LESSON ON EXTRACTION

Just as a hot air balloon is mired to the ground with sandbags, often so are we. It's not that we don't have the wind to fly; we've just got too many sandbags.

LESSON ON EXTRACTION
Do you know how many good teeth you have?
For the vast majority, the number of good teeth FAR outnumbers the bad.
You have far more good teeth but it’s the bad teeth that get all of the attention.
One bad tooth can cause us so much pain that we forget about all of the good.
So it is with life.
One bad relationship and we think all men/women are bad.
One bad experience with a member of a different race, religion or culture and we
think all who are different from us are bad.

A company can have a thousand employees and we can have one bad experience with an obnoxious employee and we think the whole company is bad.
One bad apple doesn’t spoil the whole bunch but it will eventually spoil the whole bunch if you don’t remove it. Infection spreads.

Some things you have to extract to keep them from spoiling the whole bunch.
You may need some teeth extracted to prevent further pain and to prevent the spread of infection to the rest of your body.

Extraction of things in our lives is often necessary but seldom pleasant.For teeth extraction you may have to be sedated, strapped down, and numbed.

Eagles fly high but have you ever noticed eagles don’t have a lot of stuff strapped on their backs. Some of us haven’t reached the heights that we are destined to reach because we haven’t extracted some things. There is  too much on our backs and in our spirits.

As plain as I am writing this and as clear as you can see these letters, you know what things in your life need extracting. We all have them. Extraction hurts but the continuing

pain of decay hurts even worse and for much longer.

People go for counseling so that they can have a different perspective to their problems, but often, most of the stuff that they need to change, THEY ALREADY KNOW!
“I know I need to do this” “I know I need to change that” “I know this is wrong”
“I know I shouldn’t feel this way” “I know I should leave this relationship”
“I know this is not good” “I know I should. . . ”

Many already know the things in their life that need to be extracted. So do you.
The problem is not the knowledge in many instances. It’s the pain of extraction. Pulling anything with deep roots is a problem.
The closer anyone is to the child and the further they are from maturity, the more sedation, straps and numbing they will need. A child will even endure the pain for months or years until the tooth eventually falls out from the decay.

Often we endure the pain far longer than necessary until it falls out and has nearly knocked us out.

Learn the lesson of extraction.
For though we may have far more good teeth, this is a lesson we all need to know.

Sometimes what you need is not really a lift. You just need to remove some things. Just as

a hot air balloon is mired to the ground with sandbags, often so are we. It’s not that we don’t have the wind to fly; we’ve just got too many sandbags.

*****

The way to happiness: keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, expect little, and give much. Fill your life with love. Scatter sunshine. Forget self, think of others. Do as you would be done by. Try this for a week and you will be surprised. ~

Norman Vincent Peale

Marriage is Like a Fishing Net

 

Just like a fishing net, love and marriage require maintenance

Marriage is like a fishing net. Each fisherman uses his net to catch fish and sell them at the market.

One fisherman takes his fish from the net every day, but he does not clean his net. He let’s debris and other garbage from the ocean accumulate. Eventually so much debris is caught in the net that he can hardly cast it out of the boat, and when he does, it’s almost impossible to retrieve. Finally, in a fit of anger, he cuts the net loose and goes home without it. He’s unable to catch and sell fish again until he buys another net.

Another fisherman removes debris every time he retrieves the net with the fish he caught. Each time he casts his net, it’s clean and ready to catch more fish. As a result, he catches and sells enough fish to support himself and his family. His net lasts a long, long time.

In this parable, the fish are emotional needs met in marriage and the garbage are Love Busters; habits that cause unhappiness.

Bad marriages are like the first fisherman’s net. Selfish demands, disrespectful judgments, angry outbursts, independent behavior and dishonesty accumulate over time. The burden of the unhappiness they cause ruins a couple’s willingness and ability to meet each other’s emotional needs. Eventually the marriage supplies no benefits to either spouse and ends in divorce or emotional separation.

Good marriages are like the second fisherman’s net. Love Busters are eliminated as soon as they appear, making it easy for each spouse to meet the other’s emotional needs. And the marriage lasts for a long, long time.

The desire for a happy marriage is present, strong and unquenchable. The work it takes to make a happy marriage is what most people standing at the altar do not understand.

Letting Go A Little Bit At A Time

“Perfection of effort is not required, by the way. It is the consistency of attempting to work these tools that brings the progress. It’s like anything else. If I want to tone muscle, lifting a ten-pound weight a few times every day will move me toward my goal much quicker than hoisting a fifty-pound barbell once a week. Yes, it really is true: “Slow and steady wins the race.” Just try a little, every day. You’ll see.” ― Holly Mosier

Written by Guy Finley
A young man decided to visit a country known for its uniquely gifted artists. Over the last few years a growing sense of feeling incomplete had stalked him, and the hope behind his journey was to find someone, something, to help him release the great, but still latent forces he knew lived in his heart.

After settling in at a small hostel, he went walking through an expansive outdoor bazaar where hundreds of artisans displayed their works. However, everything seemed commonplace; just another dead-end. What now?

He kept walking, leaving the noisy bazaar far behind him. And that’s when his ear caught a light tapping sound from the other side of an old wooden fence. Coming upon an open gate, he peered inside.

A young woman was seated in an open courtyard surrounded by various stone sculptures of wild animals. Although these creations were in various stages of completion, they already exuded a remarkable presence.

Just then the young lady stood up, and pulling a little hammer out of her apron pocket, she walked toward a large stone that was perched on a work pedestal.

After careful examination of one small area she rapped it – just once – with her small hammer. She used so little force, he felt sorry for her timidity. Surely, he thought, she must be a novice; but his eyes couldn’t believe what happened next.

Suddenly dozens of small pieces of stone broke away. At first he thought she made a mistake and had cracked the whole stone; a moment later he knew otherwise. She had not ruined the stone; instead, she had released it secret character.

With that one blow she had not only uncovered a beautiful white marble-like material, but had shaped it to resemble the graceful neck of a great swan. He was stunned. What magic was this? He longed to know.

“Please forgive me,” he said, entering the courtyard, “but how in the world did you do that with a single blow from your tiny hammer?”

“Oh,” she laughed. “I’m guessing you’ve only been there for the last few minutes. Before you began watching me I had delivered hundreds of similar small blows to the exact same spot on that stone. You saw the result of many days of careful work coupled with a special kind of quiet consideration.”

“That’s how all great things are achieved;consistent attention coupled with persistent effort – a little bit at a time – until the right time comes when that work is rewarded. Then nothing can stand in the way of what must be released. The practice of this knowledge, in whatever one intends to do, must produce a subsequent revelation that is the heart of liberation itself.”

As they shared a smile and said goodbye, the young man knew he had learned an important secret: With consistent attention and persistent effort you can release whatever now stands between you and the freedom for which your heart seeks.

“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”  ~ Anthony Robbins

“Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals.” ~ Jim Rohn

 

Where to find Happiness

I am determined to be cheerful and happy in whatever situation I may find myself. For I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition. ~ Martha Washington

In attempting to answer the question, what is happiness, pastor and author, Clarence McCartney, wrote, “Happiness is not found in pleasure. Lord Byron lived such a life if anyone did. But he wrote, ‘The worm, the canker, and the grief are mine alone.’

Happiness is not found in money either. Jay Gould, the American millionaire, had plenty of that. But when he was dying, he said, ‘I suppose I am the most miserable man on earth.’

Happiness is also not found in social position or fame. Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than his share of both. But he wrote, ‘Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, and old age a regret.’

Neither is it found in military glory. Alexander the Great conquered the known world in his day. But after having done so, he wept in his tent and said, ‘There are no more worlds to conquer.'”

So what is happiness? I believe happiness is a “state” not a “strive”. In other words, I believe happiness is not something we should strive for but rather it is a state of mind that we automatically gain as a result of our choices.  Indeed, money can’t make you happy; many friends can’t make you happy; fame or status can’t make you happy and a life of pleasure can’t make you happy.

I have discovered that there is only one place in this world to find true happiness – irrespective of circumstances – and that is by walking in the prefect will of God.
Your Father knows your “then”, your “now” and your “yet to be”; a knowledge too wonderful, too lofty for anyone to attain. Though it may indeed seem at times that it’s the end of the world as you know it but deep within you, if you remain on track with God’s will in Christ, you will always have a true inner sense of peace, contentedness and happiness; a happiness that surpasses circumstance.

“I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want”. ~ Philippians 4:12

  “God is not a power or principle or law, but he is a living, creating, communicating person — a mind who thinks, a heart who feels, a will who acts, whose best name is Father.” ~ Robert Hamill

THREE MEN TRAPPED

“You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even months over-analyzing a situation; trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could’ve would've happened... or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move on.” Tupac Shakur

THREE MEN TRAPPED: By Malladi V. Krishna Murthy

A philosopher, a scientist and a simple man – none of whom could swim – were trapped in a cove with sheer cliff faces. They split up, but the tide kept coming in. Rescuers lowered a rope with a safety harness.

The philosopher said, ‘Ah, this looks like a rope, but I might be mistaken – it could be wishful thinking or an illusion.’ So he didn’t attach himself, and he was drowned.

“The scientist said, ‘Ah, this is an 11 mm polyester rope with a breaking strain of 2800 kg. It conforms to the MR 10-81 standard,’ and then proceeded to give an exhaustive, and entirely correct, analysis of the rope’s physical and chemical properties; but he didn’t attach himself, and he was drowned.

“The simple man said, ‘Ah, I’m not sure if it’s a rope or a python tail, but it’s my only chance, so I’m grabbing it and holding on with my whole life.’ He was saved.

Too much analysis can be fatal.

‘People who lean on logic and philosophy and rational exposition end by starving the best part of the mind.’— William Butler Yeats

“It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”J.K. Rowling

Two Traveling Angels

“For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.” Psalm 91:11-13

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion’s guest room. Instead the angels were given a small space in the cold basement.

As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied:

“Things aren’t always what they seem.”

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night’s rest.

When the sun came up the next morning the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field.

The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel: “How could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him”, she accused. “The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.”

“Things aren’t always what they seem.”

“When we stayed in the basement of the mansion,” continued the older angel, “I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn’t find it.”

“Then last night as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for his wife. I gave him the cow instead….”

Things aren’t always what they seem.”

THE THIEF WHO LEARNED TO LOVE HIMSELF

“We can only know God well when we know our own sin. And those who have known God without knowing their wretchedness have not glorified Him but have glorified themselves.” ― Blaise Pascal

There was one great priest called Wingate (which means divine protector).  A thief came to him. The thief admired him because he had never seen such a beautiful person, such infinite grace, such contentedness, such peace about him.

The thief asked Wingate: “Is there some possibility of my growing to be like you? But one thing I must make clear to you: I am a thief. And another thing: I cannot leave it, so please don’t make it a condition. I will do whatsoever you say, but I cannot stop being a thief. That I have tried many times–it never works, so I have left the whole sport.  I have accepted my destiny, that I am going to be a thief and remain a thief, so don’t talk about it. From the very beginning let it be clear.”

Wingate said, “Why are you afraid? Who is going to talk about your being a thief?”

The thief said, “But whenever I go to a religious priest, or to anybody religious, they always say, ‘First stop stealing.'”

Wingate laughed and said, “Why should they be concerned? I am not concerned!”

The thief was very happy. He said, “Then it is okay. It seems that now I can become your follower. You are the right priest.”

Wingate accepted him and said, “Now you can go and do whatsoever you like, but on one strict condition.  You have to be constantly aware! Go, break into houses, enter, take things, steal; do whatsoever you like, that is of no concern to me, but do it with full awareness.”

The thief couldn’t understand that he was falling into a trap. He said, “Then everything is okay. I will try.” After three weeks he came back and said, “You are tricky–because if I become aware, I cannot steal. If I steal, awareness disappears. I am in a fix.”

Wingate said, “No more talk about your being a thief and stealing. I am not concerned.  Now, you decide! If you want awareness, then you decide. If you don’t want it, then too you decide.”

The man said…

The aim of life is to live, and to live means to be aware, joyously, serenely, divinely aware. Henry Miller

“But now it is difficult. I have tasted awareness a little, and it is so beautiful–I will leave anything, whatsoever you say. Just the other night for the first time I was able to enter the palace of the king. I opened the treasure. I could have become the richest man in the world–but you were following me and I had to be aware. When I became aware, diamonds looked just like stones, ordinary stones. When I lost awareness, the treasure was there. And I waited

"There are many sham diamonds in this life which pass for real, and vice versa".~ William Makepeace Thackeray

and did this many times. I would become aware and I  could not even touch it because the whole thing looked foolish, stupid–just stones, what am I doing?
Losing myself over stones?  But then I would lose awareness; they would become again beautiful, the whole illusion. But finally I decided that they were not worth it.”

LESSON: Become alert to what your actions truly mean to you, others and God. What is beautiful and true will always stand out as diamonds for you. And all the vices will also be revealed; they will make you uneasy and stand out us just stones, not worth your effort. The truth is written in your heart, if you just look inward with awareness!

We are not what we do, what we say, what we think, or even what we feel; which are usually a matter of external conditioning. There is something beyond thought, beyond feeling, beyond speech and beyond action. It is a place of awareness; of consciousness; of truth of what really is: the fearfully and wonderfully made you!

Are you really aware or, are you a person who knows not that he knows not?

The Other Wise Man: adapted from a story by Henry Van Dyke

Following the Star

You know the story of the Three Wise Men of the East and how they traveled from far away to offer their gifts at the manger in Bethlehem. But have you ever heard the story of the Other Wise Man, who also saw the star in its rising?

In this story by Henry Van Dyke we’ll hear how great was the desire of this fourth pilgrim in to come and worship the newborn king. And yet, like so many of us even today, what we hope will happen often takes unexpected turns.

This is the story of Artaban, the other wise man, who lived in a far off country among the mountains of Persia. Artaban was a very wise man who studied the prophecies and the stars to untangle the threads of the mystery of life. He believed the ancient words, “There shall come a star out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel.”

He and the other magi who lived in different cities saw this very star rising now over in the small country of Israel. As they contacted one another about this strange sight, they agreed to meet up together in Babylon and go by caravan to follow this star. It would lead them to the new born king.

Realizing that this was the most important event in the world, Artaban sold all of his earthly possessions. He bought three precious jewels – a brilliant blue sapphire, a vibrantly red ruby and a luminescent pearl. These fine gems he would give as tribute to the King.

Now the home where Artaban lived was a long way from Babylon. So Artaban gathered up his jewels, what provisions he’d need for the long trip, and set off on his fastest horse, Vasda. Onward and onward he pressed, until he arrived, at nightfall many days later beneath the walls of populous Babylon.

Vasda was almost spent, and Artaban would gladly have turned into the city to find rest and refreshment for himself and for her. But he knew he must continue steadily on to meet his waiting comrades. But suddenly Vasda stood still, quivering in every muscle before a dark object. Artaban dismounted. The dim starlight revealed the form of a man lying across the road. With pity Artaban began to minister to the half dead. He gave him water and moistened the sufferer’s brow and mouth. He mingled a remedy which he always carried with him and poured it slowly between the colorless lips. Hour after hour he labored as only a skilful healer of disease can do. At last the man’s strength returned; he sat up and looked about him.

“Who are you?” the man asked.

“I am Artaban, a Magi. I am going in search of the one who is to be born King of the Jews, a great Prince and Deliverer of all. I dare not delay any longer for the caravan that has waited for me may depart without me. But see, here is all I have left of bread and wine and a potion of healing herbs.” The Man raised his hand to thank Artaban – and to thank God for this man who saved his life. He asked God to bless Artaban with a safe travel – and that he would find the child in Bethlehem as foretold by the Hebrew prophets.

Artaban and Vasda raced in haste to the Temple of the Seven Spheres. But when they arrived it was close to daybreak. There was no trace of his friends, the other magi. They needed to go without him. Artaban must now follow them across the desert and meet them at the birthplace of the Promised One.

Artaban returned to Babylon, sold his sapphire to buy a train of camels and provision for the onward journey.

On the third day he finally reached his destination – Bethlehem. In great anticipation he began to search for the Holy Child. Yet the streets seemed to be deserted. He could not find his comrades or the child. From the open door of a cottage he heard the sound of a woman’s voice singing softly. He knocked on the door. The young mother invited him in as she cradled her baby to rest. She told him of the strangers from the Far East who had appeared in the village three days ago, and how they said that a star had guided them to the place where Joseph of Nazareth was lodging with his wife and new-born child. They paid reverence to the child and given him many rich gifts.

But the travelers disappeared again as suddenly as they had come. Then the man of Nazareth took the child and his mother, and also fled away secretly. The young mother laid the baby in its cradle, and rose to set food before Artaban – the plain fare of peasants, but willingly offered, and therefore full of refreshment for the soul as well as for the body. Artaban accepted it gratefully and felt a great peace stir in this place.

But suddenly there came the noise of a wild confusion in the streets of the village, a shrieking and wailing of women’s voices, a clashing of swords, and a desperate cry: “The soldiers! The soldiers of Herod! They are killing our children.”

The young mother’s face grew white with terror. She clasped her child to her and crouched motionless in the darkest corner of the room. She covered him with the folds of her robe, lest he should wake and cry.

But Artaban went quickly and stood in the doorway of the house. His broad shoulders filled the portal from side to side. The soldiers came down the street clanging swords. At the sight of the stranger in his imposing dress they hesitated with surprise. The captain of the band approached the threshold to thrust him aside. But Artaban did not stir. His face was calm as though he were watching the stars. His steady eyes held the solider silently for an instant. Artaban said in a low voice, “I am all alone in this place, and I am waiting to give this jewel to the prudent captain who will leave me in peace.”

He showed the ruby, glistening in the hollow of his hand.

The captain was amazed at the splendor of the gem. The pupils of his eyes expanded and the hard lines of greed wrinkled around his lips. He stretched out his hand and took the ruby.

“March on!” he shouted to his men, “There is no child here. The house is empty.”

The clamor and the clang of arms passed down the street. Artaban reentered the cottage. He turned his face to the east and prayed, “God of truth forgive my sin. I have said the thing that is not, to save the life of a child, and now two of my gifts for you are gone. I have spent for man that which was meant for God. Shall I ever be worthy to see the face of the King?”

But the voice of the woman, weeping for joy in the shadow behind him, said very gently, “Because you have saved the life of my little one, may the Lord bless thee and keep thee; the Lord lift up His countenance upon thee and give thee peace.”

For over thirty years Artaban searched and searched for this King, the promised savior of the world. He passed through countries where famine lay heavy upon the land, and the poor were crying for bread. He found none to worship, but many to help. He fed the hungry. Clothed the naked. Healed the sick, and comforted the captive.

Three and thirty years of the life of Artaban passed quickly. He was still a pilgrim and a seeker after the Light. Worn and weary he came for the last time to Jerusalem. It was the season of Passover. The city thronged with strangers. But on this day a singular agitation was visible in the multitude. “What is the cause of all this tumult he asked?”

“We are going,” they answered, “to the place called Golgotha, outside the city walls, where there is to be an execution. Have you not heard what has happened? Two famous robbers are to be crucified, and with them, another, called Jesus of Nazareth. This man has done many wonderful works among the people, so that they love him greatly. But the priests and elders have said that he must die because he gave himself out to be the Son of God, the long awaited Messiah.”

“Is this the King that I’ve been searching for?” Artaban followed the multitude with slow and painful steps toward the outskirts of the city. Just beyond the entrance of the guardhouse a troop of Macedonian soldiers came down the street, dragging a young girl with torn dress and disheveled hair. As the Wise Man paused to look at her with compassion, she broke suddenly from the hands of her tormentors, and threw herself down at his feet.

“Have pity on me,” She cried, “and save me, for the sake of the God of Purity. I am a daughter of a Magi. But my father is dead and I am seized to be sold as a slave. Save me from a life worse than death!”

Artaban trembled. It was the old conflict in his soul, which had come to him in the palm grove in Babylon and in the cottage at Bethlehem, the conflict between the expectation of faith and the impulse of love. Twice the gift which he had consecrated to the Christ child had been drawn to the service of humanity. This was the third trial, the ultimate choice.

Was this his great opportunity, or his last temptation? He could not tell. One thing only was clear in the darkness of his mind. He was the only one who could rescue this helpless girl. He took the pearl that looked so luminous, so radiant. He placed it in the hand of the young woman.

“This is your ransom, daughter! It is the last of my treasures which I kept for the King.”

While he spoke, the darkness of the sky deepened, and shuddering tremors ran through the earth. The wall of the houses rocked to and fro. Stones were loosened and crashed into the street. Dust clouds filled the air. The soldiers fled in terror. One more lingering pulsation of the earthquake quivered throughout the ground. A heavy tile, shaken from the roof, fell and struck the Wise Man on the temple. He lay breathless and pale, with his gray head resting on the young girl’s shoulder. The blood trickled.

As she bent over him, there came a voice through the twilight, very small and still, like music sounding from a distance, in which the notes are clear but the words are lost. The girl turned to see if someone had spoken, but saw no one.

Then the old man’s lips began to move, as if in answer, “Not so, my Lord! For when did I see you hungry and fed you? Or thirsty and gave you drink? When did I see you a stranger and took you in? When did I see you sick or in prison and came unto you? For thirty three years I have looked for you, but I have never seen your face or ministered to you, my good King.”

Artaban ceased and the sweet voice came again. And now the maid heard it say, “Truly I say unto you. Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these, you have done it unto me.”

A calm radiance of wonder and joy lighted the pale face of Artaban like the first ray of dawn on a snowy mountain peak. A long breath of relief exhaled gently from his lips. He knew that his quest was ended. His treasures were accepted after all by the One who came to save the world. The Other Wise Man had found the King!

 

TALE OF TWO SIDES OF ONE MAN

 

 

 

TALE OF TWO SIDES OF ONE MAN

“Nobody's all good or bad, and nobody's all light or dark. Every human being has so many different aspects and facets to them. And there can be something noble and something really dark and dangerous going on in a person all at the same time”. Anna Gunn

One side is going backwards; the other is trying to jump forward.

One side tries to repair what is broken; the other is just trying to get a move on.

One side is prone to depression; the other is filled with hope.
One side sees eternal darkness; the other side sees boundless light.

One side likes to be alone and isolated; the other likes to be the heart of the party.
One tries to hurt him lamenting past mistakes; the other tries to live and learn.

Both sides have one threat in common, an enemy that silently ticks away time: that’s known as the clock. If they can’t coexist and become one, then in this world they are done.
The past will continue to be the present, while the future will become lost.

“The truth is, unless you let go, unless you forgive yourself, unless you forgive the situation, unless you realize that the situation is over, you cannot move forward.”  Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

Three Hairs

You cannot tailor-make the situations in life but you can tailor-make the attitudes to fit those situations. Zig Ziglar

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head. “Well,” she said, “I think I’ll braid my hair today.” So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head. “H-M-M, ” she said, “I think I’ll part my hair down the middle today.” So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head. “Well,” she said, “Today I’m going to wear my hair in a pony tail.” So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn’t a single hair on her head….

“YEAH!” she exclaimed, “I don’t have to fix my hair today!”
Author unknown.
Reflection Questions

  • List three things in your life that are currently troubling you, then pick one of them. What are 2 ways in which there might be able to positively view the situation you chose?
  • Obviously this story is trying to show us how we can maintain a positive perspective when bad things happen. If you’ve already answered reflection question #1, you’ve found how this is true in your own life as well. What is at least one other important message in this story?
  • From question #1, take one of the two remaining situations that are troubling you. What are some humorous ways that somebody might be able to look at those situations to help ease a bit of the tension?

I hope you’ve enjoyed this story! Have a delightful day 🙂