Elwood Loc: Florida

Going the e-mail rounds.

A famous writer was in his study. He picked up his pen and began writing:

"Last year, my gallbladder was removed. I was stuck in bed due to this surgery for a long time.

The same year I reached the age of 60 and had to give up my favoriteJob. I had spent 30 years of my life with this publishing company.

The same year I experienced the death of my father.

In the same year my son failed in his medical exam because he had a car accident. He had to stay in the hospital with a cast on his leg for several days. And, the destruction of the car was a second loss."

His concluding statement: "Alas! It was such a bad year!!"

When the writer's wife entered the room, she found her husband looking dejected, sad and lost in his thoughts. She carefully and surreptitiously read what he had written, and silently left the room and came back shortly with another piece of paper on which she had written her summary of the year's events and placed it beside her husband's paper.

When her husband saw that she had written something in response to his account of the year's events, he read:

"Last year I finally got rid of my gallbladder which had given me many years of pain.

I turned 60 with sound health and retired from my job. Now I can utilize my time to write better and with more focus and peace.

The same year my father, at the age of 95 without depending on anyone and without any critical conditions, met his Creator.

The same year, God blessed my son with life. "My car was destroyed, but my son was alive and without permanent disability."

At the end she wrote:
"This year was an immense blessing and it passed well!!"

See the same incidents but different viewpoints.

MORAL:
In our daily lives we must see that it's not happiness that makes us grateful, but gratefulness that makes us happy.There is always, always, always something to be thankful for.

Doc110 Loc: York PA

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Glass half filled syndrome vs half empty glass of life.

Elwood Loc: Florida

:lol: :lol: You got it . :thumbup: :thumbup:

BearK Loc: TN

Great post, Elwood. Life has a way of improving when we keep an eye on the 'positive' side of the coin. :thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Elwood Loc: Florida

Thanks Bear. :-D

bahmer

Amen, and it may be difficult to do.

BearK Loc: TN

Hey Bahmer, you know that when the Lord is in your corner, you may go through tough times, but he always lifts you up and makes you a survivor.

bahmer

True it just may be difficult going through is all.

BearK Loc: TN

As I recall, not long ago you said to the effect - if it's worth doing, it's worth doing a good job. No guarantees with life, but it's worth trying to do the best job you can - at the time when you can do it. There will be pitfalls, rough roads, but you know all too well that's what makes you strong and determined.

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

So very true, BearK, its just getting through it that can make you temporarily fail to remember it...But as it comes through loud and clear, you also know that!!! :wink: :thumbup: :thumbup:

lindajoy Loc: right here with you....

Amen!!!~~~

bahmer

What I was referring to and I suppose that I should have written this in there is the loss of my son at the age of 19 and the loss of my wife at the age of 63. Both of these were very tough times to go through for me but I did come out on the other side. As you are now experiencing with your loss you have experienced some dark times as well. Did I survive and will you survive the answers are yes in both cases but they were difficult times. I really don't know how you do the loss of a loved one especially a child well. Does it make you strong yes but it my case opened up a side of me that I didn't know existed and that of feeling pain of others. there are many times I read some story and some of those stories are from Elwood and I don't even know these people but if you were here you would see me having to wipe the tears from my eyes as I try to respond. I used to laugh at my wife when we were first married because she was so tenderhearted and would cry over watching a movie but now I am in her shoes so to speak. But both occasions were very difficult times for me.

BearK Loc: TN

Yes, I understand too well. My son died at age 34. Losing a parent, or older relative is usually our first experience with loss, a loss we seldom have the strength to admit was death. We try to gloss over it with they 'passed away,' or we 'lost them.'

When the child is still at home, the grief is like being kicked in the gut, it takes your breath away. You must feel you will never breathe right again, but -- eventually, you do. When the child is grown, out on his own, that closeness has weathered separation, but make no mistake - the pain is there, it is real.

When you lose your spouse, half of you sort of disappears. You walk through the house and talk to them as though they are still there, that they hear you. By this age you know there are no 'quick fixes,' it's be tough, put on a good face, step out on the right foot.

During all my periods of pain and loss, I remember words from a book about a knight during the crusades. He was mortally wounded. He looks at his armour bearer, and says, "Lay me down to die a while, then rise me up to fight again." The survivors are fighters, they rise again.