Nature's Ordeal Crippled by Kindness...

     A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. After a few days a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had got as far as it could, and it could go no further.

     So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings. The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.

     Neither happened ! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly. What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

     Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If we went through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we have been. We would never fly ! Life becomes wonderful and more fruitful when it is full of difficulties.

Going With The Flow...

     An old man accidentally fell into a swirling river leading to a high and dangerous waterfall. Onlookers feared for his life. Miraculously, he came out alive and unharmed downstream at the bottom of the falls. People asked him how he managed to survive. " I accomodated myself to the water, not the water to me. Without thinking I allowed myself to be shaped by it. Plunging into the swirl, I came out with the swirl. This is how I survived." This story also reminds us of the water sport their force. The faster and fiercer they are, the higher the thrill the surfer gets. He lets go off all control and fear and moves with the nature's flow.

     When we let go of our petty egos, limited controls and our narrow-minded vision, we are able to perceive and move with the higher forces that guide our destiny towards a better purpose.

Pan Cakes...

     Six years old Brandon decided one saturday morning to fix his parents pancakes. He found a big bowl and spoon, pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor. He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving alfoury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. Brandon was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for Mom and Dad, but it was getting very bad. He did't know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, (and he didn't know how the stove worked ! ) . Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up this monumental mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.


     And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big crocodile tears welled up in Brandon's eyes. All he'd wanted to do was something good, but he'd made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him, getting his own pajamas white and sticky in the process.


     That's how God deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend or we can't stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can't think of anything else to do. That's when God picks us up and loves us and forgives us, even though some of our mess gets all over Him. But just because we might mess up, we can't stop trying like Brandon to 'make pancakes,' for God or for others. Sooner or later we'll get it right, and then they'll be glad we tried.

Echo Of Life...

   A man and his son were walking in the forest. Suddenly the boy trips and feeling a sharp pain and he screams, " Ahhhh !"
     Surprised, he hears a voice coming from the mountain, " Ahhhh !"
     Filled with curiosity, he screams, " Who are you? "
     But the only answer he receives is : " Who are you? "
     This makes him angry so he screams, " You are a coward !"
     and the voice answers : " You are a coward ! "
     He looks at his father, asking, " Dad, what is going on? "
     "Son," the man replies, " pay attention ! "
     Then he screams : " I admire you ! "
     The voice answers : " I admire you ! "
     The father shouts : " You are wonderful ! "
     The voice answers : " You are wonderful ! "
    
     The father explains, " People call the 'ECHO' but truly it is 'LIFE'. Life always gives you back what you give out. Life is a mirror of our actions. "

Take One Step at a Time...

     A farmer's donkey fell into a well and the poor animal brayed piteously for hours, as the farmer did not know what to do. Since the animal was old, the farmer decided that it just wasn't worth retrieving the donkey and decided to cover up the well as well. So he called all his neighbours to help him shovel mud into the well to cover it up. At first the donkey realised what was happening and brayed horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quietened down.

     A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well and was astonished at what he saw. With every shovel of mud that hit the donkey's back, he was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. Pretty soon, everyone was amazed to see the donkey stepping up over the edge of the well and trotting off.

     Life is so much like this,  all kinds of dirt is shovelled on our lives. Like the donkey, we too can shake it off and take a step up.  Life isn't easy... that's just the way it is.