*Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same
hospital room. One man was
allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each
afternoon to help drain the
fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the
room's only window. The other
man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on
end. They spoke of their wives and families,
their homes, their jobs, their
involvement in the military service, where they
had been on vacation.*



*Every afternoon when the man in the bed by
the window could sit up, he
would pass the time by describing to his
roommate all the things he could
see outside the window.*



*The man in the other bed began to live for
those one hour periods where his
world would be broadened and enlivened by all
the activity and color of the
world outside.*



*The window overlooked a park with a lovely
lake. Ducks and swans played on
the water while children sailed their model
boats. Young lovers walked arm
in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine
view of the city skyline
could be seen in the distance.*



*As the man by the window described all this in
exquisite detail, the man on
the other side of the room would close his eyes
and imagine the picturesque
scene.*



*One warm afternoon the man by the window
described a parade passing by.*



*Although the other man couldn't hear the
band - he could see it. In his
mind's eye as the gentleman by the window
portrayed it with descriptive
words.*



*Days and weeks passed.*



*One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring
water for their baths only to
find the lifeless body of the man by the
window, who had died peacefully in
his sleep. She was saddened and called the
hospital attendants to take the
body away.*



*As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other
man asked if he could be moved
next to the *
*window. The nurse was happy to make the
switch, and after making sure he
was comfortable, she left him alone.*



*Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on
one elbow to take his first
look at the real world outside.*



*He strained to slowly turn to look out the
window beside the bed.*



*It faced a blank wall. The man asked the
nurse what could have compelled
his deceased roommate who had described
such wonderful things outside this
window*



*The nurse responded that the man was blind
and could not even see the wall.*




*She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to
encourage you."*



*Epilogue:*



*There is tremendous happiness in making
others happy, despite our own
situations.*



*Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness
when shared, is doubled.*



*If you want to feel rich, just count all the
things you have that money
can't buy.*



*"Today is a gift, that's why it is called the
present."*

This post has been edited by plue64: Sep 15 2008, 02:06 AM

I wish you truth for your decisions,
I wish you doubts to make you sure,
I wish you fear to give you caution,
I wish you courage to keep you pure,
But beyond these hopes and wishes,
One prayer soars high above,
I wish for you my graduate
Faith and Hope and Love.

I wish defeats to make you humble,
I wish success to let you soar,
I wish you tears to make you tender,
I wish you joy and so much more.
For beyond these hopes and wishes,
one prayer soars high above,
I wish for you my graduate
Faith and hope and love.

So as you stand and face tomorrow,
When life gets rough and tough,
There's someone who believes in you
With faith and hope and love.
So I wish for you my graduate
Faith and hope and love.

I Wish You Faith
by: James N Watkins

24 Things To Always Remember:

Your presence is a present to the world.
You are unique and one of a kind.
Your life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days just one at a time.

Count your blessings, not your troubles.
You will make it through whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Understand, have courage, be strong.

Do not put limits on yourself.
So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
Reach for your peak, your goal and you prize.

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
The longer one carries a problem the heavier it gets.
Do not take things too seriously.
Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

Remember that a little love goes a long way.
Remember that a lot … goes forever.
Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
Life’s treasure are people together.

Realize that it is never too late.
Do ordinary things in an extraordinary way.
Have hearth and hope and happiness.
Take the time to wish upon a start.

AND DO NOT EVER FORGET ….
FOR EVEN A DAY
HOW VERY SPECIAL YOU ARE !

The Stone Soup Story

Many years ago three soldiers, hungry and weary of battle, came upon a small village. The villagers,
suffering a meager harvest and the many years of war, quickly hid what little they had to eat and met
the three at the village square, wringing their hands and bemoaning the lack of anything to eat.

The soldiers spoke quietly among themselves and the first soldier then turned to the village elders.
"Your tired fields have left you nothing to share, so we will share what little we have: the secret of
how to make soup from stones."

Naturally the villagers were intrigued and soon a fire was put to the town's greatest kettle as the
soldiers dropped in three smooth stones. "Now this will be a fine soup", said the second soldier;
"but a pinch of salt and some parsley would make it wonderful!" Up jumped a villager, crying
"What luck! I've just remembered where some's been left!" And off she ran, returning with an apronful
of parsley and a turnip. As the kettle boiled on, the memory of the village improved: soon barley,
carrots, beef and cream had found their way into the great pot, and a cask of wine was rolled into the
square as all sat down to feast.

They ate and danced and sang well into the night, refreshed by the feast and their new-found friends.
In the morning the three soldiers awoke to find the entire village standing before them. At their feet lay
a satchel of the village's best breads and cheese. "You have given us the greatest of gifts: the secret of
how to make soup from stones", said an elder, "and we shall never forget." The third soldier turned to
the crowd, and said: "There is no secret, but this is certain: it is only by sharing that we may make a feast".
And off the soldiers wandered, down the road.