Story of Four Candles

Yesterday night, my wife has send me wonderful inspiring e-mail (I am thankful to you), it is short in size, but, very long in message. She (and me) does not know the creator of this great message, but do not worry, just let you know, useful stuff is always created by God, so we all should will say thanks to God for this lovely message, Please enjoy.

The four candles burns slowly. The ambiance was so soft you could hear them talking.

The first one said, “I am Peace! however nobody can keep me lit. I believe, I will go out.”

It’s flame rapidly diminishes and goes out completely.

The second one says, “I am Faith! Most of all, I am no longer indispensable, so it doesn’t make any sense that I stay lit any longer.”

When it finished talking, a breeze softly blew on it putting it out.

Sadly, the third candle spoke in its turn: “I am love! I haven’t got the strength to stay lit. People put me aside and don’t understand my importance. They even forget to love those who are nearest to them.”

And waiting no longer it goes out.

Suddenly…

A child enters the room and sees three candles not burning.

“Why are you not burning? You are supposed to stay lit till the end.”

Saying this, the child begins to cry.

Then the fourth candle said: “Don’t be afraid, while I am still burning we can re-light the other candles, I am Hope!”

With shining eyes, the child took the candle of hope and lit the other candles.

THE FLAME OF HOPE SHOULD NEVER GO OUT FROM YOUR LIFE.

…and that each of us can maintain Peace, Faith, Love and Hope!!!

Have a nice Day.

The Story of a Wallet

Once an old man was travelling by train on a pilgrimage to Brindavan. At night, whilst he was asleep, his wallet fell from his pocket. A co-passenger found it the next morning and enquired as to whom the wallet belonged. The old man said it was his. A picture of Sri Krishna inside the wallet was proof that the wallet really belonged to him.

The old man then began to relate the story of the wallet. He soon had a group of eager listeners around him. Lifting up the purse for all to see, the old man said: This purse has a long history behind it. My father gave it to me years ago when I was a mere schoolboy. I kept my little pocket money in it and also a photograph of my parents.

Years passed. I grew up and began studying at university. Like every youth, I became conscious of my appearance. I replaced my parents’ photograph with that of my own and I would look at it often. I had become my own admirer.

Then came marriage. Self-admiration gave way to the consciousness of a family. Out went my own picture and I replaced it with that of my wife’s. During the day I would open the wallet many times and gaze at the picture. All tiredness vanished and I would resume my work with enthusiasm.

Then came the birth of my first child. What a joy I experienced when I became a father! I would eagerly rush home after work to play with my little baby. Needless to say, my wife’s picture had already made way for the child’s.

The old man paused. Wiping his tearful eyes, he looked around and said in a sad voice: Friends, my parents passed away long ago. My wife too died five years ago. My son- my only son- is now married. He is too busy with his career and his family. He has no time for me. I now stand on the brink of death. I do not know what awaits me in future. Everything I loved, everything I considered my own, has left me.

A picture of Lord Krishna now occupies the place in my wallet. I know He will never leave me. I wish now that I had kept HIS picture with me right from the beginning! He alone is true; all others are just passing shadows.

Sri Sharada Devi, the holy mother, says: “Don’t be afraid my child, these earthly ties are transitory. Today they seem to be the be-all and end-all of life, and tomorrow they vanish. Your real tie is with God. God is one’s very own. It is the eternal relationship. He is ever looking after you. Call on the Lord who pervades the entire universe. He will shower His blessings upon you.”

From ‘Dipika’ A publication by Sri Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa; on http://hinduism.co.za
Visit www.eTirth.com for more religious information.

The 200th Hug

My father’s skin was jaundiced as he lay hooked up to monitors and intravenous tubes in the intensive care unit of the hospital. Normally a well-built man, he had lost more than 30 pounds.

My father’s illness had been diagnosed as cancer of the pancreas, one of the most malignant forms of the disease. The doctors were doing what they could but told us that he had only three to six months to live. Cancer of the pancreas does not lend itself to radiation therapy or chemotherapy, so they could offer little hope.

A few days later, when my father was sitting up in bed, I approached him and said, Dad, I feel deeply for what’s happened to you. It’s helped me to look at the ways I’ve kept my distance and to feel how much I really love you. I leaned over to give him a hug, but his shoulders and arms became tense. Come on, Dad, I really want to give you a hug.

For a moment he looked shocked. Showing affection was not our usual way of relating. I asked him to sit up some more so I could get my arms around him. Then I tried again. This time, however, he was even more tense. I could feel the old resentment starting to build up, and I began to think I don’t need this. If you want to die and leave me with the same coldness as always, go right ahead.

For years I had used every instance of my father’s resistance and rigidness to blame him, to resent him and to say to myself, See, he doesn’t care. This time, however, I thought again and realized the hug was for my benefit as well as my father’s. I wanted to express how much I cared for him no matter how hard it was for him to let me in. My father had always been very Germanic and duty-oriented; in his childhood, his parents must have taught him how to shut off his feelings in order to be a man. Letting go of my long-held desire to blame him for our distance, I was actually looking forward to the challenge of giving him more love. I said, C’mon, Dad, put your arms around me. I leaned up close to him at the edge of the bed with his arms around me. Now squeeze. That’s it. Now again, squeeze. Very good! In a sense I was showing my father how to hug, and as he squeezed, something happened. For an instant, a feeling of I love you bubbled through. For years our greeting had been a cold and formal handshake that said, Hello, how are you? Now, both he and I waited for that momentary closeness to happen again.

Yet, just at the moment when he would begin to enjoy the feelings of love, something would tighten in his upper torso and our hug would become awkward and strange. It took months before his rigidness gave way and he was able to let the emotions inside him pass through his arms to encircle me.

It was up to me to be the source of many hugs before my father initiated a hug on his own. I was not blaming him, but supporting him; after all, he was changing the habits of an entire lifetime – and that takes time. I knew we were succeeding because more and more we were relating out of care and affection.

Around the two-hundredth hug, he spontaneously said out loud, for the first time I could ever recall, I love you.

-By Harold H. Bloomfield; posted on http://topmoralstories.blogspot.com, by Vikas Goyal.

The Fly and the Draught-Mule

A Fly sat on the axle-tree of a chariot, and addressing the Draught-Mule said, “How slow you are! Why do you not go faster? See if I do not prick your neck with my sting.”

The Draught-Mule replied, “I do not heed your threats; I only care for him who sits above you, and who quickens my pace with his whip, or holds me back with the reins. Away, therefore, with your insolence, for I know well when to go fast, and when to go slow.”

Moral:
Life is not just about Speed.

Gateway to Heaven and Hell

Once upon a time in England there was a wise man named “John”. He was a very kind person and lived in a village very close to the woods. He loved his family very much and cared a lot for them. Mr. John was a blessed person right from his childhood days. He was a good interpreter of the Bible. People came to him to clear their doubts. He was considered as a scholar and was loved by everyone in that village. Mr. John had the habit of praying in the morning, afternoon and evening for at least half-an-hour. There was not even a single day that would pass without John offering his prayers. He was a very punctual person.

That time, there lived a king named Louis in the neighbourhood of his village. King Louis had a very handsome young son named James. Prince James was the next heir to the throne.

One day, King Louis called his son and said “My dear son, I am growing old and weak day by day. I think it’s time for me to hand you over some major responsibilities of our kingdom”.

The Prince replied “My father, when shall I do that”.

The king said “Before you start with your responsibilities here, I would like you to move out of the palace and return to me after finding an answer to a question”.

The Prince asked his father “Father tell me the question for which I need to find an answer”.

King Louis said “Son, you need to tell me where heaven and hell is. This is the question”.

Prince James after seeking the blessings of the King and Queen, took his bag and left the palace in search of the answer. The Prince travelled across villages, woods and towns but no one could help him find an answer.

On the fourth day after leaving the palace Prince James reached the village where John the wise man lived. Prince James asked some of the villagers the question about heaven and hell but no one could help him out. One villager told the Prince “You noble man, I think John the wise man could help you find an answer”.

Prince James was guided to the house where John the wise man lived. As he was about to step into the house of Mr. John, Prince James saw a man kneeling before the crucifix with a bowed head and arms-wide-stretched.

Interrupting Mr. John’s prayers, the Prince asked “Excuse me wise man, I have come a long way off to find an answer to where heaven and hell is. I wish you to tell me the answer quickly”.

John, the wise man was still on his knees and never uttered a word. Prince James repeatedly asked Mr. John but he remained calm in his prayers. The Prince became furious and pulled his sword off the sheath and started screaming at the top of his voice “Hey you layman, don’t you know who I am. Open your eyes and answer me or else know that I have the power to kill you”.

John’s prayers were almost finished by then. He opened his eyes and got up. John saw the Prince waving his sword towards him with eyes burning with anger. With a gentle smile, John said “My dear brother, hell is where you find anger, impatience, sorrow, hatred and pride”.

Prince James was intelligent enough to understand what John meant by saying that. The Prince went down on his knees. His head was almost drooping and eyes swollen. Prince James said “Sir, forgive me for my wickedness. I understand what you mean”.

John came closer to the Prince. He patted the strong shoulders of the Prince and said “My dear brother, heaven is where you find forgiveness, kindness, peace, love and patience”.

John reminded the Prince the words Jesus had said “The kingdom of heaven is within you”.

Now the Prince had an answer to the question that had bothered him for some days. He thanked John the wise man with an apologetic tone and returned to the palace.

The king was very happy to hear the answer from his son. The next day saw the celebrations marking the coronation of Prince James as the next heir to the throne. Prince James ruled the Kingdom for over 30 years and was loved by all people inside and outside his kingdom.

By: John for www.whereincity.com

The Queen of England..

The Queen of England and the Pope were celebrating a public holiday in England one day, in front of a massive audience, when the Queen turned to the Pope and said, “You know, I can make all of the British in the crowd cheer and go wild by just waving my hand.” The Pope looked at the Queen and asked for a demonstration. The Queen waved her hand at the people, and all of the Brits went crazy – cheering, shouting, and giving a standing ovation for her.

The Pope nodded, and said to the Queen, “Well, I can make all of the Irish in this crowd start cheering by just waving my hand as well.” The Queen raised an eyebrow. “Alright,” she said. “Prove it.” The Pope said ok, and then slapped the Queen.

By: Spyderman, for http://www.19.5degs.com