A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from San Francisco.
"Mom and Dad, I'm coming home, but I've a favor to ask. I have a friend I'd like to bring home with me."
"Sure," they replied, "we'd love to meet him."
"There's something you should know the son continued, "he was hurt pretty badly in the fighting. He stepped on a land mind and lost an arm and a leg. He has nowhere else to go, and I want him to come live with us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help him find somewhere to live."
"No, Mom and Dad, I want him to live with us."
"Son," said the father, "you don't know what you're asking. Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. We have our own lives to live, and we can't let something like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just come home and forget about this guy. He'll find a way to live on his own."
At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard nothing more from him. A few days later, however, they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son had died after falling from a building, they were told. The police believed it was suicide. The grief-stricken parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue to identify the body of their son. They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered something they didn't know, their son had only one arm and one leg.
The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, but we don't like people who inconvenience us or make us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from people who aren't as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. Thankfully, there's someone who won't treat us that way. Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of how messed up we are.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Short Life
When Napoleon was a soldier he used to spend his entire leisure time on planning, reading books while his colleagues were celebrating / drinking / playing during the same time.
One day a lady came and asked Napoleon that "See others are enjoying their life; life is very short; Why you are not celebrating?" Napoleon smiled, but never replied.
Ten years later, Napoleon became the Emperor. He invited the same lady to his palace and said, "Do you remember me? The soldiers celebrating those days are still soldiers. Since I had not wasted my extra time I could become an Emperor today.
One day a lady came and asked Napoleon that "See others are enjoying their life; life is very short; Why you are not celebrating?" Napoleon smiled, but never replied.
Ten years later, Napoleon became the Emperor. He invited the same lady to his palace and said, "Do you remember me? The soldiers celebrating those days are still soldiers. Since I had not wasted my extra time I could become an Emperor today.
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