Wonderful Story

At a fund raising dinner for a school that serves children with learning disabilities, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its

dedicated staff, he offered a question:

'When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.

Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.

Where is the natural order of things in my son?'

The audience was stilled by the query.

The father continued. 'I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.'

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, 'Do you think they'll let me play?' I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, 'We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.'

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.

In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.

At this juncture, do the others let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the

plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.

The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.

As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.

The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.

Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates.

Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, 'Shay, run to first!

Run to first!'

Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.

He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, 'Run to second, run to second!'

Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.

By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball. The smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.

All were screaming, 'Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay'

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, 'Run to third!

Shay, run to third!'

As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, 'Shay, run home! Run home!'

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

'That day', said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, 'the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world'.

Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day !

Farmer help for free and still wins !!! How?, Why?

There was a farmer who grew superior quality, award-winning corn in his farm. Each year, he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honors & prizes.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his seed corn with his neighbors.

"How can you afford to share your best seed corn with your neighbors when they are entering corn in competition with

yours each year?" The reporter asked. "Why brother"'' The farmer replied, "Didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen grains from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field.

If my neighbors grow inferior, sub-standard & poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I have to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors to grow good corns."

The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbors' corn also improves. So it is in the other dimensions and areas of life!

Those who choose to be in harmony must help their neighbors and colleagues to be at peace. Those who choose to live well must help others live well. The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches…Success does not happen in isolation; it is most often a participatory and collective process. So share the good practices, ideas and new knowledge with your family, friends, team members and neighbors & all.

I Want To Be A TV Because...

A teacher from Primary School asks her students to write an essay about what they would like God to do for them... At the end of the day while marking the essays, she reads one that made her very emotional. Her husband, had just walked in, saw her crying and asked her: - What happened? She answered - Read this. It's one of my student's essay : Oh God, tonight I ask you something very special: Make me into a television. I want to take its place. Live like the TV in my house. Have my own special place, And have my family around ME. To be taken seriously when I talk.... I want to be the centre of attention and be heard without interruptions or questions. I want to receive the same special care that the TV receives when it is not working. Have the company of my dad when he arrives home from work, even when he is tired. And I want my mom to want me when she is sad and upset, instead of ignoring me... And... I want my brothers to fight to be with me... I want my family to just leave everything aside, every now and then, just to spend time with me. And last but not least make them all happy and entertain them... I don't ask you for much God... I just want to live like every TV. At that moment her husband said: - 'My God, poor kid. What horrible parents!She looked up at him and said: - 'That essay is none other but our son's !

a glass with some water in it

The professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see; asked the students,' How much do you think this glass weighs?''50gms!' .... '100gms!' ......'125gms' ......the students answered.'I really don't know unless I weigh it,' said the professor,' but, my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?''Nothing' the students said.'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour? ' the professor asked.'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the students.'You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?''Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress; paralysis; Have to go to hospital for sure!'ventured another student; all the students laughed.'Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?'No' the students said.Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?'The students were puzzled."What should I do then?" asked the Professor.'Put the glass down!' said one of the students.'Exactly!' said the professor.'Life's problems are something like this. Hold them for a few minutes in your head; they seem OK. Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache. Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.It's important to think of the challenges (problems) in your life, but it is EVEN MORE IMPORTANT to 'put them down' at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh & strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way.

One day I decided to quit...

One day I decided to quit... I quit my job, my relationship, my spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have one last talk with God. "God", I said. "Can you give me one good reason not to quit?" His answer surprised me... "Look around", He said. "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?" "Yes", I replied. When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor. Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo. He said. "In the third year, there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I would not quit. In the fourth year, again, there was nothing from the bamboo seed. "I would not quit." He said. "Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant... But just 6 months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the five years growing roots. Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle." [very true]He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling, you have actually been growing roots." "I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you. " Don't compare yourself to others .." He said. " The bamboo had a different purpose than the fern ... Yet, they both make the forest beautiful." Your time will come, " God said to me. " You will rise high! " How high should I rise?" I asked. How high will the bamboo rise?" He asked in return. "As high as it can? " I questioned. " Yes. " He said, "Give me glory by rising as high as you can. " I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can help you see that God will never give up on you. He will never give up on you. Never regret a day in your life. Good days give you happiness Bad days give you experiences; Both are essential to life. A happy and meaningful life requires our continuous input and creativity. It does not happen by chance. It happens because of our choices and actions. And each day we are given new opportunities to choose and act and, in doing so, we create our own unique journey." Keep going... Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong, Sorrows keep you Human, Failures keep you humble, Success keeps You Glowing, But Only God keeps You Going!

THE SEED

A successful business man was growing old andknew it was time to choose a successor to take over the business. Instead of choosing one of his Directors or his children,he decided to do something different. He called all the youngexecutives in his company together.

He said, "It is time for me to step down and choose the next CEO.I have decided to choose one of you.. "The young executives wereShocked, but the boss continued. "I am going to give each oneof you a SEED today - one very special SEED.. I want you to plantthe seed, water it, and come back here one year from today withwhat you have grown from the seed I have given you. I will thenjudge the plants that you bring, and the one I choose will bethe next CEO."

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

Jim kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. Three weeks, four weeks, five weeks went by, still nothing. By now, others were talking about their plants, but Jim didn't havea plant and he felt like a failure.Six months went by -- still nothing in Jim's pot. He just knew hehad killed his seed. Everyone else had trees and tall plants, buthe had nothing. Jim didn't say anything to his colleagues, however.He just kept watering and fertilizing the soil - He so wanted theseed to grow.

A year finally went by and all the young executives of the companybrought their plants to the CEO for inspection.Jim told his wife that he wasn't going to take an empty pot.But she asked him to be honest about what happened. Jim felt sickto his stomach, it was going to be the most embarrassing momentof his life, but he knew his wife was right. He took his empty potto the board room. When Jim arrived, he was amazed at the varietyof plants grown by the other executives. They were beautiful --in all shapes and sizes. Jim put his empty pot on the floor andmany of his colleagues laughed, a few felt sorry for him!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

* If you plant honesty, you will reap trust

* If you plant goodness, you will reap friends

* If you plant humility, you will reap greatness

* If you plant perseverance, you will reap contentment

* If you plant consideration, you will reap perspective

* If you plant hard work, you will reap success

* If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation

So, be careful what you plant now;it will determine what you will reap later.

SELFLESS LOVE...!

My wife called, 'How long will you be with that newspaper? Will you come here & make your darling daughter eat her food?’ I tossed the paper away & rushed to the scene.My only daughter, Sindu, looked frightened; tears were welling up in her eyes. In front of her was a bowl filled to its brim with curd rice. Sindu is a nice child, quite intelligent for her age. I cleared my throat & picked up the bowl. 'Sindu darling, why don't you take a few mouthful of this curd rice? Just for Dad's sake dear.Sindu softened a bit & wiped her tears with the back of her hands. 'Ok, Dad. I will eat - not just a few mouthfuls, but the whole lot of this.But, you should...' Sindu hesitated. 'Dad, if I eat this entire curd rice,will you give me whatever I ask for?' 'Promise'. I covered the pink soft hand extended by my daughter with mine, & clinched the deal. Now I became a bit anxious. 'Sindu, dear, you shouldn't insist on getting a computer or any such expensive items. Dad does not have that kind of money right now. OK?''No, Dad. I do not want anything expensive'. Slowly & painfully, she finished eating the whole quantity. I was silently angry with my wife & my mother for forcing my child to eat something that she detested. After the ordeal was through, Sindu came to me with her eyes wide with expectation. All our attention was on her.. 'Dad, I want to have my head shaved off, this Sunday!' was her demand. 'Atrocious!' shouted my wife, 'A girl child having her head shaved off? Impossible!' 'Never in our family!' My mother rasped. 'She has been watching too much of TV. Our culture is getting totally spoiled with this TV programs!' 'Sindu, darling, why don't you ask for something else? We’ll be sad seeing you with a clean-shaven head.' 'Please, Sindu, why don't you try to understand our feelings?' I tried to plead with her.. 'Dad, you saw how difficult it was for me to eat that Curd Rice'. Sindu was in tears & you promised to grant me whatever I ask for.Now, you are going back on your words. Was it not you who told me the story of King Harishchandra, its moral that we should honor our promises no matter what?' It was time for me to call the shots. 'Our promise must be kept.' 'Are you out of your mind?' chorused my mother & wife. 'No. If we go back on our promises, she will never learn to honour her own. Sindu, your wish will be fulfilled.' With her head clean-shaven, Sindu had a round-face & her eyes looked big & beautiful.On Monday morning, I dropped her at her school. It was a sight to watch my hairless Sindu walking towards her classroom. She turned around & waved. I waved back with a smile. Just then, a boy alighted from a car & shouted, Sinduja, please wait for me!' What struck me was the hairless head of that boy. 'May be, that is the in-stuff', I thought. 'Sir, your daughter Sinduja is great indeed!' Without introducing herself, a lady got out of the car, & continued, 'that boy who is walking along with your daughter is my son Harish. He is suffering from... Leukemia. She paused to muffle her sobs. 'Harish could not attend the school for the whole of the last month. He lost all his hair due to the side effects of chemotherapy. He refused to come back to school fearing the unintentional but cruel teasing of the schoolmates. Sinduja visited him last week & promised him that she will take care of the teasing issue. But, I never imagined she would sacrifice her lovely hair for the sake of my son!Sir, you & your wife are blessed to have such a noble soul as your daughter.' I stood transfixed & then, I wept.. 'My little Angel, you are teaching me how selfless real love is!'

“The happiest people are not those who live on their own terms…………but are those who change their terms for the ones whom they love”

Father & son

Train is about to leave the station. All passengers are settling downtheir seat. As train started young man was filled with lot of joy and curiosity. He was sitting on thewindow side.He went out one hand And feeling the passing air. He shouted, "Papa see all trees are goingbehind".Old man smile and admired Son feelings. Beside the young man one couple was sitting and listingall the conversion between father and son. They were little awkward with the attitude of 25 years old man behaving like a small child. Suddenly young man Again shouted, "Papa see the pond and animals. Clouds are moving withtrain". Couple was watching the young man In embarrassingly. Now its start raining and some of water dropstouches the young man's hand. He filled with joy and Closed the eyes. He shouted again," Papa it's raining, water istouching me, see papa". Couple could not help themselves and Ask the old man. "Why don't you visit the Doctor and get treatment foryour son."

Old man said, Yes, We are coming from the hospital as Today my son gothis eye sight for first time in his life".

A Full Glass of Milk

One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay, for hishungry stomach, decided he would ask for a meal at the next house.
On the way through school, he found he had only one thin dime left and hewas very hungry.
However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door.Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.
The woman thought he looked hungry, so brought him a large glass of milk.
He drank it slowly, and then asked, 'How much do I owe you?' 'You don't oweme anything,' she replied. 'Mother has taught us, never to accept pay for akindness.'
He said...'Then I thank you from my heart.'
Year's later that young woman became critically ill.The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, wherethey called in specialists to study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the nameof the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes.
Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her atonce.
He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save herlife, from that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the businessoffice to pass the final bill to him for approval.
He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent toher room.
The woman feared opening it, for she was sure it would take the rest of herlife to pay for it all.
Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of thebill. She read these words...
'Paid in full with one glass of milk.' Signed, Dr.Howard Kelly.
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: Thank You, God,that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands.'