Chapter 8, Page 19, Book 18

You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.

Amy Carmichael

The greatest gift

To give and not expect return, that is what lies at the heart of love.

Oscar Wilde

I think the greatest gift we can give and that we can receive is love.  Love is what makes this crazy world we live in worthwhile.  Love brings life everywhere it goes.

The feeling of love is the very best feeling in the world.  Yet most people do not go through there days filled with love and instead feel empty and alone.

Sharing love is truly an amazing experience.  Time and place are irrelevant.  Love can be had from any distance.  The love we share shows that we care. You can have more for yourself when you share.   Without love we are nothing.  

Love lifts us up, moves us, colors our world, holds us steady is in a storm.  Love is where we go in times of darkness and in times of light. It knows no bounds.  Love is the glue that puts us together when we are broken. 

Even if a person has billions of dollars, thousand of friends and hundreds of things, they are no richer than anyone who has love.  

The greatest gift that you can give to others if the gift of unconditional love and acceptance.

Brian Tracy

Chapter 8, Page 18, Book 18

It’s a new day, fresh start, fresh energy, new opportunities.  Get your mind right, be thankful, be positive and start your day right

Author Unknown

Every morning brings a fresh new start

I will greet the day with love in my heart.

Og Mandino

The sun is rising a little later every morning here in Ohio.  All summer I have loved waking up to daylight.  But now its often still dark out when I get up.  I’m already missing the longer days of light.  

I am an early riser and love the quiet of the early morning when everything seems fresh and new.  Even though I go to bed tired out, a good nights sleep for me is always refreshing.  I no longer need an alarm clock, I automatically wake up when I’ve had enough sleep.

Yesterday I had a chance to go for a long ride out in the country and was reminded of the song Oh What a Beautiful Morning.  The corn was growing right up to the sky!  I am truly thankful for the beauty all around us.  

Fall is right around the corner now  and harvest time will soon be upon us.  Mornings will still come, just a little bit later.  Every day will still be a fresh new beginning.  

Nature gives to every time and season some beauties of its own; and from morning to night, as from cradle to grave, it is but a succession of changes so gentle and easy that we scarily mark their progress.

Charles Dickens

Chapter 8, Page 17, Book 18

Forgiveness is the economy of the heart…Forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits.

Hannah More

Forgive completely, Forgive regardless of the cost.  Forgive from your heart.

Forgive, forget.  Bear with the faults of others as you would have them bear with yours.  Be patient and understanding.  Life is too short to be vengeful or malicious.

Philip Brooks

It is amazing how many angry or resentful thoughts against people are able to bounce around in our heads. But according to the logic of love, forgiveness should breed forgiveness and mercy should breed mercy.  It is easy to say but hard to do. 

You don’t have to accept the invitation to get angry.  Instead practice forgiveness, empathy and encouragement.

Dan Fallon

The truth is that if we didn’t judge other people we’d have no reason to ever be angry.  It’s the actions of others that give us reason to forgive in the first place.  It’s also the reason we often need to forgive ourselves.  

For me there is only one Judge and I am in no way able to be the judge of anyone else.  I may not like what others do, but that doesn’t mean I can’t like them.  I may not like what others say, but that doesn’t mean that I have to join in.

Forgiveness is not about justifying someone’s offense, forgetting their behavior nor reconciliation.  It’s not about forgetting.  It is way more than this. Forgiveness is the key to happiness.  Forgiveness is a choice and forgiveness is an attitude.

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned.

St. Francis of Assisi

Chapter 8, Page 16, Book 18

We all have weaknesses.  But I have figured that others have put up with mine so tolerantly that I would be less than fair not to make a reasonable discount for theirs.

William Allen White

Because I’m weak, I am strong

May your have the strength to enjoy your weaknesses.

Florence Edwards

We all have times that we have a hard time juggling all the things we have to do.  At the end of the day we feeling like we’re drained, weak and insufficient because we cannot keep up with it all. 

Not many will be boast of being weak, but I’m here to tell you the only strength I have at all is because I am a weak person.

I am strong because I am weak.  I am beautiful because I know my flaws.  I am a lover because I am a fighter.  I’m fearless because I have been afraid .  I am wise because I have been foolish .  I can laugh because I’ve know sadness.

There are times in my life when I really struggle.  There are times when I want to stop caring and just give up.  But failures and mistakes only help to make us stronger.  

I’ve messed up and I’ve struggled, I’m only human, I am weak.   I have so much to be thankful for that I really have no reason at all to complain.  My family, my friends are always there for me.

And through it all I gained strength.  My weakness became my strength .  It is a hard lesson to learn.  With the good Lord's help, I get back up each time I fall .  Sometimes I’m weak and tired, but I’ve found the strength to go on.  

Our great strengths are our greatest weaknesses.

Gordon Livingston

Chapter 8, Page 15, Book 18

Enthusiasm is the thing which makes the world go round.  Without its driving power, nothing worth doing has ever been done.  Love, friendship, religion, altruism, devotion to career or hobby - all these, and most other good things of life, are forms of enthusiasm.

Robert H. Schauffler

Enthusiastic:  having or showing intense and eager enjoyment, interest or approval.  Showing excitement about something.

Years may wrinkle our skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.

Samuel Ullman

When we are enthusiastic about our goals, we are committed to making things happen.  We put our hearts and souls into it.  We give it everything we’ve got. 

I have always felt that whatever it is we choose to da each day, we should do it wth all our hearts. If its not worth being enthusiastic about, it’s really not worth doing.  Having enthusiasm if fairly easy for the fun and exciting things, but it’s not easy for the tough things.

 We need to be dedicated to accomplish the tasks at hand but also be enthusiastic and excited about doing them.  What we do each day makes up all the days of our lives and we all want a good life.  

We act as though comfort and luxury were the chief requirements in life, when all we need to make us really happy is something to be enthusiastic about. 

Charles Kingsley

Chapter 8, Page 14, Book 18

Promise only what you can deliver. then deliver more than you promise.

Author Unknown

I’ve promises to keep

Losers make promises they often break.  Winners make commitments they always keep.

Denis Waitley

When we don’t keep a promise, it communicates that we don’t value the people that we’ve made them to.  We have chosen to put something else ahead of our commitment.  Even when we break small promises, others learn they cannot count on us.

Keeping promises is important for happy and healthy relationships.  To know that you trust someone is one of the keys to friendship.

It’s easy to make promises but keeping and delivering on them show that you have integrity and honesty and that you are trustworthy.

If you can’t keep a promise don’t make it.  Make a promise and be committed.  

But  I’ve promises to keep, 

And miles to go before I sleep

Robert Frost

Chapter 8, Page 13, Book 18

Always Remember

Always remember to forget 

the things that made you sad

But never forget to REMEMBER

the things that made you glad...

Always remember to forget 

the friends that proved untrue.

But don’t forget to REMEMBER 

those that have stuck by you…

Always remember to forget 

the troubles that have passed away

But never forget to REMEMBER

the blessings that come each day…

Author Unknown

Celebrate the good memories

The best things in life are free.

Family, Friends, Smiles,

Hugs, Kisses, Nature,

Oxygen, Love, Sleep and 

Good Memories

Good times make for good memories and those are the ones I treasure. I try to never miss a celebration of any kind in our family because that is where memories are in the making.  It’s the people that we celebrate with who make our days joyful and meaningful.  The trick is to celebrate the good times in advance of the difficult times.  

Life is richer with good memories and I intend to make more of them.  It’s easy to lose sight of life’s little pleasures, but if you take the time to notice them, to bring them in to focus, you can make them last for years and years.

Don’t let the years pass with creating some good times that you and your family and friends will cherish.  The people in our lives, not places are what make the best memories.

Sometimes

your will never know

the true value of 

A MOMENT until it becomes 

A MEMORY