Life's lessons through a Pencil...

What I am about to share is something I read a very very long time ago. It took a while for me to recollect and put it in here. It is such a beautiful read. I am sure, every single one who stumble here and read it will love it and hopefully will be inspired.

A pencil maker told a newly made pencil, 5 important lessons, just before putting it in the box...

1. Everything you do will always leave a mark.
2.You can always correct the mistakes you make.
3.What is important is what is inside of you.
4. In life you will undergo painful sharpening, which will only make you better.
5. To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be held and guided by the hand that holds you.

Isn't our human life very similar! Whatever we do leaves a mark either in a small way or big: We can correct the mistakes we make; We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage us to know that we are all special , with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only we, can fulfill the purpose which we were born to accomplish.

Painful times are part and parcel of this journey of life. Therefore we should never allow our self to get discouraged and think that our life is insignificant and cannot be changed. Like the pencil, we need to always remember that the most important part of who we are, is what's inside of us and then just allow our self to be guided by the hand of God.

Are you rich?

What do we mean by being rich. In today's world, richness is defined by luxury, money and status.But in truth, it is the mind that makes one rich and poor. That is precisely why we see happy men among beggars and sorrowful ones among the rich and celebrated. Here is a story that not only give us the right ourlook to learn but also a  true meaning of 'being rich'. Enjoy!

One day, a rich dad took his son on a trip. He wanted to show him how poor someone can be. They spent time on the farm of a poor family. On the way home, the dad asked, "Did you see how poor they are? What did you learn?". Son said, "We have one dog, they have four, we have a pool, they have rivers, we have lanterns at night, they have stars, we buy foods, they grow theirs, we have walls to protect us, they have friends, we have encyclopedias, they have Bible." Then as they headed home, the boy turned to his dad and said, "Thanks dad for showing me how poor we are."

Most times in this world it is not money or such things that make one rich... rather it is the simplicity, love, happiness and faith one holds that makes one's life rich and worh living.

Prayer

Prayer has had a great part in all our life. But how we pray and what we pray for is most often never a factor. We take it for granted. In most cases we pray just for us, our family and our welfare. Here is a wonderful story I recently read., one I will always cherish and hope those who read it too.

A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.

The first thing they prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land and he was able to eat it's fruit. The other man's parcel of land remained barren! After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, there was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, again there was nothing! Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing! 

Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that he and his wife could  leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God's blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered. As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from heaven booming, "Why are you leaving your companion on the island?". The first man answered , "My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them. His prayers were all unanswered and so he does not deserve anything." The next instant, "You are mistaken!" the voice rebuked him. "He had only one prayer,  which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.". Confused, the first man asked the voice "Tell me, O God, What did he pray for that I should owe him anything?" And God said, "He prayed that all your prayers be answered."

For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone,  but those of another praying for us.
So, we need to remember to pray for others and when we do have our prayers answered, lets thank those unknown souls  who might also have played a part.