THE MIDAS TOUCH

We all know the story of the greedy king named Midas. He had a lot of gold and the more he had the more he wanted. He stored all the gold in his vaults and used to spend time every day counting it.
One day while he was counting a stranger came from nowhere and said he would grant him a wish. Theking was delighted and said, "I would like everything I touch to turn to gold." The stranger asked the king, Are you sure?" The king replied,"Yes." So the stranger said, "Starting tomorrow morning with the sun rays you will get the golden touch." The king thought hemust be dreaming, this couldn't be true. But the next day when he woke up,he touched the bed, his clothes, and everything turned to gold. He looked out of the window and saw his daughter playing in the garden. He decided to give her a surprise and thought she would be happy. But before he went to the garden he decided to read a book. The moment he touched it, it turned into gold and he couldn't read it.Then he sat to have breakfast and the moment he touched the fruit and theglass of water, they turned to gold. He was getting hungry and he said to himself, "I can't eat and drink gold." Just about that time his daughter came running and he hugged her and she turned into a gold statue. There were no moresmiles left.
The king bowed his head and started crying. The stranger who gave the wishcame again and asked the king if he was happy with his golden touch. The king said he was the most miserable man. The stranger asked, "What would you rather have, your food and loving daughter or lumps of gold and her golden statue?" The king cried and asked for forgiveness. He said, "I will give up all my gold. Please give me my daughterback because without her I have lost everything wo rthhaving." The stranger said to the king, "You have become wiser than before" and he reversed the spell. He got his daughter back in his arms and the king learned a lesson that he never forget for the rest ofhis life.
What is the moral of the story?
1. Distorted values lead to tragedy.
2. Sometimes getting what you want may be a bigger tragedy than not getting what you want.
3. Unlike the game of soccerwhere players can be substituted, the game of lifeallows no substitutions or replays. We may not get a second chance to reverse our tragedies, as the king did.

THE STORY OF CREATION

In the beginning
God made the
heavens and the
earth, and while
the earth was still
unformed, God
said, "Let there be
light," and there
was light. And God
saw that the light
was good. Then
God separated the
light from the
darkness. And God
called the light Day
and the darkness
Night. And there
was an evening
and a morning,
making the first
day.
And God said, "Let
there be a sky and
let it divide the
waters that are
below from the
waters that are
above the sky."
And it was done.
And God called the
sky the Heavens.
And there was an
evening and a
morning, making
the second day.
And God said, "Let
the waters under
the heavens be
brought together,
and let the dry
land appear." And
it was done. And
God called the dry
land Earth and the
waters that were
brought together
Seas. And God saw
that it was good.
And God said, "Let
plants and trees
grow from the
earth." And it was
done. And plants
and trees grew
from the earth,
each plant bringing
forth its own kind
of seed and each
tree its own kind
of fruit, and God
saw that it was
good. And there
was an evening
and a morning,
making the third
day.
And God said, "Let
there be lights in
the heavens to
separate the night
from the day. Let
them be signs to
mark the seasons,
the days, and the
years. Let them be
lights in the
heavens to light
the earth." And it
was done. So God
made the two
great lights (the
sun and the moon):
the greater to rule
the day and the
lesser to rule the
night. God made
the stars also and
placed them in the
heavens to throw
light upon the
earth. And God saw
that it was good.
And there was an
evening and a
morning, making
the fourth day.
And God said, "Let
the waters bring
forth many living
creatures and let
birds fly above the
earth and in the
sky." And God
made large sea-
monsters and all
kinds of living
creatures with
which the waters
abound, and all
kinds of birds. And
God saw that it
was good. And he
blessed them,
saying, "Increase
and fill the waters
in the seas, and let
the birds increase
on the earth." And
there was an
evening and a
morning, making
the fifth day.
And God said, "Let
the earth bring
forth all kinds of
living creatures,
cattle and creeping
things and wild
beasts." And it was
done. So God made
all the different
kinds of wild
beasts, and the
cattle, and
everything that
crawls upon the
ground. And God
saw that it was
good.
And God said, "Let
us make man like
ourselves. Let him
rule over the fish
in the sea, the
birds of the sky,
the cattle, the wild
beasts and all the
living things that
crawl upon the
ground." And God
made man like
himself, like God he
made him. He made
them male and
female.
And God blessed
them, and said to
them, "Have
children, increase,
live all over the
earth, and conquer
it; rule over the
fish of the sea, the
birds of the sky,
and over every
living thing that
crawls upon the
ground."
And God said, "See,
to you I give every
plant which grows
on all the earth,
and every tree
which bears fruit
with its own kind
of seed. It shall be
food for you. And
to every wild
beast and to every
bird of the sky and
to every thing that
crawls on the
earth and is alive, I
give every green
herb for food." And
it was done.
And when God saw
everything that he
had made, he saw
that it was very
good. And there
was an evening
and a morning,
making the sixth
day.
And the heavens
and the earth
were finished and
all that there was
in them. And on the
seventh day when
God had finished
the work which he
had done, he
rested from all his
work. And God
blessed the
seventh day and
made it holy, for in
it he rested from
all the work which
he had done.

TENALI AND THE THIEVES

Once there were
so many thefts in
Vijayanagara city
which made people
alret on the
presence of
thieves. One night,
before going to
bed Tenali saw
some thieves in
the bushes near
his house. Then he
made a plan with
his wife.
After a while , the
theives outside
heard Tenalii
saying to his wife,
" Dear be careful
and lock all the
doors and
windows as
robberies are
taking place in the
city. I have put all
our jewels in this
box, so help me
carry it to the well
behind our house.
We wil throw it into
the well. The
theives can never
get to them this
way."
The theives heard
all this and they
saw Tenali and his
wife threw the box
into the well. Then
Tenali and his wife
went into their
house and closed
all the doors.
The theives were
happy at this
chance and got
busy taking out
the water from the
well for the whole
night to get the
box. Early in the
morning Tenali
came to the well
and saw the
theives drawing
water for the
whole night. Tenali
smiled at them and
said ' Thank you
friends, for
watering my
plants. what must
I pay u for your
labour'.
Hearing this the
theives fell at
Tenali's feet for
forgiveness. Tenali
let them go when
they promised not
to steal or rob
anyone ever
again.

ALADDIN'S LAMP

A long time ago, in
Persia, a poor boy
called Aladdin was
playing with his
friends in the
streets of his city.
A stranger came up
to him and asked
him if he was not
the son of
Mustapha the
Tailor. “I am, sir”
replied Aladdin;
“but he died a long
while ago.” When
the stranger heard
this, he embraced
Aladdin saying, “My
boy – I am your
long lost uncle.”
Aladdin ran home
and told his
mother all about
this newly found
relative, and she
prepared supper
for them all.
The next day, the
uncle led Aladdin
out far beyond the
city gates. They
journeyed
onwards until late
afternoon, but
Aladdin did not feel
tiered because his
uncle told him so
many interesting
stories. Eventually
they reached the
foot of a
mountain.
“We will go no
farther,” said the
false uncle – for in
truth he was not
Aladdin’s relative,
but an African
magician in
disguise. “I will
show you
something
wonderful”; he
said. The magician
lit a fire and threw
some powder on it
while saying some
magical words. The
earth trembled a
little and a large
bolder rolled to
one side. Aladdin
saw a flight of
steps leading
down into a dark
cave. The opening
was just large
enough for a boy
to pass through,
but plainly the
magician, who was
rather fat, would
not have managed
to enter the cave
himself. “Go down”,
commanded the
magician, “at the
foot of those
steps you will find
an open door
leading into three
large halls. Pass
through them
without touching
anything, or you
will die instantly.
These halls lead
into a garden of
fine fruit trees.
Walk on until you
come to table upon
which stands a
lighted lamp. Pour
out the oil it
contains, and bring
it to me.”
Aladdin was afraid
to disobey the
magician, and went
down the stares
into the cave On
the ground he
found a ring, and
despite the
magician’s order
not to touch
anything, he
picked it up and
slipped it onto his
finger. He did not
die. Then he
passed through
the garden where
he picked fruit
from the trees.
Later on, he found
the lamp, just as
the magician had
said, and he went
back up the stares
to the mouth of
the cave. The
magician cried out:
“Make haste and
give me the lamp.”
But Aladdin saw
through his trick
and understood
that as soon as he
handed over the
lamp, the magician
would replace the
stone and he
would be shut
inside the cave,
never to leave.
And so Aladdin
called out, “Let me
out first, and only
then will I give you
the lamp”. The
magician flew into
a terrible rage, and
throwing some
more powder on to
the fire, he said
some more magic
words, and the
stone rolled back
into its place.
For two days
Aladdin remained
trapped inside the
cave. At last he
clasped his hands
in prayer, and in so
doing rubbed the
ring that he had
picked off the
ground.
Immediately an
enormous and
frightful genie
rose out of the
earth, saying:
“What wouldst
thou with me? I am
the Slave of the
Ring, and will obey
thee in all things.”
Aladdin fearlessly
replied: “Deliver me
from this place!”
whereupon the
earth opened, and
he found himself
back at home.
“Alas! child,” said
his mother when
she noticed him, “I
have nothing to
eat in the house.
We will go hungry
tonight.” Aladdin
soothed her
saying he would
sell the lamp to get
some money for
food. As it was
very dirty his
mother began to
rub it, that it might
fetch a higher
price. Instantly a
hideous genie
appeared, and
asked what she
would have. She
fainted away, but
Aladdin, snatching
the lamp, said
boldly: “Fetch me
something to eat!”
The genie
returned with a
silver bowl, twelve
silver plates
containing rich
meats, two silver
cups, and two
bottles of wine.
Aladdin’s mother,
when she came to
herself, said:
“Where did you get
this splendid
feast?” “Ask not,
but eat,” replied
Aladdin.
One day the Sultan
who ruled the city
ordered that
everyone was to
stay at home and
close his shutters
while the Princess,
his daughter, went
to and from the
bath. Aladdin was
seized by a desire
to see her face,
which was very
difficult, as she
always went
veiled. He hid
himself behind the
door of the bath,
and peeped
through a chink.
The Princess
looked so
beautiful that
Aladdin fell in love
with her at first
sight. He went
home and told his
mother that he
loved the Princess
so deeply that he
could not live
without her. His
mother burst out
laughing, but
Aladdin at last
persuaded her to
go to the Sultan
and request his
daughter’s hand in
marriage for her
son. She fetched a
napkin and laid in it
the magic fruits
from the
enchanted garden,
which sparkled and
shone like the
most beautiful
jewels. She took
these with her to
please the Sultan.
After waiting
several days at
the Palace, she
was admitted to
see the him. She
threw herself
down foot of the
thrown and waited
for several
minutes until the
Sultan said to her:
“Old woman, and
tell me what you
want.” She
hesitated, then
told him of her
son’s love for the
Princess, only at
the last moment
remembering to
open the napkin
that contained the
magical jewels.
When the Sultan
saw this wonderful
present he was
thunderstruck, and
turning to the his
chief adviser, the
grand Vizier, he
said: “Ought I not
to give the
Princess to one
who values her at
such a price?” The
Vizier, who was
hoping that his
own son would
marry the princess,
begged the Sultan
to delay the
wedding for three
months, during
which time he
hoped to make him
a richer present.
The Sultan agreed.
Aladdin waited
patiently for his
wedding day in
three months time,
but after two
months his mother,
going into the city
to buy oil, found
every one
rejoicing, and
asked what was
going on. “Do you
not know,” was
the answer, “that
the son of the
Grand Vizier is to
marry the Sultan’s
daughter to-
night?” Aladdin,
who was stunned
when he heard the
news. but
presently he took
down the lamp and
rubbed it. The
genie appeared,
saying, “What is
thy will?” Aladdin
replied: “The
Sultan has broken
his promise to me,
and the Vizier’s
son is to marry the
Princess. My
command is that
that you bring the
princess here so
that the scoundral
can’t have her.”
“Your wish is my
command” said the
Genie, and in an
instant the
princess was
sitting in Aladdin’s
room still wearing
her wedding dress.
He told her not to
be afraid, but she
was utterly
confused and
quite terrified. The
next morning, the
genie took her
back to the palace.
The Princess told
her mother how
she had been
carried by magic to
some strange
house. Her mother
did not believe her
in the least, and
the Sultan ordered
that wedding
should take place
that evening
instead.
The following
night exactly the
same thing
happened. The
Sultan was furious
and even
considered having
his daughter’s
head cut off. He
summoned the
Vizier’s son.
“Plainly my
daughter his hiding
from you” he said.
“Do you still wish
to marry her?”
“Well” said the
young man who
was very proud
and arrogant, “If
the princess does
not obey her
father, the great
Sultan, what hope
is that she will
make me a good
wife? I give up my
claim over her.
Better that she
marry the poorest
beggar if that’s
what she wants.”
When the three
months were over,
Aladdin sent his
mother to remind
the Sultan of his
promise. She stood
in the same place
as before, and the
Sultan, on seeing
her poverty felt
less inclined than
ever to keep his
word. The Vizier
advised him to set
so high a value on
the Princess that
no man living could
come up to it. The
Sultan then turned
to Aladdin’s
mother, saying:
“Good woman, a
Sultan must
remember his
promises, and I will
remember mine,
but your son must
first send me forty
basins of gold full
of jewels. Tell him
that I await his
answer.”
When he heard
this, Aladdin
summoned up his
genie and soon
eighty slaves,
splendidly dressed,
were waiting in the
alleyway outside
his house. The
slaves were
carrying forty
golden basins,
brimming with
jewels.
Aladdin mounted
his horse and
passed through
the streets, the
slaves strewing
gold as they went.
When the Sultan
saw him he came
down from his
throne, embraced
him, and led him
into a hall where a
feast was spread,
intending to marry
him to the Princess
that very day. But
Aladdin refused,
saying, “I must
build a palace fit
for her,” and took
his leave. Once
home, he said to
the genie: “Build
me a palace of the
finest marble, with
four and twenty
windows set with
jasper, agate, and
other precious
stones.
At night the
Princess said good-
by to her father,
and set out for
Aladdin’s palace,
with his mother at
her side, and
followed by the
hundred slaves.
She was charmed
at the sight of
Aladdin, who ran to
receive her.
“Princess,” he said,
“blame your
beauty for my
boldness if I have
displeased you.”
After the wedding
had taken place
Aladdin led her into
the hall, where a
feast was spread,
and she supped
with him, after
which they danced
till midnight.
But far away in
Africa the magician
remembered
Aladdin, and by his
magic arts
discovered that
instead of
perishing
miserably in the
cave, he had
escaped, and had
married a princess.
He traveled night
and day until he
reached the city of
Persia where
Aladdin lived. Half
mad with rage, he
was determined to
get hold of the
lamp, and again
plunge Aladdin into
the deepest
poverty.
Unluckily, Aladdin
had gone a-
hunting for eight
days, which gave
the magician
plenty of time. He
bought a dozen
copper lamps, put
them into a
basket, and went
to the palace,
crying: “New lamps
for old!” followed
by a jeering crowd,
laughing to see an
old fool offering to
exchange fine new
lamps for old
ones?” One of the
Palace slaves said
to the princess,
“There is an old
lamp on the cornice
there which he can
have.” Now this
was the magic
lamp, which Aladdin
had left there, as
he could not take
it out hunting with
him. The Princess,
not knowing its
value, went and
said to the
magician: “Give me
a new lamp for
this.” He snatched
it amid the jeers of
the crowd. Little he
cared. He went out
of the city gates
to a lonely place
where he pulled
out the lamp and
rubbed it. The
genie appeared,
and at the
magician’s
command carried
him, together with
the palace and the
Princess in it, to far
off Africa.
Next morning the
Sultan looked out
of the window
toward Aladdin’s
palace and rubbed
his eyes, for it was
gone. The Vizier
put the strange
disappearance of
the palace and his
daughter down to
black magic, and
this time the
Sultan believed
him. He and sent
thirty men on
horseback to fetch
Aladdin in chains.
“False wretch!”
said the Sultan,
“Where is my
palace and my
daughter?” Aladdin
had no answer, but
begged to be
given forty days
to discover the
cause of the
disaster. This the
Sultan granted. For
three days three
days Aladdin
wandered about
like a madman,
asking everyone
what had become
of his palace, but
they only laughed
and pitied him. He
came to the banks
of a river, and
knelt down to say
his prayers before
throwing himself
in. In so doing he
rubbed the magic
ring he still wore.
The genie , and
asked his will.
“Save my life,
genie,” said
Aladdin, “bring my
palace back.”
“That is not in my
power,” said the
genie; “I am only
the Slave of the
Ring; you must ask
him of the lamp.”
“Even so,” said
Aladdin, “but thou
canst take me to
the palace, and set
me down under my
dear wife’s
window.” He at
once found himself
in Africa, under the
window of the
Princess.
That morning the
Princess rose early
and opened the
window, and at the
noise she made
Aladdin looked up.
She was
astonished and
delighted to see
her dear husband’s
face. After he had
kissed her, Aladdin
said: “I beg of you,
Princess, in God’s
name, tell me what
has become of my
old lamp. “Alas!”
she said, “I am the
innocent cause of
our sorrows,” and
she told him of the
exchange of the
lamp.
Aladdin comforted
her, and gave her a
small bottle
containing a
certain powder.
“Put on your most
beautiful dress,”
he said to her “and
receive the
magician with
smiles, leading him
to believe that you
have forgotten
me. Invite him to
sup with you, and
say you wish to
taste the wine of
his country. He will
go for some and
while he is gone I
will tell you what
to do.”
That evening she
received the
magician, saying,
to his great
amazement: “I
have made up my
mind that Aladdin
is dead, and that
all my tears will not
bring him back to
me, so I am
resolved to mourn
no more, and have
therefore invited
you to sup with
me; but let us try
some wine of
Africa.” The
magician flew to
his cellar, and the
Princess put the
powder Aladdin
had given her into
his cup. When he
returned the
magician made her
a speech in praise
of her beauty, but
the Princess cut
him short, saying:
“Let us drink first,
and you shall say
what you will
afterward.” She
set her cup to her
lips and kept it
there, while the
magician drained
his to the dregs
and fell back
lifeless. Aladdin
came into the
room, went to the
dead magician,
took the lamp out
of his clothes, and
bade the genie
carry the palace
and all in it back to
Persia. This was
done in an instant.
The Sultan, who
was sitting in his
chamber, mourning
for his lost
daughter,
happened to look
up, and rubbed his
eyes, for there
stood the palace
as before! He
hastened over to
it, and Aladdin
received him with
the Princess at his
side. He told him
what had
happened, and
showed him the
dead body of the
magician, that he
might believe. A
ten days’ feast
was proclaimed,
and it seemed as if
Aladdin might now
live the rest of his
life in peace; but it
was not to be.
The African
magician had a
younger brother,
who was, if
possible, more
wicked and more
cunning than
himself. He
traveled to Persia
to avenge his
brother’s death,
and disguised
himself in skirts
and veils so that
he looked exactly
like a famous holy
woman called
Fatima. Then he
went toward the
palace of Aladdin,
and all the people,
thinking he was
the holy woman,
gathered round
him, kissing his
hands and begging
his blessing. The
Princess, who had
long desired to see
Fatima, sent for
her. She showed
Fatima the palace,
and asked what
she thought of it.
“It is truly
beautiful,” said the
false Fatima. “In
my mind it wants
but one thing.”
“And what is
that?” said the
Princess. “If only a
roc’s egg,” replied
he, “were hung up
from the middle of
this dome, it would
be the wonder of
the world.”
After this the
Princess could
think of nothing
but the roc’s egg,
and when Aladdin
returned from
hunting he found
her in a very ill
mood. She told him
that all her
pleasure in the hall
was spoiled for the
want of a roc’s egg
hanging from the
dome. “If that is
all,” replied Aladdin,
“you shall soon be
happy.” He left her
and rubbed the
lamp, and when
the genie
appeared
commanded him to
bring a roc’s egg.
The genie gave
such a loud and
terrible shriek that
the hall shook.
“Wretch!” he cried,
“is it not enough
that I have done
everything for
you, but you must
command me to
bring my master
and hang him up in
the midst of this
dome? You and
your wife and your
palace deserve to
be burnt to ashes,
but that this
request does not
come from you, but
from the brother
of the African
magician, whom
you destroyed. He
is now in your
palace disguised
as the holy
woman. He it was
who put that wish
into your wife’s
head. Take care of
yourself, for he
means to kill you.”
So saying, the
genie disappeared.
Aladdin went back
to the Princess,
saying his head
ached, and
requesting that
the holy Fatima
should be fetched
to lay her hands on
it. But when the
magician came
near, Aladdin,
seizing his dagger,
pierced him to the
heart. “What have
you done?” cried
the Princess. “You
have killed the
holy woman!” “Not
so,” replied
Aladdin, “but a
wicked magician,”
and told her of
how she had been
deceived.
After this Aladdin
and his wife lived
in peace. He
succeeded the
Sultan when he
died, and reigned
for many years,
leaving behind him
a long line of kings.

MOM'S LAST LAUGH

Consumed by my loss, I
didn’t notice the
hardness of the pew
where I sat. I was at
the funeral of my
dearest friend — my
mother. She finally had
lost her long battle with
cancer. The hurt was so
intense, I found it hard
to breathe at times.
Always supportive,
mother clapped loudest
at my school plays, held
a box of tissues while
listening to my first
heartbreak, comforted
me at my father’s
death, encouraged me
in college, and prayed
for me my entire life.
When mother’s illness
was diagnosed, my
sister had a new baby
and my brother had
recently married his
childhood sweetheart,
so it fell on me, the 27-
year-old middle child
without
entanglements, to take
care of her. I counted it
an honor.
“What now, Lord?” I
asked sitting in church.
My life stretched out
before meas an empty
abyss. My brother sat
stoically with his face
toward the cross while
clutching his wife’s
hand.
My sister sat slumped
against her husband’s
shoulder, his arms
around her as she
cradled their child. All so
deeply grieving, no one
noticed I sat alone. My
place had been with our
mother, preparing her
meals, helping her walk,
taking her to the
doctor, seeing to her
medication, reading the
Bible together. Now she
was with the Lord. My
work was finished and I
was alone.
I heard a door open and
slam shut at the back
of the church. Quick
footsteps hurried along
the carpeted floor. An
exasperated young man
looked around briefly
and then sat next to
me. He folded his hands
and placed them on his
lap. His eyes were
brimming with tears.
He began to
sniffle. ”I’m late,” he
explained, though no
explanation was
necessary. After
several eulogies, he
leaned over and
commented, “Why do
they keep calling Mary
by the name of
‘Margaret’?”
“Oh” “Because that
was her name,
Margaret. Never Mary.
No one called her ‘Mary,’
I whispered. I wondered
why this person
couldn’t have sat on the
other side of the church.
He interrupted my
grieving with his tears
and fidgeting. Who was
this stranger anyway?
“No, that isn’t correct,”
he insisted, as several
people glanced over at
us whispering, “Her
name is Mary, Mary
Peters.”
“That isn’t who this is,
I replied..”
“Isn’t this the Lutheran
church?”
“No, the Lutheran
church is across the
street.”
“Oh.”
“I believe you’re at the
wrong funeral, Sir.”
The solemnness of the
occasion mixed with the
realization of the man’s
mistake bubbled up
inside me and came out
as laughter.
I cupped my hands over
my face, hoping it
would be interpreted as
sobs.
The creaking pew gave
me away. Sharp looks
from other mourners
only made the situation
seem more hilarious. I
peeked at the
bewildered, misguided
man seated beside
me.He was laughing,
too, as he glanced
around, deciding it was
too late for an
uneventful exit.
I imagined mother
laughing.
At the final “Amen,”
we darted out a door
and into the parking lot.
“I do believe we’ll be
the talk of the town,”
he smiled. He said his
name was Rick and
since he had missed his
aunt’s funeral, asked
me out for a cup of
coffee.
That afternoon began a
lifelong journey for me
with this man who
attended the wrong
funeral, but was in the
right place.
A year after our
meeting, we were
married at a country
church where he was
the assistant pastor.
This time we both
arrived at the same
church, right on time. In
my time of sorrow, God
gave me laughter. In
place of loneliness, God
gave me love. This past
June we celebrated our
twenty-second
wedding anniversary.
Whenever anyone asks
us how we met, Rick
tells them, “Her mother
and my Aunt Mary
introduced us, and it’s
truly a match made in
heaven.”

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

There may be days
when you get up in the
morning and things
aren’t the way you had
hoped they would be.
That’s when you have
to tell yourself that
things will get better.
There are times when
people disappoint you
and let you down.
But those are the times
when you must remind
yourself to trust your
own judgments and
opinions, to keep your
life focused on believing
in yourself.
There will be challenges
to face and changes to
make in your life, and it
is up to you to accept
them.
Constantly keep
yourself headed in the
right direction for you. It
may not be easy at
times, but in those
times of struggle you
will find a stronger
sense of who you are.
So when the days come
that are filled with
frustration and
unexpected
responsibilities,
remember to believe in
yourself and all you
want your life to be.
Because the challenges
and changes will only
help you to find the
goals that you know
are meant to come true
for you.

A GLASS OF MILK

One day, a poor boy who
was selling goods from
door to door to pay his
way through school,
found he had only one
thin dime left, and he
was hungry. He decided
he would ask for a meal
at the next house.
However, he lost his
nerve when a lovely
young woman opened
the door. Instead of a
meal he asked for a
drink of water. She
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
owe me anything,” she
replied. “Mother has
taught us never to
accept pay for a
kindness.” He said,
“Then I thank you from
my heart.”
As Howard Kelly left
that house, he not only
felt stronger physically,
but his faith in God and
man was strong also. He
had been ready to give
up and quit.
Year’s later that young
woman became critically
ill. The local doctors
were baffled. They
finally sent her to the
big city, where they
called in specialists to
study her rare disease.
Dr. Howard Kelly was
called in for the
consultation. When he
heard the name of 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 at once.
He went back to the
consultation room
determined to do his
best to save her life.
From that day he gave
special attention to the
case.
After a long struggle,
the battle was won. Dr.
Kelly requested the
business office to pass
the final bill to him for
approval. He looked at it,
then wrote something
on the edge and the bill
was sent to her room.
She feared to open it,
for she was sure it
would take the rest of
her life to pay for it all.
Finally she looked, and
something caught her
attention on the side of
the bill. She began to
read the following
words:

CONFIDENCE,TRUST AND HOPE

CONFIDENCE
Once all village people
decided to pray for rain .On
the day of prayer all
People gathered and only
one boy came with an
umbrella that's
confidence.. .........
TRUST
Trust should be like the
feeling of a one year old
baby
When you throw him in the
air, he laughs......
Because he knows you will
catch him........
HOPE
A human being can live for
40 days without water
8 minutes without air
But not even 1 second
without hope....
SO ALWAYS HAVE
CONFIDENCE, TRUST OTHERS
AND NEVER LOOSE HOPE

THE DISCONTENTED DOG

Once a dog was
relaxing in a garden
when it saw a cat on
the top of a high
wall. It thought, "It
must be so nice to be
high above the
ground. If only I
could climb?" this
feeling of envy made
it so bad-tempered,
that it didn't even
wag its tail at its
master, who came to
give it some milk.
Then it saw a
goldfish in the river
and wished that it
too could live in the
cold water. Envy
made it angry once
again.
Just then it heard the
fish say, "It looks so
nice and warm on
the grass. I wish I
could lie down on it."
After some time, a
sparrow flew past.
Seeing the dog lazing
around, it said aloud,
"I wish I could play
the whole day like
this dog. I wish I
didn't have to build a
nest for myself,
search for food and
tire my wings."
Listening to them,
the dog realized its
folly for not
appreciating what it
had.Moral:We should be happy in what we have......

TWO TRAVELLERS AND A BAG CONTAIN WITH A LITTLE MONEY

Two travelers were
journeying together
when one of them
found a bag and said
to another, "Look, I
have found a bag of
money."
The other man said,
"Remember we are
traveling together.
So, don't say I've
found it, say we
have found it."
After some time,
they heard that the
police were looking
for the thieves who
had stolen a bag of
money.
The man holding the
bag said, "We are
undone."
The other man said,
"Don't say we are
undone but I'm
undone. When I
wouldn't share any
money, I'll not have
any punishment."
How selfish the man
was!

I CANNOT DO THIS BECAUSE.....

Monkey-hunters
use a box with an
opening at the top,
big enough for the
monkey to slide its
hand in. Inside the
box are nuts. The
monkey grabs the
nuts and now its
hand becomes a
fist. The monkey
tries to get its
hand out but the
opening is big
enough for the
hand to slide in,
but too small for
the fist to come
out. Now the
monkey has a
choice, either to let
go off the nuts
and be free
forever or hang on
to the nuts and
get caught. Guess
what it picks every
time? You guessed
it. He hangs on to
the nuts and gets
caught.
We are no
different from
monkeys. We all
hang on to some
nuts that keep us
from going
forward in life. We
keep rationalizing
by saying, "I
cannot do this
because . . ." and
whatever comes
after "because"
are the nuts that
we are hanging on
to which are
holding us back.
Successful people
don't rationalize.
Two things
determine if a
person will be a
success: reasons
and results.
Reasons don't
count while results
do...

THE BURNING DESIRE

A young man
asked Socrates
the secret to
success. Socrates
told the young
man to meet him
near the river the
next morning.
They met.
Socrates asked
the young man to
walk with him
toward the river.
When the water
got up to their
neck, Socrates
took the young
man by surprise
and ducked him
into the water.
The boy struggled
to get out but
Socrates was
strong and kept
him there until the
boy started
turning blue.
Socrates pulled his
head out of the
water and the first
thing the young
man did was to
gasp and take a
deep breath of air.
Socrates asked,
'What did you want
the most when
you were there?"
The boy replied,
"Air." Socrates
said, "That is the
secret to success.
When you want
success as badly
as you wanted the
air, then you will
get it." There is no
other secret.
A burning desire
is the starting
point of all
accomplishment.
Just like a small
fire cannot give
much heat, a weak
desire cannot
produce great
results...

It is a little things that make a big difference

There was a man
taking a morning
wa lk at or the
beach. He saw that
along with the
morning tide came
hundreds of
starfish and when
the tide receded,
they were left
behind and with
the morning sun
rays, they would
die. The tide was
fresh and the
starfish were alive.
The man took a
few steps, picked
one and threw it
into the water. He
did that
repeatedly. Right
behind him there
was another
person who
couldn't
understand what
this man was
doing. He caught
up with him and
asked, "What are
you doing? There
are hundreds of
starfish. How
many can you
help? What
difference does it
make?" This man
did not reply, took
two more steps,
picked up another
one, threw it into
the water, and
said, "It makes a
difference to this
one."
What difference are we
making? Big or small, it
does not matter. If
everyone made a small
difference, we'd end up
with a big difference,
wouldn't we?

Consideration

One day, a ten-
year-old boy went
to an ice cream
shop, sat at a
table and asked
the waitress, "How
much is an ice-
cream cone?" She
said, "seventy-five
cents." The boy
started counting
the coins he had in
his hand. Then he
asked how much a
small cup of ice-
cream was. The
waitress
impatiently replied,
"sixty five cents."
The boy said, "I will
have the small ice-
cream cup." He had
his ice-cream, paid
the bill and left.
When the waitress
came to pick up
the empty plate,
she was touched.
Underneath were
ten cent coins as
tip.
The little boy had
consideration for
the waitress
before he ordered
his ice-crearn. He
showed sensitivity
and caring. He
thought of others
before himself. If
we all thought like
the little boy, we
would have a
great place to live.
Show
consideration,
courtesy, and
politeness.
Thoughtfulness
shows a caring
attitude.

I KNEW YOU WOULD COME

There were two
childhood buddies
who went through
school and college
and even joined
the army together.
War broke out and
they were fighting
in the same unit.
One night they
were ambushed.
Bullets were flying
all over and out of
the darkness came
a voice, "Harry,
please come and
help me." Harry
immediately
recognized the
voice of his
childhood buddy,
Bill. He asked the
captain if he could
go. The captain
said, "No, I can't let
you go, I am
already short-
handed and I
cannot afford to
lose one more
person. Besides,
the way Bill
sounds he is not
going to make it."
Harry kept quiet.
Again the voice
came, "Harry,
please come and
help me." Harry sat
quietly because
the captain had
refused earlier.
Again and again
the voice came.
Harry couldn't
contain himself
any longer and
told the captain,
"Captain, this is my
childhood buddy. I
have to go and
help." The captain
reluctantly let him
go. Harry crawled
through the
darkness and
dragged Bill back
into the trench.
They found that
Bill was dead. Now
the captain got
angry and shouted
at Harry, "Didn't I
tell you he was not
going to make it?
He is dead, you
could have been
killed and I could
have lost a hand.
That was a
mistake." Harry
replied, "Captain, I
did the right thing.
When I reached Bill
he was still alive
and his last words
were 'Harry, I
knew you would
come.
Good relationships are
hard to find and once
developed should be
nurtured. We are often
told: Live your dream.
But you cannot live your
dream at the expense
of others. People who
do so are unscrupulous.
We need to make
personal sacrifices for
our family, friends, and
those we care about
and who depend on us.

A Pound OF BUTTER

There was a farmer
who sold a pound of
butter to the baker. One
day the baker decided
to weigh the butter to
see if he was getting a
pound and he found
that he was not. This
angered him and he
took the farmer to
court. The judge asked
the farmer if he was
using any measure. The
farmer replied, amour
Honor, I am primitive. I
don't have a proper
measure, but I do have
a scale." The judge
asked, "Then how do
you weigh the butter?"
The farmer replied
"Your Honor, long before
the baker started
buying butter from me,
I have been buying a
pound loaf of bread
from him. Every day
when the baker brings
the bread, I put it on
the scale and give him
the same weight in
butter. If anyone is to
be blamed, it is the
baker."
What is the moral of
the story? We get back
in life what we give to
others. Whenever you
take an action, ask
yourself this question:
Am I giving fair value
for the wages or
money I hope to make?
Honesty and dishonesty
become a habit. Some
people practice
dishonesty and can lie
with a straight face.
Others lie so much that
they don't even know
what the truth is
anymore. But who are
they deceiving?
Themselves.

A BEAUTIFUL TRUE LOVE STORY

One day, a young guy
and a young girl fell in
love.
But the guy came from
a poor family. The girl’s
parents weren’t too
happy.
So the young man
decided not only to
court the girl but to
court her parents as
well. In time, the
parents saw that he
was a good man and
was worthy of their
daughter’s hand.
But there was another
problem: The man was
a soldier. Soon, war
broke out and he was
being sent overseas for
a year. The week
before he left, the man
knelt on his knee and
asked his lady love, “Will
you marry me?” She
wiped a tear, said yes,
and they were engaged.
They agreed that when
he got back in one year,
they would get married.
But tragedy struck. A
few days after he left,
the girl had a major
vehicular accident. It
was a head-on collision.
When she woke up in
the hospital, she saw
her father and mother
crying. Immediately, she
knew there was
something wrong.
She later found out that
she suffered brain
injury. The part of her
brain that controlled her
face muscles was
damaged. Her once
lovely face was now
disfigured. She cried as
she saw herself in the
mirror. “Yesterday, I
was beautiful. Today,
I’m a monster.” Her
body was also covered
with so many ugly
wounds.
Right there and then,
she decided to release
her fiancé from their
promise. She knew he
wouldn’t want her
anymore. She would
forget about him and
never see him again.
For one year, the soldier
wrote many letters—
but she wouldn’t
answer. He phoned her
many times but she
wouldn’t return her
calls.
But after one year, the
mother walked into her
room and announced,
“He’s back from the
war.”
The girl shouted, “No!
Please don’t tell him
about me. Don’t tell him
I’m here!”
The mother said, “He’s
getting married,” and
handed her a wedding
invitation.
The girl’s heart sank.
She knew she still loved
him—but she had to
forget him now.
With great sadness,
she opened the
wedding invitation.
And then she saw her
name on it!
Confused, she asked,
“What is this?”
That was when the
young man entered her
room with a bouquet of
flowers. He knelt beside
her and asked, “Will you
marry me?”
The girl covered her
face with her hands and
said, “I’m ugly!”
The man said, “Without
your permission, your
mother sent me your
photos. When I saw
your photos, I realized
that nothing has
changed. You’re still the
person I fell in love.
You’re still as beautiful
as ever. Because I love
you!”

There was a lion who
feared nothing except
the crowing of cocks. A
chill would go down his
spine whenever he
heard a cock crowing.
One day he confessed
his fear to the elephant,
who was greatly
amused.
“How can the crowing
of a cock hurt you?” he
asked the lion. “Think
about it!”
Just then a mosquito
began circling the
elephant’s head,
frightening him out of
his wits.
“If it gets into my ear
I’m doomed!” he
shrieked, flailing at the
insect with his trunk.
Now it was the lion’s
turn to feel amused.
Moral: If we could
see our fears as
others see them we
would realise that
most of our fears
make no sense!

Learn From Mistakes

Thomas Edison tried
two thousand different
materials in search of a
filament for the light
bulb. When none worked
satisfactorily, his
assistant complained,
“All our work is in vain.
We have learned
nothing.”
Edison replied very
confidently, “Oh, we
have come a long way
and we have learned a
lot. We know that there
are two thousand
elements which we
cannot use to make a
good light bulb.”

Thanx For Your Time

It had been some time
since Jack had seen the
old man. College, girls,
career, and life itself
got in the way. In fact,
Jack moved clear across
the country in pursuit of
his dreams. There, in
the rush of his busy life,
Jack had little time to
think about the past
and often no time to
spend with his wife and
son. He was working on
his future, and nothing
could stop him.
Over the phone, his
mother told him, "Mr.
Belser died last night.
The funeral is
Wednesday."
Memories flashed
through his mind like an
old newsreel as he sat
quietly remembering his
childhood days.
"Jack, did you hear me?"
"Oh sorry, Mom. Yes, I
heard you. It's been so
long since I thought of
him. I'm sorry, but I
honestly thought he
died years ago," Jack
said.
"Well, he didn't forget
you. Every time I saw
him he'd ask how you
were doing. He'd
reminisce about the
many days you spent
over 'his side of the
fence' as he put it,"
Mom told him.
"I loved that old house
he lived in," Jack said.
"You know, Jack, after
your father died, Mr.
Belser stepped in to
make sure you had a
man's influence in your
life," she said.
"He's the one who
taught me carpentry,"
he said. "I wouldn't be in
this business if it
weren't for him. He
spent a lot of time
teaching me things he
thought were
important... Mom, I'll be
there for the funeral,"
Jack said.
As busy as he was, he
kept his word. Jack
caught the next flight
to his hometown. Mr.
Belser's funeral was
small and uneventful.
He had no children of his
own, and most of his
relatives had passed
away.
The night before he had
to return home, Jack
and his Mom stopped by
to see the old house
next door one more
time.
Standing in the
doorway, Jack paused
for a moment. It was
like crossing over into
another dimension, a
leap through space and
time.
The house was exactly
as he remembered.
Every step held
memories. Every
picture, every piece of
furniture... Jack stopped
suddenly.
"What's wrong, Jack?"
his Mom asked.
"The box is gone," he
said.
"What box?" Mom
asked.
"There was a small gold
box that he kept locked
on top of his desk. I
must have asked him a
thousand times what
was inside. All he'd ever
tell me was 'the thing I
value most,'" Jack said.
It was gone. Everything
about the house was
exactly how Jack
remembered it, except
for the box. He figured
someone from the
Belser family had taken
it.
"Now I'll never know
what was so valuable
to him," Jack said. "I
better get some sleep. I
have an early flight
home, Mom."
It had been about two
weeks since Mr. Belser
died. Returning home
from work one day Jack
discovered a note in his
mailbox. "Signature
required on a package.
No one at home. Please
stop by the main post
office within the next
three days," the note
read.
Early the next day Jack
retrieved the package.
The small box was old
and looked like it had
been mailed a hundred
years ago. The
handwriting was
difficult to read, but the
return address caught
his attention.
"Mr. Harold Belser" it
read.
Jack took the box out
to his car and ripped
open the package.
There inside was the
gold box and an
envelope. Jack's hands
shook as he read the
note inside.
"Upon my death, please
forward this box and its
contents to Jack
Bennett. It's the thing I
valued most in my life."
A small key was taped
to the letter. His heart
racing, as tears filling
his eyes, Jack carefully
unlocked the box. There
inside he found a
beautiful gold pocket
watch.
Running his fingers
slowly over the finely
etched casing, he
unlatched the cover.
Inside he found these
words engraved:
"Jack, Thanks for your
time! -Harold Belser."
"The thing he valued
most...was...my time."
Jack held the watch for
a few minutes, then
called his office and
cleared his
appointments for the
next two days. "Why?"
Janet, his assistant
asked.
"I need some time to
spend with my son," he
said. "Oh, by the way,
Janet... thanks for your
time!"

The Power Of A Rumour

A hare resting under a
banyan tree had a
premonition of doom.
“What would happen to
me if the earth were to
break up?” he
wondered. Suddenly,
there was a ‘thud’
followed by a rumbling
sound.
“It’s happened,”
thought the hare, “the
earth’s breaking up!”
He jumped up and ran.
“Why are you running?”
asked a hare who
crossed his path.
“The earth’s breaking
up!” shouted the hare.
“You’d better run too.”
The second hare ran so
fast he overtook the
first.
“The earth’s breaking
up, the earth’s breaking
up!” he shouted to
other hares he passed.
Soon thousands of
hares were scampering
through the forest.
Other animals got
caught up in the panic.
The word spread from
mouth to mouth, and
soon everyone knew:
the earth was breaking
up.
Itwas not long before
the whole jungle was
on the move. Reptiles,
insects, birds and four-
footed animals fled in
wild disorder, and their
cries of terror filled the
air.
A lion standing on a
hillock, saw the animals
coming and wondered
what was going on. He
hastened down and
positioning himself in
front of the horde called
for it to stop.
His commanding
presence stemmed the
rising tide of panic
among the animals.
“The earth is breaking
up!” shrieked a parrot,
alighting on a rock near
him.
“Who says so?”
“I heard it from the
monkeys."
The monkeys said they
had heard it from the
tigers, who said their
informants were the
elephants, who gave
the buffaloes as their
source.When the hares
were finally implicated
they pointed one to
another until the one
who had started it all
was identified.
“What makes you think
the earth is breaking
up?” the lion asked him.
“I heard it cracking with
my own ears, sire,”
squeaked the hare,
trembling in fear.
The lion investigated
the sound the hare had
heard and found that it
had been caused by a
large coconut falling
from a tree. It had
landed on a pile of
rocks, causing a minor
landslide.
“Go back to your
homes,” said the lion to
the animals who had
been running away, and
who were now looking
very foolish. “The
earth’s safe. Next time,
check a rumour before
acting on it.”

The Dragon Rock

This story begins with
Once Upon A Time,
because the best
stories do, of course.
So, Once Upon A
Time, and imagine if
you can, a steep sided
valley cluttered with
giant, spiky green pine
trees and thick, green
grass that reaches to
the top of your socks
so that when you run,
you have to bring your
knees up high, like
running through water.
Wildflowers spread
their sweet heady
perfume along the
gentle breezes and
bees hum musically to
themselves as they
cheerily collect flower
pollen.
People are very
happy here and they
work hard, keeping their
houses spick and span
and their children's
faces clean.
This particular
summer had been very
hot and dry, making the
lean farm dogs sleepy
and still. Farmers
whistled lazily to
themselves and would
stand and stare into
the distance, trying to
remember what it was
that they were
supposed to be doing.
By two o'clock in the
afternoon, the town
would be in a haze of
slumber, with
grandmas nodding off
over their knitting and
farmers snoozing in the
haystacks. It was very,
very hot.
No matter how hot
the day, however, the
children would always
play in the gentle, rolling
meadows. With wide
brimmed hats and skin
slippery with sun block,
they chittered and
chattered like
sparrows, as they
frolicked in their
favourite spot.
Now, their favourite
spot is very important
to this story because in
this particular spot is a
large, long, scaly rock
that looks amazingly
similar to a sleeping
dragon.
The children knew it
was a dragon.
The grown ups
knew it was a dragon.
The dogs and cats
and birds knew it was a
dragon.
But nobody was
scared because it never,
ever moved.
The boys and girls
would clamber all over
it, poking sticks at it
and hanging wet
gumboots on its ears
but it didn't mind in the
least. The men folk
would sometimes chop
firewood on its
zigzagged tail because
it was just the right
height and the Ladies
Weaving Group often
spun sheep fleece on its
spikes.
Often on a cool night,
when the stars were
twinkling brightly in a
velvet sky and the
children peacefully
asleep, the grown ups
would settle for the
evening with a mug of
steaming cocoa in a
soft cushioned
armchair. Then the
stories about How The
Dragon Got There
began. Nobody knew for
sure, there were many
different versions
depending on which
family told the tale, but
one thing that
everybody agreed on,
was this:
< 2 >
In Times of Trouble
The Dragon will Wake
And Free the Village
By making a Lake
This little poem was
etched into everybody's
minds and sometimes
appeared on tea towels
and grandma's
embroidery.
The days went by
slowly, quietly and
most importantly,
without any rain. There
had been no rain in the
valley for as long as the
children could
remember. The wells
were starting to bring
up muddy brown water
and clothes had to be
washed in yesterday's
dishwater. The lawns
had faded to a crisp
biscuit colour and the
flowers drooped their
beautiful heads. Even
the trees seemed to
hang their branches like
weary arms. The valley
turned browner and
drier and thirstier, every
hot, baking day.
The townsfolk grew
worried and would
murmur to each other
when passing with
much shaking of heads
and tut tuts. They
would look upwards
searching for rain clouds
in the blue, clear sky,
but none ever came.
"The tale of the
Dragon cannot be true,"
said old Mrs
Greywhistle, the
shopkeeper.
"It hasn't moved an
inch, I swear," replied
her customer, tapping
an angry foot.
It was now too hot
for the children to play
out in the direct sun and
they would gather
under the shade of the
trees, digging holes in
the dust and snapping
brittle twigs.
"The Dragon will help
us soon," said one child.
"He must do
Something," agreed
another.
"I'm sure he will."
They all nodded in
agreement.
A week went by
with no change, the
people struggling along
as best they could.
Some were getting
cross at the Dragon and
would cast angry,
sideways looks at it
when passing. The
villagers were becoming
skinny eyed and sullen.
Meanwhile, the
children had a plan.
Quickly and quietly,
they moved invisibly
around town, picking
and plucking at the
fading flowers. With
outstretched arms and
bouquets up to their
chins, they rustled over
to where the giant rock
lay, as still as ever.
< 3 >
The boys and girls
placed bunches of
flowers around the
Dragon in a big circle.
They scattered petals
around its head and
over its nose, then
danced around and
around it, skipping and
chanting the rhyme
that they all knew so
well.
In Times of Trouble
The Dragon Will Wake
And Save the Village
By making a Lake.
The searing heat
made them dizzy and
fuzzy and finally they all
fell in a sprawling heap
at the bottom of the
mound. They looked up
at the rock.
Nothing happened.
A dry wind lazily
picked up some flower
heads and swirled them
around. The air was
thick with pollen and
perfume. A stony grey
nostril twitched.
"I saw something,"
cried the youngest boy.
They stared intently.
An ear swiveled like
a periscope.
The ground began to
rumble.
"Look out! Run!Run!"
The children
scampered in all
directions, shrieking and
squealing, arms
pumping with
excitement.
The rumbling grew
and grew.
The Dragon raised
its sleepy head. It got
onto its front feet and
sat like a dog. It stood
up and stretched,
arching its long scaly
back like a sleek tabby
cat. It blinked and
looked around with big
kind, long lashed eyes.
And then its nostrils
twitched and quivered
again.
The older folk were
alerted by the screams
and shrieks. The ladies
held up their long skirts
to run and the men
rolled their sleeves up
and soon the whole
town stood together in
a tight huddle at the
foot of the hill, staring
up at the large beast
with mouths held open.
"AHHHHH
AAHHHHHHHHH!!"
The noise erupted
from the Dragon.
"AHHHHH
AAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
< 4 >
The families gripped
each other tighter and
shut their eyes.
"AHHHHH
CHOOOOOOOOO!!"
The sneeze blasted
from the Dragon like a
rocket, throwing it back
fifty paces, causing a
whirlwind of dust and
dirt.
"AHHHHH
CHOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
The second blast
split open the dry earth,
sending explosions of
soil and tree roots high
into the sky like
missiles, and something
else too ...
The people heard the
sound but couldn't
recognize it at first for
it had been such a long
time since their ears
had heard such tinkling
melody. As their eyes
widened in wonder,
their smiles turned into
grins and then yahoos
and hoorahs.
Water, cold, clear
spring water, oozed,
then trickled, then
roared out of the hole,
down the hillside and
along the valley floor.
The torrent knocked
over a farmer's
haystack, but he didn't
care.
The river carried
away the
schoolteacher's bike
shed but she cared not
a jot. It even
demolished the Ladies
Bowling Club changing
rooms but they howled
with laughter and
slapped their thighs.
When the flood sent
pools of water out
towards the golf
course, filling up sixteen
of the nineteen holes,
the men just hooted
and whistled and threw
their caps up in the air.
What used to be a
dirty, brown dust bowl,
now gleamed and
glistened in the sunlight,
sending playful waves
and ripples across the
lake and inviting all to
share.
"HMMMMM," sighed
the Dragon sleepily, and
showing his perfect
movie star teeth.
"Seeing as I'm awake ..."
And he lumbered
forward with surprising
grace and style and
disappeared into the
cool dark water with a
small wave of a claw
and flick of his tail.
They never saw him
again.
After the families
had restored and rebuilt
the village, and set up
sailing clubs for the
children, and scuba
diving for the
grandparents, they
erected a bandstand
and monument in the
spot where the Dragon
used to lay. Every year
to mark the occasion,
they would bring
garlands of flowers and
herbs and arrange them
in a big circle. The
children would have the
day off school, for it
was known as 'Water
Dragon Day' and
wearing the dragon
masks that they had
been working on all
week, would skip and
clap and sing.
< 5 >
The Dragon helped Us
As We said He would Do
Hooray for The Dragon
Achoo, Achoo,
ACHOOOO!
And that is the end
of the story.

The House With The Golden Window

The little girl lived
in a small, very
simple, poor house
on a hill and
as she grew she
would play in
the small garden
and as she
grew she was able
to see over
the garden fence
and across the
valley to a
wonderful house
high
on the hill – and
this house had
golden windows,
so golden and
shining that the
little girl would
dream of how
magic it would be
to grow up and live
in a house
with golden
windows instead
of
an ordinary house
like hers.
And although she
loved her
parents and her
family, she
yearned to live in
such a golden
house and
dreamed all day
about how
wonderful and
exciting it must
feel to live there.
When she got to
an age where
she gained enough
skill and
sensibility to go
outside her
garden fence, she
asked her
mother if she could
go for a bike
ride outside the
gate and down
the lane. After
pleading with her,
her mother finally
allowed her to
go, insisting that
she kept close
to the house and
didn't wander
too far. The day
was beautiful
and the little girl
knew exactly
where she was
heading! Down
the lane and
across the valley,
she rode her bike
until she got
to the gate of the
golden house
across on the
other hill.
As she dismounted
her bike and
lent it against the
gate post, she
focused on the
path that lead to
the house and
then on the
house itself, and
was so
disappointed as
she realized all
the windows were
plain and
rather dirty,
reflecting nothing
other than the sad
neglect of the
house that stood
derelict.
So sad she didn't
go any further
and turned, heart
broken as she
remounted her
bike. As she
glanced up she
saw a sight to
amaze her, there
across the way
on her side of the
valley was a
little house and its
windows
glistened golden
as the sun
shone on her little
home.
She realized that
she had been
living in her golden
house and
all the love and
care she found
there was what
made her home
the 'golden house'.
Everything
she dreamed was
right there in
front of her nose!

Sweet Love Story

Girl: We Are Best
Friends, Right?
Boy: Yes, Of
Course.
Girl: So Be Honest
With Me, Who Do
You Like?
...
Boy: No One. I Love
Someone.
Girl: Oh, She Must
Be Very Lucky..
Boy: Definitely.
I've Loved Her,
Ever Since I Met
Her.
Girl: Really? Well,
Since We're Best
Friends,
I Wanna Meet Her.
Go Call Her.
Boy: Oh Okay.
Boy Takes Out His
Phone,Dials Her
Number And
Phones Her.
Girl: Wait, Hold On I
Think I'm Getting A
Call.
*Answers The
Phone*
Boy: I Love You :)

If Tomorrow Never Comes

If I knew it would
be the last time
that I'd see you
fall asleep, I would
tuck you in more
tightly and pray
the Lord, your soul
to keep.
If I knew it would
be the last time
that I see you
walk out the door,
I would give you a
hug and kiss and
call you back for
one more.
If I knew it would
be the last time I'd
hear your voice
lifted up in praise, I
would video tape
each action and
word, so I could
play them back
day after day.
If I knew it would
be the last time, I
could spare an
extra minute or
two to stop and
say "I love you,"
instead of
assuming, you
would know I do.
If I knew it would
be the last time I
would be there to
share your day,
well I'm sure you'll
have so many
more, so I can let
just this one slip
away.
For surely there's
always tomorrow
to make up for an
oversight, and we
always get a
second chance to
make everything
right.
There will always
be another day to
say our "I love
you's", And
certainly there's
another chance to
say our "Anything I
can do's?"
But just in case I
might be wrong,
and today is all I
get, I'd like to say
how much I love
you and I hope we
never forget,
Tomorrow is not
promised to
anyone, young or
old alike, And
today may be the
last chance you
get to hold your
loved one tight.
So if you're waiting
for tomorrow, why
not do it today?
For if tomorrow
never comes, you'll
surely regret the
day, That you
didn't take that
extra time for a
smile, a hug, or a
kiss and you were
too busy to
grant someone,
what turned out to
be their one last
wish.
So hold your loved
ones close today,
whisper in their
ear, Tell them how
much you love
them and that
you'll always hold
them dear, Take
time to say "I'm
sorry," "please
forgive me,"
"thank you" or "it's
okay".
And if tomorrow
never comes, you'll
have no regrets
about today.

The Brahmin's Gift

Once there lived a pious
brahmin in a village. He used
to perform religious rituals.
On one occasion he was
rewarded with a cow by a
rich man for his service. The
brahmin started to bring the
cow to his home. On the way,
three rogues saw the
brahmin bringing the cow.
They were lazy and wanted
to cheat the brahmin so that
they could take away the
cow. They hatched a plan.
The first person approached
the brahmin and said, "Are
you a washer man that
you're pulling a donkey." The
brahmin was annoyed at
being mistaken for a washer
man. He went on. A little later
he was met by the second of
the rogues. The second
person asked him why being
a brahmin he needed to pull
a pig. Now the brahmin was
confused but he went on.
Some distance later he was
met by the third person who
asked him why he was pulling
along a wild animal. Now the
brahmin was totally confused
and also afraid. He thought
that it was a devil animal
which took different forms.
He ran away leaving the cow
behind. The three tricksters
laughed at the brahmin at
having cheated the cow from
the brahmin.
Story moral: Believe your
own eyes than what you
hear.

Story Of A Penny Wise Monkey

Once upon a time, there
was a rich and
prosperous kingdom
ruled by a King. The King
was quite fond of
traveling but, he would
not visit his own
country; instead he
went to other
countries.
One day, he assembled
his army to move out
for a holiday to some
distant country. The
King and his soldiers
walked for the whole
morning in the forest. In
the evening they
camped finding an
appropirate place to
take some rest.
The horses were also
tired and hungury, so
they were fed with
peas and left to rest.
One of the Monkeys,
who lived in the forest,
was keeping a track of
the things done by the
king’s men from a
distance. When he saw
peas offered to the
horses, he jumped
down from the tree at
once to get some of
them. He quickly
gobbled some peas,
also filled his mouth and
hands with them. Then,
he went up the tree
and sat down to eat
the peas.
As and when, he sat
there to eat peas; one
pea fell from his hand
to the ground. The
greedy monkey dropped
all the peas he had in his
hands and ran down to
look for the lost pea at
once. Unluckily, he could
not find that one pea.
He climbed up the tree
again and sat at rest.
He was looking very
sad. He said to himself,
“To get one pea, I
threw away what I
had”.
The King was watching
the monkey from the
camp and said to
himself, “I would not be
like this stupid monkey,
who lost much to gain a
little. I will go back to
my own country and
enjoy what I have”.
Thus, the King and his
army marched back to
their own country.

Lazy Student

Once upon a time there
was a teacher and holy
man in the city. He had
many students.
One day these students
went into the forest to
gather firewood. One of
them came upon a tree
with no leaves. he
thought, "How lucky I
am! This tree must be
dead and dry, perfect
for firewood. I will take
a rest for a while ,
when the others are
busy searching the
woods. I will climb this
tree and break off
branches for firewood
later.
After a while all the
other students began
carrying their bundles of
fierwood back to
pathsala. On their way
they passed the
student who was
sleeping. They wake
him up and said, "It's
time to return to our
teacher."
The lazy student woke
up and rubbed his eyes.
He climbed up the tree.
He began breaking off
branches and found
that they were not dry
at all. While he finished
gathering his bundle of
green wood. Then he
carried it back to
pathshala, running to
catch up his friends. He
was the last one back,
and threw his bundle on
top of the rest.
Meanwhile they had to
attend religious
ceremony. It was to be
held the next day at a
nearby village. The
teacher told his
students, "This will be
good training. Eat an
early breakfast
tomorrow moring. Then
go to the village."
The students awoke
early the next morning.
They awakened the
college cook and asked
her to prepare
breakfast. She went
out to get wood. She
picked up the top bundle
of the lazy man's green
wood. She brought it
and tried to start her
cooking fire. But even
though she tried to
blew it, she couldn't get
the fire. The wood was
too green.
When its too late and
there was no fire for
cooking breakfast. So
they went to their
teacher.
They told him, "A lazy
student slept while we
all worked. He climbed a
tree and gathered only
green wood and threw
it on top of the wood
pile. This was picked up
by the college cook. And
now it's too late to go
to the village."
The teacher said, "Lazy
man causes trouble for
everyone."

The Evils Of Hard Drink

Once upon a time
Brahmadatta was the
ruling king of Benaras.
And a forester, named
Sura, who dwelt in the
kingdom of Kasi, went
to the Himalayas, in
search of articles for
merchandise.
There was a certain
tree there that sprang
up to the height of a
man with his arms
extended over his head,
and then divided into
three parts.
In the midst of its
three forks was a hole
as big as a wine jar, and
when it rained this hole
was filled with water.
Round about it grew
two myrobalan plants
and a pepper shrub; and
the ripe fruits from
these, when they were
cut down, fell into the
hole.
Not far from this tree
was some selfsown
paddy. The parrots
would pluck the heads
of rice and eat them,
perched on this tree.
And while they were
eating, the paddy and
the husked rice fell
there. So the water,
fermenting through the
sun’s heat, assumed a
blood-red color.
In the hot season
flocks of birds, being
thirsty, drank of it, and
becoming intoxicated
fell down at the foot of
the tree, and after
sleeping awhile flew
away.
The same thing
happened in the case of
wild dogs, monkeys and
other creatures.
The forester, on seeing
this, said, “If this were
poison they would die,
but after a short sleep
they go away as they
list; therefore it is no
poison.”
He himself drank of it,
and becoming
intoxicated he felt a
desire to eat flesh, and
then making a fire he
killed the partridges and
cocks that fell down at
the foot of the tree,
and roasted their flesh
on the fire, and
gesticulating with one
hand, and eating flesh
with the other, he
remained one or two
days in the same spot.
Not far from there lived
an ascetic, named
Varuna. The forester at
other times also used
to visit him, and the
though now struck him,
“I will drink this liquor
with the ascetic.”
So he filled a reed-pipe
with it, and taking it
together with some
roast meat he came to
his hut and said, “Holy
sir, taste this liquor,”
They both drank it and
ate the meat.
So from the fact of this
drink having been
discovered by Sura and
Varuna. They both
thought “This is the
way to manage it,” and
they filled their reed-
pipes, and taking it on a
carrying-pole they came
to a neighbouring village,
and sent a message to
the king that some
wine merchants had
come. The king sent for
them and they offered
him the drink. The king
drank it two or three
times and got
intoxicated. This lasted
him only one or two
days. Then he asked
them if there was any
more.
“Yes sir,” they said.
“Where?”
“In the Himalayas, sir.”
“Then bring it here.”
They went and fetched
it two or three times.
Then thinking, “We
can’t always be going
there,” they took note
of all the constituent
parts, and, beginning
with the bark of the
tree, they threw in all
the other ingredients,
and made the drink in
the city.
The men of the city
drank it and became idle
wretches, And the
place became like a
deserted city.
These wine merchants
fled from there and
came to Benaras, and
sent a message to the
king, to announce their
arrival.
The king sent for them
and paid them money,
and they made wine
there too. And that city
also perished in the
same way. Then they
went to Saketa, and
from Saketa they came
to Savatthi.
At that time there was
a king named
Sabbamitta in Savatthi.
He shewed favour to
these men and asked
them what they
wanted.
When they said, “We
want the chief
ingredients and ground
rice and five hundred
jars.”
He gave them
everything they asked
for. So they stored the
liquor in the five
hundred jars, and, to
guard them, they bound
cats, one to each jar.
And, when the liquor
fermented and began
to escape, the cats
drank the strong drink
that flowed from the
inside of the jars, and
getting intoxicated they
lay down to sleep; and
rats came and bit off
the cats’ ears, noses,
teeth and tails.
The king’s officers
came and told the king.
“The cats have died
from drinking the
liquor.”
The king said “Surely
these men must be
makers of poison,” and
he ordered them both
to be beheaded, and
they died, crying out,
“Give us strong drink,
give us mead.”
The king, after putting
the men to death, gave
orders that the jars
should be broken. But
the cats, when the
effect of the liquor
wore off, got up and
walked about and
played. When they saw
this, they told the king.
The king said, “If it
were poison, they
would have died; it
must be mead; we will
drink it.”
So he had the city
decorated, and set up a
pavilion in the palace
yard and taking his seat
in this splendid pavilion
on a royal throne with a
white umbrella raised
over it and surrounded
by his courtiers, he
began to drink.
Then Sakka, the king of
the gods, said, “Who
are there that in the
duty of service to
mother the like
diligently fulfill the three
kinds of right conduct?”
And, looking upon the
world, he saw the king
seated to drink strong
drink and he thought,
“If he shall drink strong
drink, all the India will
perish: I will see that he
shall not drink it.”
So placing a jar full of
liquour in the palm of his
hand, he went disguised
as a Brahmin, and stood
in the air, in the
presence of the king,
and cried, “Buy this jar,
buy this jar.”
King Sabbamitta, on
seeing him standing in
the air and speaking
after this manner,
said," From where this
Brahmin come?” “Who
are you?” he asked,
“what is there in your
hand? Is the jar full of
wine and will you sell it
to me?”
“Oh king” replied Sakka
“I have come to see
you.” What are you
going to drink?”
“Wine” replied king, “A
strong drink.”
Then Sakka said,
“Hearken then to me,”
and expounding the evil
qualities of strong drink,
he said "This jar nor oil
nor ghee, no honey or
molasses here, but
vices more than can be
told are stored within
its rounded sphere. Who
soever drinks will fall
into some hole or pit
impure, poor silly fool, or
headlong sink in
loathsome pooi and eat
what he would fain
abjure. So king, buy this
jar of mine which is full
to the brim of
strongest wine. The
Asuras made drunk
with wine fell from
eternal heaven. Nor
curds nor honey sweet
is here. But evermore
remembering. What’s
stored within this
rounded sphere. Buy,
buy my jar"
On hearing this the king
recognizing the misery
caused by drink, was so
pleased with Sakka
that he praised him.
On this Sakka revealed
his godhead and made
himself known.
Thus did Sakka
admonish him and then
returned to his abode in
heaven. The king,
abstaining from strong
drink, ordered the
drinking vessels to be
broken. And undertaking
to keep the precepts
and dispensing alms, he
became destined to
heaven.

The Tailor

Once the Empress got a rare
silk cloth piece as a gift from
her Chinese counterparts.
She called the Birbal and
expressed her desire to get
a beautiful dress stitched
from the cloth. The Empress
said, “Birbal, I’ve heard that
tailors always steal some
cloth from the cloth piece
given to them for stitching.
I’m not worried that a part of
my cloth piece would be
stolen. However, I don’t want
that anyone other than me
should wear the dress made
from this cloth. I want you to
make some arrangements so
that the tailor can not steal
from the cloth.”
Hearing this, Birbal said,
“Begum Sahiba, my
experience says that
irrespective of whatever you
do, the tailor will mange to
steal a part of the cloth
piece.” The Empress replied,
“No, no! I don’t believe it.
You call the royal tailor here
and ask him to stitch my
dress in the palace itself.
Depute guards around his
work place and then see how
he manages to steal a sloth
piece. I bet, he’ll not be able
to do it.”
Birbal smiled and
said,”Begum Sahiba, the
tailors are very smart.
Whatever you do, they are
bound to steal a part of your
cloth piece.” The Empress
did not agree with him and
took it as a challenge. The
royal tailor was called and
was ordered to work in the
palace. He was told not to
leave the palace until the
work was finished.
The tailor came with all his
essentials to stay in the
palace premises. His work
place was tightly observed
by the royal guards. The
tailor was not allowed to go
out, not even to his house.
Like this, ten days passed.
The whole day, the tailor
works on the extraordinary
dress of the Empress.
One day, the tailor’s
daughter came to see him.
She said, “Father, please
visit home today. Mother is
remembering you a lot.” As
the girl was not allowed
inside, she remained
standing out of the guarded
room.
The tailor expressed his
inability to visit home. But the
daughter remained adamant.
She kept insisting her father.
Irritated be her repeated
insistence, the angry tailor
lifted his shoe and flung it
towards her. He said, “Silly
Girl! So many times, I have
told you that I can’t come.
Why don’t you listen?”
Seeing her father so much
irritated, the little girl giggled
out of amusement. She picked
up the shoe, which was flung
at her and ran away from
there. Finally, the dress was
ready after fifteen days. The
empress was very happy to
see it. She gave good
reward to the tailor. Before
leaving the palace, the tailor
was thoroughly checked by
the guards.
The empress was elated that
her dress would be rare in
the whole kingdom. One day,
the empress was passing
through the market with her
royal cavalcade. Suddenly
she noticed a woman wearing
a blouse, which was made of
the cloth similar to her rare
dress.
Astonished to see this, the
Empress immediately asked
her guards to call the woman
to her palace. When the
woman came, the Empress
asked her who she was.
After enquiry it was found
out that she was the wife of
the royal tailor.
The Empress was angry as
well as surprised. She called
the tailor. The tailor was
very much frightened. He
went to Birbal and requested
him to come along with him.
Birbal felt pity and agreed to
accompany him.
The empress was very
angry, but Birbal cooled her
down. He said, “Begum
Sahiba, it’s not the fault of
the tailor. The tailors are like
this only. Please forgive
him.” The Empress thought
for a while and then said to
the tailor. “I’ll forgive you if
you reveal how did you
manage to take the piece of
the cloth out from the palace.
The tailor said, “Huzoor,
when my daughter came to
call me, I pretended to be
very angry and threw my
shoe towards her. I had
suffered a small piece of
cloth in the shoe. Before
coming here, I had already
briefed my daughter about it.
So, when I flung the shoe
towards her, she picked it
and ran away from there.
This way, the piece of cloth
was brought out the palace.”
The tailor’s head bent down.
As per her promise, the
Empress forgave him and
sent him back. She then
turned towards Birbal and
said, “Birbal, you were
absolutely right. It’s
impossible to prevent this lot
from stealing the cloth.”

Asking God For Inspiration

Several years ago, I
was traveling through
the south and stopped
in North Carolina to visit
a friend. I met a young
woman who was trying
to start her career as a
gospel/rock singer. One
night we had a
conversation on
forgiveness and before
the night was over she
asked me to write a
song for her on the
subject. I explained to
her that I had no
knowledge of how to
write songs but that I
would try to put some
words together. Again,
I promised her nothing
but that I would try. For
more than an hour
before I went to sleep,
I tried putting some
thoughts on paper but
nothing really came to
mind. So, I did what I
always do when I am
stuck or looking for
some sort of answer or
inspiration - I prayed.
Soon after, I meditated
for a few minutes, then
fell asleep.
The next morning as I
was in the state right
before waking, I heard
and felt a knock on the
top of my head. It
literally felt as if
someone took a knuckle
and tapped me on my
head. I had never had
such an interesting
direct physical
sensation. But as I
began opening my eyes
I had this strong need
to pick up a pen and
write. The poem below
is what came to me. In
about ten to fifteen
minutes I had it all
written on a piece of
paper.
Love Your Brother
On my journey through
darkness,
Judgment dropped me
to my knees,
And when I would not
take another step,
I met the light within
me.
He said: “Fear not for I
am your brother,
I am the mirror of you.”
In His eyes I
remembered my glory,
And in His arms I
remembered my home.
He said: “There is
strength in forgiveness,
There is truth in His
Love,
Find your power in
silence,
and in peace, your
inheritance.”
I had built many walls
around me,
I had built many illusions
of stone.
But as the light shined
on me,
Cracks of hope found
my soul.
I had chosen to forget
the light,
Yet it never
disappeared.
And in blaming my
brothers,
It was I that I feared.
Now all my brothers I
treasure,
All are diamonds to me.
And through their
search I remember,
The truth of love within
me.
On your road through
the darkness,
Know that your light I
shall be.
Until that day of your
waking,
Rest your shoulder on
me.
And now I say:
“Fear not, for I am your
brother,
I am the mirror of you.
Through forgiveness
remember your glory.
Through love remember
your home.”
That morning I gave her
the poem. She read it,
looked confused (which
I first interpreted as
looking impressed),
looked at me and said,
"What does it mean?" I
said, "I think it's for
you, you'll have to
decide what it means."
Later that day I got
back in my car and
continued my journey.
We e-mailed each other
a couple of times but
soon lost contact and I
have not seen her since.

A Sad LOVE STORY

There was a blind girl who hated herself bcoz of being blind. She hated everyone except her boyfriend.. One day the girl said that if she cud only see the world she wud marry her boyfriend, one day someone donated their eyes 2 her and then she saw everything including his boyfriend, her boyfriend ask her, "now that you can see, will you marry me?", the girl was shocked when she saw her boyfriend is also blind, and she refuse to marry him. Her boyfriend walks away with tears and said, “just take care of my eyes dear".Moral:-We should not wish to get anything in love but we should have the dare to give up all.