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WITandWISDOM(tm) - November 19, 2004 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: Tolerance is giving to every other human being every right that you claim for yourself. - Robert Green Ingersoll Source: Carol's Thought for Today, http://www.kalama.com/~carola/ ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Years ago during the week of my birthday, our family decided to go for a leisurely stroll through our local shopping center. Ryan, who was eight at the time, opened his piggybank and took out five dollars he had been saving for something special. As we walked along, window shopping and enjoying being together, Ryan announced that he wanted to have some time alone to go to the toy store and pet shop. We set a time and place where we would meet, and off he went. In about thirty minutes, he came walking up with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Ryan said, "Here, Mom, this is for your birthday. But you can open it right now!" By the look on his face, it was obvious that he felt strongly about my opening the gift right there in the middle of the mall. So we found a nearby bench. He announced his present had cost a lot of money. (He had spent the entire five dollars on it.) As shoppers filed by, he watched excitedly while I carefully unwrapped the package. Gazing down at its contents, I was suddenly filled with emotion. His present wasn't anything he could have found in a toy or pet store. It wasn't even something you'd expect to receive from an eight-year-old boy. There in my lap was a lovely desk set. The ostrich-feathered white pen looked like an old-fashioned quill that Ben Franklin might have used to sign the Declaration of Independence. The stand was padded in matching white, with a spray of pink flowers delicately painted around the edges. My eyes brimmed with tears as I hugged and thanked my son for such an extravagant gift. It has been many years since that day, and I still treasure that pen as a reminder of Ryan's spontaneous gift of love. Source: Night Light: A Devotional for Couples, By Dobson, James C.; Dobson, Shirley Published by Multnomah Pub (September 1, 2000), ISBN: 1576736741, http://isbn.nu/1576736741 ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: One spring evening the Hoyt family were in their cabin eating supper, when through the open door stepped a black and white animal. Remembering his bad reputation, they hesitated but finally offered him some milk. Setting a bowl on the table, they pulled up a chair. Their guest, whom they named Little Corporal, accepted the invitation. From that time on he came for dinner frequently, always displaying the best of manners. If the door was closed, he'd thump his feet or utter little noises. Then one day he disappeared. How they missed his evening visits! Weeks later they heard the familiar thump. Opening the door, they found he had brought Mrs. Corporal and six babies! Assuring his timid family, he brought them into the cabin. Mrs. Corporal, worried, began thumping the floor and standing on her front feet. The little ones followed. Fearfully, the Hoyt family waited, but their bad thoughts about skunks were groundless. Little Corporal climbed up on the chair and pounded the table. The Hoyts quickly put bowls of milk on the floor for Morn and the kids while Dad ate in style. Frequently the skunks came to visit and enjoy their milk. Not once did they break the confidence of friendship. These friendly animals had no desire to leave their sickening odor in the Hoyts' home. When autumn came the family left. Source: Stop, Look and Listen by Eileen E. and Jay H. Lantry, Copyright(c)1976 by Review and Herald Publishing Association, LCCN 75-32229 Submitted by Mary Thayne ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: The theme of the children's story was centered around the thought that everyone, no matter how small, is important to Jesus. I assured them that no matter what they chose to be, Jesus needed them to work for others. Beginning at the end of the row, I asked each to tell me what they wanted to be when they grew up. Down the line it went - "firefighter, doctor, housewife, pastor" - with many repeats. About halfway down the row the very first hand went back up. Going back to him, I asked, "Have you changed your mind?" His reply brought the house down. "No," he answered, "I need a second choice in case I get fired." Conn Arnold, Hendersonville, Tennessee Source: Adventist Review, ISSN 0161-1119, (c) April 15, 2004, http://www.adventistreview.org/ Submitted by Mary Thayne ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: An Indian man has become famous for his ability to write with both hands simultaneously in two separate languages Amanullah can write different sentences in English and Tamil with both hands simultaneously. The engineer from the southern city of Coimbatore is now mastering his writing skills in five other language combinations including Urdu and Arabic. He told Asian News International: "Since my childhood I have been a left hander, but at school my friends poked fun at me for writing with my left hand so I made attempts to write with my right hand. "Later by working hard I started to practice writing with both hands simultaneously in two languages." The 53 year-old, who has got his name into India's Limca Book of Records, is hoping to get a mention in the Guinness Book of World Records Source: Ananova http://www.ananova.com |