said,” Well that’s all right because Johnny
told Me he wanted to help.” She whispered again, “Remember the
duck? ” So Sally Went fishing and Johnny stayed to help.

After several days of Johnny doing both his chores and Sally’s, He
finally couldn’t stand it any longer. He came to Grandma and
confessed that he had killed the duck.

Grandma knelt down, gave him a hug, and said, “Sweetheart, I know.
You see, I was standing at the window and I saw the whole thing, but
because I love you, I forgave you. I was just wondering how long You
would let Sally make a slave of you. “

**********

Thought for the day and every day thereafter?

Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done… And the devil
Keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, cheating, debt, fear, bad
Habits, hatred, anger, bitterness, etc.) ….whatever it is….You
need to know that God was standing at the window and He saw the whole
thing….. He has seen your whole life.

He wants you to know that He loves you and that you are forgiven.

He’s just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave Of
you .

The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He
Not only forgives you, but He forgets . It is by God’s grace and
Mercy that we are saved.

Go ahead and make the difference in someone’s life today. Share This
with a friend and always remember : God is at the window.

********

Shake it off and step up… A Short Story (A PARABLE)

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule ‘braying’ – or – whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened…and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back…a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back…HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.

“Shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up…shake it off and step up!” he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought “panic” and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!

You’re right! It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him…all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

THAT’S LIFE! If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity…THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember that FORGIVENESS–FAITH–PRAYER– PRAISE and HOPE…all are excellent ways to “SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP” out of the wells in which we find ourselves!

This Too Shall Pass

Once a king called upon all of his wise men and asked them, ” Is there a mantra or suggestion which works in every situation, in every circumstances, in every place and in every time. In every joy, every sorrow, every defeat and every victory? One answer for all questions? Something which can help me when none of you is available to advise me? Tell me is there any mantra?”

All the wise men were puzzled by the King’s question. They thought and thought. After a lengthy discussion, an old man suggested something which appealed to all of them. They went to the king and gave him something written on paper, with a condition that the king was not to see it out of curiosity. Only in extreme danger, when the King finds himself alone and there seems to be no way, only then he can see it. The King put the papers under his Diamond ring.

Some time later, the neighbors attacked the Kingdom. King and his army fought bravely but lost the battle. The King had to flee on his horse. The enemies were following him. getting closer and closer. Suddenly the King found himself standing at the end of the road – that road was not going anywhere. Underneath there was a rocky valley thousand feet deep. If he jumped into it, he would be finished…and he could not return because it was a small road…the sound of enemy’s horses was approaching fast. The King became restless. There seemed to be no way.

Then suddenly he saw the Diamond in his ring shining in the sun, and he remembered the message hidden in the ring. He opened the diamond and read the message. The message was – ” THIS TOO SHALL PASS”

The King read it . Again read it. Suddenly something struck him- Yes ! This too will pass. Only a few days ago, I was enjoying my kingdom. I was the mightiest of all the Kings. Yet today, the Kingdom and all his pleasure have gone. I am here trying to escape from enemies.

Like those days of luxuries have gone, this day of danger too will pass. A calm came on his face. He kept standing there. The place where he was standing was full of natural beauty. He had never known that such a beautiful place was also a part of his Kingdom.

The revelation of the message had a great effect on him. He relaxed and forgot about those following him. After a few minutes he realized that the noise of the horses and the enemy coming was receding. They moved into some other part of the mountains and were near him.

The King was very brave. He reorganized his army and fought again. He defeated the enemy and regained his empire. When he returned to his empire after victory, he was received with much fanfare. The whole capital was rejoicing in the victory. Everyone was in festive mood.
Flowers were being showered on King from every house, from every corner. People were dancing and singing. For a moment King said to himself,” I am one of the bravest and greatest King. It is not easy to defeat me. With all the reception and celebration he saw an ego emerging in him.

Suddenly the Diamond of his ring flashed in the sunlight and reminded him of the message. He open it and read it again: “THIS TOO SHALL PASS”.

He became silent. His face went through a total change -from the egoist he moved to a state of utter humbleness. If this too is going to pass, it is not yours. The defeat was not yours, the victory is not yours. You are just a watcher. Everything passes by. We are witnesses of all this. We are the perceivers. Life comes and goes. Happiness comes and goes. Sorrow comes and goes.

Now as you have read this story, just sit silently and evaluate your own life. This too will pass. Think of the moments of joy and victory in your life. Think of the moment of Sorrow and defeat. Are they permanent? They all come and pass away.

Life just passes away. There is nothing permanent in this world. Every thing changes except the law of change. Think over it from your own perspective. You have seen all the changes. You have survived all setbacks, all defeats and all sorrows. All have passed away. The problems in the present, they too will pass away. Because nothing remains forever. Joy and sorrow are the two faces of the same coin. They both will pass away.

You are just a witness of change. Experience it, understand it, and enjoy the present moment –
this too shall pass!

Anger And Love Has No Limits

While Dad was polishing his new car, his 4 yr old son picked stone & scratched lines on the side of the car.
In his anger, Dad took the child’s hand & hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, his child has already lost his all fingers & child asked “Dad when will my fingers grow back?” Dad was so hurt.
He went back to car and kicked it a lot of times.
Sitting back he looked at the scratches, child wrote “I LOVE YOU DAD”.

Moral Of The Story: Anger And Love Has No Limits!

A Great Thief

There once was a man who went to a computer trade show. Each day as he entered, the man told the guard at the door:
“I am a great thief, renowned for my feats of shoplifting. Be forewarned, for this trade show shall not escape me unplundered. ”
This speech disturbed the guard greatly, because there were millions of dollars of computer equipment inside, so he watched the man carefully. But the man merely wandered from booth to booth, humming quietly to himself.
When the man left, the guard took him aside and searched his clothes, but nothing was to be found.
On the next day of the trade show, the man returned and chided the guard, saying, “I escaped with a vast booty yesterday, but today will be even better.” So the guard watched him ever more closely, but to no avail.
On the final day of the trade show, the guard could restrain his curiosity no longer. “Sir Thief,” he said, “I am so perplexed, I cannot live in peace. Please enlighten me. What is it that you are stealing?”
The man smiled. “I am stealing ideas,” he said.