Life's Struggles

One day a man found the cocoon of a butterfly, with a small opening just starting to appear. So, he sat down to watch as the butterfly struggled for several hours to force its body through the hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared to the man that it had gotten as far as it could.

Then the man decided to help the butterfly, so he took a pair of scissors and snipped the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and the body would contract, so it could fly -- but neither happened. Sadly, the butterfly spent the rest of it's life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It was never able to fly, or be a truly beautiful butterfly.

What the man in his well meaning kindness and haste did not understand, was that the restricting cocoon, and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening, was God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly, into its wings, so that it would be ready for flight once it got out of the cocoon.

Sometimes, like the butterfly, the struggles we go through in life are necessary, although we usually don't understand why. If God allowed us to go through life without any obstacles, it could hurt our growth. Then we would not be as strong as we should be -- and it could keep us from soaring to the wonderful heights that HE has planned for you and me.

"Grieving after Husband's Death"

During my husband's four-year battle with cancer, Friday our golden retriever laid beside his bed, provided support when my husband walked, and never left his side. He obviously knew something was wrong and was devoted to his master.

Before my husband was ill, he was a senior sports-and-news cameraman for a major TV station. Owing to the nature of his assignments, my husband's work hours were unpredictable. Regardless of the hour, Friday always knew when my husband was headed home and ran to the front door, wagging his tail and sitting patiently until my husband's car pulled into the driveway.

After my husband's death at the hospital, Friday sat at the front door all day, every day, whining and waiting for my husband's return. He stopped eating and wouldn't leave the front hallway. He refused to play with our children whom he loved because "guard duty" was his only purpose. He left his post each day only quickly to go to the back yard, and then would return. My heart was breaking for this dog.

After one week of watching Friday's vigil, I decided to help him understand what happened. Hesitantly, Friday left his post and got into the car with me. His car behavior was unusual: He paced from window to window, looking everywhere for my husband.

I drove to the cemetery, and we walked together toward my husband's gravesite. As we got closer, Friday pulled away from me and ran directly to my husband's grave. He lay down on the grave, closed his eyes, and just stayed there, quietly.

I didn't try to talk to Friday or to disturb him - he needed to grieve, too. After an hour, Friday got up and walked over to me, using his mouth to hand me his leash. He was ready to go home.

On the way back home, Friday laid down quietly in the backseat. After we arrived home, he kept kissing my hands as if to say "thank you" and never again sat by the front door waiting for my husband to return home. He now understood.

His behavior returned to normal around the children and he began eating again. In time, he healed as we did.

~ The author is L.B.J. from Lake Worth, Florida. The story is retold by Dr. Michael Fox who is the "Animal Doctor" in United Features Syndicate.

Three Words And Their Special Effects!!

•LET ME HELP - Good people/friends do this when they see someone hurt and jump to help. They are sure winners.

•I UNDERSTAND YOU - A powerful tool for healing any relationship and become closer.

•I RESPECT YOU - Another way of showing love in all interpersonal relationship.

•I MISS YOU - This powerful affirmation tells the other person that they are wanted, needed, desired and loved.

•YOU ARE RIGHT - Best effective in diffusing arguments.

•PLEASE FORGIVE ME - Heals and restores broken relationships.

•I THANK YOU - Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy.

•COUNT ON ME - Loyalty is a special ingredient in any relationship.

•I'LL BE THERE - A great gift to give for a relationship in need for renewing love and friendship.

•GO FOR IT - Best way of supporting and encouraging the other person's dreams and desires.

AND THE BONUS...

•I LOVE YOU - The most important three words which cover all the above

Who Am I

You may know me.

I’m your constant companion.

I’m your greatest helper.

I’m your heaviest burden.

I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.

I am at your command.

Half the tasks you do might as well be turned over to me.

I’m able to do them the same every time if that is what you want.

I’m easily managed, all you’ve got to do with me is be firm.

Show me exactly how you want it done; after a few lessons I’ll do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men and women; of course, servant of the failures as well.

I’ve made all the great individuals who have ever been great.

And I’ve made all the failures, too.

But I work with all the precision of a marvelous computer with the intelligence of a human being.

You may run me for profit or you may run me to ruin, it makes no difference to me.

Take me. Be easy with me and I will destroy you.

Be firm with me and I’ll put the world at your feet.

Who am I?

I am HABIT!

What Will Be Said About You?

Excerpt from the book, “What Makes the Great Great” by Dennis P. Kimbro

When it’s all said and done, what will others say about you? What does it all come down to?

We sweat and labor to find our place. We take ourselves so seriously, overreacting to the insignificant events of each passing day. Then, finally, even for the kindest and the wisest among us, upon our death all these experiences fade into history and our lives are summarized in a twenty-minute speech and a moment of silence. It hardly seems worth the effort. But, when your moment comes, because it surely will, what will be said about you? How will others describe your moment on earth? Did you give it your all? Did you do your best? Did you scatter flowers as you walked this path? Did you?

•Did you utilize your talents, those gifts at birth so endowed to you by God Almighty?
•Did you develop a burning desire that is required if all achievement?
•Did you stand up for the rights of others against the undesirable influence and threats of enemies?
•Did you work faithfully and make the best of your opportunities?
•Did you save your money so that you could pay your way in this world and yet be generous to those in need? Did you master money or did you allow money to master you?
•Did you bathe each day in the golden glow of enthusiasm?
•Did you render more and better service that that which you were paid for?
•Did you love your fellow human beings without regard to race, creed or color?
•Did you forgive and forget those that may have harmed you?
•Did you accept full responsibility for the successes as well as the failures in your life?
•Did you seek the seed of triumph in every adversity?
•Did you share yourself with others without expecting reward or payment in return?
•Did you abide by the Golden Rule?
•Did you know the greatest blessing: Peace
•Did you know the greatest obstacle: Ignorance
•Did you know the greatest challenge: Understanding
•Did you know the greatest mistake: Conformity
•Did you know the greatest race: The Human Race
•Did you know the greatest strength: Faith
•Did you know the greatest weakness: Pride
•Did you know the greatest day: Today
•Did you know the greatest word: Thanks
•Did you know the greatest among us: Whoever Serves
•Did you know the greatest message: Hope
•Did you know the greatest of these: Love
•Did you pray?
•Did you do your best?

THE SEED

A successful business man was growing old and knew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business.

Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children, he decided to do something different. He called all the young executives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO. I have decided to choose one of you. "The young executives were Shocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each one of you a SEED today - one very special SEED. I want you to plant the seed, water it, and come back here one year from today with what you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will then judge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next CEO."

One man, named Jim, was there that day and he, like the others, received a seed. He went home and excitedly, told his wife the story. She helped him get a pot, soil and compost and he planted the seed. Everyday, he would water it and watch to see if it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other executives began to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew.

Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still
nothing.

By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't have a plant and he felt like a failure.

Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew he had killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however, he just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted the seed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the company brought their plants to the CEO for inspection.

Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot. But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sick to his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing moment of his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty pot to the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the variety of plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful -- in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor and many of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

When the CEO arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted his young executives.

Jim just tried to hide in the back. "My, what great plants, trees and flowers you have grown," said the CEO. "Today one of you will be appointed the next CEO!"

All of a sudden, the CEO spotted Jim at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered the Financial Director to bring him to the front. Jim was terrified. He thought, "The CEO knows I'm a failure! Maybe he will have me fired!"

When Jim got to the front, the CEO asked him what had happened to his seed - Jim told him the story.

The CEO asked everyone to sit down except Jim. He looked at Jim, and then announced to the young executives, "Behold your next Chief Executive Officer!

His name is Jim!" Jim couldn't believe it. Jim couldn't even grow his seed.

"How could he be the new CEO?" the others said.

Then the CEO said, "One year ago today, I gave everyone in this room a seed. I told you to take the seed, plant it, water it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds; they were dead - it was not possible for them to grow.

All of you, except Jim, have brought me trees and plants and flowers. When you found that the seed would not grow, you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Jim was the only one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it. Therefore, he is the one who will be the new Chief Executive Officer!"

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

So, be careful what you plant now; it will determine what you will reap later.
Think about this for a minute...

What is PRIDE?

Pride is a personal commitment. It is an attitude which separates excellence from mediocrity. It is that ingredient which inspires us not to get ahead of others, but rather, to get ahead of ourselves.

Secrets to Success

Believe and Succeed
The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it and the faith to believe it is possible.

Do more than is expected and then some.

Build Relationships
Relationships are the glue that holds everything together. The quality of the relationship will determine the stability of your team.

Respect all People
“The true measure of a person is how they treat someone who can do them absolutely no good! -- Ann Landers

Keep Your Goals in Sight
Dream big dreams but realize…short term realistic goals are the keys to success.

Know the Power Of Encouragement
“Rain and sun are to the flower as praise and encouragement are to the human spirit.”
-- Mario Fernandez

Make the Right Choice
Right now…today, you are one choice away from a new beginning.

Remove the Chains That Bind You
“Remember no one can make you feel inferior with your consent.”
-- Eleanor Roosevelt

Know the Power of Kindness
Acts of kindness are simply the result of living the golden rule…Which should be rule #1 on every leader’s list.

Commit To Excellence
The secret of joy in work is contained in one word – excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.

Keep the Faith
Faith is the ability to believe even though you cannot see.

Find Balance
“Put the “big Rock” (priorities) first.” – Stephen Covey

Take Action
Action is the gas in the tank. Without the car will not run.

Lead Yourself
“Leader of one, Leader of many; if you cannot lead one you cannot lead any.” – Anon

Learn To Serve
One of the most beautiful compensations in life is, “no person cannot help another, without helping themselves.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“When you were born, you were crying, and everyone else was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you are the one smiling and everyone else is crying.” -- Ralph Waldo Emerson

…Make a difference with your life.

Honor by Thomas Jefferson

"Give up money, give up fame, give up science, give the earth itself
and all it contains rather than do an immoral act. And never suppose
that in any possible situation, or under any circumstances, it is best
for you to do a dishonorable thing, however slightly so it may appear
to you... From the practice of the purest virtue, you may be assured
you will derive the most sublime comforts in every moment of life, and
in the moment of death." --Thomas Jefferson, letter to Peter Carr, 1785

I Have A Dream

I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation.

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation. This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity.

But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free. One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity. One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land. And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition.

In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds."

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice.

We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children.

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.

The marvelous new militancy which has engulfed the Negro community must not lead us to a distrust of all white people, for many of our white brothers, as evidenced by their presence here today, have come to realize that their destiny is tied up with our destiny. And they have come to realize that their freedom is inextricably bound to our freedom.

We cannot walk alone.

And as we walk, we must make the pledge that we shall always march ahead.

We cannot turn back.

There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, "When will you be satisfied?" We can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality. We can never be satisfied as long as our bodies, heavy with the fatigue of travel, cannot gain lodging in the motels of the highways and the hotels of the cities. We cannot be satisfied as long as the negro's basic mobility is from a smaller ghetto to a larger one. We can never be satisfied as long as our children are stripped of their self-hood and robbed of their dignity by signs stating: "For Whites Only." We cannot be satisfied as long as a Negro in Mississippi cannot vote and a Negro in New York believes he has nothing for which to vote. No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until "justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream."¹

I am not unmindful that some of you have come here out of great trials and tribulations. Some of you have come fresh from narrow jail cells. And some of you have come from areas where your quest -- quest for freedom left you battered by the storms of persecution and staggered by the winds of police brutality. You have been the veterans of creative suffering. Continue to work with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive. Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed.

Let us not wallow in the valley of despair, I say to you today, my friends.

And so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.

I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, with its vicious racists, with its governor having his lips dripping with the words of "interposition" and "nullification" -- one day right there in Alabama little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream today!

I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight; "and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed and all flesh shall see it together."2

This is our hope, and this is the faith that I go back to the South with.

With this faith, we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith, we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith, we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day.

And this will be the day -- this will be the day when all of God's children will be able to sing with new meaning:

My country 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing.

Land where my fathers died, land of the Pilgrim's pride,

From every mountainside, let freedom ring!

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true.

And so let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire.

Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York.

Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania.

Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado.

Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California.

But not only that:

Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia.

Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee.

Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi.

From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

And when this happens, when we allow freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual:

Free at last! Free at last!

Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!3