Hickory's Inspirational Archive

"Candy, peanuts, popcorn, coke!"
The man He yells to all the folk.

"Let's have fun! Get some yum!"

They're waiting outside to get in.
"Don't be late! I can't wait!"

I see the elephants. I hear them rumble.
Clowns so silly, fall and stumble.
Flying high, walking tall.
Bears, "Oh my!" Lions they call.

The trapeze artist, they try hardest
not to fall. Just have a ball!
But just in case, for the sake of haste,
the net will catch, and break the fall.

The circus was fun, but now is done.
We shall return! "Durn, don't be late.
Cuz I can't wait"!

I hope for you..."

Comfort on difficult days,
Smiles when sadness intrudes,
Rainbows to follow the clouds,
Laughter to kiss your lips,
Sunsets to warm your heart,
Gentle hugs when spirits sag,
Friendships to brighten your being,
Beauty for your eyes to see,
Confidence for when you doubt,
Faith so that you can believe,
Courage to know yourself,
Patience to accept the truth,

Have a blessed day.

THE WAY IT SHOULD BE

And they call some of these people "retarded?"...
A few years ago, at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all
physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the
100-yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash,
but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win.

All, that is, except one little boy who stumbled on the asphalt, tumbled
over a couple of times, and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy
cry. They slowed down and looked back. Then they all turned around and
went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's Syndrome bent down
and kissed him and said: "This will make it better." Then all nine
linked arms and walked together to the finish line. Everyone in the
stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who
were there are still telling the story. Why? Because deep down we know
this one thing: What matters in, this life is more than winning for ourselves.

What matters in this life is helping others win, even if it means slowing down
and changing our course. Pass it on...we need to change our hearts.

What You Are Is As Important As What You Do

It was a sunny Saturday afternoon in Oklahoma City. My friend and proud father Bobby Lewis was taking his two little boys to play miniature golf. He walked up to the fellow at the ticket counter and said, "How much is it to get in?".

The young man replied, "$3.00 for you and $3.00 for any kid who is older than six. We let them in free if they are six or younger. How old are they?"

Bobby replied, "The lawyer's three and the doctor is seven, so I guess I owe you $6.00."

The man at the ticket counter said, "Hey, Mister, did you just win the lottery or something? You could have saved yourself three bucks. You could have told me that the older one was six; I wouldn't have known the difference."

Bobby replied, "Yes, that may be true, but the kids would have known the difference."

As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Who you are speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying." In challenging times when ethics are more important than ever before, make sure you set a good example for everyone you work and live with.

By Yaa-Yaa
You may e-mail Yaa-Yaa at KECHEW@aol.com
or visit her on the WWW at http://www.members.aol.com/kechew/

The Cookie Thief

A woman was waiting at an airport one night,
With several long hours before her flight.
She hunted for a book in the airport shop,
Bought a bag of cookies and found a place to drop.

She was engrossed in her book, but happened to see,
That the man beside her, as bold as could be,
Grabbed a cookie or two from the bag between,
Which she tried to ignore, to avoid a scene.

She read, munched cookies, and watched the clock,
As the gutsy "cookie thief" diminished her stock.
She was getting more irritated as the minutes ticked by,
Thinking, "If I wasn't so nice, I'd blacken his eye!"

With each cookie she took, he took one too.
When only one was left, she wondered what he'd do.
With a smile on his face and a nervous laugh,
He took the last cookie and broke it in half.

He offered her half, as he ate the other.
She snatched it from him and thought, "Oh brother,
This guy has some nerve, and he's also rude,
Why, he didn't even show any gratitude!"

She had never known when she has been so galled,
And sighed with relief when her flight was called.
She gathered her belongings and headed for the gate,
Refusing to look back at the "thieving ingrate."

She boarded the plane and sank in her seat,
Then sought her book, which was almost complete.
As she reached in her baggage, she gasped with surprise:
There was her bag of cookies in front of her eyes!

"If mine are here," she moaned with despair,
"Then the others were his and he tried to share!"
Too late to apologize, she realized with grief,
That she was the rude one, the ingrate, the thief!

By Valerie Cox
from A 3rd Serving of Chicken Soup for the Soul
Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen

submitted by Flutter-Bee

FRIENDS WITHOUT FACES
(and some that do)

We sit and we type, and we stare at our screens.
We all have to wonder, what this possibly means.

With our mouse we roam, through the rooms in a maze.
Looking for something or someone, as we sit in a daze.

We chat with each other, we type all our woes.
Small groups we do form, and gang up on our foes.

We wait for somebody, to type out our name.
We want recognition, but it is always the same.

We give kisses and hugs, and sometimes flirt.
In IMs we chat deeply, and reveal why we hurt.

We do form friendships - but - why we don't know.
But some of these friendships, will flourish and grow.

Why is it on screen, we can be so bold?
Telling our secrets, that have never been told.

Why is it we share, the thoughts in our mind?
With those we can't see, as though we were blind.

The answer is simple, it is as clear as a bell.
We all have our problems, and need someone to tell.

We can't tell real people, but tell someone we must.
So we turn to the 'puter, and to those we can trust.

Even though it is crazy, the truth still remains.
They are Friends Without Faces, and odd little names.

See comes on a whisper
then passes on by
and you feel as you listen
the kiss of her sigh

Fold two hands together
And express a dash of sorrow
Marinate it overnight
And work on it tomorrow

Chop one grudge in tiny pieces
Add several cups of love
Dredge with a large sized smile
Mix with the ingredients above

Dissolve the hate within you
By doing a good deed
Cut in and help your friend
If he should be in need

Stir in laughter, love, and kindness
>From the heart it has to come
Toss with genuine forgiveness
And give your neighbor some

The amount of people served
Will depend on you
It can serve the whole wide world
If you really want it to

WHAT I DIDN'T KNOW UNTIL I HAD KIDS

How many seconds it takes to microwave four fish sticks perfectly.
Who John Jacob Jingleheimershmitt is.
How to change a diaper in the dark... in a parked car... on a standing child.
Which lines of "The Cat in the Hat" can be skipped over without a child noticing.
Locations of public restrooms all across town.
Why anyone would retrace their steps for miles just to retrieve a lost blankie.
That tigers live in the trees in our backyard.
How to open a van door while juggling two lunch boxes, two extra bats, a purse, a diaper bag and a baby.
How little sleep a human body truly needs to function.
Almost every Disney lyric ever penned.
That one can never own too many sippy cup lids or refrigerator magnets.
That reverse psychology really works.
The distinctive sounds of Cheerios crunching underfoot.
Why they call them Happy Meals.
How far you can dilute juice and still retain its taste.
That the more my kids learn, the less I seem to know.
And most of all: How much you could love one human being!

By Example

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian recently while attending college.

Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and, when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.

Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before! By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, an Elder is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the Elder is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and, as he starts walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves that you can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his background to understand some college kid on the floor?

It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane.

All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing. The minister can't even preach the sermon until the Elder does what he has to do. And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.

Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control, he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you will never forget. Be careful how you live. You may be the only
Bible some people will ever read."

If I Knew
If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you fall asleep,
I would tuck you in more tightly and pray the Lord your soul to keep.
If I knew it would be the last time that I'd see you walk out of the door,
I would hug you and kiss you and call you back for one more.
If I knew it would be the last time I heard your name lifted up in praise,
I would video tape each action and word, so I could play it back for days.
If I knew it would be the last time to spare an extra minute or two,
I'd stop and say "I love you," Instead of assuming that you know I do.
If I knew it would be the last time I would be there to share your day,
Well, I'm sure you'll have many more, So, I'll let this one slip away.
For surely there is tomorrow to make up for an oversight,
And we'll always get a second chance to make everything all right.
There will be another chance to say our "I love you's,"
And certainly there's another chance to say our "Anything I can do's ".

But just in case I might be wrong, and today is all I get,
I'd like to say how much I love you and hope we never forget.
Tomorrow is not promised to anyone, young or old alike,
and today might be your last chance to hold your loved one tight.
So if your waiting for tomorrow, why not do it all today?
For if tomorrow never comes,
You will surely regret the day,
That you didn't take the extra time for a smile or hug or kiss.
And your surely too busy to grant someone, what turned out to be their last wish.
So hold your loved ones close today and whisper in their ear.
Tell them how much you love them and that you'll always hold them dear.
Take the time to say "I'm sorry, please forgive me, Thank you or It's OK",
And if tomorrow never comes, You'll have no regrets about today.
Apologize and start anew
And tell the one who loves you, that you love them too!

Follow Your Dreams
your life holds
unlimited potential
and wonderful dreams
you have the ability
to attain whatever you seek
within you is every potential
you can imagine.
aways aim higher than
you believe you can reach.
so often, you'll discover
that when you talentsare set free
by your imagination,
you can achieve any goal.
if people offer their
help and wisdom
as you go through life,
accept is gratefully.
you can learn much from those
who have gone before you.
but never be afraid or hesitant
to step off the acceped path
and head off in your own direction
if your heart tells you
that it's the right way for you.
always believe that you will
ultimately succeed
at whatever you do,
and never forget the value
of persistence, discipline
and determination.
you are meant to be
whatever you dream
of becoming.

Contributed by Yaa Yaa
You can email Yaa-Yaa at kechew@aol.com
or visit her on the www at http://members.aol.com/kechew/

Hold On Tightly

Hold On tightly to what is truly important in life.

Hold on to faith;
it is the source of believing that all things are possible. It is fiber and strength of a confident soul.

Hold on to hope;
it banishes doubt and enables attitudes to be positive and cheerful.

Hold on to trust;
it is at the core of fruitful relationships that are secure and content.

Hold on to love;
it is life's greatest gift of all,for it shares, cares, and gives meaning to life.

Hold on to family and friends;
they are the most important people in your life, and they make the world a better place.
They are your roots and the beginnings that you grew from; they are the vine that has grown through time
to nourish you, help you on your way, and always remain close by.

Hold on to all that you are
and all that you have learned, for these things are what make you unique.
Don't ignore what you feel and what you believe is right and important; your heart has a way of speaking
louder than your mind.

Hold on to your dreams;
achieve them diligently and honestly. Never take the easy way or surrender to deceit. Remember others on your way and take time to care for their needs.

Enjoy the beauty around you.
Have the courage to see things differently and clearly. Make the world a better place one day at a time,
and don't let go of the important things that give meaning to your life.

Slow Dance

Have you ever watched kids on a merry-go-round? Or listened to the rain slapping on the ground? Ever
followed a butterfly's erratic flight? Or gazed at the sun into the fading night? You better slow down. Don't
dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.

Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply? When the day
is done ,do you lie in your bed With the next hundred chores running through your head? You'd better slow
down. Don't dance so fast. Time is short. The music won't last.

Ever told your child, we'll do it tomorrow? And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch, let a good
friendship die Cause you never had time to call and say "Hi"? You'd better slow down. Don't dance so fast.
Time is short. The music won't last.

When you run so fast to get somewhere You miss half the fun of getting there. When you worry and hurry
through your day, It is like an unopened gift thrown away. Life is not a race. Do take it slower Hear
the music Before the song is over.

(author unknown)

Contributed by Shawn Turner

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