"A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society."
-- Billy Graham, Christian Evangelist
All of us who are parents know how becoming a parent radically changed our lives, and also how it radically enriched our lives. Been a dad has given me more laughter and more memories than any other experience in life possibly could.
Not only do my two children create memories for me, but we create memories for them.
This illustration from my recent googling pretty sums up the different phases a dad goes through.
4 years: "My Daddy knows everything."
8 years: "My Dad is really smart."
12 years: "My Dad probably doesn't know that."
16 years: "My Dad is absolutely clueless!"
21 years: "Dad is pretty out-of-touch."
30 years: "I'd like to find out what Dad thinks."
40 years: "Let's get Dad's opinion before we make a decision."
50 years: "I wish I could ask my Dad about that. He's pretty smart."
60 years: "My Dad knew absolutely everything."
70 years: "I'd give anything if Dad were here. I really miss him."
-Author: Unknown
30 July 2008
28 July 2008
A carrot, an egg and a cup of coffee
You will never look at a cup of coffee the same way again.
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners .She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
Author: Unknown
A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to boil. In the first she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil; without saying a word.
In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners .She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl. She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.
Turning to her daughter, she asked, 'Tell me what you see.' 'Carrots, eggs, and coffee,' she replied. Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did and noted that they were soft. The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg. Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, 'What does it mean, mother?'
Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently. The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However, after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak. The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened. The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.
'Which are you?' she asked her daughter. 'When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?
Think of this: Which am I?
Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?
Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart?
Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water, the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor.
If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you. When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean? May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human and enough hope to make you happy.
Author: Unknown
27 July 2008
Sunbird In My Pergola
Last year, during Christmas some birds tried to make a nest on our Christmas lights in our garden but were unsuccessful.
Then in April this year a little yellow bird flew into our garden and built a nest on one of the beams of our pergola. The nest resembled one of the many wind chimes we have in the garden.
We found out from the internet this little yellow bird is an Olive-backed sunbird. The female sunbird was yellow but the male sunbird was a little bigger and its upper body was blue.
Well, we missed the hatching of the eggs as we went away on holiday.
My father in-law believes that these birds would bring good luck as they make their nest in our homes. I believe it’s God’s way of reminding me that He is able to meet our needs and we need not worry.
Matt 6:26
Look at the birds in the sky! They don't plant or harvest. They don't even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren't you worth more than birds?
Once again, couple of weeks ago, another set of sunbird made this abandon nest their home. This time round, I was determined to capture everything on video. So here’s the first part of it….the flying in & out of its nest.
Do join me later and see what we can learn from this amazing wonder of God’s creation!
26 July 2008
The Law of the Rubbish Bins
Recently a friend shared with me how it has been a difficult year for him at work. I shared with him an illustration I heard in church which i found very encouraging. I do hope his colleagues who reads this would be encouraged too..
THE LAW OF THE RUBBISH BINS
How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive colleague ruin your day?
Of course, for an instant you will probably be set back on your heels.However, the mark of a happy & successful person is how quickly one can get one’s focus back to what is important.
I learned it in the back of a London black cab. Here's what happened. Ihopped in a taxi at the Bank and we took off for Moorgate tube Station. We had been driving about 200 yards when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
I said, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’ And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Rubbish Bins.’
It was that very day I decided that I was not going to do it anymore. I then began to see be aware of rubbish bins. I see the load they are carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And with the grace of our beloved Lord; I too have learnt just to smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
How about you?
THE LAW OF THE RUBBISH BINS
Of course, for an instant you will probably be set back on your heels.However, the mark of a happy & successful person is how quickly one can get one’s focus back to what is important.
I learned it in the back of a London black cab. Here's what happened. Ihopped in a taxi at the Bank and we took off for Moorgate tube Station. We had been driving about 200 yards when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!
Here's what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and instead of apologising, started yelling bad words at us.
Now, here's what took me by surprise. Instead of getting angry or annoyed, my taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. He was actually friendly towards the other man!
Now, here's what took me by surprise. Instead of getting angry or annoyed, my taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. He was actually friendly towards the other man!
I said, ‘Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!’ And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, ‘The Law of the Rubbish Bins.’
Many people are like rubbish bins. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their bin piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they will dump it straight on you.
When someone wants to dump on you, do not take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
So this was it; The ‘Law of the Rubbish Bins.’ I started thinking, how often do I let 'Rubbish bins' run right over me? And how often do I take their rubbish and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets?
When someone wants to dump on you, do not take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
So this was it; The ‘Law of the Rubbish Bins.’ I started thinking, how often do I let 'Rubbish bins' run right over me? And how often do I take their rubbish and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets?
It was that very day I decided that I was not going to do it anymore. I then began to see be aware of rubbish bins. I see the load they are carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And with the grace of our beloved Lord; I too have learnt just to smile, wave, wish them well, and move on.
How about you?
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