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WITandWISDOM(tm) - July 17, 2002 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Character is property ... it is the noblest of possessions. Source: Mr. Mom's Mailing List, http://mrmom.amaonline.com/ Subjects: Character ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: It was a rainy bone-chilling night. A young seminary student was working in a homeless shelter which housed over 100 and on this cold evening more had come to be housed than there were cots or mats. As often happens when there is a shortage, disagreements broke out. The minority groups argued that they were not being fairly treated. It was beginning to look like emotions were getting out of hand - more than the employee, the young seminary student, in charge could handle. Then the door opened and in stumbled a tattered man. With the unsteady gate of the inebriated, he managed to get to a mat in the middle of the room, plop down, pull off his boots, and immediately go to sleep. Just as quickly everyone in the room became acutely aware of the stench from those boots and feet. Someone suggested that he be taken to the shower. It was impossible to awaken him. Well, then, carry him to the shower. But he weighed over 200 lbs. Then the seminary student thought of washing the feet where he was. No basin was available, so he went to the kitchen, found a bowl which he filled with warm water. The only soap quickly available was the lemon-scented dish soap, so he put that in the water. Finding a towel, he took the towel and water to the sleeping odoriferous man. Kneeling beside him, he requested that someone take the boots outside to air. Then he began trying to take off the encrusted socks. He finally managed, and sent them to the garbage outside the building. Then one by one, he put the man's feet in the bowl and gently washed away the grime from his feet and ankles. The lemon scent from the soap helped the smell little. The water quickly became black. The seminary student was almost finished when he happened to glance to see that he was surrounded. He obviously was the center of attention. What would be their response. Completing his task, he slowly rose. The first face he noticed was a black man who normally wore a scowl. He was smiling, then he saw that everyone else was smiling also. Some who had taken both a mat and a cot, now shared the mat with someone who had none. In a spirit of helpfulness, everyone settled down to sleep, having received the greatest sermon this young preacher might ever preach. Author Unknown Submitted Iris Stober Subjects: Homeless, Humility, Sermons ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Handy Hormone Hostage Guide The Hormone Hostage knows that there are days in the month when all a man has to do is open his mouth and he takes his life in his hands. This "Handy Hormone Hostage Guide" should be as common as a driver's license in the wallet of every husband, boyfriend, or significant other. Dangerous: What's for dinner? Safer: Can I help you with dinner? Safest: Where would you like to go for dinner? Dangerous: Are you wearing THAT? Safer: My, you look good in brown. Safest: Wow! Look at you! Dangerous: What are you so worked up about? Safer: Could we be overreacting? Safest: Here's fifty dollars. Dangerous: Should you be eating that? Safer: You know, there are a lot of apples left. Safest: Can I get you something to drink with that? Dangerous: What did you DO all day? Safer: I hope you didn't overdo today. Safest: Y'know, I've always loved you in that robe. Submitted by Marilyn Graham Subjects: Marriage ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: "Golf's a hard game to figure. One day you'll go out and slice it and shank it, hit into all the traps and miss every green. The next day you go out and, for no reason at all, you really stink." - Bob Hope Source: Absolute Humor, http://AbsoluteRobeo.com Subjects: Golf ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: SIMPLY GENEROUS Part 3 of 5 [Jul 15, 16, 17, 18, 19] If you can't afford to buy gifts for loved ones and friends this year, use something other than money to create what you want. Give gifts of the heart. GIFTS OF SERVICE If you have a certain skill or talent, offer it. This could include massages, facials, hair cuts or perms, wallpapering, photography, dog grooming, typing, or whatever you do best. Offer to do what the people on your list particularly need, dislike doing, or have little time to do themselves. For example, you could give your sister the gift of organizing her closets. Or you could clean your best friend's house, detail your nephew's car, or baby-sit for a neighbor. You can also give out coupons good for dinners during the next year, redeemable at a time convenient for you. You might want to consider bartering for something you think someone on your shopping list would like. For example, if you want give your grandmother an afghan but you don't crochet, trade your services as a baby-sitter in exchange for the afghan from a friend who does crochet. By Patricia L. Fry Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) December 2000, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com Submitted by Dale Galusha Subjects: Gifts |