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WIT & WISDOM - September 9, 1998 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Character is not made in a crisis-it is only exhibited. - Robert Freeman [1] ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: The only survivor of a shipwreck washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stung with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Paul wrote, ". . .I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want" (Philippians 4:12). Paul had confidence that good would come out of everything (Romans 8:28), so he learned to be thankful, not bitter, even when he was suffering. Who knows? Remember next time your little hut is burning to the ground it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God. [2] ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: YOU MIGHT BE A NURSE IF . . . (From Patty) You have the bladder capacity of 5 people. You have your weekends off planned for a year in advance. You believe that "ask a nurse" is an evil plot. You believe that unspeakable evils will befall you if the phrase "wow, it's really quiet" is uttered. You mutter, "great veins" when being introduced to a stranger. Your most common assessment question is, "What changed tonight to make it an emergency after 6 (hours, days, weeks months, years)? You have been exposed to so many x-rays that you consider radiation a form of birth control. You have ever had a patient say, "But I'm not pregnant; I can't be pregnant, how can I be having a baby?" You have ever had a patient control his seizures when offered some food. The hems in your scrub pants are held in with steristrips. You refer to motorcyclists as "organ donors." You are the only one at the dinner table NOT allowed to talk about your day at work. You've ever had a patient with a nose-ring tell you, "I'm afraid of shots." You believe that the sight of a full moon can ruin a perfectly good day. You've ever sworn you are going to have "NO CODE" tattooed on your chest. [3] ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?" I mentally polished my halo while I asked, "No, how are we alike?" "You're both old," he replied. [4] ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Ida and David both wanted all their sons to graduate from college. They knew their boys would have to pay their own way since David never made more than $150 a month. Still, they encouraged their sons to achieve all they could. Arthur, however, went directly from high school to a job. Edgar began studying law. When Dwight graduated he didn't have a goal in mind, so he and Ed made a pact: Dwight would work two years while Ed studied, sending Ed as much as he could, and then they would reverse the arrangement. While working Dwight found an opportunity that appealed to him more than college - West Point. Both Ida and David were crushed by Dwight's decision. Ida was deeply convinced that soldiering was wicked. Still, all she ever said to him was, "It is your choice." David also remained silent, allowing his adult son full freedom to forge his own future. Yes, Ida and David wisely held their tongues - but they never withheld their applause, especially on the day their son, General Dwight Eisenhower, became President of the United States of America. From God's Little Devotional Book from A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Copyright 1996 by Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen & Barry Spilchuk [5] ~~~~~~~ CONTRIBUTORS: [1] (4 Thoughts of the Week http://www.netastic.com/4tow/4tow.html) [2] (Amy Awtrey) [3] (Fast Eddie's Funnies http://recommend-it.com/l.z.e?s=154533) [4] (The Funnies Andychap@aol.com) [5] (Chicken Soup for the Soul: Free Home Delivery http://www.soupserver.com/) |