"Acceptance says, “True, this is my situation at the moment. I’ll look unblinkingly at the reality of it. But I’ll also open my hands to accept willingly whatever a loving Father sends me."
Catharine Marshall
I Would Pick More Daisies
When the late Nadine Stair of Louisville, Kentucky, was 85 years old, she was asked what she would do if she had her life to live over again.
“I’d make more mistakes next time,” she said. “I’d relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier than I have been on this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I’d have fewer imaginary ones.
“You see, I’m one of those people who live sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I’ve had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I’d have more of them. In fact, I’d try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I’ve been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, and a raincoat. If I had to do it over again, I would travel lighter than I have.
“If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dances. I would ride more merry-go-rounds and I would pick more daisies.”
"To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe."
Anatole France
99 Coins
Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content.
One day, the King came upon a Servant who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the Supreme Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly Servant had so much joy. The King asked the Servant, “Why are you so happy?”
The Servant replied, “Your Majesty, I am nothing but a Servant, but my family and I don’t need too much - just a Roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies.”
The King was not satisfied with that reply.
Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted Advisor. After hearing the King’s woes and the Servant’s story, the Advisor said, “Your Majesty, I believe that the Servant has not been made part of The 99 Club.”
“The 99 Club? And what exactly is that?” the King inquired.
The Advisor replied, “Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Club is place 99 Gold Coins in a bag and leave it at this Servant’s doorstep.”
When the Servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy… so many Gold Coins!
He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 Coins.
He wondered, “What could’ve happened to that last Gold Coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 Coins!”
He looked everywhere he could, but that final Coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted, he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that Gold Coin and complete his collection.
From that day, the Servant’s life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th Gold Coin. He stopped singing while he worked.
Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his Advisor’s help, the Advisor said, “Your Majesty, the Servant has now officially joined The 99 Club.”
He continued, “The 99 Club is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they’re always yearning and striving for that extra “1” telling to themselves: “Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life.”
We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we’re given something bigger and better, we want even more!
We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a Price for our growing needs and desires.
"When you come to the end of all the light you know, and it’s time to step into the darkness of the unknown, faith is knowing that one of two things shall happen: Either you will be given something solid to stand on or you will be taught to fly."
Edward Teller
