ACTUALLY WE KNOW VERY LITTLE

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Browsing through an old book found in one of the file boxes under my bed,  allow me this tiny bit of wisdom which grabbed my attention on this fine although still hot morning..... to quote
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"Que Sais-je?"  ("What do I know?")  was the motto of Michel de Montaigne, the sixteenth-century French essayist whose amiable good sense still endears him to many readers today.   His question was intended to remind him that knowledge was there to be tested and tried.  But it was also a reminder that he, an educated and quite wealthy man, well-read and with his own library of books,  actually knew very little.  ----- Lifted from the book Pearls Of Wisdom by David Ross
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Unquote.
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This made me think............
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'Actually knew very little.' -- No matter the great knowledge or wisdom each of us may have gathered for himself through the years, the truth is there is still little we know.  No man can hold all the information or knowledge or wisdom in and of the world all by his lonesome self.  It would take a person a million lifetimes to acquire every information about life, people, the world, mother nature, the animal kingdom, inventions and technologies, the universe, and etc.  But we all do have our individual store of those although minute in measure and size.  Furthermore, easily observed is that one person may know something the other does not, and in turn this other person knows something nobody else does.  No one person's monopoly of knowledge there as you may have noticed.
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So a little bit of knowledge can be ineffective... dangerous... superficial... and cannot or shouldn't be passed around as sufficient.  As such it will be a terribly  lame excuse for engaging in a blown-up ego or pride which would mean nothing to those who know.  Yet sometimes we see many or few strutting around the universe with their heads bobbing as big as their mouths....  they who my mother would call  'Mr/Ms Know-It-All'  with much amusement.  And yet they need to be understood just the same.
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A dear friend has this special way of dealing with that with one question:  "Really!? Tell me more......"  without batting an eyelash.  Almost always this makes that person stop dead in his or her tracks because he or she cannot tell  'more'.  Like a bank ATM messaging you with  'Insufficient funds'....  this one fails with  'Insufficient knowledge'.
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We are here to learn.  But when at some point you would think to stop awhile to evaluate your progress,   you will see how very little you have in your store and how so much more there is yet to gather, gain, and learn.  On the other hand when you have so much in your store,  keep your feet solidly anchored on the ground.  True humility gives you more mileage in wisdom and admiration  from all points of view ...without the floss and frills which come with pretense.
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The whole point of the story is DON'T STOP LEARNING. Just learn all that you can with who you are and with your God-given talents. With what wisdom you may have gained through it all, consider it your treasure but... not solely for keeping. It should be used as tools to grow yourself with and too to help others grow in their own journey.  Better yet use it to better our world......  or if this is too big for our small resources,  aim to help improve at least one life.  Let it be said that one life was made better by having met you.  Let's try to be what this beautiful quote says about ....   being the 'rainbow in somebody's cloud'.
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Blessings, everyone! God bless you.

A COMFORT ZONE IS A BEAUTIFUL PLACE BUT NOTHING EVER GROWS THERE

 

 

 

 

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Most of us don't really warm up to any kind of change.. even if it were for our better good. We much prefer to stay where we are most comfortable and familiar. Our comfort zones. We tend to shy away from the unknown, from perceived danger, from taking risks, from failing, from being hurt, from strange new faces, places, and experiences, from anything which would make us leave the safety and comfort of our box. That's right we have placed ourselves inside a box, huge or tiny, where we live.. love.. work.. play.. and die. We tell ourselves that we are happy in it but down there in our hearts we know that we're missing something. Admit it.. we long for something still.
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This void lingers persists but which sadly we seem to be ignoring.
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Then a friend comes along and tells us wonderful stories of how beautiful the world is out there... about the awesome adventures he had... the interesting people he met... the amazing opportunities which led him to better his life... the many battles he fought and yet won with strength he thought wasn't there... and finally admitting that he didn't know that he was missing so much until he took that first brave step and stepped out the door of his comfort zone... at last setting himself free! Free to be the person he longed to be and was meant to be.
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Yet we tell ourselves that it's something which happens only to special people. People who are brighter.. braver.. smarter.. talented.. and made out for success. But wait! Are we not special people, too? We each have our talents and abilities, the same things which enabled us to do what we do inside our comfort zones.
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Perhaps... maybe... all that is needed is for us to expand or stretch our horizons far beyond the four walls of our familiar lives. To nudge ourselves to become better than the persons we were yesterday. We can do that-it's possible; others have done it before us.
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But that can only come when we agree to change...  from small to bigger -- from ordinary to extraordinary -- from average to exceptional -- from blah-blah to exciting -- from fearful to freehearted. And finally one day when we have learned to use our God-given talents wisely we become the persons He designed or meant us to be. 
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Nope, this isn't empty talk. This is what we were designed to be, truly ... People of joy, heart, courage, strength, hope, success, and faith. The potential is already there. Just step up and out. Claim what belongs to you.
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Blessings, everyone! Make life matter and moments count.

YOU KNOW WHERE THE DOOR IS

 

 

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Life seems to be throwing me lemons these past few days.. weeks... months... (?) The thing is I am a big fan of lemons.... so too its cousin calamansi. With the fruit.....    I make myself a tall glass of ice cold lemonade! Add a bit of honey... and at other times dip in a sachet of chamomile tea.... grab a good book.... find a nice comfy spot on the couch... aaaahhh makes my day!!
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Now with life's lemons...  I would throw a bucket of vile emotions at it. That bucket would be drained empty and dry as all of its contents would be nastily poured out on the object of my fury. Pipigain ko pa kung pwede pa nga eh. Big frustrations, disappointments, letdowns ------- eat me up to the core big time. A certified fiery temper which got me into arguments with kid brother often in our home. But Mom would simply shake her head and say ... 'That, too, will pass.'
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BUT... that was long ... long ago. Oh yes! She was right. Mothers know best.
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This time, I would simply look it straight in the eye and say ----  "You know what, Mr. Life's Lemons.... you know where the door is!".
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Because I have plenty more of sunshine stored away you just can't reach. And a dozen more or so of rainbows squeezed in there somewhere.
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I have learned nothing in life is permanent .. or forever. (Thanks to Mom)  Everything has its own shelf-life.  But that I can always build new dreams, new goals, create new adventures - destinations - journeys, and catch more rainbows to add to my treasure. These things never run out;  you can do it again and again. No shelf-life on this one.
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Here's a little poem Mr. Quote Man sent me today. The message in it is beautifully clear in helping us understand all about life. and its lemons.  To quote.....
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Rainbows would never be rainbows
If sunshine had never met rain
No one would ever need comfort
If there was no sadness and pain
But life holds both sunshine and showers
The days aren't all bright and fair
So look through the showers for the rainbows
You'll always find hope shining there..
-------Unknown
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God bless you!

BEST FIND OUT WHAT HE OR SHE IS LOOKING AT

 

 

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I'm sharing with you one of my most treasured quotes.  It's from a book by Hugh Prather....... 'NOTES TO MYSELF'.  It says.....
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"No one is wrong.  At most someone is uninformed.  If I think an individual is wrong, either I am unaware of something,  or the person is.  Unless I want to play a superiority game I had best find out what he or she is looking at."
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Unquote.
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Allow me some thoughts.......
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Long ago in my blossoming self-righteous youth I would brush this aside as silly because I had this thought in my young silly head that people can be wrong and there can be no explanation to that except that... they are wrong.  But when I was wrong I always pointed to my youth as a ready excuse. Foolish, of course. Ah but the shortsighted folly of youth!
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As we grow older life proves us wrong on many things we thought we already knew. One lesson drilled into my mind by mother was this.....  'Always get to the story. Behind every individual is a story... his story.'  So whenever I hear someone say something, right or wrong, I would imagine mother shaking her finger at me.... 'Wait for the story.' 
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Yes, she was right ....because life did show me that there is always a story behind every right and every wrong. Opinions, insights, decisions, perceptions and the like are all shaped by experiences contained in a person's personal history.  So when a person presents an opinion but which you think is wrong,  hold judgement.  Find out why or how. That person's history influences his or her thoughts, words, and deeds.... the same way it does yours.  It's possible, too, maybe that person knows something you don't know... or maybe he knows nothing of what you already know.  But definitely he is speaking right off his own life journey and experiences.  You would, too, in your own.
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Besides nobody has the monopoly of knowledge or wisdom or information. Further we both may not be seeing the same thing in the same way........... you may be seeing trees but I am looking at its fruits. Like a friend had this crush on a good-looking fella, but I found his manner quite abrasive. But when later I found out why, then I finally understood.
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Seek to be informed. Wait to be informed. With information comes better understanding, compassion, empathy, wisdom.
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As Prather said.....  '..best find out what he or she is looking at.'

TOUCHING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE AROUND US

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Mr. Quote Man sent me this today..... to quote
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"Teach me to feel another's woe, to hide the fault I see,
that mercy I to others show, that mercy show to me."
----- Alexander Pope
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Unquote
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That's a beautiful poem, isn't it? It covers about most everything a human being would think... feel.... or do with life and people. I have to admit it that sometimes people can be quite irritating with their flaws and imperfections. Like I have good neighbors and bad neighbors. The good add to my joy and the bad just makes me pull at my hair in utter exasperation. But then again, maybe they also must be exasperated with some of my bad which I may not be aware of. That's how we are.... we think we're doing fine but if you stop and be still for a bit for some quiet retrospection, you might get to see that somebody is quite uncomfortable by what you did. But that's just it........ I have to remind myself often that people are imperfect and so am I. We're all the same in our greatness and our stupidity.
 
.And so it would take some good conscious learning to try to understand that on the broad spectrum of humanity, both good and bad walk side by side. That works true in every person anywhere you find yourself with on this planet. There's no perfection...... yet. What we may perceive as perfect isn't so. With the many layers enveloping an object, thing, or individual.... we only get to see a portion or one side... or several portions or sides.. but not really its entirety. The peeling off of layers is a continuing process orchestrated by Someone up there. Everything or everyone, I believe, is still work in progress... particularly human beings. 
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So I guess what the poem is telling us is to be magnanimous in our dealings with people, in our own inner circle of family and friends .. and outside of it with strangers near and far. Be kind..... kinder..... because somebody is going through a painful peeling off of layers. It's the same road we all are made to take towards perfection. Yes... by God's design. 
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Well, it's a lesson we each have to learn day after day. While there are people around us, there will always be lessons to be learned. Let's be kind to one another. It makes our journey easier.
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Blessings to you and your dear ones, my good friends. Blessings!

YOU'LL NEVER KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN DO UNTIL YOU STAND UP AND TRY

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Was changing channels with no idea what I wanted to watch when I stumbled on "Dave". It was running half through the movie at that point. I know because I have seen it for the ___th time having a CD on file somewhere. It was at this scene when President Dave spoke the lines......
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"You'll never know how much you can do until you stand up and try."
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I like that. It should be our battle cry in life.
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We're not junk. God does not make junk. Everything that we need is given us in terms of talent... opportunities... our free will... and life. We're programmed for success. Believe it or not... we are!
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The thing is ....our perceptions of self-worth are so screwed up. Just when did being beautiful, thin-tall-white skinned, being well-connected, having more money, having an expensive car, living in a luxurious mansion, being in a circle of wealthy friends, knowing somebody powerful in high government be the benchmark of success?
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Well, those things have their uses, too, but they don't guarantee success and happiness where it matters most. It matters most when you can look everybody in the eye and say..... this is ME .... imperfect but definitely unique and one of a kind.
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Being me means that you can be anything you want to be and do anything you want to do with who you are and what you have to help better you, your tiny part of the world, or of the bigger world outside. You may not achieve the big successes by the world's standard in your life time but .....you can be the success that which you are to yourself since day one of creation.
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It is what you think of yourself.... or what you actually do.... which truly defines your life on earth. And there is no benchmark to work with. You are your own benchmark. You compete with yourself. You travel at your own pace... at your own time... with your own set of talent.
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And God who sees everything makes sure that you get the corresponding complement of tools that you may be needing to help you along. But you have also to remember to ask Him for those or if you feel that you need more help. Do what you have to do while putting your faith and hope on a God who truly wants you to be happy and successful.
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Further, you can't achieve anything just sitting there on the fence trying to figure out how the universe operates. That's not the way it goes.
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Understanding that, you then can move along confidently to being the big success you were truly meant to be. You will 'soar like wings on eagles' and 'not grow weary or be faint'. By God's design.
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Don't settle for less. There's so much you can do.
Blessings, everyone.

 

 

 

YOUR EMPTINESS CAN BE YOUR GREATEST BLESSING

Mr. Quote Man sent me this quote today;  it's by Eric Hoffer
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Our greatest pretenses are built up not to hide
the evil and the ugly in us, but our emptiness.
The hardest thing to hide is something that is not there.
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Unquote
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People wear masks. Pretenses are masks. That's really unnecessary because masks no matter how elaborate or ingenious it all may be are quite flimsy and superficial. Easily anyone with a keen sense of observation can pierce through that mask and see the person for what he truly is. Further, uncannily the person wearing a mask will himself create unintended slip-ups which in effect peel off the layers of pretense bit by bit thereby revealing that which he so wishes to hide from the public eye.
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But emptiness.... what can I say?!
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Isn't it that we all contain a void, a space, or an empty place within ourselves which is in truth attached to our dreams? Until that dream, be it a person or a thing, is achieved........ that void or emptiness will remain empty.
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The longing, the pining away, the deep yearning, the painful searching, the fierce hopes cannot be denied. It will show. Always. It shows in that special look in your eyes, in the beating of your heart, in the words that spill out of your mouth. It reveals this emptiness wanting so much to be filled. This is you!
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No mask can hide it. It cannot stand against the pulsating energy, vibrant truth and fierce honesty of being humanly you.
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Don't hide away your emptiness; it's not a bad thing. It's simply a beautiful vessel waiting to be filled up. One day you will do just that!! Besides the Universe loves filling up empty vessels. Expect your blessings. Help it along by working with your God-sent gifts -- your abilities and talents. Your emptiness can be your greatest blessing.
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May our good Lord fill your life with blessings plentiful. In Christ.

LEARNING IS BOTH GIVING AND TAKING

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Was in a chat with an old friend of many years. We talked about the old days, some good - some bad, and how time got us through the best and the worst of times. She loved people, a people kind of person so to speak. But I won't forget what she once said.......
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"You live with people who don't do something. Then you start thinking you can't do anything."
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Those lines seemed familiar to me from something I have read long ago. I was both amused and delighted though that she was able to get hold of it too and made it her own. That is what learning is all about. One day you come across a piece of wisdom or some enlightenment or some life changing experience which in such a big way impacts your life .... it's a learning moment. This now becomes yours. And when you quote it or mention it to somebody else you then set it free to move on to another student or learner that his or her life be enriched too as it did yours. And it also becomes his or hers until it is time to pass it on to someone else. It's nobody's monopoly; knowledge and wisdom must travel if the world is to become a better place and for its people to grow.
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Learning is both a giving and a taking.
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You give of your mind and heart to learning something. Knowledge and wisdom is what you receive in return.
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My friend learned an important lesson in life...... that there are two kinds of people in the world:   those who do something..... and those who do nothing. But I will add a third to that:   those who simply sit on the fence and watch.
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Now what we become as persons is defined by the choices we make.
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Wishing you all a lovely and blessedly productive day. In Christ.

 

 

WHY SUFFERING?

 

 

 

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In last Sunday's mass (Easter Sunday), the monsignor posed the question.... 'Why me?' ... He was referring to man's reaction to suffering. I waited for the answers to that much overused line with bated breath. But the homily went on for extra more lengths yet... it looked like no answers were forthrightly coming. Instead he went on to extoll the significance of the Risen Lord. He pointed to the cross but didn't make the proper effort to jell the whole story (suffering and salvation) into one neat package the parishioners would likely understand. To make a long story short, I came out of it with the same fuzzy brain on the subject as when I entered the church earlier.
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Anyway........
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Why do we suffer?
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Allow me to venture my own thoughts on it...
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We all go through the sieve of suffering. I had and have my share. Through it all I have learned a few things which I would like to share with anyone who would care to stop awhile and listen.
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Suffering has its own significance as joy has when it comes to us. It's significance rolls out greatly to our favor if you pay it close attention.
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THROUGH THE FIRE WE ARE TESTED. ---- Like gold is tested through fire, we are made to go through trials with the sole purpose to bring out the best in us.... new and better strengths, courage, hope, faith, resilience, focus, determination, enlightened spirit. Struggles bring out innate talents and abilities, brilliance and resourcefulness which we thought weren't there at all. We then begin to see ourselves as who we really are.... worthy children of God.
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NO GUTS - NO GLORY ---- We get or receive from life what we put into it. If you are content just watching the world revolve by your lonesome self, nothing great will come to your table. On the other hand, if you believe in big dreams -- in the universe's promise of fulfillment to those who bravely reach out for the stars -- to pushing your gifts and talents towards the goal -- and emblazon the skies with confident prayers of trust and faith, things will begin to shape up and honor your belief.
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DIVINE BLUEPRINT OF OUR LIVES ---- No matter how you see it, no matter through whose eyes you see.... you cannot escape what is very clear -- that life and its struggles are just the blueprint of our lives BY DIVINE DESIGN. Struggles though may come in a diversity of rhyme or reason, size or shape, intensity or importance.. but all of that still are called struggles. Others may call it difficulties, trials, tests, hurdles, hardships, affliction, persecution, discipline, challenges..... different words, same meaning and intent. And it's there because Somebody of great wisdom included it in His divine plan.
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MADE TO GROW ---- Simply said... we are made to grow. It's not a request. Rather it's an expectation coming from the Big Guy upstairs. He expects us to grow. Every time He sees us ---- lazy .. nonchalant .. irresponsible .. content in mediocrity .. foolishly proud and conceited .. rejecting change ----- He pushes the button 'Grow'......... and immediately the trials come pouring down on our stupid and stubborn heads all meant to force us to grow up and grow.
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It might hurt, sure it does. I gnash my teeth, clench my fist, curse the high heavens, blame everybody but myself, cry floods of tears, and ache deeply in my heart....... and yet nothing is changed -- it is still part of life and living.
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BUT for a wonderful reason! By God's design. We have a wise and magnificent GOD! His thoughts, not our thoughts; His ways, not our ways. Thank God it is the way it is.
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I wish wonderful blessings for everyone. God bless you!

GOOD MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD - NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

 

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... When a fireman plunges into a flaming building despite its dangers and saves a person.... when a miserable dog is rescued from its cruel owners by a stranger unmindful of the risk of harm to himself.... when persons, friend and strangers alike, persevere in saving lives in the great flood regardless of the danger it poses to their own.... and many other unselfish acts done by amazing people --- one can't help but be downright touched and immeasurably impressed by such show of courage and selflessness.
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When desert flowers thrive despite its dry and harsh environment.... when trees hold up their faces defiantly against the strong stormy winds.... when waters roll down towards the shore and then retreats back to the ocean.... when the sun rises in the morning with its glorious light... and sets quietly at sundown yet promising to return in the morn... when the skies fill up with gentle clouds in the day.... and fill up with brilliant stars at night... when Mother Nature weaves her magic around us reflecting and deflecting both good and bad --- one simply stands in awe over such precision and order.
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Then one begins to think..... and thank
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--- the person or persons who gave of themselves so that others (animals included) may continue to enjoy the gift of life. Thank them for their unselfish sharing of their talent, energies, resources, brilliance of mind, strength of heart, and goodness of spirit.

..and

---the One GOD who sets down all of creation and their limits but weaves them altogether into a magnificent masterpiece.
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But above all, thank this same GOD --- the creator of all things visible and invisible who makes life and people sooooo beautiful!!! Man's basic good is a gift from God. Mother Earth's bounty is God's blessing beyond compare. Everything works together, directly or indirectly BY GOD'S DESIGN.
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Which reminds me of this wonderful line spoken by a good person and friend here in Fb....... "Thank Him always but also give credit to where it is due." Thank you, Maria. Keep shining with your light.
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May the blessings of the Holy Week observance renew your lives and spirit. In Christ. Be blessed and stay blessed.