The Miser, Use What Talent You Have Inside Before you Forget That You Have That Talent

A miser sold all that he had and bought a lump of gold, which he buried in a hole in the ground by the side of

an old wall and went to look at daily.

One of his workmen observed his frequent visits to the spot and decided to watch his movements. He soon discovered the secret of the hidden treasure, and digging down, came to the lump of gold, and stole it.

The miser, on his next visit, found the hole empty and began to tear his hair and to make loud lamentations.

A neighbour, seeing him overcome with grief and learning the cause, said, "Pray do not grieve so; but go and take a stone, and place it in the hole, and fancy that the gold is still lying there.

It will do you quite the same service; for when the gold was there, you had it not, as you did not make the slightest use of it."

Moral : God gives us many talents and gifts which we may be happy to possess but never use. It could be a great voice or a gift for acting or dance or drawing. Are we not just like the miser, cherishing our gold but not putting it to use?

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Avoid Dwelling its Very Destructive..........

Hating people is like burning down your own house to get rid of a rat. ~Henry Emerson Fosdick

Some people believe that in order to process an event or a frustration that they have to talk about it. There is a fine line between catharsis and dwelling on the negative though. If you find yourself frequently retelling the same negative story over and over again, you are not getting it out of your system; you are culturing it and allowing the negativity to fester. Even retelling it once may be allowing it to fester. This does nothing to fix the problem and it brings you down.

Don’t allow external events to bring you down. No one has the power to hurt you emotionally, no matter what they do, unless you let them. Dwelling on unfortunate events or people only hurts you, and it does nothing to them.

If you find yourself returning to thoughts that don’t make you feel good, set them aside and focus on more positive thoughts. It may help you to listen to a song that you find uplifting, watching a happy movie or reading something positive.

This is not to say that grieving isn’t ever appropriate. Grieving is always appropriate under certain circumstances. The problem arises when that fear or pain overrides your ability to function in the long-term. It was a difficult road for me, but after a lot of emotional turmoil, I realized that it’s a mental thing and entirely within my ability to control. I don’t have to allow the things that happen to me to control how I feel, and neither does anyone else. If you are dwelling on things that don’t make you feel good, you are allowing those external influences to destroy your peace. If you want peace, you have to impose it in spite of those things. It may take practice, but you can do it.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Most Important Part of Body!!!

Most Important Part of Body!!!

My mother used to ask me what the most important part of the body is. Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct Answer.

When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy." She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes." She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind."

Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No. But you are getting smarter every year, my child."

Then one year, my grandfather died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was only the second time I saw him cry. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final good-bye to my Grandfather. She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?" I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game

between her and me.

She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in your life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson."

She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder." I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?" She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry.

Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one. It is made for others and not for yourself. It is sympathetic to the pain of others. People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did . But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Being kind feels good , Few Reasons Why to Be Kind

1. Being kind feels good. Doing something for someone else really does make us feel good. Just as running releases endorphins, so does kindness. Make someone smile and you'll feel better for having done so.

2. God smiles on kindness. Whether we are Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist, kindness is an important part of the exhortations of all these religions. Both Buddha and Christ were kind and encouraged their followers to be likewise.

3. Kindness broadens our perspective. In order to be kind, we have to pay attention to what is happening around us. As we notice more things and help others, we get a glimpse of other ways of looking at things. A broader perspective helps us to keep things in context.

4. Kindness softens our heart. When we look for kind deeds, beauty, and the opportunity for kindness, we'll find that we are more compassionate and more tolerant. As we practice empathy, it opens our heart to others.

5. Kindness brightens our world. When we are kind to people, it makes them happy. The more people who experience kindness from us, the more happy people will be in our lives. When those around us are happier, our world becomes a brighter, lighter place to live.

6. Kindness helps people feel respected and less alone. By recognizing someone's need for help and acting on it in a compassionate manner, it makes the recipient feel valued. It also makes the giver feel better about themselves and more connected.

7. Kindness makes people want to be around us. One of the most common responses to kindness is gratitude. People appreciate what we've done for them. Our kindness is very attractive, so they want to be around us and actually seek us out. The Buddha lists this as one of the eleven impacts of loving kindness, but he put it even more strongly, saying: "Loving kindness will make people love you."

8. Kindness bears wonderful fruit. Kindness begets kindness, openness, health and reduces the effects of stress on our bodies and our hearts. In many ways, kindness is like Liquid Plumber for the soul: it opens us up, clears out the dross, and dwells lightly in our hearts.

9. Kindness begets kindness. When you are kind to others, the impact of your action doesn't stop there. Many times the recipient of your kindness and others who see or hear about your kindness are inspired to be kinder. The ripples of kindness are truly endless.

10. Your kids will learn from your example. When you are kind to friends and acquaintances, your kids will be more likely to be kind as well. People often treat their children with kindness, but can be short with a crazy driver, strangers, or others outside the family. This can cause "us and them" thinking that devalues others as "less" than ourselves. Kindness breeds tolerance and understanding.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

May this day bring us many opportunities for kindness... ;-)

Several years ago I was at a train station in Amsterdam waiting in line to buy a ticket.

As I stood there I saw a young homeless man asking people for money so he could buy breakfast. It was early in the morning and most of the travelers simply ignored the young man or gave him a dirty look.

There was one exception though - an older, well-dressed businessman who looked as though he was from the middle-east.

When approached by the panhandler, the gentleman looked straight into his eyes and quietly asked "How much will you need?" I couldn't hear what the young man said but watched as the older man pulled several bills from his wallet and calmly placed them in the young mans' hands.

I don't know if the young man actually used this money for breakfast or for some other purpose.

What I do know is that I witnessed two completely different reactions to the same situation. I saw people who were either afraid or annoyed or distrustful. And then I saw this man who was not afraid and treated the homeless man as though he were a brother. I decided then and there that, even though we have to be careful in this world, I would rather be like him.

May this day bring us many opportunities for kindness... ;-)

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

We believe that this is a beautiful universe

We are the decent people of the world. We are in the majority, for men and women are essentially decent. We live in all nations, we live under all the flags that fly.

Decency is not determined by our economic status, our religion, the language we speak, the color of our skin, or the ideology under which we live. Human decency is a universal quality.

We, the decent people of the world, often have our voices drowned out by the shouts of leaders who misrepresent the things for which we stand.

We the decent people carry enough weight to tip the scale for decency if we will make ourselves heard...

We believe that war is the great indecency, that it kills and destroys all the higher sensibilities of man and leaves only death, suffering, and destruction in its wake.

We believe that this is a beautiful universe and that it is made for love and not for hate; for peace and not war; for freedom and not slavery; for order and not riot; for compassion and not violence; for happiness and not misery.

We believe that there is only one war to be waged in the name of human decency, and that is the war against all the common enemies of man... hunger, disease, poverty, ignorance, crime and failure.

We believe that every child should have the chance to grow up in an atmosphere of faith, not of fear.

We believe that the ultimate decency is to help men and never harm men, to lift men and not degrade men, and to respect the dignity of all men as individual human beings.

We the decent people of the world stand for the kind of life that will be good for all of the people, all of the time, everywhere."

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

You are meant to be whatever you dream of becoming

Always aim higher than you believe you can reach. So often, you'll discover that when your talents are set free by your imagination, you can achieve any goal.

If people offer their help or wisdom as you go through life, accept it gratefully. You can learn much from those who have gone before you. But never be afraid or hesitant to step off the accepted path and head off in your own direction if your heart tells you that it's the right way for you.

Always believe that you will ultimately succeed at whatever you do, and never forget the value of persistence, discipline, and determination.

You are meant to be whatever you dream of becoming.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

ONE SMILE

"ONE SMILE"

Smile is a curved, they say

That sets everything straight;

It can take all the worries away

And bring love instead of hate.

Just a smile can make a day

And sinners kneel and pray;

Gone are the frowns without a trace

As if thrown away like waste.

A smile can make you younger

While wrinkles make you older;

Laugh your heart out is better

And never let problems be a bother.

A smile can help gain more friends

Who will stand by you till the end?

It can help you find your one great love

Sent by our Father from up above.

A smile assures everything’s alright

And erases our fears and doubts;

It can make people feel glad

And forget things that made them sad.

A smile brings people closer

And break walls and barriers;

It can erase all our hatred

And let our care rekindle.

Just a smile… and what it can make

A hate-free world’s what it can create;

No more pain and misery to feel

Only love, peace and hope… for real.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

What we think, we become.

"Instead of comparing our lot with that

of those who are more fortunate than we are,

we should compare it with the lot of the great majority of our fellow men.

It then appears that we are among the privileged."

~ Helen Keller

"Age does not protect you from love.

But love, to some extent, protects you from age."

~ Jeanne Moreau

When we quit thinking primarily about ourselves

and our own self-preservation,

we undergo a truly heroic transformation of consciousness.

~ Joseph Campbell

What we think, we become.

All that we are arises with our thoughts.

With our thoughts, we make the world.

~ The Buddha

"The brain is like a muscle.

When it is in use we feel very good.

Understanding is joyous."

~ Carl Sagan

"There is a space between man's imagination and man's attainment

that may only be traversed by his longing."

~ Khalil Gibran

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Find your original face.

Many days, I spent in wonder:
Who am I? Where do I come from?
Where am I going?
This writing is the result of my meditation.
It is by no means truth.
The truth, can only be realized within.
These words interpret
What I have found within my own heart.


We are body.
We are mind.
We are heart.
We are spirit.
We are light.
The body is what does.
The mind is what thinks.
The heart is what feels.
The spirit is what lives.
The light is what is.


The body is sustained by food, water, and air.
The mind is sustained by truth.
The heart is sustained by joy.
The spirit is sustained by purpose.
The light is sustained by its source.


The light is what was before being
and remains after being.
Yet being is not separate from what is,
for it is light taken shape and form
and coming into being.
Everything is light and born of light.
Even the shadows do not exist without light.


Examine the ten thousand things,
beyond form,
and find its only being
is the shape of its light.


The difference between the living
and the non-living
is that the sentient tend to the light.
The rest are like lamps without oil,
cold and still.


The world of being
is a world of suffering,
a world sustained by shadows.
It is created by our mistaking
this body, this mind, this heart and this spirit
for what is.
In forgetting our light
we forget what sustains us,
draw away from the source,
and we begin to grow dim.
We hunger
and desire is born.
We consume the light
of what surrounds us.
Our fulfillment is always short lived.
A desire fulfilled is replaced with another.
Fire must always be fed to be.
Suffering is born.


In the world of non-being
the flame is no longer fed.
It is losing self,
it is being no longer,
it is the flame put out.


Neither be
nor not be.
Instead,
be without being.


Like the bright star
in our corner of the universe,
that does not let go
of what she protects,
the source of our light
keeps us near.


Close your eyes
and see the shapeless form
that embraces us
within and without.
Close your ears
and hear the whisper
of the music that calls us home.


Find your original face.
Find the Way back home.


Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

To love and being loved

Every single soul that dwells this world has the same reason for being alive; to love and being loved.

Perhaps, that is the reason why we spend most of our lifetimes searching for the true love that we hope for.

We step forward with the hope to find the love is up ahead, and we tend to forget the one who pushes us ahead, the one who accompanies us along the way, and the one who supports us to make it through untill the very end.

We are just being too blind to see that God already sent us the true love that we are searching for, where?

The hands of a person that hold you now and then.

God spreads His never-ending love across human beings, and we as His servant, we just have to open our eyes widely to see who keeps that love for us.

Love in friendship, love in relationship and love in family. Apparently, the true love that we are dying to search for is just next to us.

Once we’ve found the one who holds the true love that we are searching for, never ever let them go.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

How do you build a big “trust account”?

When you build a big “trust account”, business are easily done, abundance are easily obtained.

Trust of people is more important than anything else in the world of business.

Whether you are seeking work, looking for investor to invest in your venture, looking for friends, or searching for love, remember to build yourself a “ trust account”.

Once people trust you, the abundance of money, friends, love and opportunities will start flowing into your life. How do you build a big “trust account”?

1.When you promise someone you will do something by a certain date, make sure it is done, and it is done on time.

2.Always deliver over and beyond the normal standard and expectation.

3.Respond to people’s request faster than they expected. Never, ever, ignore people’s calls and emails.

4.Give people your undivided attention when they trust you with a particular project.

5.When you are given an opportunity , earn your respect by giving your personal best to honour the trust of people.

6.When you make a mistake, claim full responsibility. Never, ever justify or give excuses. When you justify and give excuses, you will not only lose people’s trust, you will also lose their respect, and believe me, that is bad.

7.Never, never, ever lie. Always tell the truth. Even if it is the truth about your incompetence or poor character. People can easily accept and forgive your poor conduct once you are open and honest with them and take responsibility for it, but they will not accept and forgive liars easily. Once people find out that you are a liar, that is the end of your trust account.

8.When you achieve something great, always give credit to those who has helped you along the way. Accept the honour with humbleness and gratitude.

9.When you try really hard, give it your personal best and still fail at the project, do not get angry with yourself or blame others. Be honest, claim your defeat, accept the fact that you are not capable enough to do it, and immediately, explore options to learn more about it.

10.Never, ever gossip or engage in any form of small talks. A rule of thumb—-Only say good things about other people. Never criticise someone else behind their back.

11.When someone makes a mistake, help them erase their self guilt and feeling of incompetence. Encourage them not to give up. Every mistake made and corrected is one step closer to success.

12.When people betray you, let you down, hurt you, forgive them, give them another chance, and thank them for teaching you lessons of compassion, understanding, tolerance and acceptance. These people should be seen as your greatest teachers.

13.Loving people who are nice to you and love you is not a virtue. Loving the unlovable takes the heart of a hero. When you are able to love the people who hurt you the most, and see them as your best teachers, you have earned the trust of God. Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

Be The Sun, Be The Light, Be The Change

One day, the wind sees a man who wears a big coat walking on the beach.

The wind wants to prove that he is the mightiest force of nature, so he challenges the sun.

He says to the sun, “I am mightier than you are. Let’s prove it by seeing who can blow off the man’s coat. The sun laughs and replies, “Sure, my friend, go for it.”

So the wind starts to blow strongly, trying to blow off the man’s coat.

The problem is that the stronger the wind blows, the tighter the man holds on to his coat. After a while, the wind exhausts himself, gives up and says to the sun,

“Well, I can’t do it, and if I can’t do it, you can’t do it either.” The sun laughs again, and says, “I don’t have to do anything. I just need to be what I am.” Then the sun quietly rises, the weather becomes so hot, the man takes off his coat.” Most people are resistant to change; many are like the man with his coat.

They wear a big thick coat of negativity, sadness, depression, and unhappiness. If you adapt the method of wind by trying to change them with force, they will hold on to their negative emotion more than ever before. If you want to help them take off and let go of their unwanted emotions, you must learn from the sun.

When people face the sun, they don’t see the shadows. When people face the light, they don’t see the darkness.

So Be The Sun, Be The Light, Be The Change. Demonstrate the values , the traits that you want to see in them.

Soon , you will experience a liberational change among your circle of friends.

People naturally aspire to something higher , even though at times, their aspiration presents itself in forms of envy. That is not a bad thing if you help them transform this envy into a creative energy to produce a desirable outcome for themselves. We are all on the same path of fulfilling our common destiny. So we need to lift each other and ascend together. Be The Sun that shines upon the darkness. Be the source of inspiration, Be the Change you want to see. Be The Power that creates abundance. In being so, you are lifting the world.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

The Two Horses

Just up the road from my home is a field, with two horses in it.

From a distance, each horse looks like any other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing….

Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him.

This alone is amazing. If you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. Looking around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse’s halter is a small bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends, you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting that he will not be led astray.

When the horse with the bell returns to the shelter of the barn each evening, it stops occasionally and looks back, making sure that the blind friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell.

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges.

He watches over us and even brings others into our lives To help us when we are in need..

Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.

Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way….

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

THE QUILT

As I faced my Maker at last judgement,

I knelt before the Lord along with the other souls . Before each of us laid our lives, like the squares of a quilt.

An angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together into a tapestry that is our life.

But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant holes.

Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in everyday life.

I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all. I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color and all the bright hues of worldly fortune.

I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened. My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty like binding air.

Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of the truth ...The others rose, each in turn, holding up their tapestries.

So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise. My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes.

I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been trials of illness and death, and false accusations that took from me my world as I knew it. I had to start over many times.

I often struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I had spent many lonely nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life.

I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully: each time offering it up to the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgemental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it had been...I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light. An awe-filled gasp filled the air.

I gazed around at the others who stared at me with eyes opened wide. Then I looked upon the tapestry before me.

Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, The Face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with love and warmth in his eyes.

He said: "Every time you gave over your life to me, it became my life, my hardships, and my struggles. Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let me shine thru, until there was more of me than there was of you."

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

But whatever you do

But whatever you do, Do not hold on to the open mind; For in doing so, You will close it. Abandon control; The more you force it, The more you remove yourself from it. If it cannot come naturally, Be open-minded about it and accept it; Then the mind will open on it’s own, Without you obstructing it. Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

NOTHING. JUST FORGIVE

Three years ago, a friend said something to me that hurt very deeply.

I was speechless. I could not believe she could say that and mean it.

When I had no response, she said, "I love you and don't want to see you hurt."

My thought was, 'if you love me, how could you say such a terrible thing about someone I love dearly'.

But I was still speechless and just couldn't respond. Days and weeks passed and it still bothered me.

I prayed about it a lot and I thought I had forgiven her, but I couldn't forget.

Weeks and months went by. I didn't dwell on this, but occasionally after my prayers at bedtime, I would tlhink about it and couldn't seem to clear this from my thoughts. Therefore, I would have a restless night. Two years passed and I began to doubt that I had forgiven her. I decided I would talk to her about it and tell her how much her words had hurt. Before I could talk to her, I wanted to think about what I would say that wouldn't hurt her.

(I'm not really sure she would even remember what she had said to me.) I prayed about this and asked God to give me the right words to say.

After four days of praying about this, I began thinking God wasn't listening to me.

Then suddenly it became clear. God had heard and had answered my prayers.

The answer was to say NOTHING. JUST FORGIVE.

I did -- and a sense of peace came to me. I have had no more restless nights over this. We all do and say things at time that hurt someone.

We need forgiveness and we need to be able to forgive.

Let us all pray for those who hurt us and ask God to give us the Grace to forgive them. Forgiving them gives us relief from our hurt.

When we can truly forgive, it allows healing to take place in our spiritual lives. God knows He has to forgive us a lot.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

THE DARK CANDLE

A man had a little daughter--an only and much beloved child. He lived only for her, she was his life. So when she became ill and her illness resisted the efforts of the best obtainable physicians, he became like a man possessed, moving heaven and earth to bring about her restoration to health. His best efforts proved fruitless, however, and the child died. The father was totally irreconcilable. He became a bitter recluse, shutting himself away from his many friends, refusing every activity that might restore his poise and bring him back to his normal self. Then one night he had a dream. He was in heaven and witnessing a grand pageant of all the little child angels. They were marching in an apparently endless line past the Great White Throne. Every white-robed, angelic tot carried a candle.

He noticed, however, that one child's candle was not lit. Then he saw that the child with the dark candle was his own little girl.

Rushing towards her, while the pageant faltered, he seized her in his arms, caressed her tenderly, and asked, "How is that your candle is the only one not lit?"

"Father, they often relight it, but your tears always put it out again," she said.

Just then he awoke from from his dream. The lesson was crystal clear, and it's effects were immediate. From that hour on he was no longer a recluse, but mingled freely and cheerfully with his former friends and associates. No longer would his little darling's candle be extingushed by his useless tears.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

UGLY THE TOMCAT

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was.

Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.

The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly.

To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been, there was a hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side. His left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, and even his shoulders. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!!" All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.

Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear.

gly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring.

Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen.

Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain. Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly.

Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply -- to give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, and beautiful -- except for me. I will always try to be Ugly.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You

MARRIAGE

MARRIAGE: When I got home that night as my wife served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly.

Again I observed the hurt in her eyes. Suddenly I didn't know how to open my mouth. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. She didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, why? I avoided her question.

This made her angry. She threw away the chopsticks and shouted at me, you are not a man! That night, we didn't talk to each other. She was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; she had lost my heart to Jane. I didn't love her anymore. I just pitied her! With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house, our car, and 30% stake of my company. She glanced at it and then tore it into pieces.

The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said for I loved Jane so dearly. Finally she cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.

The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell asleep very fast because I was tired after an eventful day with Jane. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did not care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.

This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that every day for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning.

I thought she was going crazy. Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. I told Jane about my wife's divorce conditions. . She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she applies, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. My wife and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son clapped behind us, daddy is holding mommy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain.

From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly; don't tell our son about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outsidethe door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.

On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to her.

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Jane about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger. She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me... she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart. Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mom out.

To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. My wife gestured to our son to come closer and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day. But her much lighter weight made me sad.

On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Our son had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy. I drove to office.... jumped out of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind...I walked upstairs. Jane opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Jane, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished, and then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Jane, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other anymore. Now I realize that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until death do us apart. Jane seemed to suddenly wake up.

She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The salesgirl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote, I'll carry you out every morning until death do us apart. That evening I arrived home, flowers in my hands, a smile on my face, I run up stairs, only to find my wife in the bed - dead.

My wife had been fighting CANCER for months and I was so busy with Jane to even notice. She knew that she would die soon and she wanted to save me from the whatever negative reaction from our son, in case we push thru with the divorce.-- At least, in the eyes of our son--- I'm a loving husband.... The small details of your lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, property, the money in the bank. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build intimacy. Do have a real happy marriage! If you don't share this, nothing will happen to you If you do, you just might save a marriage. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

Lovely Thoughts for Lovely People Just Like You