| Prior Date | Archive Index | Next Date |
|
WITandWISDOM(tm) - May 15, 2003 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Difficulties increase the nearer we approach the goal. - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Source: The Funnies, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/andychaps_the-funnies ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: The Street Orphan By Max Lucado He couldn't have been more than six years old. Dirty face, barefoot, torn T-shirt, matted hair. He wasn't too different from the other hundred thousand street orphans that roam Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I was walking to get a cup of coffee when he came behind me. With my thoughts some-where between the task I had just finished and the class I was about to teach, I scarcely felt the tap on my hand. I stopped, turned, and looked downward. There he stood. "Pao, senhor?" ("Bread, sir?") In my five years as a missionary in Brazil, there were daily opportunities to buy a candy bar or sandwich for these little outcasts. It's the least one can do. I told the boy to come with me, and we entered a sidewalk cafe. "Coffee for me and something tasty for my little friend." The boy ran to the pastry counter and made his choice. Normally, these youngsters take the food and scamper back to the street without a word. But this little fellow surprised me. I went to the other end of the cafe and began drinking my coffee. Just as I was getting my derailed train of thought back on track, I saw him again, standing on tiptoe at the entrance, bread in hand, looking in at the people. He saw me and scurried over, standing about eye level with my belt buckle. The little Brazilian orphan looked up at the big American missionary, smiled a smile that would have stolen your heart, and said, "Obrigado." ("Thank you.") Nervously scratching the back of his ankle with his big toe, he added, "Muito obrigado." ("Thank you very much.") All of a sudden, I had a crazy craving to buy him the whole restaurant. But before I could say anything, he turned and scampered out the door. Years have passed since that day in the cafe, and I'm still pondering this question: If I am so moved by a street orphan who says thank you for a piece of bread, how much more is God moved when we pause to care for one of His children? When we care for those in our world who need food, shelter, healing, or hope, we come nearer to knowing God. The sign of the saved is their love for the least. From: "No Wonder They Call Him the Savior," By Lucado, Max, Published by Multnomah Pub (June 1, 1986), ISBN: 0880706112, http://isbn.nu/0880706112 Source: Signs of the Times, Copyright (c) March 2003, Pacific Press, http://www.signstimes.com Submitted by Dale Galusha ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: A Texan was taking a taxi tour of London, and was in a hurry. As they went by the Tower of London the cabby explained what it was and that construction started in 1346 and it was completed in 1412, the Texan replied, "Shoot, a little ol' tower like that? In Houston we'd have that thing up in two weeks!" House of Parliament next - Started construction in 1544, completed 1618 "Boy, we put up a bigger one than that in Dallas and it only took a year!" As they passed Westminister Abbey the cabby was silent. "Whoah! What's that over there?" asked the Texan. "I'll be blessed if I know, wasn't there yesterday..." replied the cabby. Source: Gentle Humor, mailto:words@netcarrier.com?subject=GHSubscribe ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: A woman was at home with her children when the telephone rang. In going to answer it, she tripped on a rug, grabbed for something to hold on to and seized the telephone table. It fell over with a crash, jarring the receiver off the hook. As it fell, it hit the family dog, who leaped up, howling and barking. The woman's three-year-old son, startled by this noise, broke into loud screams. The woman mumbled some words. She finally managed to pick up the receiver and lift it to her ear, just in time to hear her husband's voice on the other end say, "Nobody's said hello yet, but I'm positive I have the right number." Source: Absolute Humor, http://absoluterobeo.com ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: Question: Who wrote the song "Happy Birthday"? Answer: This, possibly the best-known song ever written, was composed by Mildred Hill, a pianist and teacher in Kentucky, and published in 1893. The original words were "Good Morning to All," written by Mildred's sister Patty, also a teacher, as a daily classroom greeting. The birthday lyrics were added later by Patty. Today, Warner/Chappell Music owns the copyright. Each time the song is played on air or film, the company and a foundation created by the Hill family receive a fee, generating roughly $2 million every year. Source: Reader's Digest, Copyright (c) April 2000, http://www.readersdigest.com/ |