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THE INTERVIEW WITH GOD

I dreamed I had an interview with God.

“So you would like to interview me?” God asked.

“If you have the time” I said.

God smiled. “My time is eternity.”
“What questions do you have in mind for me?”

“What surprises you most about humankind?”

God answered...
“That they get bored with childhood,
they rush to grow up, and then
long to be children again.”

“That they lose their health to make money...
and then lose their money to restore their health.”

“That by thinking anxiously about the future,
they forget the present,
such that they live in neither
the present nor the future.”

"That they live as if they will never die,
and die as though they had never lived.”

God’s hand took mine
and we were silent for a while.

And then I asked...
“As a parent, what are some of life’s lessons
you want your children to learn?”

“To learn they cannot make anyone
love them. All they can do
is let themselves be loved.”

“To learn that it is not good
to compare themselves to others.”

“To learn to forgive
by practicing forgiveness.”

“To learn that it only takes a few seconds
to open profound wounds in those they love,
and it can take many years to heal them.”

“To learn that a rich person
is not one who has the most,
but is one who needs the least.”

“To learn that there are people
who love them dearly,
but simply have not yet learned
how to express or show their feelings.”

“To learn that two people can
look at the same thing
and see it differently.”

“To learn that it is not enough that they
forgive one another, but they must also forgive themselves.”

"Thank you for your time," I said humbly.

"Is there anything else
you would like your children to know?"

God smiled and said,
“Just know that I am here... always.”

-author unknown[i]

This is fantastic you should post it in poetry

Ian

Anand hi Anand
One day I decided to
quit...
I quit my job, my
relationship, my
spirituality...

I wanted to quit my
life. I went to the woods to have
one last talk with God.

"God", I said.
"Can you give me one good reason not to
quit?"

His answer surprised
me...

"Look around", He
said. "Do you see the fern and the
bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the
fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care
of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from
the earth. Its brilliant green covered
the floor.
Yet nothing came from the
bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the
bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew
more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came
from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on
the bamboo. He said.

"In year three there
was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I
would not quit.

In year four, again, there
was nothing from the bamboo
seed.

I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth
year a tiny sprout emerged from the
earth.

Compared to the fern it was
seemingly small and insignificant...But
just 6 months later the bamboo
rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years
growing roots. Those roots made it
strong and gave it what it needed to
survive.

I would not give any of my
creations a challenge it could not
handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have
been struggling, you have actually been growing roots"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a
different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest
beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise" He asked in
return.

"As high as it can" I questioned.
"Yes." He said,

"Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story.

Never Give up.

F R I E N D S

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 W ROTE 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 FRIEND REPLIED

"WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US

WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN

IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF

FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOME ONE 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.

THEY SAY IT TAKES A

MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL

PERSON, AN HOUR TO

APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY

TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN

AN ENTIRE LIFE

TO FORGET THEM.

We'll see

Once upon a time, there was a farmer in the central region of China. He didn't have a lot of money and, instead of a tractor, he used an old horse to plow his field.
One afternoon, while working in the field, the horse dropped dead. Everyone in the village said, "Oh, what a horrible thing to happen." The farmer said simply, "We'll see." He was so at peace and so calm, that everyone in the village got together and, admiring his attitude, gave him a new horse as a gift.

Everyone's reaction now was, "What a lucky man." And the farmer said, "We'll see."

A couple days later, the new horse jumped a fence and ran away. Everyone in the village shook their heads and said, "What a poor fellow!"
The farmer smiled and said, "We'll see."

Eventually, the horse found his way home, and everyone again said, "What a fortunate man."
The farmer said, "We'll see."

Later in the year, the farmer's young boy went out riding on the horse and fell and broke his leg. Everyone in the village said, "What a shame for the poor boy."
The farmer said, "We'll see."

Two days later, the army came into the village to draft new recruits. When they saw that the farmer's son had a broken leg, they decided not to recruit him.
Everyone said, "What a fortunate young man."
The farmer smiled again - and said "We'll see."

Moral of the story: There's no use in overreacting to the events and circumstances of our everyday lives. Many times what looks like a setback, may actually be a gift in disguise. And when our hearts are in the right place, all events and circumstances are gifts that we can learn valuable lessons from.

As Fra Giovanni once said:
"Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me... the gift is there and the wonder of an overshadowing presence."

Author Unknown

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.

He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and everyday he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect himself from the elements and to store his few possessions.

One day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames with smoke rolling up to the sky.

The worst had happened! Everything was lost!

He was stunned with disbelief, grief, and anger: "God, how could you do this to me?" he cried.

Early the next day he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers.

"We saw your smoke signal!" they replied.

Moral of the story:

It's easy to get discouraged when things are going bad, but we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering.

Remember that the next time your little hut seems to be burning to the ground: it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.

You may want to consider passing this on … because you never know who feels like their hut is on fire today!

One day I decided to
quit...
I quit my job, my
relationship, my
spirituality...

I wanted to quit my
life. I went to the woods to have
one last talk with God.

"God", I said.
"Can you give me one good reason not to
quit?"

His answer surprised
me...

"Look around", He
said. "Do you see the fern and the
bamboo?"

"Yes", I replied.

"When I planted the
fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very good care
of them. I gave them light. I gave them water.

The fern quickly grew from
the earth. Its brilliant green covered
the floor.
Yet nothing came from the
bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the
bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew
more vibrant and plentiful.

And again, nothing came
from the bamboo seed. But I did not quit on
the bamboo. He said.

"In year three there
was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I
would not quit.

In year four, again, there
was nothing from the bamboo
seed.

I would not quit." He said.

"Then in the fifth
year a tiny sprout emerged from the
earth.

Compared to the fern it was
seemingly small and insignificant...But
just 6 months later the bamboo
rose to over 100 feet tall.

It had spent the five years
growing roots. Those roots made it
strong and gave it what it needed to
survive.

I would not give any of my
creations a challenge it could not
handle."

He said to me. "Did you know, my child, that all this time you have
been struggling, you have actually been growing roots"

"I would not quit on the bamboo. I will never quit on you."

"Don't compare yourself to others." He said. "The bamboo had a
different purpose than the fern. Yet they both make the forest
beautiful."

"Your time will come", God said to me. "You will rise high"

"How high should I rise" I asked.

"How high will the bamboo rise" He asked in
return.

"As high as it can" I questioned.
"Yes." He said,

"Give me glory by rising as high as you can."
I left the forest and bring back this story.

Never Give up.

F R I E N D S

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 W ROTE 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 FRIEND REPLIED

"WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US

WE SHOULD WRITE IT DOWN

IN SAND, WHERE WINDS OF

FORGIVENESS CAN ERASE IT AWAY.

BUT, WHEN SOME ONE 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.

THEY SAY IT TAKES A

MINUTE TO FIND A SPECIAL

PERSON, AN HOUR TO

APPRECIATE THEM, A DAY

TO LOVE THEM, BUT THEN

AN ENTIRE LIFE

TO FORGET THEM.

Brother Like That
A man named Brijesh received an automobile from his brother as a Diwali present. On Diwali when Brijesh came out of his office, a street urchin was walking around the shining new car admiring it. "Is this your car, Mister?" he asked.

Brijesh nodded. "My brother gave it to me for Diwali." The boy was astounded. "You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn't cost you nothing? Boy, I wish..." He hesitated.

Of course Brijesh knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what this lad said jarred Brijesh all the way down to his heels.

"I wish," the boy went on, "that I could be a brother like that."

Brijesh looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, "Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?"

"Oh yes, I'd love that." After a short ride, the boy turned with his eyes aglow and said, "Mister, would you mind driving in front of my house?"

Brijesh smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbors that he could ride home in a big automobile. But Brijesh was wrong again. "Will you stop where those two steps are?" the boy asked.

He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Brijesh heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.

"There she is, Buddy, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Diwali and it didn't cost him a rupee. And someday I'm gonna give you one just like it...and you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the Diwali celebrations that I've been trying to tell you about."

Brijesh got out and lifted the lad into the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable holiday ride.

That Diwali, Brijesh learned what it meant when He had said: "It's more blessed to give..."

Remain blessed

Footprints

One night a man had a dream. He dreamt he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints on the sand -- one belonging to him and the other to the Lord. When the last scene had flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints and he noticed only one set. He also noticed that this happened during the lowest and saddest times of his life. This bothered him and he questioned the Lord. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk all the way with me, but I noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life there was only one set of footprints.

I don't understand why, when I needed you most, you deserted me."

The Lord replied, "My precious child, I love you and would never leave you.

During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, those were the times when I carried you in my arms."

A Mother’s Birthday Wish for Her Son

Believe in miracles. You are everything and more than we could have asked for. I look forward to the day when you read this and think that I was being an over protective mom because this disease no longer dictates your life.

May you always know how loved and special you are. May you grow to be a man who gives freely and thinks kindly. May you continue to aspire to greatness and not be discouraged with the stumbling blocks (we all fall, get back up son). May you become a thirsty learner and a leader and a man of your word. May you remember how lucky you are and support those less fortunate. Be bold, ask questions and face your life with courage and honor. May you always love with innocence. May you see in yourself what I already see in you at the tender age of one.

If I could climb every mountain for you, take away any pain or hardship and steer you always into the right direction, I would. Your life is still unwritten and there is beauty in that, you determine who you are and we can only guide you on your journey. I can’t promise you perfection, I can’t promise you much of anything, except that I know that we were kissed by an angel twice in our lives, with you and your sister, and that every second that I breathe I love you more than the last breath! That, I promise you, will never change!

Happy Birthday my beautiful, perfect giggly baby boy! This is your year,

XXOOXXX,

Life's lesson No. 1
There once was a bunch of tiny frogs,...

... who arranged a running competition.

The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower.

A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants...

The race began...

Honestly:

No one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower.

You heard statements such as:

"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top."

or:

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one...

... Except for those, who in a fresh tempo, were climbing higher and higher...

The crowd continued to yell,

"It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up...

...But ONE continued higher and higher and higher...

This one wouldn't give up!

At the end everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how he had found the strength to succeed and reach the goal?

It turned out...

That the winner was DEAF!!!!

The wisdom of this story is:

Never listen to other people's tendencies to be

negative or pessimistic...

...because they take your most wonderful dreams and wishes away from you -- the ones you have in your heart!

Always think of the power words have.

Because everything you hear and read will affect your actions!

Therefore:

ALWAYS be...

POSITIVE!

And above all:

Be DEAF when people tell YOU that you cannot fulfill your dreams!

Always think:

God and I can do this!

ABRAHAM LINCON'S LETTER TO HIS SON'S TEACHER

He has to learn, I know, that all men are not just, all men are not fair. But teach him also that for every scoundrel there is a hero; that for every selfish Politician, there is a dedicated leader...

Teach him for every enemy there is a friend, It will take time, I know; but teach him if you can, that a dollar earned is of far more value than five found. Teach him to learn to lose... and also to enjoy winning. Steer him away from envy, if you can, teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that the bullies are seemingly victorious...
Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books...

But also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun, and the flowers on a green hillside.
At school teach him it is honourable to fail than to cheat...

Teach him to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him they are wrong...

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone is on the same wagon...
Teach him to listen to all men... but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him if you can, how to laugh when he is sad... teach him there is no shame in tears, Teach him to scoff at cynics and to beware of too much sweetness...

Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders but never to put a price tag on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he is right. Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient... let him have patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will have sublime faith in mankind. This is a big order, but see what you can do... He is such a fine fellow my son!

ABRAHAM LINCOLN's LETTER TO HEADMASTER

A letter written by Abraham Lincoln to the Headmaster of a school in which his son was studying. It contains an advice, which is still relevant today for executives, workers, teachers, parents and students.

A WORD TO TEACHERS

"He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just and are not true. But teach him if you can, the wonder of books.. but also give him quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun and flowers on a green hillside.

In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fall than to cheat.....

Teach to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him he is wrong.

Teach him to be gentle with gentlepeople and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when everyone getting on the bandwagon...

Teach him to listen to all men; but teach him also to filter all he hears on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him, if you can, how to laugh when he is sad... Teach him there is no shame in tears.

Teach him to scoff at cynics and to be beware of too much sweetness.. Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to highest bidders, but never to put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a howling mob.. and stand and fight if thinks he is right.

Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient.. Let him have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself, because then he will have faith in humankind.

This is a big order, but see what you can do. . He is such a fine little fellow my son!

- Abraham Lincoln"

To Sir With Love

Those schoolgirl days, of telling tales
and biting nails are gone,
But in my mind,
I know they will still live on and on,
But how do you thank someone,
Who has taken you from crayons to perfume?
It isn't easy, but I'll try,

If you wanted the sky I would write across the
sky in letters,
That would soar a thousand feet high,
To Sir, with Love

The time has come,
For closing books and long last looks must end,
And as I leave,
I know that I am leaving my best friend,
A friend who taught me right from wrong,
And weak from strong,
That's a lot to learn,
What, what can I give you in return?

If you wanted the moon I would try to make a start,
But I would rather you let me give my heart,

To Sir, with Love