BRIGHT SIDE ARCHIVES FROM AOL: FOR SATURDAY, JUNE 2ND, 2007

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

JUNE 2ND, 2007

TODAY'S THOUGHT

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them to become what they are capable of being.

Johann W. von Goethe

TODAY’S ACTION

Don’t hold grudges; it’s pointless. Jealousy too is a non-cathartic, negative emotion.

TODAY’S QUOTE

Make sure that you let them know that you love them while you still have many years to go.

Mason Ovian

HAPPY SATURDAY!

We are still hot and humid here. This morning I’ll be going out to Dad’s to spend the weekend with him. My weekends have become the time to be there for him just in case he needs my help.

Today our little Pumpkin’ will be celebrating his 1st birthday with a party. I won’t be able to be there, but have sent a little gift his way. I do hope they take plenty of pictures to share.

Have a great day all ! Another wonderful one on the Way !

Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us. Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

25 WORDS

God, I thank You for today, for the ways You will bless me, and for the waysthat I will serve others in Your name

TODAY IS…PLAY TENNIS DAY

And just why are tennis balls fuzzy? The only reason is to slow them down. It helps the players rally longer by increasing the wind resistance and keeping the ball from flying off the court in one bounce. The fuzz also increases racket control by holding the ball against the strings for just a fraction of a second longer. Smooth balls might equal faster serves, but they would make the game harder to play and less fun to watch.

TODAY’S TRIVIA

Today is International Clothes Line Week, a time to save energy by drying clothes outdoors.

Today is National Bubba Day

Today is National Rocky Road Day

Today is National Dinosaur Day.

1928: Searching for new ideas to fight the Depression, Kraft’s Chicago employees created a processed specialty cheese product they would call Velveeta.

1953: Queen Elizabeth II of Britain was crowned in Westminster Abbey, 16 months after the death of her father, King George VI. It was the first coronation to be televised and millions watched worldwide.

TODAY’S SMILE

A manager has to take on some sport, at the advice of his doctor so he decides to play tennis. After a couple of weeks his secretary asks him how he's doing. "It's going fine", the manager says, "When I'm on the court and I see the ball speeding towards me my brain immediately says: To the corner! Back hand! To the net! Smash! Go back!".

"Really? What happens then?", the girl asks enthusiastic. "Then my body says: Who? Me? Don't talk nonsense!".

"I've Learned What I Can Do!"

Author Unknown

Roger Crawford had everything he needed to play tennis - except two hands and a leg. When Roger's parents saw their son for the first time, they saw a baby with a thumb-like projection extended directly out of his right forearm and a thumb and one finger stuck out of his left forearm. He had no palms.

The baby's arms and legs were shortened, and he had only three toes on his shrunken right foot and a withered left leg, which would later be amputated.

The doctor said Roger suffered from ectrodactylism, a rare birth defect affecting only one out of 90,000 children born in the United States. The doctor said Roger would probably never walk or care for himself.

Fortunately Roger's parents didn't believe the doctor. "My parents always taught me that I was only as handicapped as I wanted to be," said Roger. "They never allowed me to feel sorry for myself or take advantage of people because of my handicap.

Once I got into trouble because my school papers were continually late," explained Roger who had to hold his pencil with both "hands" to write slowly. "I asked Dad to write a note to my teachers, asking for a two-day extension on my assignments. Instead Dad made me start writing my papers two days early!"

Roger's father always encouraged him to get involved in sports, teaching Roger to catch and throw a volleyball, and play backyard football after school. At age 12, Roger managed to win a spot on the school football team.

Before every game, Roger would visualize his dream of scoring a touchdown. Then one day he got his chance. The ball landed in his arms and off he ran as fast as he could on his artificial leg toward the goal line, his coach and teammates cheering wildly.

But at the ten-yard line, a guy from the other team caught up with Roger, grabbing his left ankle. Roger tried to pull his artificial leg free, but instead it ended up being pulled off. "I was still standing up," recalls Roger. "I didn't know what else to do, so I started hopping towards the goal line.

The referee ran over and threw his hands into the air. Touchdown! You know, even better than the six-points was the look on the face of the other kid who was holding my artificial leg."

Roger's love of sports grew and so did his self-confidence. But not every obstacle gave way to Roger's determination. Eating in the lunchroom with the other kids watching him fumble with his food proved very painful to Roger, as did his repeated failure in typing class. "I learned a very good lesson from typing class," said Roger. "You can't do everything - it's better to concentrate on what you can do."

One thing Roger could do was swing a tennis racket. Unfortunately, when he swung it hard, his weak grip usually launched it into space. By luck, Roger stumbled upon an odd-looking tennis racket in a sports shop and accidentally wedged his finger between its double-barred handle when he picked it up.

The snug fit made it possible for Roger to swing, serve and volley like an able-bodied player. He practiced every day and was soon playing - and losing - matches. But Roger persisted. He practiced and practiced and played and played. Surgery on the two fingers of his left hand enabled Roger to grip his special racket better, greatly improving his game.

Although he had no role models to guide him, Roger became obsessed with tennis and in time he started to win. Roger went on to play college tennis, finishing his tennis career with 22 wins and 11 losses. He later became the first physically handicapped tennis player to be certified as a teaching professional by the United States Professional Tennis Association.

Roger now tours the country, speaking to groups about what it takes to be a winner, no matter who you are. The only difference between you and me is that you can see my handicap, but I can't see yours. We all have them. When people ask me how I've been able to overcome my physical handicaps, I tell them that I haven't overcome anything. I've simply learned what I can't do - such as play the piano or eat with chopsticks - but more importantly, I've learned what I can do. Then I do what I can with all my heart and soul.

TODAY’S WORD

demulcent \dih-MULL-sunt\ adjective :

soothing

a substance that is used to soothe irritated or inflamed skin or internal parts of the nose, mouth, or throat

The lozenges had a demulcent effect, and my sore throat was soon feeling much better.

TODAY’S REFLECTION

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.

Proverbs 16:31

Sometimes we don't feel much splendor in those gray hairs when they appear. But I have met senior citizens who seem younger than springtime. I have a friend who just moved in with her daughter's family. She writes that she loves being around the teenagers, for they keep her young. With a less positive attitude, she could be complaining about the mess they make and the rock music.

Rev. Charles Swindoll gives five tips for staying young:

• Your mind is not old, keep developing it.

• Your humor is not over, keep enjoying it.

• Your strength is not gone, keep using it.

• Your opportunities have not vanished, keep pursuing them.

• God is not dead, keep seeking him.

http://www.dailyguideposts.com

TODAY’S ADVICE FROM THE OLD FARMER’S ALMANAC

Vegetable oil will remove tar from your hands.

19 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER !

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your Heart

Psalm 37:4