There once was a little boy who 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 started his journey.When  he  had  gone  about  three  blocks,  he met  an  old  woman.  She  was  sitting  in  the park just staring  at some pigeons. The boy sat   down   next   to   her   and   opened   his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his  root  beer  when  he noticed  that  the  old lady  looked  hungry,  so  he  offered  her  a Twinkie.She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him.

Once when I was a teenager, my father and I were standing in line to buy tickets for the circus.  Finally,  there  was  only  one  family between us and the ticket counter.This  family  made  a  big  impression  on  me. There  were   eight  children,  all  probably under  the  age  of  12.  You  could  tell  they didn't  have  a  lot  of  money.  Their  clothes were not expensive, but they were clean.The children were well-behaved, all of them standing  in  line,  two-by-two  behind  their parents, holding hands.

Whenever I'm disappointed with my spot in life, I stop and think about little Jamie Scott. Jamie was trying out for a part in a school play.His mother told me that he'd set his heart on being in it,though she feared he would not be chosen.On the day the parts were awarded,  I went with  her  to  collect  him  after  school.  Jamie rushed  up  to  her,  eyes  shining  with  pride and  excitement.  "Guess  what,  Mum,"  he shouted,  and  then  said  those  words  that remain a lesson to me: "I've been chosen to clap and cheer."

Don't  force  a  fit.  If  something  is  meant  to be,  it will  come  together  naturally.  When things  aren't  going  so  well,  take  a  break. Everything  will  look  different  when  you return.  Be  sure  to  look  at  the  big  picture. Getting  hung  up  on  the  little  pieces  only leads  to  frustration.  Perseverance  pays  off. Every important puzzle went together bit by bit,  piece  by  piece.  When  one  spot  stops working,  move  to  another.  But  be  sure  to come  back  later.  Establish  the  border  first.

A  story  is  told  about  a soldier  who  was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam.  He  called  his  parents  from  San Francisco."Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me." "Sure,"  they  replied,  "we'd  love  to  meet him.""There's  something  you  should  know  the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a landmine and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us.""I'm sorry to hear that, son.

In  1889,  Rudyard  Kipling -an  author  won the Literature Nobel Prize in 1907 received the  following  rejection  letter  from  the  San Francisco    Examiner.    "I'm    sorry,    Mr. Kipling, but you just don't know how to use the English language."Winston Churchill failed sixth grade. He did not become Prime Minister of England until he was 62, and then only after a lifetime of defeats and setbacks.

The  Brooklyn  Bridge  that  spans  the  river between Manhattan and Brooklyn is simply an engineering miracle. In 1883, a creative engineer, John Roebling, was inspired by an idea for this spectacular bridge project.However,  bridge-building  experts  told  him to   forget   it,   it   just   was   not   possible. Roebling  convinced  his  son,  Washington, an up-and-coming engineer, that the bridge could be built.

They  huddled  inside  the  storm  door -two children in ragged outgrow coats."Any old papers, lady?"I  was  busy.  I  wanted  to  say  no -until  I looked   down   at   their   feet.   Thin   little sandals, sopped with sleet. "Come in and I'll make you a cup of hot cocoa." There was no conversation.   Their   soggy   sandals   left marks upon the hearthstone.Cocoa and toast with jam to fortify against the chill outside.

I  was  scared  as  I  sat  in  the  coffee  shop. Tomorrow I would have spinal surgery.

One  day  a  young  man  was  standing  in  the middle of the town proclaiming that he had the most beautiful heart in the whole valley. A large crowd gathered and they all admired his heart for it was perfect. There was not a mark or a flaw in it. Yes, they all agreed it truly was the most beautiful heart they had ever seen.The young man was very proud and boasted more loudly about his beautiful heart.Suddenly, an old man appeared at the front of the crowd and said "Why your heart is not nearly as beautiful as mine."The crowd and the young man looked at the old man's heart.