September 2009 'Useletter'
Welcome to September's 'Useletter'.
Firstly, I have added some links below of my new Video Inspirational Quick Tips. These are short video tips of about 2mins each, where I share insights into life. They can be viewed on my new You Tube Channel, http://www.youtube.com/user/inspiringtheworld.
These are available in English, German and Afrikaans. I aim to upload 4 per month in each language. This month I deal with being more positive in life. You can simply click on the English links here, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4. Deutsch, klicken Sie auf Teil 1, Teil 2, Teil 3, Teil 4. Afrikaans kliek op Deel1, Deel 2, Deel 3, Deel 4.If you want to watch more just go directly to the channel and click on the correct category. All absolutely FREE!
Both my daughters got their provincial colours in gymnastics again this month and it has been so wonderful watching their progress over the years, and being their whenever they compete. I am a typical dad who videos everything! The day they turn 21 I will be able to give them their whole life on DVD. Often I wish this technology had been available to my parents. It would be so nice to look back at one's childhood. But, all we baby boomers have is memories and the occasional photos.
On that note I want to share a story with you where childhood memories lasted into adulthood. The core of the message being - Do you still remember all the people that helped you throughout your life?
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A GLASS OF MILK
One day, a poor boy who was selling goods from door to door to pay his way through school, found he had only one thin dime left, and he was hungry. He decided he would ask for a meal at the next house. However, he lost his nerve when a lovely young woman opened the door. Instead of a meal he asked for a drink of water.
She thought he looked hungry so brought him a large glass of milk. He drank it slowly, and then asked, "How much do I owe you?"
"You don't owe me anything," she replied. "Mother has taught us never to accept pay for a kindness."
He said..... "Then I thank you from my heart." As Howard Kelly left that house, he not only felt stronger physically, but his faith in God and man was strong also. He had been ready to give up and quit.
Year's later that young woman became critically ill. The local doctors were baffled. They finally sent her to the big city, where they called in specialists to study her rare disease. Dr. Howard Kelly was called in for the consultation. When he heard the nameof the town she came from, a strange light filled his eyes. Immediately he rose and went down the hall of the hospital to her room.
Dressed in his doctor's gown he went in to see her. He recognized her at once. He went back to the consultation room determined to do his best to save her life. From that day he gave special attention to the case.
After a long struggle, the battle was won. Dr. Kelly requested the business office to pass the final bill to him for approval.He looked at it, then wrote something on the edge and the bill was sent to her room. She feared to open it, for she was sure it would take the rest of her life to pay for it all. Finally she looked, and something caught her attention on the side of the bill.
She read these words.....
"Paid in full with one glass of milk"
(Signed)
Dr. Howard Kelly
Tears of joy flooded her eyes as she realized that love can still spread abroad through human hearts and hands."
The more I travel, and the more people I meet, I keep on asking myself the question why there is so much conflict, aggression and hatred in this world. My wife, Sonja, recently gave me a good answer, she believe there are two types of people on this earth. Those with souls, and those without souls. Kinda makes sense to me, and explains why some people are good, and others inherently bad. My goal of course is to change the world, one person at a time, and bring caring back to humanity. The next story will bring tears to your eyes. Read it first.
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THE UGLY CAT
Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and, shall we say, love.
The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye and where the other should have been was a hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner.
Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby, striped type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, and even his shoulders. Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat !"
All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave. Ugly always had the same reaction.
If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around your feet in forgiveness.
Whenever he spied children, he would come running, meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.
One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbor's dogs. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.
As I picked him up and tried to carry him home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. It must be hurting him terribly, I thought. Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying, was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring.
Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion. At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.
Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly.
Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.
Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me...I will always try to be Ugly.
Isn't it time we all stopped being judgemental! When you met someone, who ever they may be. Do not judge them by physical appearance. Get to know that person for who they really are. Care! Take the time to get to know them ... even those people you currently may not like. Odds are once your eally get to know them, you will discover what beauty they really possess!
And finally, here's an old story which shares a deep lesson on what is really important in life.
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THE SANDS OF FORGIVENESS
A story tells that two friends were walking through the desert. During some point of the journey they had an argument, and one friend slapped the other one in the face.
The one who got slapped was hurt, but without saying anything, wrote in the sand:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SLAPPED ME IN THE FACE.
They kept on walking until they found an oasis, where they decided to take a bath. The one who had been slapped got stuck in the mire and started drowning, but the friend saved him.
After he recovered from the near drowning, he wrote on a stone:
TODAY MY BEST FRIEND SAVED MY LIFE.
The friend who had slapped and saved his best friend asked him, "After I hurt you, you wrote in the sand and now, you write on a stone, why?"
The other friend replied "When someone hurts us we should write it down in sand where winds of forgiveness can erase it away. But, when someone does something good for us, we must engrave it in stone where no wind can ever erase it."
LEARN TO WRITE YOUR HURTS IN THE SAND AND TO CARVE YOUR BENEFITS IN STONE.
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Have an awesome month!
To catch up on old 'Useletters' visit my News & Press Blog on http://wolfgangriebe.wordpress.com
Finally, looking for an inspirational speaker? Just redone all my websites in 3 languages, Eng, Ger. & Afr.with lots of new talks, info, etc. Check out http://ww.theriebeinstitute.com.