Two Traveling Angels.......

Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night
in the home of a Wealthy family.
The family was rude and refused to let the
angels stay in the Mansion's' guest room.
Instead the angels were given a small
space in the cold basement.
As they made their bed on the hard floor,
the older angel saw a hole in the
wall and repaired it.

When the younger angel asked why, the older
angel replied, "Things aren't always what they seem"

The next night the pair came to rest at the house of
a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife.

After sharing what little food they had the
couple let the angels sleep in their bed where
they could have a good night's rest.

When the sun came up the next morning
the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears.
Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income,
lay dead in the field.
The younger angel was infuriated and asked the
older angel how could you have let this happen?

The first man had everything, yet you helped him,
she accused. The second family had little but was
willing to share everything, and you let the cow die.

"Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied.
"When we stayed in the basement of the mansion,
I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall.
Since the owner was so obsessed with greed
and unwilling to share his good fortune,
I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it."
"Then last night as we slept in the farmers bed,
the angel of death came for his wife
I gave him the cow instead.

Things aren't always what they seem."
Sometimes that is exactly what happens
when things don't turn out the way they should.
If you have faith, you just need to trust that
every out come is always to your advantage.
You just might not know it until some time later...

I will NEVER see an advantage for Laura's death!

SLOW DANCE

This is a poem written by a teenager with cancer. No name was given so I can't credit her/him here.  I picked it up from one of those floating emails that you receive from people who appreciate the message and want to help stamp out the disease.  I am a skeptic when I see emails pertaining to charities. Most are fraud and some are loaded with a virus.  Although this one just asked to forward the email to as many people possible and money will be donated to the American Cancer Society.  The poem is powerful, so I am reprinting it on my blog. By all means, if you wish to make a donation to the American Cancer Society you can do so online: www.cancer.org

SLOW DANCE

Have you ever watched kids

On a merry-go-round?

Or listened to the rain

Slapping 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.

Being older has set me free

There is an email being distributed again (not a new one and I am sure everyone has received it once or twice before). This email spoke to me so I took the liberty and edited it to make it about me.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my life,

my family (including Sierra, Jackson, & Louie)
for less gray hair or a flatter belly.
As I've aged, I’ve become kinder to myself,
and less critical of myself and others.

I like myself and I've become my own
good friend. I don't chide myself any longer
for not making my bed, cleaning the house,
or for buying that silly item that I didn’t need.
I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, and
to be extravagant once in a while.

I experienced too many hardships and losses in my
50 plus years on this planet. I have endured losing
my daughter and I’ve seen too many friends and
family leave this world too soon; before they
understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read, play
on the computer, or sew until 4:00 AM and sleep until
noon? I will dance with myself or my dog to the
wonderful songs of the 60, 70 and 80’s.
I will sing to my dog, even though I can't hold a tune.
If, at the same time, I wish to shed tears because
I miss my daughter, Laura, I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that tries to
cover up my flaws and bulging body and will
dive into the waves with my boogie board
if I choose to.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there
again, some of life is just as well forgotten.
I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.
How can your heart not break when you lose
your daughter or son, along with other loved
ones; or when a child or pet suffers. Broken
hearts are what give us strength, understanding,
and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine
and sterile and will never know the joy of being
imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to
have my roots turning gray, and to have my
laugh lines forever etched into grooves on my
face. So many have never laughed, and so many
have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive.
You care less about what other people think.
I don’t question myself as much like I use to do.
I have even come to terms with being wrong.
After all, no one is perfect. Only God.

I am embracing that I am different from others.
I like the person I have become and I am
always evolving.

I am not going to live forever,
but while I am still here, I will try not to waste
time mourning what could have been, or
worrying about what will be.

Being older has certainly set me free.

Sounds Like New Jersey!