Life is never hopeless however great your sorrow-
If you’re looking forward to a new tomorrow.

If there is time for wishing then there is time for hoping-
When through doubt and darkness you are blindly groping.

Though the heart be heavy and hurt you may be feeling-
If there is time for praying there is time for healing.

So if through your window there is a new day breaking-
Thank God for the promise, though mind and soul be aching,

If with harvest over there is grain enough for gleaning-
There is a new tomorrow and life still has meaning.

Unknown author.

A young man was getting ready to graduate college. For many months he had admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car.Finally, on the morning  of his graduation his father called him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a fine son, and  told him how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box.

Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a lovely,leather-bound Bible. Angrily,he raised his voice at his father and said, “With all your money you give me a Bible?” and stormed out of the house,leaving the holy book.

Before he could make  arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed   to come home immediately and take care things. When he arrived at his father’s house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart.He began to search his father’s important papers and saw the still new Bible, just as he had left it years ago. With tears,he opened the Bible and began to turn the pages. As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the Bible.

It  had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports  car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation,and the words…PAID IN FULL.

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He’s very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant’s confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant’s 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, “Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I’ll be alone. How lonely I’ll be!”

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No way!” replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant’s heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!” replied the 3rd wife. “Life is so good over here! I’m going to remarry when you die!” The merchant’s heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I always turned to you for help and you’ve always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!” replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out : “I’ll leave with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.” The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, “I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !”

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives

a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it’ll leave us when we die.

b. Our 3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we’re alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it’s a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we’re on our deathbed to lament

From the very beginning, girl’s family objected
strongly on her dating this guy, saying that it has
got to do with family background, & that the girl will
have to suffer for the rest of her life if she were to
be with him.

Due to family’s pressure, the couple quarreled very
often. Though the girl loved the guy deeply, she
always asked him: “How deep is your love for me?”

As the guy is not good with his words, this often
caused the girl to be very upset. With that & the
family’s pressure, the gal often vents her anger on
him. As for him.. he only endured it in silence.

After a couple of years, the guy finally graduated &
decided to further his studies overseas. Before
leaving, he proposed to the gal: “I’m not very good
with words. But all I know is that I love you. If you
allow me, I will take care of you for the rest of my
life. As for your family, I’ll try my best to talk
them round. Will you marry me?”

The girl agreed, & with the guy’s determination, the
family finally gave in & agreed to let them get
married. So before he left, they got engaged.

The gal went out to the working society, whereas the
guy was overseas, continuing his studies. They sent
their love through emails & phone calls. Though it was
hard, but both never thought of giving up.

One day, while the gal was on her way to work, she
was knocked down by a car that lost control. When she
woke up, she saw her parents beside her bed. She
realized that she was badly injured. Seeing her mum
cry, she wanted to comfort her. But she realized that
all that could come out of her mouth was just a sigh.
She had lost her voice….

The doctor says that the impact on her brain has
caused her to lose her voice. Listening to her
parents’ comfort, but with nothing coming out from
her, she broke down. During the stay in hospital,
besides silent cry. it’s still just silent cry that
accompanied her. Upon reaching home, everything seems
to be the same. Except for the ringing tone of the
phone which pierced into her heart every time it rang.
She does not wish to let the guy know & not wanting to
be a burden to him, she wrote a letter to him saying
that she does not wish to wait any longer.

With that, she sent the ring back to him. In return,
the guy sent millions & millions of reply and
countless phone calls. all the gal could do besides
crying is still crying…. The parents decided to move
away, hoping that she could eventually forget
everything & be happy.

With a new environment, the gal learnt sign language
& started a new life.

Telling herself everyday that she must forget the
guy. One day, her friend came & told her that he’s
back. She asked her friend not to let him know what
happened to her. Since then, there wasn’t anymore news
of him.

A year has passed & her friend came with an envelope,
containing an invitation card for the guy’s wedding.
The gal was shattered. When she opened the letter, she
saw her name on it instead. When she was about to ask
her friend what was going on, she saw the guy standing
in front of her….

He used sign language to tell her, “I’ve spent a year
to learn sign language. Just to let you know that I’ve
not forgotten our promise. Let me have the chance to
be your voice. I Love You.” With that, he slipped the
ring back into her finger. The gal finally
smiled……

Treat every relationship as if it’s the last one,
then you’ll know how to Give.

Treat every moment as if it’s the last day, then
you’ll know how to Treasure.

Treasure what you have right now, or else you may
regret one day…

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940s movie.

By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets..

There were no clocks on the walls, no knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

‘Would you carry my bag out to the car?’ she said. I took the suitcase to the cab, and then returned to assist the woman.

She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb.

She kept thanking me for my kindness. ‘It’s nothing’, I told her. ‘I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother treated’..
‘Oh, you’re such a good boy’, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address, and then asked, ‘Could you drive through downtown?’

‘It’s not the shortest way,’ I answered quickly.
‘Oh, I don’t mind,’ she said. ‘I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice’.

I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. ‘I don’t have any family left,’ she continued. ‘The doctor says I don’t have very long.’ I quietly reached over and shut off the meter.

‘What route would you like me to take?’ I asked.

For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator.

We drove through the neighbourhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds. She had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing.

As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, ‘I’m tired. Let’s go now’

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been expecting her.

I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The woman was already seated in a wheelchair.

‘How much do I owe you?’ she asked, reaching into her purse.
‘Nothing,’ I said

‘You have to make a living,’ she answered.

‘There are other passengers,’ I responded.

Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly.

‘You gave an old woman a little moment of joy,’ she said.

‘Thank you.’

I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.
I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift?
What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?
On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life.

We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments.

But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID, BUT THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we might as well dance.

Praise the beauty of Heart, today, forever….. !!!