Freedom

Every time I look at myself and think on how much I've gone through, I still hardly believe that I have become the strong person that I am now................

The biggest factor I'd like to consider is my relationship with my parents. I learned to stand on my own, make decisions on my own because they let me do it. This started in my high school years when I'd always to ask permission to go out with friends. My parennts would usually prohibit me, which I found it very disappointing......

But I found solution from my parents then. I would ask their permission and promise them to be back at a designated time, which I did exactly. And things went on between us. I would confide things to them.......my dreams and aspirations, where I want to go and what I want to do.

Even my teenage crushes and love letters given by friends. They would always listen ready to give support. They never scolded me for things I’ve told. I felt how much they appreciated my trust to them................

This gave me so much confidence and encouragement to realize my dreams. I feel good to be free and independent because my parents allowed me to be. Now I pass on the good attitude I got from my parents..........

Most Important Part of the Body....

My mother used to ask me what is the most important part of the body. Through the years I would take a guess at what I thought was the correct answer. When I was younger, I thought sound was very important to us as humans, so I said, "My ears, Mommy." She said, "No. Many people are deaf. But you keep thinking about it and I will ask you again soon."

Several years passed before she asked me again. Since making my first attempt, I had contemplated the correct answer. So this time I told her, "Mommy, sight is very important to everybody, so it must be our eyes." She looked at me and told me, "You are learning fast, but the answer is not correct because there are many people who are blind." Stumped again, I continued my quest for knowledge and over the years, Mother asked me a couple more times and always her answer was, "No. But you are getting smarter every year, my child."

Then atlast, when my grandpa died. Everybody was hurt. Everybody was crying. Even my father cried. I remember that especially because it was the first time I saw him cry. My Mom looked at me when it was our turn to say our final goodbye to Grandpa.

She asked me, "Do you know the most important body part yet, my dear?" I was shocked when she asked me this now. I always thought this was a game between her and me. She saw the confusion on my face and told me, "This question is very important. It shows that you have really lived in our life. For every body part you gave me in the past, I have told you were wrong and I have given you an example why. But today is the day you need to learn this important lesson." She looked down at me as only a mother can. I saw her eyes well up with tears. She said, "My dear, the most important body part is your shoulder." I asked, "Is it because it holds up my head?" She replied, "No, it is because it can hold the head of a friend or a loved one when they cry. Everybody needs a shoulder to cry on sometime in life, my dear. I only hope that you have enough love and friends that you will always have a shoulder to cry on when you need it."

Then and there I knew the most important body part is not a selfish one . It is sympathetic to the pain of others. People will forget what you said. People will forget what you did. But people will NEVER forget how you made them feel.........

Have lunch with God........bring chips.

A little boy wanted to meet God.He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potatochips and a six-bottle of milk and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks,he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons.The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase.He was about to take a drink from his milk bottle, when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips.
She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a bottle of milk. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As evening approached, the boy realized, how tired he was and he got upto leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him,"What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what?She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home.Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked,"Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied,"I ate potato chips in the park with God."However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate 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 the potential to turn life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Embrace all equally!Have lunch with God........bring chips..............