Best & Worst

The most satisfying work … Helping Others
The most endangered species … Dedicated Leaders
The greatest natural resource … Our Youth
The greatest shot in the arm … Encouragement
The greatest problem to overcome … Fear
The most effective sleeping pill … Peace of Mind
The most crippling failure disease … Excuses
The most powerful force in life … Love
The worlds most incredible computer … The Brain
The worst thing to be without … Hope
The most powerful relationship tool … The Tongue
The two most power-filled words … "I Can"
The most powerful communication … Prayer
The greatest asset … Faith
The most worthless emotion … Self-pity
The most prized possession … Self-esteem
The most contagious spirit … Enthusiasm
The most beautiful attire … SMILE

Lesson from a Donkey

One day a farmer’s donkey fell down into a well.

The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn’t worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him.

They all grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly.

Then, to everyone’s amazement he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing.

He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer’s neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt.

The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a stepping stone.

We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up!
Shake it off and take a step up.

Meeting God

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with Twinkies and a six-pack of Root Beer and he started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an elderly man. The man was sitting in the park just feeding some pigeons. 

The boy sat down next to him and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the man looked hungry, so he offered him a Twinkie.

The man gratefully accepted it and smiled at boy. His smile was so pleasant that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered him a root beer.

Again, the man smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave, but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the man, and gave him a hug. The man gave him his biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?

"He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? God’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the elderly man, also radiant with joy, returned to his home. His son was stunned by the look of peace on his face and he asked," Dad, what did you do today that made you so happy?"

He replied, "I ate Twinkies in the park with God." However, before his son responded, he added," You know, he’s much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!

Husbands for Sale!

A store that sells husbands has just opened in New York City, where a woman may go to choose a husband. Among the instructions at the entrance is a description of how the store operates. You may visit the store ONLY ONCE!

There are six floors and the attributes of the men increase as the shopper ascends the flights. There is, however, a catch . … You may choose any man from a particular floor, or you may choose to go up a floor, but you cannot go back down except to exit the building!

So, a woman goes to the Husband Store to find a husband. On the first floor the sign on the door reads:

Floor 1 – These men have jobs and love the Lord.

The second floor sign reads:

Floor 2 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, and love kids.

The third floor sign reads:

Floor 3 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, and are extremely good looking.

‘Wow,’ she thinks, but feels compelled to keep going. She goes to the fourth floor and sign reads:

Floor 4 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead good looking and help with the housework.

‘Oh, mercy me!’ she exclaims, ‘I can hardly stand it!’ Still, she goes to the fifth floor and sign reads:

Floor 5 – These men have jobs, love the Lord, love kids, are drop- dead gorgeous, help with the housework, and have a strong romantic streak.

She is so tempted to stay, but she goes to the sixth floor and the sign reads:

Floor 6 – You are visitor 4,363,012 to this floor. There are no men on this floor. This floor exists solely as proof that women are impossible to please. Thank you for shopping at the Husband Store. Watch your step as you exit the building, and have a nice day!

Please send this to all men for a good laugh and to all the women who can handle the truth!

The Story of Bhasmasur

There is a very famous and suggestive story of a Asura (demon) called Bhasmasur. He was very ambitious person, and wanted great powers, specially to destroy anyone he wanted – by hook or crook. He worked very hard for it too, performed severe austerities, and appeased Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva became happy to see his dedication and intensity of his wish, and asked him what he wished for. He requested for a boon wherein anyone will be turned to ashes (bhasma) the moment he kept his hand on their head. Even though Lord Shiva was surprised to hear such a strange and negative wish, yet hoping that the devotee will use the boon for some good cause, he granted the boon. The fellow was highly elated at getting this fantastic power, and he started dreaming of conquering everyone. No one could stand in his way now to rule the world, no matter who the opponent was, they could be destroyed in a second. He had already dreamt about the various consequences of this boon so much that his joys knew no bounds, and in this elation he lost all sense of discrimination & sense. It was too good to be true for him, so a doubt too become obvious. He wondered whether Lord Shiva has really granted him this boon. He wanted to test, and as no one else was around, he thought why now try the boon on Lord Shiva himself.

The deluded ungracious fool started walking towards Lord Shiva, who was indeed surprised. He knew the power of his boon, and he is now the one who gives a boon at one moment and then takes it back the next moment. ANyway the fellow wanted to know whether the boon has really been given, so he turned and started walking away, and to his surprise this Bhasmasur (named after the boon) started coming after Lord Shiva with a sly smile of a conqueror. Lord started running and he also ran after him. However, Lord Shiva ran very fast and went over to Lord Vishnu and told him the whole story and asked for his help to handle this nuisance. Lord Vishnu assured Shivji that he will sort out the matter. He will use the power of Bhasmasur against him. Man alone can become his greatest enemy, and he alone can become his greatest friend too. Just as a huge elephant is tamed by the intellect of man, so also such thoughtless ferocious demons needed to be handled intelligently rather than by brute force. 

Lord Vishnu took a form of a very beautiful angelic damsel and came near the asura. He was taken back by this extraordinary beauty and got attracted to her. Lord Vishnu as Mohini started seducing Bhasmasur, and as expected he fell for this beautiful damsel. Bhasmasur thought that today his luck is rught on the top and he is getting the best things he can dream of. The running of Lord Shiva, had confirmed to him that he had indeed been given the boon, so now there was some complacency about the boon, specially when there was someone like Lord Vishnu himself seducing him. So much so that he shortly proposed to her. Lord Vishnu as Mohini said that for her to accept his invitation, he will have to dance with her. Bhasmasur accepted and started dancing with the woman. While dancing, the woman kept her hand over head, Bhasmasur – lost in the intoxication of extreme power and lust, in an attempt to copy her, kept his hand over his own head and lo, he himself got burned and that very moment turned to ashes. The boon did not even last a day.

The moral of this story is that power, without self-control and self-poise leads to one’s own destruction. Think.

Heaven on the Earth

An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the
World.

So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to China.

On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he
Noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read
"$10,000 per call".

The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what
The telephone was used for.

The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for
$10,000 you could talk to God.

The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Japan. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the
Same golden telephone with the same sign under it.

He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in China and
He asked a nearby nun what its purpose was.

She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000
He Could talk to God.

"O.K., thank you," said the American.

He then traveled to Pakistan , Srilanka , Russia , Germany and France ..

In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "$10,000
Per call" sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to up to India to
See if Indians had the same phone.

He arrived in India , and again, in the first church he entered, there
Was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read
"One Rupee per call."

The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.
"Father, I’ve traveled all over World and I’ve seen this same golden
Telephone in many churches. I’m told that it is a direct line to
Heaven, But in the US the price was $10,000 per call.

Why is it so cheap here?"

The priest smiled and answered, "You’re in India now, Son – it’s a
Local Call".