Prior Date

Archive Index

Next Date

WITandWISDOM(tm) - April 16, 2007 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: There are the NOWS, WAS’S, and GONNA-BE’S. A NOW is the most precious thing you can have, because a NOW goes by with the speed of light. Let’s say you’re having a beautiful NOW that you want to hold on to forever. No matter how much you want to hold on to it, it’s going to be a WAS. A lot of people get stuck in and can’t let go of the WAS’S. Those WAS’S get heavy, and they start to decay into SHOULDA-COULDAS. And they never have time for the new NOW. - Sid Caesar ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: James Cash Penney Part 1 of 2 [April 16, 17] Nothing in the early life of James Cash Penney indicated that his name would one day become a household word in homes across the United States. Born in 1875, he grew up on a small farm in Kentucky. His father was a minister in the Primitive Baptist Church. Both parents were committed Christians who instilled a deep and abiding faith in their children. While Penney was a teenager, his father removed from his position as minister. The ensuing financial hardship for the family meant that Penney had to leave school, taking a job to help support the family. He began to work as a clerk in a local store. Although he didn't realize it at the time, this modest start was providential and would propel him into an illustrious career as a retailer. After working in various stores, Penney was able to purchase a one-third interest in a dry goods store in Kemmerer, Wyoming. The date was April 14, 1902. Kemmerer was a small mining town of less than 1,000 people. Penney and his wife lived in a tiny attic apartment above the store. Their furniture consisted of a large empty dry goods box for a table and smaller boxes for chairs. When their first child was born, Penney's young wife wrapped their infant in a blanket, allowing it to sleep under a counter while she stood beside it, working alongside her husband, serving their customers. From that humble beginning J. C. Penney would eventually preside over 1,700 stores. He would lead the country's largest chain of department stores, each one bearing his name. The influence of Penney's godly parents became evident with the growth of his business, as he began to describe his chain as the Golden Rule Stores, based on the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12: "Do unto others what you would have them do unto you" Although his enterprise made him incredibly wealthy, Penney's life was not devoid of setbacks and troubles. In fact, beginning in 1929, events took place that nearly cost Penney his life. To be continued tomorrow . . . Source: The Daily Encourager, mailto:The_Daily_Encourager-subscribe@MyInJesus.com ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: The Unfit Mother ©Lisa Barker Day One. I awake to the doorbell. My toddler son has not yet crawled into bed with me to snuggle as he usually does, so I shuffled quietly down the hall to answer the door. To my great shock, it’s my son—in just his boxers and t-shirt—with a big grin on his face. I profusely thank the two women that have brought him home. As soon as I get my son inside, I ask him what he thinks he was doing. “I ran away!” he informs me jubilantly. We talk about him leaving the house without an adult and I give him his first lecture on strangers. I’m pretty satisfied that he won’t do that again, and why not? It worked with his brother and sisters. So later, while he is happily snacking at the table and watching his favorite show, I slip off to quickly dress for the day. Less than a minute later, at the exact moment I am down to my birthday suit, the doorbell rings. Fearing that my son will answer it, I rush to make myself decent. AGAIN I find my child outside in the company of the same women that had helped earlier. This second episode kicks my mom-guilt into overdrive. How stupid am I? What kind of mother am I? Have I finally won the Darwin award? I march my son down the hall to my room and make him sit on a time-out while I dress. I now have a reluctant and sullen but permanent shadow. Day Two. My son uses the potty all by himself. He announces that he has to go, runs down the hall and does his business. USUALLY he skips back to announce his achievement. This does not happen today. I discover that the bathroom door is closed and locked. “Open this door RIGHT NOW.” “No!” He’s laughing. I demand. He opens the door. He takes a time-out. Later, I step out front to let the dog in and my son rushes to close the door behind me. And locks it. “Open this door right now!” “No, no, noo-ooo-o!” This is about the time when a mother realizes her worst fear. The child is in charge…and he knows it. Thank goodness I have my “I mean it” voice down pat. A wary little boy opens the door and thus begins the wailing and gnashing of teeth as he is sent to his room indefinitely. “But I sorry, Momma!” “You better believe it.” It might take a few deadbolts and a key on a chain around my neck, but I’m going to survive this twerp and live to see the day he has kids just like him. By Lisa Barker a syndicated humor columnist and mom of five. Her latest book is 'Just Because Your Kids Drive You Insane ... Doesn't Mean You Are A Bad Parent!' http://www.JellyMom.com Please forward this to friends and family. Keep it intact from top to bottom and tell them where they can get more Jelly Mom: http://www.jellymom.com Won't you stop by and sign up for your very own subscription? It's on me! And you will get a new column in your email box every Thursday--something fresh and new before anyone else on the Internet: http://www.jellymom.com ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: They think they can make fuel from horse manure... Now I don't know if your car will be able to get thirty miles to the gallon, but it's sure gonna put a stop to siphoning. - Billie Holliday ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: In what ignoble role was Jason Robard's acting debut? Jason Robards, nominated for more Tony Awards than any other actor, made his New York City acting debut in 1947 as the rear end of a cow in a production of "Jack and the Beanstalk." Source: ArcaMax - Trivia, http://tinyurl.com/9kf44