The Goodness of Man

The Bible said that men are created in the image and likeness of God. I would like to believe that since we are created by God we must have even a tinge of goodness in our hearts even if we have been scarred by sin.

Yes, we know people who have done inexplicably wicked things. We can all see it on TV, there are people who live by taking advantage of other people, people who cheat and con even their friends and family. But I still believe that there are more good men out there, people who are ready to help, people who are compassionate and God-fearing.

If people don’t believe the goodness of man; how can they believe in the goodness of God?

Here is a story taken from Tonne and was included in Fr. Mihalic’s collection of stories:

A wealthy businessman in a mid-western town had signs printed and placed all over the town. They stated that if any man in the town who owed debts, would come to his office on a certain day between nine and twelve in the morning, he would pay the debts.

Naturally, that promise was the talk of the town. Very few believed it. They thought there was a catch somewhere.

The day came; the businessman sat in his office at nine. By ten, no one had come. At eleven, a man was seen walking up and down outside, glancing occasionally at the office door. Finally, he opened it, put his head in, and asked, “Is it true that you will pay any man’s debt?”
“That’s right,” the rich man replied. “Are you in debt?”
“I certainly am,” the man said.
“Do you have along the bills or statements to prove it.”

The visitor produced the documents and the businessman wrote out a cheque covering all of them. Before twelve o’clock two other men came, and also had their debts paid.

People outside could not believe it… but there was no time left for them to have their bills paid.
Have a blessed Sunday to us all!
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The Value of Work

We only realize the value of something once we’ve lost it. Even to our friends and family, we only appreciate their value in our lives once they are no longer with us. We take them for granted. We profess our love for our family and yet we choose other trivial things over them.

And look at how some people value their jobs. They go to great lengths finding a decent job that will provide for their family and their lifestyle. And yet, once they get hired, they started to take it for granted. If only their jobs can speak.

Here is a short article from the Carnegian Report and was published by Fr. Frank Mihalic’s collection of stories:

You say you love me, but sometimes you don’t show it. In the beginning, you couldn’t do enough for me. Now, you seem to take me for granted. Some days I even wonder if I mean anything at all to you.

Maybe when I’m gone, you’ll appreciate me and all the things I do for you. I’m responsible for getting the food on your table, for your clean shirt, for the welfare of your children… a thousand and one thing you want and need. Why if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t even have a car.

I’ve kept quiet and waited to see how long it would take for you to realize how much you really need me.

Cherish me, take care of me and I’ll continue to take good care of you.

Who am I? I am your JOB.
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The Power of Giving

When we give, we usually refer to the old adage that “it is better to give than to receive.” But more than that, giving benefits yourself as much or more than it benefits those to whom you give. We feel good and we feel joy when we are giving hence we also function at our best.

When we give with a happy heart, we start to activate the laws that will release the many forms of God's blessing, such that we will be able to give more in the future.

We reap what we sow; this is an eternal law. When we give, we sow seeds that we will eventually reap in a wave of many forms of blessings. Luke 6:38 says: 

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." 

Here is a story taken from Fr. Frank Mihalic’s compilation of stories: 

During the time of unemployment there was a man down to his last dollar. At Sunday services he laid 50 cents – half of all he had – in the collection basket. 

The next morning he heard of a job in a neighboring town, the bus fare was exactly one dollar; but he had only 50 cents left. 

So he rode half way, got off, and started to walk to his chance for a job.
But God had better things in store for him. 

Passing a factory along the way, he noticed a sign which said: HELP WANTED.
In less than half an hour, he had a job that paid him five dollars a week, more than he would have received at the distant town. 

His first week’s pay brought back tenfold the fifty cents he had given to the Lord.
That man went on to become a famous shoe manufacturer…. 

How about you? Are you a cheerful giver? Do you look for opportunities to share with others?

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An extraordinary lesson from Jessica Cox.

Still on the words “I can’t.” Have you ever stop to think about the things that you cannot do if you don’t have your arms? I’m sure you can come up with a long list of activities that need both arms to accomplish. Driving, surfing and dancing are some of the activities that will need hands and foot coordination.

So what will you do if you don’t have arms? Will you just accept your fate and blame it all to God? Will you turn to self-pity and feel miserable all your life?

Apparently, these are not all the options available. If you haven’t heard of Filipino-American Jessica Cox then it’s time for you to meet this extraordinary person! She was born without arms and yet she did not let this disability stop her from reaching her dreams. She became the world’s first licensed armless pilot!

She truly exemplifies the Filipinos' perseverance in the face of hardship and the ability to rise above adversities. Jessica is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the first armless pilot in the world. Early this year, she offered her medal to Pope Benedict XVI when she met the Pope in the Vatican.

Aside from being a licensed pilot, Jessica also drives her car and is a certified scuba diver. She also learned to surf while she was in Hawaii. She also enjoys gymnastics and swimming, and holds a double black belt in Taekwondo.

She is now an accomplished motivational speaker and has traveled across the US telling her story.

Jessica was born in Tucson, Arizona but her mother hails from Samar.

She said that “with desire, persistence and fearlessness, we can do anything.”

So next time you feel that all the odds are against you and you feel like saying “I can’t do this” or “I can’t do that,” think of Jessica Cox and realize how lucky you are that you have all your arms and other body parts and all the God-given talents working for you. We all have our own challenges but we are also given the choice whether we let it stand in the way or look at it as an opportunity to succeed. The choice is ours.

I just found out that Jessica Cox has a number of videos on YouTube. Below is one of her inspiring videos when she was featured on Inside Edition:



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The word "can't"

If there is a word that we should remove from our vocabulary in order for us to succeed, it is the word “Can’t.” This word has become very powerful that it has been shattering dreams and poisoning ideas since it came into being. It has been hindering people from reaching their dreams and aspirations. It has been an easy excuse for the indolent and half-hearted people so as not to work harder and aim for greater heights.

Many brilliant ideas have been killed because of this awful word and countless people have been denied of their successes because they unfortunately used or heard this word.

“I can’t!” These are just two words and yet the debilitating effect on us is so powerful that it can stop us right on track. If we believe in these words, then we’re immobilized, unable to continue even if success is just within reach. What we do is we focus on our limitations and shortcomings or worse we create an excuse for not doing our best or exerting more effort.

Obviously, it is counterproductive to have the words “can’t” or “I can’t” on our vocabulary. If we have faith in ourselves and our God-given talents then nothing should stop us from reaching our dreams.

If you feel like saying “I can’t,” why not utter these words from Philippians 4:13 instead: “I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.” And believe in those words.

Here is an inspiring poem by a great poet about the word "can't" which he described as the worst word that's written or spoken:


Can't
Edgar Guest - 1916 - A Heap o' Livin'

Can't is the worst word that's written or spoken;
Doing more harm here than slander and lies;
On it is many a strong spirit broken,
And with it many a good purpose dies.
It springs from the lips of the thoughtless each morning
And robs us of courage we need through the day;
It rings in our ears like a timely sent warning
And laughs when we falter and fall by the way.

Can't is the father of feeble endeavor,
The parent of terror and halfhearted work;
It weakens the efforts of artisans clever,
And makes of the toiler an indolent shirk.
It poisons the soul of the man with a vision,
It stifles in infancy many a plan;
It greets honest toiling with open derision
And mocks at the hopes and the dreams of a man.

Can't is a word none should speak without blushing;
To utter it should be a symbol of shame;
Ambition and courage it daily is crushing;
It blights a man's purpose and shortens his aim.
Despise it with all of your hatred of error;
Refuse it the lodgement it seeks in your brain;
Arm against it as a creature of terror,
And all that you dream of you someday shall gain.

Can't is the word that is foe to ambition
An enemy ambushed to shatter your will;
Its prey is forever the man with a mission
And bows but to courage and patience and skill.
Hate it, with hatred that's deep and undying,
For once it is welcomed 'twill break any man;
Whatever the goal you are seeking, keep trying
And answer this demon by saying: "I can."

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Treasure in heaven

I heard a priest’s sermon yesterday and his message was crystal clear. Anything can happen to anyone anytime. Life is short, death is certain. So let’s be prepared. Let’s live a beautiful life every day and be a blessing and not a burden to other people. Whatever material possessions we have accumulated in this world will be left behind, so why bother?

Here is another story partly after the Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy about a rich man who thought that money would also be everything even in the after life:

A wealthy man lay on his deathbed. His entire life had been centered on money. As his life ebbed away, he presumed that in the afterlife, money would also be everything. So he gave orders that a purse filled with gold coins be placed inside his casket alongside his body. His last wish was carried out.

In the next world it took the bookkeepers a long time to find his name in any of the good books. In fact, it took so long that he got very hungry and thirsty just waiting. He looked around and sure enough, he saw an attractive eatery not far away. “Aha,” he said to himself, “ it’s just like what I thought. It’s a good thing that I brought some money along with me.”

His mouth was already watering as he approached the restaurant. But before he sat down to eat, he was told that the money he had brought along had no value now. In fact, the only money that was of any value now was the money he had given away on earth. The rich man dropped his head in deep thought, but could not remember having given any money away… so now he had none.

As an Englishman of another stripe let his tombstone explained:
“What I spend I had.
What I kept I lost.
What I gave I have.”



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Practice what you preach

Let me share a story from "Quote" which I lifted from a compilation of stories entitled "The Next 500 stories." It is all about conviction.

An office equipment salesman persuaded a merchant to order five hundred ballpoint pens. He was writing the order in his notebook, when suddenly the merchant exclaimed, "Hold on! I'm canceling the order." He then turned to wait on a customer at the counter.

The salesman left the store wondering why the businessman had changed his mind.

Later, the merchant's bookkeeper asked, "Why did you cancel that order for ballpoint pens?"

"Why?" answered the man, rather angrily. "Because he talked ballpoints to me for a half-hour, using a number of convincing arguments, and then he wrote out my order with a pencil. His practice did not agree with his profession. I don't trust those kinds of people."



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Like an echo

A once famous composer and pianist said “I have found that if you love life, life will love you back,” and he could never have said it any better. Life treats us the same way we treat life. How can we expect a life full of joy and happiness when our lives are buried in sadness and grief? If we want other people to treat us fairly then let’s start to treat people nicely.

Here is another good old tale taken from Fr. Frank Mihalic’s compilation of stories:

A little boy came running excitedly to his mother saying, “Mom, there is a boy out there in the woods who is mocking me. Everything I say, he says after me. If I say, ‘Hello,’ he says, ‘Hello.’

When I say, ‘Who are you?’ he says, ‘Who are you?’ I say, ‘What is your name?’ and he also says, ‘What is your name?’

“So I got mad and jumped over the fence and went into the woods to find him. But he wasn’t anywhere. So I yelled, ‘I’ll punch you in the nose.’ And he said the very same thing, exactly as I had said it.’

The boy’s mother told him, “That is only an echo answering you, son. If you had said, ‘I love you,’ it would have said the same to you.”

There is a similar story about a dog that went into a room full of mirrors. He eventually died of exhaustion trying to fight his mirrored “enemies.” If he had only wagged his tail once, he would have had all of them wagging their tails in friendship.

Life is like an echo or a mirror: we get out of it what we put in.

So let's love life so it will love us back.

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Are you working for God?

According to the bible, man is created in God’s image and likeness. It not only means that we are like God in form but we also have spiritual capacity and can exhibit godly character. We can show compassion and God’s goodness through our daily lives. Let us be good Samaritans and be a blessing to other people.

Here is a story taken from Fr. Frank Mihalic’s compilation of stories:

Joe had always been a helpful neighbor and so a lady next door asked him if he could drive her little son to the hospital. Actually, Joe had other plans but he did not know how to say no. So he sat the little boy into the car seat, fastened his seat belt, and started off on the 50-mile trip to the hospital.

As they were driving along, the little boy slowly turned to Joe and asked, “Are you God?”

Startled, Joe said, “No.”

The boy continued, “I heard my mom asking God for some way to get me to a doctor. If you are not God, do you work for him?”

Joe replied, “I guess so – sometimes. And now that you ask, I will be doing it a lot more.”


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A Touching Story From My Email Archives.

I was going over my email archives recently, looking for an email that I know was sent to me a couple of months ago, when I realized how amazing my email inbox has become. It has become an online journal. I felt nostalgia just browsing at email messages that was sent by friends and colleagues a long time ago (well, not that long). I have not seen some of these friends for years. Really, reading old emails brings back memories. I still have email messages that were sent by my colleagues when I was still on another company and I still have an email from the Human Resources of that company acknowledging my resignation. I can also see on my Sent items, the messages that I wrote to friends and family members.

I found a couple of good stuffs as well. You know, the usual funny and inspiring messages that we often received from various sources. Some of these I found entertaining and poignant that I even forwarded the messages to friends or were shared on my blogs. Some, I can not even recall reading and were easily buried to oblivion.

I came across some messages that are worth sharing like this old item:

While a man was polishing his new car one weekend, his five-year-old son picked up a stone and scratched some lines on the side of the vehicle.
In anger, the man grabbed the child’s hand and hit it many times, not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child lost all the fingers of his right hand due to multiple fractures.

When the child saw his father, with painful eyes he asked, “Dad when will my fingers grow back?” Hurt and speechless; the man went back to his car and kicked it several times.

Sitting dejected beside his car, he saw up close what his son had scrawled: “LOVE YOU DAD.”



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Happy Mother's Day 2009!

Myspace Mothers Day Graphics

In whatever language, mother is unquestionably the most adorable and the most beautiful word. This word stands for a world of things a mother gives to her child along with the sacrifices, sorrows and grief she has to undergo for her children’s happiness. Indeed, you can have a number of husbands or wives but you can only have one mother. She is simply irreplaceable. That is why the most important person in an individual’s life is his or her mother.

Here’s an inspiring story about Mother’s Day from TheHolidayspot.com that I also posted here a year ago.


A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away.

As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing.

He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother.
But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars."

The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose."

He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers.
As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home.

She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."

She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.


Please don't forget to greet your mother on this special occasion. Happy mother’s day to all mothers out there!



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Kindness Pays...

Here is another beautiful anecdote that was shared to me via email entitled: KINDNESS PAYS... Based on some articles on the internet, it is a true story that has been greatly exaggerated to better tell the story and to make it more touching. After reading the story, I was reminded of a popular quotation below:

“I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
- William Penn

Here’s the story:

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 payment 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.

Years 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 name of 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 we nt 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 as She read these words.....

"Paid in full with one glass of milk." (Signed) Dr. Howard Kelly.

Tears of joy flooded her eyes as her happy heart prayed: "Thank You, GOD, that Your love has spread abroad through human hearts and hands."
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A beautiful love story

It’s been a while since I last updated this blog and I do apologize to all my fellow bloggers and visitors. Bayantel is still making my head spin; I still don’t have my DSL connection.

Anyway, I would like to share this story from an email sent to me yesterday. The subject says, “Naiyak ako dito.” Although I didn’t shed a tear after reading the story, it subtly touches my heart. Hope you will enjoy it.

Here’s the story:

There was once this guy who is very much in love with his girl. This romantic guy folded 1,000 pieces of paper cranes as a gift to his girl.

Although, at that time he was just a small fry in his company, his future didn't seem too bright, they were very happy together. Until one day, his girl told him she was going to Paris and will never come back. She also told him that she cannot visualize any future for the both of them, so they went their own ways there and then...
Heartbroken, the guy agreed. But when he regained his confidence, he worked hard day and night, slogging his body and mind just to make something out of himself.

Finally with all the hard work and the help of friends, this guy had set up his own company ..

You never fail until you stop trying. One rainy day, while this guy was driving, he saw an elderly couple sharing an umbrella in the rain walking to some destination. Even with the umbrella, they were still drenched. It didn't take him long to realize they were his girl's parents.

With a heart in getting back at them, he drove slowly beside the couple, wanting them to spot him in his luxury sedan. He wanted them to know that he wasn't the same any more; he had his own company, car, condo, etc. He made it! What he saw nex tconfused him, the couple was walking towards a cemetery, and so he got out of his car and followed...and he saw his girl, a photograph of her smiling sweetly as
ever at him from her tombstone and he saw his paper cranes right beside her...

Her parents saw him. He asked them why this had happened. They explained, she did not leave for France at all. She was ill with cancer. She had believed that he will make it someday, but she did not want to be his obstacle... therefore she had chosen to leave him.

Just because someone doesn't love you the way you wa nt them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have. She had wanted her parents to put his paper cranes beside her, because, if the day comes when fate brings him to her again...he can take some of those back with him...

Once you have loved, you will always love. For what's in your mind may escape but what's in your heart will remain forever.

The guy just wept...The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside her knowing you can't have her, see her or be with her ever again.........hope you understand.

Find time to realize that there is one person who means so much to you, for you might wake up one morning losing that person who you thought meant nothing to you.
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Still on Mother's Day

Still on Mother’s day, I hope you did greet your mother on this special occasion, I did. I know that just saying “Thank you” or “I love you” to our mom is not enough to repay all the years of sorrows and sacrifices she bear to make us what we are now, but believe me, it’s good enough for her.

Here’s an inspiring story about Mother’s Day from TheHolidayspot.com:

A man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who
lived two hundred miles away.

As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing.

He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother.

But I only have seventy-five cents, and a rose costs two dollars."

The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose."

He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers.

As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home.

She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."

She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and
drove the two hundred miles to his mother's house.

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Happy Mother's Day

Myspace Mothers Day Graphics


In whatever language, mother is unquestionably the most adorable and the most beautiful word. This word stands for a world of things a mother gives to her child along with the sacrifices, sorrows and grief she has to undergo for her children. Indeed, you can have a number of husbands or wives but you can only have one mother. She is simply irreplaceable. That is why the most important person in an individual’s life is his or her mother.

Tomorrow, we will celebrate the Mother’s Day and one of the best ways to honor Mother’s Day is to give our mother a day off. Let her take it easy and relax while the rest of the family does the work. It is a good day to let our mom unwind and let her see what a wonderful family she has.

As we celebrate the Mother’s Day, let’s take our time to honor our mothers and express gratitude for the hardships they bear in bringing us up.

Here is an interesting poem I stumbled upon Mother’s Day on the Net:

M - O - T - H - E - R

"M" is for the million things she gave me,

"O" means only that she's growing old,

"T" is for the tears she shed to save me,

"H" is for her heart of purest gold;

"E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining,

"R" means right, and right she'll always be,

Put them all together, they spell

"MOTHER,"

A word that means the world to me.

Howard Johnson (c. 1915)
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The Alchemist

A friend sent me an e-book of “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho a couple of months ago but I just finished reading it yesterday. I was able to read it while waiting for calls to come in. This book is a symbolic tale that urges us to follow our dreams and aspirations.

The novel tells the story of Santiago, a boy who has the courage to follow his dream. It followed the boy’s adventure from being a shepherd in Andalusia to his journey to search for the symbolic hidden treasure near the pyramids of Egypt.

The Alchemist is a must-read novel that is bursting with optimism. In simple terms, the book is telling us that you can achieve your dream as long as you really want to achieve it.

“When you really want something to happen, the whole universe conspires so that your wish comes true,” this is what the old King said when he spoke to Santiago and this is the foundation on this book’s philosophy.

My favorite line in the book is this:

"…I don't live in either my past or my future. I'm interested only in
the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you'll be a happy
man. You'll see that there is life in the desert, that there are stars in the
heavens… Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment
we're living right now."

If you want to download the e-book for free, click on this link.
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