Rotten Potatoes : How Heavy Is Your Bag?

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag. Some of our bags, as you can imagine, were quite heavy.We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work.The hassle of lugging this around with us made it clear what a weight we were carrying spiritually, and how we had to pay attention to it all the time to not forget, and keep leaving it in embarrassing places.Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity!Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, and while that's true, it clearly is also a gift for ourselves!So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself... Isn't MY bag heavy enoughAnd when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.

Run Through the Rain

She had been shopping with her Mom in Wal-Mart. She must have been 6 years old, this beautiful brown haired, freckle-faced image of innocence. It was pouring outside. The kind of rain that gushes over the top of rain gutters, so much in a hurry to hit the Earth it has no time to flow down the spout.We all stood there under the awning and just inside the door of the Wal-Mart. We waited, some patiently, others irritated because nature messed up their hurried day. I am always mesmerized by rainfall. I get lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world. Memories of running, splashing so carefree as a child come pouring in as a welcome reprieve from the worries of my day.Her voice was so sweet as it broke the hypnotic trance we were all caught in. "Mom, let's run through the rain, she said. What Mom asked."Let's run through the rain! She repeated. No honey. We'll wait until it slows down a bit, Mom replied. This young child waited about another minute and repeated Mom, let's run through the rain. We'll get soaked if we do, Mom said. No, we won't, Mom. That's not what you said this morning, the young girl said as she tugged at her Mom's arm."This morning when did I say we could run through the rain and not get wet Don't you remember When you were talking to Daddy about his cancer, you said, 'If God can get us through this, he can get us through anything!"The entire crowd stopped dead silent. I swear you couldn't hear anything but the rain. We all stood silently. No one came or left in the next few minutes. Mom paused and thought for a moment about what she would say.Now some would laugh it off and scold her for being silly. Some might even ignore what was said. But this was a moment of affirmation in a young child's life. Time, when innocent trust can be nurtured and bloom into faith. "Honey, you are absolutely right. Let's run through the rain. If God let's us get wet, well maybe we just needed washing, Mom said. Then off they ran. We all stood watching, smiling and laughing as they darted past the cars and, yes, through the puddles. They held their shopping bags over their heads just in case.They got soaked. But they were followed by a few who screamed and laughed like children all the way to their cars. And yes, I did. I ran. I got wet. I needed washing. Circumstances or people can take away your material possessions, they can take away your money, and they can take away your health. But no one can ever take away your precious memories. So, don't forget to make time and take the opportunities to make memories every day!To everything there is a season and a time to every purpose under heaven. I hope you still take the time to run through the rain.

Sow & Reap

There were 3 people of different countries that are put to jail for 3 years. They each given a wish to be fulfilled.The American has asked for 3yrs supply of cigars. The romantic French has requested for beautiful girls to company him for 3 years of jail term. Whereas, the Jew has asked for a telephone that can be connected to people around the world.3years later, when the American was released, he shouted for a lighter to light his cigars... and the French man was frowning on the upbringing of his many dozens of children. Whereas the Jews was very happy as in the past 3 years, his business has not only grow for 200%, he has also on-track and up-to-date on the happenings of the world.Moral: The kind of decision you made will bring you that kind of life in the future. Your life today is from the decisions you have made 3years ago. And whatever decision you make today will decide your life for the coming 3years. We must be flexible and be receptive with whatever information that comes our way to better lead us to the life we have decided! So... What/Where do you want to see yourself in 3years? What's your decision today?

He Sent The Right Man

A woman received a phone call that her daughter was very sick with a fever. She left work and stopped by the pharmacy for some medication for her daughter. Upon returning to her car, she found she had locked her keys inside. She had to get home to her sick daughter, and didn't know what to do. She called home and the baby sitter told her that her daughter was getting worse.The baby sitter suggested that she get a coat hanger to unlock the door. The woman found an old rusty coat hanger on the ground, as if someone else had locked their keys in their car. Then she looked at the hanger and said, "I don't know how to use this."She bowed her head and asked God for help. An old rusty car pulled up, driven by a dirty, greasy, bearded man with a biker skull rag on his head.The woman thought, Dear God, is this is what you sent to help me?" But she was desperate, and thankful. The man got out of his car and asked if he could help.She said "Yes, my daughter is very sick. I must get home to her. Please, can you use this hanger to unlock my car? "He said, SURE. "He walked over to the car and in seconds the car was opened.She hugged the man and through her tears she said, THANK YOU SO MUCH!You are a very nice man."The man replied, "Lady, I ain't a nice man. I just got out of prison for car theft. "The woman hugged the man again and cried out loud, "THANK YOU GOD FOR SENDING ME A PROFESSIONAL!"

The Boy And A Starfish

One day an old man was walking along the beach in the early morning and noticed the tide had washed thousands of starfish up on the shore. Up ahead in the distance he spotted a boy who appeared to be gathering up the starfish and one by one tossing them back into the ocean.He approached the boy and asked him why he spent so much energy doing what seemed to be a waste of time.The boy replied, "If these starfish are left out here like this they will bake in the sun, and by this afternoon they will all be dead."The old man gazed out as far as he could see and responded, "But, there must be hundreds of miles of beach and thousands of starfish. You can't possibly rescue all of them. What difference is throwing a few back going to make anyway?"The boy then held up the starfish he had in his hand and replied, "It's sure going to make a lot of difference to this one!"

Great Value In Disaster

Thomas Edison's laboratory was virtually destroyed by fire in December, 1914. Although the damage exceeded $2 million, the buildings were only insured for $238,000 because they were made of concrete and thought to be fireproof. Much of Edison's life's work went up in spectacular flames that December night.At the height of the fire, Edison's 24-year old son, Charles, frantically searched for his father among the smoke and debris. He finally found him, calmly watching the scene, his face glowing in the reflection, his white hair blowing in the wind."My heart ached for him," said Charles. "He was 67 - no longer a young man - and everything was going up in flames. When he saw me, he shouted, "Charles, where's your mother?" When I told him I didn't know, he said, "Find her. Bring her here. She will never see anything like this as long as she lives."The next morning, Edison looked at the ruins and said, "There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God we can start anew."Three weeks after the fire, Edison managed to deliver his first phonograph.

Efforts In The Right Direction

Ever heard the story of the giant ship engine that failed? The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure out how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars."What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."The man sent a bill that read: Tapping with a hammer ......................... $ 2.00 Knowing where to tap ............................ $ 9998.00Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.