A Story of Loving/GodVine

[Judy Harder]

Today's Story
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The Right Puppy
A storeowner was tacking a sign above his door that read "Puppies For Sale."

Signs like that have a way of attracting small children, and sure enough, a little boy appeared under the sign. "How much are you going to sell the puppies for?" he asked.

The storeowner replied, "Anywhere from $30 to $50."

The little boy reached in his pocket and pulled out some change. "I have $2.37," he said. "Can I please look at them?"

The storeowner smiled and whistled and out of the kennel came Lady, who ran down the aisle of his store followed by five teeny, tiny balls of fur.

One puppy was lagging considerably behind. Immediately the little boy singled out the lagging, limping puppy and said, "What's wrong with that little dog?"

The storeowner explained that the veterinarian had examined the little puppy and had discovered it didn't have a hip socket. It would always limp. It would always be lame.

The little boy became excited. "That is the puppy that I want to buy."

The storeowner said, "No, you don't want to buy that little dog, if you really want him, I'll just give him to you."

The little boy got quite upset. He looked straight into the man's eyes, pointed his finger, and said, "I don't want you to give him to me. That little dog is worth every bit as much as all the other dogs and I'll pay full price. In fact, I'll give you $2.37 now, and 50 cents a month until I have him paid for."

The storeowner countered, "You really don't want to buy this little dog. He is never going to be able to run and jump and play with you like the other puppies."

To his surprise, the little boy reached down and rolled up his pant leg to reveal a badly twisted, crippled left leg supported by a big metal brace. He looked up at the storeowner and softly replied, "Well, I don't run so well myself, and the little puppy will need someone who understands!"
 

[Judy Harder]

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Children's Prayers
Here are a few prayers by children that will put a smile on your face.

UNANSWERED PRAYER?

The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day she asked him why.

"Well, Honey," he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages, "I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon."

"How come He doesn't do it?" she asked.

BEING THANKFUL

A rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, "So your mother says your prayers for you each night? Very commendable. What does she say?"

The little boy replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"

EXPRESS PRAYER

Our son had only heard his grandfather pray at Thanksgiving, Easter and other special occasions; when he typically said a long prayer over the food. One night, after a fun camp-out and fishing trip, Grandfather (to our son's surprise) said a very brief blessing on the food. With a gleam in his eye our son grinned at his grandfather and said, "You don't pray so long when you're hungry, do you Grandpa?"


TIME TO PRAY

A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night.

"Yes sir," the boy replied.

"And do you always say them in the morning too?" the pastor asked.

"No sir," the boy replied, "I ain't scared in the daytime."

THE BLESSING

My wife invited some people to dinner. At the table she turned to our six-year-old daughter and said, "Would you like to say the blessing?"

"I wouldn't know what to say," the child replied.

"Just say what you hear Mommy say," my wife said.

Our daughter bowed her head and said, "Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?"

BEWARE OF TRASH

One four-year-old prayed, "And forgive us our 'trash baskets' as we forgive those who put trash in our baskets."

ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS?

When my daughter, Kelli, was 3, she and my son, Cody, would say their nightly prayers together. As do most children they blessed every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past).

For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, "And all girls."

As including this at the end soon became part of her nightly routine, my curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, "Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?"

Her response, "Because we always finish our prayers by saying 'All Men'!"
 

[Judy Harder]

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Blind
There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend.. He was always
there for her.. She told her boyfriend, 'If I could only see
the world, I will marry you.'

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages
came off, she was able to see everything, including her
boyfriend.

He asked her,'Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?' The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The
sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later wrote a note to her
saying: 'Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before
they were yours, they were mine.'


This is how the human brain often works when our status changes.
Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who
was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life Is a Gift

Today before you say an unkind word - Think of someone who can't
speak.

Before you complain about the taste of your food - Think of someone
who has nothing to eat.

Before you complain about your husband or wife - Think of someone
who's crying out to GOD for a companion.

Today before you complain about life - Think of someone who went
too early to heaven.

Before whining about the distance you drive Think of someone who
walks the same distance with their feet.

And when you are tired and complain about your job - Think of the
unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your
job.

And when depressing thoughts seem to get you down - Put a smile on
your face and think: you're alive and still
around.
 

[Judy Harder]

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I Have Learned
We spend our whole lives learning new lessons through trials and experiences. None of us are perfect, so all we can do is pick ourselves up and learn from it.

I've learned....that the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned....that when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... that just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.

I've learned...that having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned....that being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned...that you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned....that I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned....that no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone
needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....that sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned....that simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned....that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned....that we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....that money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....that it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned....that under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned...that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned....that to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....that when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....that love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned....that the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround
myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned....that everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned....that there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.

I've learned....that no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned....that life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned....that opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you
miss.

I've learned....that when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned....that I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned....that one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned....that a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned....that I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I've learned....that when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned....that everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned ...that it is best to give advice in only two circumstances; when it is
requested and when it is a life threatening situation.

I've learned....that the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.
 

[Judy Harder]

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I Learned Everything From Noah's Ark
This has been circulating for many years, but it's still a really great list showing how Noah's Ark teaches us a lot in our daily lives.

1. Don't miss the boat.
2. Remember that we are all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.
5.Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, float a while.
10. Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11.No matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting.

[Judy Harder]

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A Family Story
Read this and reflect on how you treat your family compared to strangers. This poem has a great meaning behind it.

I ran into a stranger as he passed by,
"Oh excuse me please" was my reply.
He said, "Please excuse me too;
I wasn't watching for you."

We were very polite, this stranger and I.
We went on our way and we said good-bye.
But at home a different story is told,
How we treat our loved ones, young and old.

Later that day, cooking the evening meal,
My son stood beside me very still.
When I turned, I nearly knocked him down.
"Move out of the way," I said with a frown.

He walked away, his little heart broken.
I didn't realize how harshly I'd spoken.
While I lay awake in bed, God's still small voice came to me and said,
"While dealing with a stranger, common courtesy you use, but the family you love, you seem to abuse.

Go and look on the kitchen floor,
You'll find some flowers there by the door.
Those are the flowers he brought for you.
He picked them himself: pink, yellow and blue.

He stood very quietly not to spoil the surprise,
you never saw the tears that filled his little eyes."
By this time, I felt very small,
And now my tears began to fall.

I quietly went and knelt by his bed;
"Wake up, little one, wake up," I said.
"Are these the flowers you picked for me?"
He smiled, "I found 'em, out by the tree.

I picked 'em because they're pretty like you.
I knew you'd like 'em, especially the blue."
I said, "Son, I'm very sorry for the way I acted today;
I shouldn't have yelled at you that way."

He said, "Oh, Mom, that's okay. I love you anyway."
I said, "Son, I love you too, and I do like the flowers, especially the blue."