Humor 8/3/99: Meaningful Phrases & Shake It Off

Hi everyone,

Even though I went to the SF Symphony during the previous week, I went
again on Friday night because a friend had an extra ticket. Keith
Lockhard, the conductor of the Boston Pops, was the conductor. I
enjoyed the concert very much, and even remembered to wear enough
clothing this time.

On Sunday afternoon, some friends from church and I went on a cruise and
tour of Alcatraz Island. It's pretty interesting. Afterward, we had
Korean BBQ for dinner.

This week's thought provoking question is: "If you could change one
election result from the past so that the loser had won, which one would
it be?"

This week's humor was forwarded by Anna Man, followed by an
inspirational story forwarded by Jenny Liang. Enjoy!

-Josh.
_________________________________________

Try to constantly remind ourselves with all these phrases.
Although it's not easy, but it does help.
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It is better to be silent and be considered a fool than to speak and
remove all doubt of it.

A person's true character is revealed by what he does when no one is
watching.

Some people complain because God put thorns on roses, while others
praise Him for putting roses among thorns.

Although the tongue weighs very little, very few people are able to hold
it.

Success in a marriage is more than finding the right person. It's
becoming the right person.

Falling down doesn't make you a failure, but staying down does.

Don't be afraid of pressure. Remember that pressure is what turns a lump
of coal into a diamond.

Even a woodpecker owes his success to the fact that he uses his head.

The poorest of all men is not the man without a cent but the man without
a dream.

The only preparation for tomorrow is the right use of today.

People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

Temper is what gets most of us into trouble. Pride is what keeps us
there.

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little
"extra."

One thing you can learn by watching the clock is that it passes time by
keeping its hands busy.

The heart is the happiest when it beats for others.
____________________________

Shake It Off And Step Up

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into
the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever
mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the
situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that
neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead,
he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and
enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put
him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his
neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought
struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of
dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he
did, blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step
up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No
matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the
old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND
STEPPING UP!

You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and
exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL! What seemed
like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner
in which he handled his adversity. THAT'S LIFE! If we face our
problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic,
bitterness, or self-pity...THE ADVERSITIES THAT COME ALONG TO BURY US
USUALLY HAVE WITHIN THEM THE POTENTIAL TO BENEFIT AND BLESS US! Remember
that FORGIVENESS--FAITH--PRAYER-- PRAISE and HOPE...all are excellent
ways to "SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP" out of the wells in which we find
ourselves!

Thought A Day ©1998
--
_____________________________________

Joshua Li
420 James Road #1
Palo Alto CA 94306
(650)565-8674
Permanent Email: joshli@post.harvard.edu
http://personal.anderson.ucla.edu/joshua.li/