I can’t tell a lie

A little boy called Sam was playing in the yard behind his house. During his pretended fighting game, he knocked over the outhouse. Sam was worried and scared that he would get into trouble so he ran into the woods. He didn’t come out until after it was totally dark. When he arrived back home, his father was waiting for him. He asked suspiciously, “Son, did you knock over the outhouse this afternoon?”

“No, dad,” Sam lied.

“Well, let me tell you a story,” said the father. “Once, not that long ago, Lincoln received a shiny new axe from his father. Excited, he tried it out on a tree, swiftly cutting it down. But as he looked at the tree, to his horror he realized that it was his mother’s favorite cherry tree.” His father paused, and continued, “Just like you, he ran into the woods. When he returned, his father asked, ‘Abraham, did you cut down the cherry tree?’ Abraham answered, ‘Father, I cannot tell a lie. I did, indeed, chop down the tree.’ Then his father said, ‘Well, since you were honest with me, you are spared from punishment. I hope you have learned your lesson, though.’

Then Sam’s father asked again, “Did you knock down the outhouse?”

“Father, I cannot lie anymore,” said the little boy. “I did, indeed, knock down the outhouse.”

Then his father spanked him red, white, and blue. The boy whimpered, “Dad, I told you the truth! Why did you spank me?”

His father answered, “That’s because Abraham Lincoln’s father wasn’t in the tree when he chopped it down!”

Things are only meant to be used

A man was polishing his new car as his 4 year-old son was playing around. Soon, his son picked up a stone and made scratches on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child’s hand and hit it many times; not realizing he was using a wrench.

The son had to be rushed to a hospital. But the child lost all his fingers due to multiple fractures. When the child saw his father – with painful eyes, he asked, “Dad, when will my fingers grow back?”

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The man was so hurt and remained speechless. He went to the place where his car was parked and kicked it many times over. Devastated by his own action, and so full of remorse, he looked at the scratches and saw what his son had written: “LOVE YOU, DAD”.

Anger and love have no limits,
choose the latter to have a beautiful, lovely life…..
Things are to be used and people are to be loved,
but the problem in today’s world is that people are used and things are loved…

Be sure to keep this thought in mind:
Things are to be used and people are to be loved….

Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits they become character;
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

As a father, I was shaken the first time I read this story. I look at my children and tears started rolling down my cheeks. I said a simple prayer:
Lord, teach me to tame my temper,
help me to control my anger, always,
and be not hasty like the father in this story.
Give me the wisdom to discern what’s right and wrong,
when to discipline and how far I should go.
In Jesus’ name, Amen!

I’m so glad I found this story….

In a way I think it helped me to be a better father. I believe there are many parents out there who will benefit a great deal from this story. When you are through reading this story, please take the time to share it with someone. If you don’t pass this on to anybody, nothing bad will happen; if you do, you will have ministered to someone.

A smile for alms

A smile costs you nothing, but is worth a great deal to those who are lifted up by it. The truthfulness of this expression was taught to me by a beggar in Hyderabad. After having tea with some friends, we stepped out onto the busy road only to be confronted by a young girl in rags who was asking for alms. I was still a student then. All I had that day was Rs.50, no change and no coins to giveaway. There was no way I could have shared. As I stared at her dirty but expectant face, my frown turned into a smile and sympathetically told her I was also short of money and couldn’t spare anything for her.

The next moment she exploded into a big smile. I will never forget her face, ever. The happiness and joy that shines on her face turned her into a beautiful girl though she was covered in rags.

A young girl who was used to rebukes, scorns and anger tasted love and sympathy that day. Perhaps, the first time in her life. That day I could not give her what she asked for but unknowingly I gave her the best gift ever – a smile, sympathy and love.

Remember, what sunshine is to flowers, your smile is to others.

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Helping to cry

Author and lecturer Leo Buscaglia once told of a contest he was asked to judge. The purpose of the contest was to find the most caring child.

The winner was a four-year-old child whose next-door neighbor was an elderly gentleman who had recently lost his wife. Upon seeing the man crying, the little boy went into the old gentleman’s yard, climbed onto his lap, and just sat there.

When his mother asked him what he had said to the neighbor, the little boy said, “Nothing, I just helped him cry.”

If a child….

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight.

If a child lives with fear, he learns to be apprehensive.

If a child lives with jealousy, he learns to feel guilty.

If a child lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient.

If a child lives with encouragement, he learns to be confident.

If a child lives with praise, he learns to be appreciative.

If a child lives with acceptance, he learns to love.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with recognition, he learns it is good to have a goal.

If a child lives with honesty, he learns what truth is.

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice.

If a child lives with security, he learns to have faith in himself and those about him.

If a child lives with approval, he learns to like himself.

If a child lives with acceptance and friendship, he learns to find love in the world.

|| Dorothy Nolte