Bread for The Day

[Raven]

ANYWAY

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Be good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People need help but will attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

~ Kent Keith, made famous by Mother Teresa*

* Kent Keith originated this poem in 1968, and Mother Teresa placed it on her children's home in Calcutta in a slightly different version. As a result, many have attributed it to Mother Teresa.

Raven

[AmericanAngel]

I like the final analysis!

[CC1]

Speaking of "Bread For The Day" last night I made a homemade loaf of Banana Bread!

[SDG]

Thanx for sharing this Elder.

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by Raven

ANYWAY

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Be good anyway.

Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People need help but will attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway.

In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.

~ Kent Keith, made famous by Mother Teresa*

* Kent Keith originated this poem in 1968, and Mother Teresa placed it on her children's home in Calcutta in a slightly different version. As a result, many have attributed it to Mother Teresa.

Raven

Thanks Raven, been missing you on here!

[Tyk]

Enjoyed this very much

[Raven]

It Only Takes One

By Char Feldman

Reprinted with permission from the Fargo Forum, May 6, 2003. It appeared in a special section called "Generations." This was the first-place award winning entry in the Commentary on Life division in a writing contest sponsored by the Forum. (Ed.)

It only takes one person to make a difference. It only takes one person to change the course of history. How do we know that? Does it take great, big, heroic deeds of enormous courage? I don't think so. I believe history is changed by how we simply live our lives, each and every day. Many, many years ago, Dr. Frank Mayfield was touring a poorhouse called Tewksbury Institute of Massachusetts when, on his way out, he accidentally collided with an elderly floor maid. To cover the awkward moment, Dr. Mayfield started asking her questions.

"How long have you worked here?"
"I've worked here almost since the place opened," the maid replied.
"What can you tell me about the history of this place?" he asked.
"I don't think I can tell you anything, but I could show you something."

With that, she took his hand and led him down to the basement under the oldest section of the building. She pointed to one of what looked like small prison cells; their iron bars rusted with age, and said, "That's the cage where they used to keep Annie." Annie was born to Irish parents. When she was nine years old, Annie and her brother Jimmy were sent to live at Tewksbury because their mother had died of tuberculosis, their father was an alcoholic, and the rest of their family did not want to care for them. Tewksbury was a home for charity cases, and Annie and her little brother roomed and boarded there, with the mentally ill, with prostitutes, with those whom society did not want. Annie fought for Jimmy and herself to be together, and they had beds next to each other, but Jimmy had a tubercular hip from birth and he died shortly after arriving at Tewksbury leaving Annie alone.

Annie was incorrigible-which means nobody could do anything with her. She'd bite and scream and throw her food at people. Annie threw terrible temper tantrums. The doctors and nurses couldn't even examine her. The maid would see them trying to work with Annie and she watched Annie spit and scratch at them. The floor maid was only a few years younger than Annie, and she used to think, "I sure would hate to be locked up in a cage like that." The maid wanted to help her, but she didn't have any idea what she could do. She thought, if doctors and nurses couldn't help Annie, what could someone like her do? She didn't know what else to do, so she just baked Annie some brownies one night after work. The next day she brought them in, walked carefully to Annie's cage, and said, "Annie, I baked these brownies just for you. I'll put them right hereon the floor, and you can come and get them if you want."

Then the maid got out of there just as fast as she could because she was afraid Annie might throw them at her. But Annie didn't. She actually took the brownies and ate them. After that, she was just a little bit nicer to the floor maid. And sometimes the maid and Annie would talk. Once, they even laughed together.

One of the nurses noticed this and she told the doctor. They asked the floor maid if she'd help them with Annie. She said she would if she could. So that's how it came about that every time they wanted to see Annie or examine her, the maid went into the cage first and explained and calmed Annie down and held her hand. It is because of the kindness and wisdom of this floor maid that they discovered that Annie was almost blind. She had trachoma in her eyes since she was three from poor hygiene conditions and, left untreated, it left her almost totally blind. They began working with Annie, even though it was still tough sledding. After about a year or so, the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston opened its doors. Annie was going to be able to attend. She was 14. Annie's dream to escape an indescribable childhood of abandonment and loss was coming true. She was going to school. At first, her classmates mocked her for her lack of social and academic skills, but over time she gained their respect through her perseverance and the strength of her personality. There were teachers who could not tolerate her quick mouth and ready challenge of authority, but a number of key teachers saw her potential and nourished her and shaped her.

Six years later, in 1886, Annie graduated at the age of 20. She was the valedictorian. Annie became a teacher. Annie said, " I know that gradually I began to accept things as they were, and rebel less and less. The realization came to me that I could not alter anything but myself. I must accept the conventional order of society if I were to succeed in anything. I must bend to the inevitable, and govern my life by experience, not might-have beens."

Annie came back to the Tewksbury Institute to visit, and to see what she could do to help out. At first, the director didn't say anything. Then he thought about a letter he'd just received. A man had written to him about his daughter. She was absolutely unruly-almost like an animal. He'd been told she was blind and deaf as well as "deranged." He was at his wit's end, but he didn't want to put her in an asylum. So he had written the Institute to ask if they knew of anyone-any teacher-who could come to his house and work with his daughter. And that is how Annie-Annie Sullivan-became the lifelong companion of Helen Keller. Annie helped Helen talk, read, write, and feel alive.

Annie Sullivan became known as a great American teacher. Her gift was her dedication. Another quote of Annie's: "Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction." Annie gave Helen Keller more than instruction. She literally gave her life and career to make Helen Keller great. However, the story does not end here. When Helen Keller received the Nobel Prize, she was asked who had the greatest impact on her life and she said, "Annie Sullivan." But Annie said, "No, Helen. The woman who had the greatest influence on both our lives was a floor maid at the Tewksbury poor house." Let's pause a moment and think about this: If not for a floor maid early in Annie Sullivan's life, who knows how the rest of Annie's life might have been? If not for Annie Sullivan, who knows how the rest of Helen Keller's life might have been? If not for Helen Keller, all of us, and society, would have lost a great deal. An anonymous floor maid lived her life, as all of us should. She saw someone in need, asked herself, "What can I do?" and then, she did something. She did something simple. She was kind. She was an example of friendship and fellowship. It didn't take a lot of money, a lot of people, a lot of things. It took a pan of brownies flavored with kindness to change the course of history. History is changed when just one person asks, what can someone like me do? And then does something. Let's all of us live our lives simply. Let's be kind, show friendship and fellowship. There is a quote that says, "On the day you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. On the day you die, may the world cry and you rejoice."

How? The answer is simple. While you are here, make a difference in someone. And possibly, quite possibly, you will change the course of history.

Remember, it only takes one!


Raven

[Esther]

Originally Posted by Raven

It Only Takes One

By Char Feldman

Reprinted with permission from the Fargo Forum, May 6, 2003. It appeared in a special section called "Generations." This was the first-place award winning entry in the Commentary on Life division in a writing contest sponsored by the Forum. (Ed.)

It only takes one person to make a difference. It only takes one person to change the course of history. How do we know that? Does it take great, big, heroic deeds of enormous courage? I don't think so. I believe history is changed by how we simply live our lives, each and every day. Many, many years ago, Dr. Frank Mayfield was touring a poorhouse called Tewksbury Institute of Massachusetts when, on his way out, he accidentally collided with an elderly floor maid. To cover the awkward moment, Dr. Mayfield started asking her questions.

"How long have you worked here?"
"I've worked here almost since the place opened," the maid replied.
"What can you tell me about the history of this place?" he asked.
"I don't think I can tell you anything, but I could show you something."

With that, she took his hand and led him down to the basement under the oldest section of the building. She pointed to one of what looked like small prison cells; their iron bars rusted with age, and said, "That's the cage where they used to keep Annie." Annie was born to Irish parents. When she was nine years old, Annie and her brother Jimmy were sent to live at Tewksbury because their mother had died of tuberculosis, their father was an alcoholic, and the rest of their family did not want to care for them. Tewksbury was a home for charity cases, and Annie and her little brother roomed and boarded there, with the mentally ill, with prostitutes, with those whom society did not want. Annie fought for Jimmy and herself to be together, and they had beds next to each other, but Jimmy had a tubercular hip from birth and he died shortly after arriving at Tewksbury leaving Annie alone.

Annie was incorrigible-which means nobody could do anything with her. She'd bite and scream and throw her food at people. Annie threw terrible temper tantrums. The doctors and nurses couldn't even examine her. The maid would see them trying to work with Annie and she watched Annie spit and scratch at them. The floor maid was only a few years younger than Annie, and she used to think, "I sure would hate to be locked up in a cage like that." The maid wanted to help her, but she didn't have any idea what she could do. She thought, if doctors and nurses couldn't help Annie, what could someone like her do? She didn't know what else to do, so she just baked Annie some brownies one night after work. The next day she brought them in, walked carefully to Annie's cage, and said, "Annie, I baked these brownies just for you. I'll put them right hereon the floor, and you can come and get them if you want."

Then the maid got out of there just as fast as she could because she was afraid Annie might throw them at her. But Annie didn't. She actually took the brownies and ate them. After that, she was just a little bit nicer to the floor maid. And sometimes the maid and Annie would talk. Once, they even laughed together.

One of the nurses noticed this and she told the doctor. They asked the floor maid if she'd help them with Annie. She said she would if she could. So that's how it came about that every time they wanted to see Annie or examine her, the maid went into the cage first and explained and calmed Annie down and held her hand. It is because of the kindness and wisdom of this floor maid that they discovered that Annie was almost blind. She had trachoma in her eyes since she was three from poor hygiene conditions and, left untreated, it left her almost totally blind. They began working with Annie, even though it was still tough sledding. After about a year or so, the Perkins Institute for the Blind in Boston opened its doors. Annie was going to be able to attend. She was 14. Annie's dream to escape an indescribable childhood of abandonment and loss was coming true. She was going to school. At first, her classmates mocked her for her lack of social and academic skills, but over time she gained their respect through her perseverance and the strength of her personality. There were teachers who could not tolerate her quick mouth and ready challenge of authority, but a number of key teachers saw her potential and nourished her and shaped her.

Six years later, in 1886, Annie graduated at the age of 20. She was the valedictorian. Annie became a teacher. Annie said, " I know that gradually I began to accept things as they were, and rebel less and less. The realization came to me that I could not alter anything but myself. I must accept the conventional order of society if I were to succeed in anything. I must bend to the inevitable, and govern my life by experience, not might-have beens."

Annie came back to the Tewksbury Institute to visit, and to see what she could do to help out. At first, the director didn't say anything. Then he thought about a letter he'd just received. A man had written to him about his daughter. She was absolutely unruly-almost like an animal. He'd been told she was blind and deaf as well as "deranged." He was at his wit's end, but he didn't want to put her in an asylum. So he had written the Institute to ask if they knew of anyone-any teacher-who could come to his house and work with his daughter. And that is how Annie-Annie Sullivan-became the lifelong companion of Helen Keller. Annie helped Helen talk, read, write, and feel alive.

Annie Sullivan became known as a great American teacher. Her gift was her dedication. Another quote of Annie's: "Children require guidance and sympathy far more than instruction." Annie gave Helen Keller more than instruction. She literally gave her life and career to make Helen Keller great. However, the story does not end here. When Helen Keller received the Nobel Prize, she was asked who had the greatest impact on her life and she said, "Annie Sullivan." But Annie said, "No, Helen. The woman who had the greatest influence on both our lives was a floor maid at the Tewksbury poor house." Let's pause a moment and think about this: If not for a floor maid early in Annie Sullivan's life, who knows how the rest of Annie's life might have been? If not for Annie Sullivan, who knows how the rest of Helen Keller's life might have been? If not for Helen Keller, all of us, and society, would have lost a great deal. An anonymous floor maid lived her life, as all of us should. She saw someone in need, asked herself, "What can I do?" and then, she did something. She did something simple. She was kind. She was an example of friendship and fellowship. It didn't take a lot of money, a lot of people, a lot of things. It took a pan of brownies flavored with kindness to change the course of history. History is changed when just one person asks, what can someone like me do? And then does something. Let's all of us live our lives simply. Let's be kind, show friendship and fellowship. There is a quote that says, "On the day you were born, you cried and the world rejoiced. On the day you die, may the world cry and you rejoice."

How? The answer is simple. While you are here, make a difference in someone. And possibly, quite possibly, you will change the course of history.

Remember, it only takes one!


Raven

I like this.

I have read this story before. But it is always a good refresher about the simple things in life having a profound affect on others.