Things to Think UponFrom: Eldeen
Subject: Fwd: Fw: Sending Some Love Thoughts Your Way
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002
> > "What does love mean?" > ***** > A group of professional people posed this question > to a group of 4 > to 8-year-olds, "What does love mean?" The answers > they got were > broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined. > See what you > think... > "When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn't > bend over and > paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does > it for her all > the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. > That's love." > Rebecca - age 8 > "When someone loves you, the way they say your name > is different. > You know that your name is safe in their mouth." > Billy - age 4 > "Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts > on shaving > cologne and they go out and smell each other." > Karl - age 5 > "Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody > most of your > French fries without making them give you any of > theirs." > Chrissy - age 6 > "Love is what makes you smile when you're tired." > Terri - age 4 > "Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and > she takes a > sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste > is OK." > Danny - age 7 > "Love is what's in the room with you at Christmas if > you stop > opening presents and listen." > Bobby - age 5 > "If you want to learn to love better, you should > start with a > friend whom you hate." > Nikka - age 6 > "There are two kinds of love. Our love. God's love. > But God > makes both of them." > Jenny - age 4 > "Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, > then he wears it > every day." > Noelle - age 7 > "Love is like a little old woman and a little old > man who are > still friends even after they know each other so > well." > Tommy - age 6 > "My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see > anyone else > kissing me to sleep at night." > Clare - age 5 > "Love is when mommy gives daddy the best piece of > chicken." > Elaine - age 5 > "Love is when mommy sees daddy smelly and sweaty and > still says he > is handsomer than Robert Redford." > Chris - age 8 > "Love is when your puppy licks your face even after > you left him > alone all day." > Mary Ann - age 4 > "I know my older sister loves me because she gives > me all her old > clothes and has to go out and buy new ones." > Lauren - age 4 > "I let my big sister pick on me because my Mom says > she only picks > on me because she loves me. So I pick on my baby > sister because I > love her." > Bethany - age 4 > "When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and > down and little > stars come out of you." > Karen - age 7 > "Love is when mommy sees daddy on the toilet and she > doesn't think > it's gross." > Mark - age 6 > "You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you > mean it. But if > you mean it, you should say it a lot. People > forget." > Jessica - age 8 > > . >From: Eldeen
Date: Nov 20
> > > BREAKFAST AT MCDONALD'S... > READ TILL THE END > This is a good story and is true, please read it all > the way through > till the end! (After the story there are some very > interesting facts!): > > I am a mother of three (ages 14, 12, 3) and have > recently completed my college degree. > > The last class I had to take was Sociology. > > The teacher was absolutely inspiring with the > qualities that I wish > every human being had been graced with. > > Her last project of the term was called "Smile." > > The class was asked to go out and smile at three > people and document their reactions. > > I am a very friendly person and always smile at > everyone and say hello > anyway, so, I thought this would be a piece of cake, > literally. > > Soon after we were assigned the project, my husband, > youngest son, and I > went out to McDonald's one crisp March morning. > > It was just our way of sharing special play time > with our son. > > We were standing in line, waiting to be served, when > all of a sudden > everyone around us began to back away, and then even > my husband did. > > I did not move an inch .... an overwhelming feeling > of panic welled up > inside of me as I turned to see why they had moved. > > As I turned around I smelled a horrible "dirty body" > smell, and there standing behind me were two poor > homeless men. > > As I looked down at the short gentleman, close to > me, he was "smiling". > > His beautiful sky blue eyes were full of God's Light > as he searched for acceptance. > > He said, "Good day" as he counted the few coins he > had been clutching. > > The second man fumbled with his hands as he stood > behind his friend. I > realized the second man was mentally challenged and > the blue eyed gentleman was his salvation. > > I held my tears as I stood there with them. > > The young lady at the counter asked him what they > wanted. > > He said, "Coffee is all Miss" because that was all > they could afford. > (If they wanted to sit in the restaurant and warm > up, they had to buy > something. He just wanted to be warm). > > Then I really felt it - the compulsion was so great > I almost reached out > and embraced the little man with the blue eyes. > > That is when I noticed all eyes in the restaurant > were set on me, judging my every action. > > I smiled and asked the young lady behind the counter > to give me two more > breakfast meals on a separate tray. > > I then walked around the corner to the table that > the men had chosen as > a resting spot. I put the tray on the table and > laid my hand on the > blue eyed gentleman's cold hand. > > He looked up at me, with tears in his eyes, and > said, "Thank you.." > > I leaned over, began to pat his hand and said, "I > did not do this for > you. God is here working through me to give you > hope." > > I started to cry as I walked away to join my husband > and son. When I > sat down my husband smiled at me and said, "That is > why God gave you to me, Honey. To give me hope." > > We held hands for a moment and at that time we knew > that only because of > the Grace that we had been given were we able to > give. > > We are not church goers, but we are believers. > > That day showed me the pure Light of God's sweet > love. > > I returned to college, on the last evening of class, > with this story in > hand. > > I turned in "my project" and the instructor read it. > > Then she looked up at me and said, "Can I share > this?" > > I slowly nodded as she got the attention of the > class. > > She began to read and that is when I knew that we as > human beings and > being part of God, share this need to heal people > and to be healed. > > In my own way I had touched the people at > McDonald's, my husband, son, > instructor, and every soul that shared the classroom > on the last night I spent as a college student. > > I graduated with one of the biggest lessons I would > ever learn: UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE. > > Much love and compassion is sent to each and every > person who may read > this and learn how to LOVE PEOPLE AND USE THINGS - > NOT LOVE THINGS AND USE PEOPLE. > > If you think this story has touched you in any way, > please send this to everyone you know. > > There is an Angel sent to watch over you. > > In order for her to work, you must pass this on to > the people you want watched over. > > An Angel wrote: Many people will walk in and out of > your life, but only > true friends will leave footprints in your heart. > > To handle yourself, use your head. > > To handle others, use your heart. > > God Gives every bird it's food, but He does not > throw it into it's nest. > > Keep this going. > >
From: Eldeen
Date: Nov 27th
Subject: Fwd: Keep your fork
> > > > There was a young woman who had been > diagnosed with a terminal illness and > > had been given 3 months to live. > > > > So, as she was getting her things in order, > she contacted her pastor and had > > him come to her house to discuss certain > aspects of her final wishes. > > > > She told him which songs she wanted sung at > the service, what scriptures she > > would like read, and what outfit she wanted > to be buried in. > > > > Everything was in order and the pastor was > preparing to leave when the young > > woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. > > > > "There's one more thing", she said > excitedly. "What's that?" came the > > pastor's reply. "This is very important," > the young woman continued. "I want > > to be buried with a fork in my right-hand." > > > > The pastor stood looking at the young woman, > not knowing quite what to say. > > "That surprises you, doesn't it?" the young > woman asked. "Well, to be > > honest, I'm puzzled by the request" said the > pastor. The young woman > > explained. "My grandmother once told me this > story and, from there on out, I > > have always done so. I have also always > tried to pass along its message to > > those I love and those who are in need of > encouragement." > > > > "In all my years of attending church socials > and pot luck dinners, I always > > remember that when the dishes of the main > course were being cleared, someone > > would inevitably lean over and say, 'Keep > your fork.'" > > > > "It was my favorite part because I knew that > something better was > > coming...like velvety chocolate cake or > deep-dish apple pie. Something > > wonderful and with substance!" > > > > "So, I just want people to see me there in > that casket with a fork in my > > hand and I want them to wonder, 'What's with > the fork?' Then I want you to > > tell them: 'Keep your fork.......... the > best is yet to come." > > > > The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of > joy as he hugged the young woman > > good-bye. He knew this would be one of the > last times he would see her > > before her death. But he also knew that the > young woman had a better grasp > > of heaven than he did. She had a better > grasp of what heaven would be like > > than many people twice her age, with twice > as much experience and knowledge. > > She KNEW that something better was coming. > > > > At the funeral, people were walking by the > young woman's casket and they saw > > the pretty dress she was wearing and the > fork placed in her right hand. Over > > and over, the pastor heard the question, > "What's with the fork?" And over > > and over he smiled. During his message, the > pastor told the people of the > > conversation he had with the young woman > shortly before she died. He also > > told them about the fork and about what it > symbolized to her. > > > > The pastor told the people how he could not > stop thinking about the fork and > > told them that they probably would not be > able to stop thinking about it either. > > > > He was right. > > > > So the next time you reach down for your > fork, let it remind you ever so > > gently, that the best is yet to come. > Friends are a very rare jewel,indeed. > > They make you smile and encourage you to > succeed. They lend an ear, they > > share a word of praise, and they always want > to open their hearts to us. > > > > Show your friends how much you care. > Remember to always be there for them, > > even when you need them more. > > > > For you never know when it may be their time > to "Keep your fork" > > > > Cherish the time you have, and the memories > you share ... being friends with > > someone is not an opportunity but a sweet > responsibility. > > > > Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND > even if it means sending back to > > the person who sent it to you. > > > > And remember to keep your fork. > > > > . > >