Something to think about
A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood 
street going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids
darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw
something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed  into
the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and spun the Jag back to the
spot where the brick had been thrown. He jumped out of the car, grabbed some
kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting "What was that all
about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing?" Building up a head of
steam he went on. "That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost
a lot of money. Why did you do it!?"

"Please mister, please. I'm sorry, I didn't know what else to do,
pleaded the youngster. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop..."
Tears were dripping down the boy's chin as he pointed around the parked car.
"It's my brother," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair
and I can't lift him up." Sobbing the boy asked the executive, "Would
you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too
heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in
his throat. He lifted the young man back into the wheelchair and took
out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that
everything was going to be okay. "Thank you and May God bless you" the
grateful child said to him. The man watched the little boy to remind him not to go
through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get
your attention. God whispers in your soul and speaks to your heart.
Sometimes when you don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at you. It
is your choice: Listen to the whisper-----or wait for the brick.
-emailed from Lou

The Tale of Three Trees

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing
their hopes and dreams.
The first tree said, "Someday I wish to be made into a treasure chest. I
could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated
with intricate carvings and everyone would see the beauty."
The second tree said, "Someday I wish to be made into a mighty ship. I will
take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the
world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I wish to grow to be the tallest and
straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and
look up through my branches and think of the heavens and of God and how
close I am reaching toward them. I wish to be the greatest tree of all time
so that people will always remember me."

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of
woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This
looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a
carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he
knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest. At the second
tree a woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to
sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was
on his way to becoming a mighty ship. When the woodsmen came upon the third
tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his
dreams would not come true. One of the woodsman said, "I don't need anything
special from my tree so I'll take this one," and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box
for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not
at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of
being a mighty ship and carrying kings had ended.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a
man and women came to the barn. She gave birth and they wrapped the newborn
baby and placed Him in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first
tree.
The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger
would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew
that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second
tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the
water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to
keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said
"Peace," and the storm stopped. At that time, the tree knew that it carried
the King of kings.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the
streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to
a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the
top of a hill.
When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to
stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because
Jesus Christ had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way,
always know that God has a plan for your life. If you place your trust in
Him, He will give you great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had ever
imagined.
-emailed from Tee

The Fork

There was a woman who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as she was getting her things "in order," she contacted her pastor and had him come to her house to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes.   She told him which songs she wanted sung at the service, what scriptures she would like read, and what outfit she wanted to be buried in. The woman also requested to be buried with her favorite Bible. Everything was in order and the pastor was preparing to leave when the woman suddenly remembered something very important to her. "There's one more thing," she said excitedly.  "What's that?" came the pastor's reply.  "This is very important," the woman continued. "I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand."  The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say.

"That surprises you, doesn't it?" the woman asked.

"Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the request," said the pastor.

The woman explained. "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably lean over and say, "Keep your fork". It was my favorite part because

I knew that something better was coming...like velvety chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie. Something wonderful, and with substance! So, I just want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and I want them to wonder  "What's with the fork?". Then I want you to tell them: "Keep your fork....the best is yet to come."

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."