Invictus Out of the night that covers me,  Black as the Pit from pole to pole,  I thank whatever gods may be  For my unconquerable soul.  In the fell clutch of circumstance  I have not winced nor cried aloud.  Under the bludgeonings of chance  My head is bloody, but unbowed.  Beyond this place of wrath and tears  Looms but the Horror of the shade,  And yet the menace of the years  Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.  It matters not how strait the gate,  How charged with punishments the scroll.  I am the master of my fate:  I am the captain of my soul. William Ernest Henley

Can I borrow $5 (Priceless)

This is priceless!
 Can I Borrow  $5?
A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year old son waiting for her
at the door.

SON: 'Mummy, may I ask you a question?'

MUM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman..

SON: 'Mummy, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the woman said angrily.

SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'

MUM: 'If you must know, I make $20 an hour.'

SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.

SON: "Mummy, may I please borrow $5?"

The mother was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yourself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'

The little boy quietly went to his room and shut
the door..

The woman sat down and started to get even angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?

After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down, and started to think:

Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $5 and he really didn't ask for money very often.The woman went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.

'Are you asleep, son?' She asked..

'No Mummy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.

'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $5 you asked for.'

The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank you Mummy!' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.

The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.

The little boy slowly counted out his money, and then looked up at his mother.

'Why do you want more money if you already have some?' the mother grumbled.

'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.

'Mummy, I have $20 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow.
I would like to have dinner with you.'

The mother was crushed. She put her arms around her little son, and she begged for his forgiveness.

It's just a short reminder to all of you working so hard in life. We should not let time slip through our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts. Do remember to share that $20 worth of your time with someone you love.

If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

Success Suggestion

Day 115: Inspiration from Sir Winston Churchill
by Bo Bennett, DTM

Sir Winston Leonard Spencer Churchill (1874-1965) was one of the twentieth century's most important figures, best known as Britain's Prime Minister from 1940 - 1945 and 1951 - 1955.

Success is knowing that your past does not equal your future.  Winston was known to be a willful and somewhat rebellious little boy.  His teachers wrote in letters how difficult he was, one teacher even writing, "Very bad... is a constant trouble to everybody..."

Success is progress.  "Every day you may make progress. Every step may be fruitful. Yet there will stretch out before you an ever-lengthening, ever-ascending, ever-improving path. You know you will never get to the end of the journey. But this, so far from discouraging, only adds to the joy and glory of the climb."

Success is keeping your family life in order as well as your work.  In 1908, Churchill married Clementine Hozier, which proved to be a long and happy marriage.

Success is knowing that effective communication is better than proper grammar.   When corrected for using a preposition at the end of a sentence, Churchill gave the oft-quoted response, "This is the sort of English up with which I will not put."

Success is viewing failure as temporary.  Being human, in 1914, Churchill made an error in judgment that lead to the disastrous Gallipolli landings.  This error cost Churchill his job as First Lord of the Admiralty and much of his good reputation.  •  "Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm."

Success is having courage.  "One ought never to turn one's back on a threatened danger and try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger. But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half." • "Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts."

Success is being able to inspire others.  Churchill's role in World War II was mostly that of an inspiration.  He is known today as one of the greatest speakers of the century.

Success is persistence.  "We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire... Give us the tools and we will finish the job."

Success is being optimistic.  "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."

 

 

Pele - Tale Of The Volcano Goddess

Pele - Tale Of The Volcano Goddess

Native Hawaiians knew all about volcanoes. According to them, volcanic eruptions were caused by Pele, the beautiful but tempestuous Goddess of Volcanoes. Pele had frequent moments of anger, which brought about eruptions. She was both honored and feared. She could cause earthquakes by stamping her feet or volcanic eruptions and fiery lava by digging with her Pa'oa, her magic stick.

Pele had a long and bitter argument with her older sister, Namakaokahai. The fight ended up forming the Hawaiian Islands.

Pele used her magic stick on Kauai, but she was attacked by her older sister and left for dead. Pele recovered and fled to Oahu, where she dug several "fire pits," including the crater we now called Diamond Head, in Honolulu. After that, Pele left her mark on the island of Molokai before traveling further southeast to Maui and creating the Haleakala Volcano. By then, Namakaokahai, Pele's older sister, realized she was still alive and she went to Maui to do battle. After a terrific fight, Namakaokahai again believed that she had killed her younger sister. But Pele was still alive and she was busy working at the Mauna Loa Volcano, on the big island of Hawaii. Finally, Namakaokahai realized that she could never crush her sister's indomitable spirit and she gave up the struggle. Pele dug her final and eternal fire pit, Halemaumau Crater, at the summit of Kilauea Volcano. She is said to live there to this day.

Information courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey/Department of the Interior.

"Dad yesterday was the best day ever" Lilli Rogers

TD Jakes told a story about how his son Dexter was hanging out with him in meetings one day. Dexter told TD that if he could just get his game boy he would be good for the rest of the day. After the meetings TD told Dexter that he could go and play ping pong with the kids in the game room. Dexter played for a little while but wanted to play with TD Jakes.

 

TD was resistant because it had been awhile since he played, but did play with Dexter. He tells the story of the ball flying everywhere but he had forgot how fun it was to do those types of things.

I share this story with you to let you know that I had the same experience with my child. We had no plans and just went with the flow and it worked.  I did fall asleep but she said I did not miss much at the movie.

I learn so much about myself when with her because she knows how to push my buttons. But what I realized is when I was just present with her she acted more grown up more respectful. I spend more money than I wanted too but the time shared with Lilli was worth more than money can buy.

 

The truth of the story is take some time to get to know the little people in your life. If I died tomorrow I would be hurt because I did not act on these feeling sooner in life, but I know in my know that I was blessed to share "the best day every" with her.

Love you more than words or money can say or spend and the reason is because you are you.

OBMO (Dad)

Poor is a mindset

Poor is a mindset.  

 

1. Poor = When you can’t buy anything

2. Poor = When you could have bought it but did not because you were saving for a purpose.

 

If I give up my knowing to hear what you know I am acting poor for a purpose. 

 

Your being poor is an temporary inconvenience yet for a purpose, it’s a sacrifice. 

My Mind Soil is Rich!  Seed, Time & Harvest

 

OBMO

Friends

We all know or knew someone like this!!
 
One day, when I was a freshman in high school,

I saw a kid from my class was walking home from school.  
 
His name was Kyle.
 
It looked like he was carrying all of his books.  
 
I thought to myself, 'Why would anyone bring home all his books on a Friday?
 
He must really be a nerd.'
 
I had quite a weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends tomorrow afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on. 

As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.
 
They ran at him, knocking all his books out of his arms and tripping him so he landed in the dirt. 

His glasses went flying, and I saw them land in the grass about ten feet from him... 

He looked up and I saw this terrible sadness in his eyes
 
My heart went out to him. So, I jogged over to him as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye. 

As I handed him his glasses, I said, 'Those guys are jerks.'  

They really should get lives.

' He looked at me and said, 'Hey thanks!'
 
There was a big smile on his face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.
 
I helped him pick up his books, and asked him where he lived... 

As it turned out, he lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before... 

He said he had gone to private school before now.
 
I would have never hung out with a private school kid before. 

We talked all the way home, and I carried some of his books. 

He turned out to be a pretty cool kid.  
 
I asked him if he wanted to play a little football 
with my friends
 
He said yes.. 

We hung out all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him, and my  friends thought the same of him. 

Monday morning came, and there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again. 

I stopped him and said, 'Boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday! 

'He just laughed and handed me half the books. 

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.. 

When we were seniors we began to think about college. 

Kyle decided on Georgetown and I was going to Duke. 

I knew that we would always be friends, that the miles would never 

be a problem. 

He was going to be a doctor and I was going for business on a football scholarship.. 

Kyle was valedictorian of our class. 

< B>I teased him all the time about being a nerd. 

He had to prepare a speech for graduation. 

I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there and speak 

Graduation day, I saw Kyle. 

He looked great.
 
He was one of those guys that really found himself during high school. 

He filled out and actually looked good in glasses. 

He had more dates than I had and all the girls loved him. 

Boy, sometimes I was jealous!
 
Today was one of those days. 

I could see that he was nervous about his speech. 

So, I smacked him on the back and said, 'Hey, big guy, you'll be great!' 

He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and smiled. 

' Thanks,' he said. 

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began 

'Graduation is a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough years. 

Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach....but mostly your friends..... 

I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to someone is the best gift you can give them. 

I am going to tell you a story.' 

< B>I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the 
first day we met. 

He had planned to kill himself over the weekend. 

He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his Mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home. 

He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.
 
'Thankfully, I was saved... 

My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable....' 

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us all about his weakest moment. 

I saw his Mom and dad looking at me and smiling that same grateful smile. 

Not until that moment did I realize it's depth. 

Never underestimate the power of your actions.. 
 
With one small gesture you can change a person's life. 

For better or for worse......

God puts us all in each others lives to impact one another in some way.. 

Look for God in others. 

You now have two choices, you can :
1) Pass this on to your friends or 
 
2) Delete it and act like it 

didn't touch your heart. 
 
As you can see, I took choice number 1.
'Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.' 

There is no beginning or end.. Yesterday is history. 

Tomorrow is a mystery. 

Today is a gift. 

It's National Friendship Week. Show your friends how much you care. Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND.

If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.    

SENT IT TO YOU