Someone asked me a question the other day that I have heard
many times before. She asked me if it was selfish to choose
joy and happiness for ourselves when there was so much misery
in this world. She felt guilty about her own happiness,
because she saw so many around her were suffering.
My answer to her and to all who feel bad or guilty about
being happy is don't. God loves us all and wants all of us
to be happy. It isn't selfish to be happy and full of joy.
In fact, it is the most unselfish thing we can do.
The only reason to have something is to share it, and you
can only share what you have. If you are choosing joy and
love in your life then that is what you will share with
others. If all you are feeling is guilt and misery then
that is all that you will be able to give away.
The truth is it is the selfish who are the most unhappy in
this life. Selfish people are always wanting more and more
things in their lives. They think that if they are rich
enough or own enough that it will finally fill the emptiness
that is in their hearts. They don't see that their own
selfishness blocks out the love and joy that could make
them whole.
John Greenleaf Whittier called selfishness, "The prison of
a soul", and that is truly what it is.
It is when you are full of love and joy, however, that this
prison opens. It is when you are full of love and joy that
your spirit soars free. It is when you are full of love and
joy that you are the most giving.
By filling your heart with love, your life with joy, and
your soul with God you give yourself the greatest gift
imaginable. And once you have this gift all you want to do
is share it with the world.
Don't be selfish then. Give love and joy to yourself and
to the world.
-- Joseph Mazzella
Love Made Visible
"Who is responsible for this?" the pastor asked. "I can't
believe that no one has taken care of it. I have been getting
phone calls for two days. I didn't know what to tell them."
For longer than anyone can remember the old Gospel Church atop
the hill in Reddington Valley served as a beacon for those who
were lost. Not just spiritually but even as a landmark for
giving directions.
"Turn down Main Street and head toward the brightest star in
the sky. You can't miss it," a traveller would hear.
You see, on top of the old church steeple was a big bright
star. It was all one piece and lighted by a huge light bulb.
They actually had placed it up there as part of a Christmas
display and never took it down.
But two days ago the bulb burned out.
The entire town was lost without it. It seemed that the
locals were all turned about at night. The confusion
started when someone passing through happened to stop
the mayor to ask for directions.
"I looked up and pointed to the star. It wasn't there.
Thinking I was facing the wrong way, I turned around looking
for it but couldn't find it," he said. "I think that guy
is still riding around town."
Soon the phone started ringing at the old Gospel Church.
People wanted to know what happened.
The problem was even the Pastor didn't know.
That star was just always there. He had no idea who kept
it lit or where the light bulbs were. That is, until the
phone rang late that afternoon.
"Pastor, I'm hoping you can help us," the man said. "This
is Police Chief Robertson. We just got back from the
Delaney house. We found old Jim Delaney dead. It seems
he's been dead about two days."
"I'm sorry. I must tell you that I'm not familiar with
the man," the Pastor said.
"No one seems to be," the Chief replied. "There are no
known relatives or friends available."
"Well, if it's a burial service you are looking for, I'd
be pleased to do it," said the Pastor.
"That would be great. But there is something else. I'd
like for you to come by in about an hour if you can. The
house is up the dirt road on Bishop's Hill across the
valley from your church."
"I'll be there," he replied.
The Pastor arrived just as Chief Robertson pulled in.
"What is it you wanted me to see, Chief?"
"Come inside. I think you'll need this stuff."
As they entered the home you could see stacks of unopened
mail along with various books scattered about.
"Over here, Pastor. I believe this is for you."
There on the mantle of the fireplace was a box with a
small white envelope attached. It said "From the star
keeper to The Gospel Church".
The note inside it read:
To whom it may concern:
Back in 1950 my beautiful wife Mildred became
ill. We could not afford to place her in a home so
for her remaining months on this earth, I took care
of her. Before her illness she attended your church
every Sunday. It was so very frustrating for her
not to be able to, once she got sick. But every
Sunday I would position her on the front porch so
that she could see the church across the valley.
It was that Christmas someone placed a star
on the steeple. Every night Mildred would say her
prayers while gazing out at that star. I had just
pushed her chair over to the window that night.
She was barely able to breathe. As I pulled the
shade up I heard her quietly say, "The star. The
star is gone." As I turned around she slumped
over with one last sigh. The star indeed was not
lit that night.
After her burial I approached the Pastor and
made a deal with him. I agreed to keep the star lit
for as long as I am alive as a memorial to my wife.
So many people had loved that image during the
holidays that he agreed to it.
I am near my journey's end. The church can
sell my property and all I own in exchange for a
favour. I have provided enough light bulbs in this
box to keep the star lit a few more years. The
key to the church door is inside this envelope.
Please find someone who can take on the task
of keeping the star lit after my death. I loved
my wife so very much. I want that star to serve
as an example of what love can be.
You can say you love someone, but it's not
until you show it, that love is made visible.
Jim Delaney
"When did you say he died, Chief?"
"Two days ago according to the coroner."
"That's when the star burned out, Chief."
The pastor looked down for a moment, then looked back up.
"Consider it done, Mr. Delaney," said the Pastor.
"Consider it done!"
-- Author Unknown
The majority of us lead quiet, unheralded lives as we pass
through this world. There will most likely be no ticker-tape
parades for us, no monuments created in our honor. But that
does not lessen our possible impact, for there are scores of
people waiting for someone just like us to come along; people
who will appreciate our compassion, our unique talents.
Someone who will live a happier life merely because we took
the time to share what we had to give. Too often we under-
estimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a
listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act
of caring, all of which have a potential to turn a life around
It's overwhelming to consider the continuous opportunities
there are to make our love felt.
-- Leo Buscaglia
9 Gifts That Do Not Cost A Cent
THE GIFT OF LISTENING......But you must REALLY listen. No
interrupting, no daydreaming, no planning your response. Just
listening.
THE GIFT OF AFFECTION......Be generous with appropriate hugs, kisses,
pats on the back and handholds. Let these small actions demonstrate
the love you have for family and friends.
THE GIFT OF LAUGHTER......Clip cartoons. Share articles and funny
stories. Your gift will say, "I love to laugh with you."
THE GIFT OF A WRITTEN NOTE......It can be a simple "Thanks for your
help" note or a full sonnet. A brief, handwritten note may be
remembered for a lifetime, and may even change a life.
THE GIFT OF A COMPLIMENT......A simple and sincere "You look great in
red," "You did a super job" or "That was a wonderful meal" can make
someone's day.
THE GIFT OF A FAVOR......Every day, go out of your way to do
something kind.
THE GIFT OF SOLITUDE......There are times when we want nothing better
than to be left alone. Be sensitive to those times and give the gift
of solitude to others.
THE GIFT OF A CHEERFUL DISPOSITION......The easiest way to feel good
is to extend a kind word to someone, really it's not that hard to
say, Hello or Thank You.
THE GIFT OF SALVATION......It doesn't cost a cent but it has been
paid for in full at the price of God's own Son, Jesus. "The gift of
God is eternal Life through Jesus Christ, our Lord." But, in order to
receive this most wonderful of all gifts, you have to accept it
through faith.
-- Author Unknown
Love: A Paraphrase of 1 Corinthians 13
If I talk a lot about God and the Bible and the Church,
but I fail to ask about your needs and then help you,
I'm simply making a lot of empty religious noise.
If I graduate from theological seminary and know
all the answers to questions you'll never even think of
asking, and if I have all the degrees to prove it and if
I say I believe in God with all my heart, and soul
and strength, and claim to have incredible answers
to my prayers to show it, but I fail to take the time to
find out where you're at and what makes you laugh
and why you cry, I'm nothing.
If I sell an extra car and some of my books
to raise money for some poor starving kids
somewhere, and if I give my life for God's service
and burn out after pouring everything I have into
the work, but do it all without ever once thinking
about the people, the real hurting people-the
moms and dads and sons and daughters and
orphans and widows and the lonely and
hurting-if I pour my life into the Kingdom but
forget to make it relevant to those here on
earth, my energy is wasted, and so is my life.
Here is what love is like--genuine love. God's
kind of love. It's patient. It can wait. It helps others,
even if they never find out who did it.
Love doesn't look for greener pastures or dream of
how things could be better if I just got rid of all my
current commitments.
Love doesn't boast. It doesn't try to build itself up
to be something it isn't.
Love doesn't act in a loose, immoral way. It doesn't
seek to take, but it willingly gives.
Love doesn't lose its cool. It doesn't turn on and off.
Love doesn't think about how bad the other person is,
and certainly doesn't think of how it could get back at someone.
Love is grieved deeply (as God is) over the evil in this world,
but it rejoices over truth.
Love comes and sits with you when you're feeling down
and finds out what is wrong. It empathizes with you
and believes in you.
Love knows you'll come through just as God planned,
and love sticks right beside you all the way.
Love doesn't give up, or quit, or diminish or go home.
Love keeps on keeping on, even when everything goes
wrong and the feelings leave and the other person
doesn't seem as special anymore.
Love succeeds 100 percent of the time.
That, my friend, is what real love is!
-- David Sanford (Copyright 2003)
Around the turn of the twentieth century, General William Booth, the
founder of the Salvation Army, wanted to send an economical New Year's
telegram to all the branches of the Army around the globe. He tried to
find a word, one word only, that would exhort his officers and soldiers,
and also symbolize their work as they went about gallantly winning souls
for the Lord and caring for the depressed and needy.
At last he found the word that he was looking for. It was short, a mere
six letters. And now, as I think about it many, many years later, it
seems to me that it should be a watchword for all of us in the days that
lie ahead of us in this century today--a powerful motto for anyone
carrying the banner of Jesus Christ.
What was the word that General Booth chose?
The word was simply
"OTHERS"
-- Norman Vincent Peale
