Gonna be a Bear

Ok, supposedly, Sunday is a day of rest and spiritual rejuvenation. All the men folk in our house are ill, man flu is in the air and ofcourse, the sore throat, headache and jippy tummy I have isn't as serious nor do I get to lay on the sofa under a duvet!  So, you can bet I am feeling the sentiment of this week's Sunday inspirational. Here's hoping for an illness free week to all. And by the way, I would definately be a bear!

 

The cracked pot

 Happy Mothers' day to everyone, hope you all had a lovely relaxing day, (well, we can all dream) Actually, I was greeted in bed with a herbal tea and a huge bar of Cadbury's fruit and nut! After church, my 3 sons made us all a great 3 course dinner of tiger prawn cocktail, sam's famous chilli (it should be!) and banoffe pie. Thanks boys!

Here is a lovely tale to bring hope to all us who may be a little cracked!?!

The Cracked Pot

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walks from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments.  But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream.  'I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.'

The old woman smiled, 'Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?'  'That's because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.'  For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table.  Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.'
Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. 

You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

The Cab Ride

 Don't we all live life in too much of a rush, I know I do. I'm constantly racing from one experience to the next, and someties it can be hard to catch your breath. It can be so easy to spend our time planning for tomorrow that we forget today. I hope this Sunday inspirational helps us all remember to live "in the moment". Have a good week. 

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked.. 'Just a minute', answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90's stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940's movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years.All the furniture was covered in dust sheets.

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters.In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

'Would you carry my bag out to the car?' she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, then returned to assist the woman.  She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. 'It's nothing', I told her. 'I just try to treat my passengers  the way I would want my mother treated'.

 'Oh, you're such a good boy', she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, 'Could you drive through downtown?'  'It's not the shortest way,' I answered quickly.  'Oh, I don't mind,' she said.. 'I'm in no hurry. I'm on my way to a hospice'.  I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. 'I don't have any family left,' she continued in a soft voice. 'The doctor says I don't have very long.' I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.  'What route would you like me to take?' I asked.  

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where  she had once worked as an elevator operator.   We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.  

Sometimes she'd ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.  As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, 'I'm tired. Let's go now'.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.  Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her. 

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.'How much do I owe you?' she asked, reaching into her purse.  'Nothing,' I said.  'You have to make a living,' she answered.  'There are other passengers,' I responded.   Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.  'You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,' she said.  'Thank you.'

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light.. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life..  

I didn't pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?    

In a quick review, I don't think that I have done anything more important in my life.. We're conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.    

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID OR WHAT YOU SAID  ~BUT~ THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.  

Meet Molly

Ok so it's Sunday evening, and after so many comments about the "Dog's life" story I think we should have another inspirational story. Have a great week.

 Ya gotta meet Molly.... 

Meet Molly. She's a grey speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana.  She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled.. while there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes. But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic. Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee, and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there. 'This was the right horse and the right owner,' Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble. The other important factor, according to Moore, is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse. Molly's story turns into a parable for life in Post-Katrina Louisiana .... The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb. A human prosthesis designer built her a leg. The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports. And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs. Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers. Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it. 'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life, Moore said. She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.' Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's going to be better...To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.' This is Molly's most recent prosthesis.. The bottom photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it.... Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind. God's creatures often reflect the character we aspire to.

A Dog's life

I received this email today from a dear friend and just had to share it with you all. We have a "Staffbrador", (a 1 yr old Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Labrador cross) called Linus and he is completely bonkers. He drives me mad, jumps up to steal any food that is left on the table or counter top, occassionally has an accident on the floor and leaves dog hair and chewed up bits all over the floor. We all adore him and he thinks he is a baby, albeit a naughty one. I cried when I read the e-mail and maybe it will help me to remember to just enjoy our puppy and not get cross with him so much.

"A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a

ten-year-old  Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's

owners, Ron, his wife Lisa,  and their little boy Shane, 

were all very attached to Belker, and  they were hoping 

for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. 

I told the  family we couldn't do anything for Belker, 

and offered to perform  the euthanasia procedure for the

old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and 

Lisa told me they thought it would  be good for six year 

old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as 

though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as 

Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, 

petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered

if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, 

Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to 

accept Belker's transition without any difficulty 

or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's 

death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal 

lives are  shorter than human lives.
Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up,

''I know why.''Startled, we all turned to him. What came 

out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more

comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try 

and live.
He said,''People are born so that they can learn how to 

live a good  life...like 

loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?''
The Six-year-old continued,''Well,dogs already know how 

to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.''

Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly.
 

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn

things like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet

them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in 

your face to
be  pure Ecstasy.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back

on the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie 

under a shady tree

When you're happy, dance around and 

wag your entire body.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Be loyal.

Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until 

you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, 

be silent, sit close by,
and  nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!