Koleksi Cerita, Unit Pendidikan Khas SKSJ

The Power Of Attitude

2009-03-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today?"
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today?"
So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.......

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...

It's about learning to dance in the rain.

50sen Atau 5 Ringgit??

2009-03-18T06:10:00.000-07:00

“Saudara ingin tahu sesuatu yang menarik? Itu merupakan kanak-kanak yang paling bodoh di dalam dunia,” kata Si Gunting Rambut kepada pelanggannya sambil menunjukkan jari pada seorang kanak-kanak yang sedang bermain di luar.

“ Mengapa?”, tanya pelanggan tersebut kehairan.

“Mari saya tunjukkannya”, kata Si Gunting Rambut dengan bangga.

“ Hoi budak, mari sini sekejap. Di sini ada sedikit wang iaitu sekeping duit syiling 50 sen dan sehelai duit kertas RM5. Sila pilih dan pergilah membeli aiskrim menggunakan duit tersebut, “ arah Si Gunting Rambut.

Kanak-kanak tersebut agak sukar hendak membuat pilihan. Akhirnya dia hanya mengambil duit syiling 50 sen. Lalu beredarlah kanak-kanak tersebut daripada kedai itu. Dia kelihatan gembira kerana mendapat wang untuk membeli aiskrim.

“ Tengok. Kan saya sudah kata. Walaupun terdapatnya pilihan antara duit kertas RM5 dan duit syiling 50 sen, kanak-kanak itu tetap memilih duit syiling 50 sen. Alangkah bodohnya kanak -kanak itu. Sudah banyak kali saya lakukan demikian, namun dia tetap memilih duit syiling 50 sen, “ cerita Si Gunting Rambut sambil ketawa.
Si pelanggan kurang senang dengan jawapan yang diterima. Lalu ia mengambil keputusan bertanya kepada si budak tersebut sendiri di luar nanti.

“ Mengapa kamu mengambil duit syiling 50 sen dan tidak mengambil duit kertas RM5. Bukanklah nilainya lagi besar.”

“ Ya, saya tahu itu. Tetapi jika saya mengambil wang tersebut dan bukannya duit syiling 50sen, maka permainan ini akan tamat. Saya tidak akan mendapat aiskrim lagi pada masa akan datang.”

Moral of the story : Apa kesimpulan daripada cerita di atas? Kesimpulannya, jangan memandang rendah pada orang lain. Mungkin kita sendiri yang sebenarnya yang sedang diperbodohkan.

Si Ayah, Anak Dan Keldai

2009-03-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Pada suatu hari yang tenang, seorang tua masuk ke pasar dengan menaiki seekor keldai, manakala anaknya mengikut si bapa dari belakang. Melihat tingkah laku si ayah itu, setengah orang pun berkata,
“Lihat itu orang tua yang tidak bertimbang rasa, dia menunggang keldai sedangkan anaknya dibiarkan berjalan kaki.”

Setelah mendengarkan desas-desus dan kata-kata yang kurang disenangi daripada orang ramai maka Si Ayah pun turun dari keldainya itu lalu diletakkan anaknya di atas keldai itu. Melihat yang demikian, maka timbulah kata-kata lain,
“Lihat orang tuanya berjalan kaki sedangkan anaknya senang-senang naik keldai, sungguh kurang adab anak itu.”

Sebaik sahaja mendengar kata-kata itu, Si Ayah pun terus naik ke atas belakang keldai itu bersama-sama dengan anaknya. Kemudian timbulah pula kata-kata lain. Kali ini orang ramai pula berkata lagi,
“Lihat itu dua orang menaiki seekor keldai, kasihan alangkah terseksanya keldai itu.”

Oleh kerana tidak suka mendengar percakapan orang, maka Si Ayah dan anaknya turun dari keldai itu.Namun begitu, masih lagi terdengar suara orang berkata,
“Dua orang berjalan kaki, sedangkan keldai dibawa itu tidak pula ditunggangi.”

Moral Of The Story : Sesungguhnya tiada terlepas seseorang itu dari percakapan manusia. Maka orang yang berakal tiadalah dia mengambil pertimbangan melainkan kepada Allah S.W.T sahaja. Barang siapa mengenal kebenaran, itulah yang menjadi pertimbangannya dalam tiap-tiap satu.”

To Realize....

2009-03-18T05:56:00.000-07:00

To realize the value of a sister
Ask someone who doesn’t have one.

To realize the value of ten years:
Ask a newly divorced couple.

To realize the value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize the value of one year:
Ask a student who has failed a final exam.

To realize the value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a still born.

To realize the value of one month:
Ask a mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realize the value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize the value of one hour:
Ask the lovers who are waiting to meet.

To realize the value of one minute:
Ask a person who has missed the train, bus or plane.

To realize the value of one-second:
Ask a person who has survived an accident.

To realize the value of one millisecond:
Ask the person who has won a silver medal in the Olympics.

To realize the value of a friend:
Lose one.

Time waits For no one.
Treasure every moment you have.
You will treasure it even more when you can share it with someone special.

Jangan Berkata Tidak Sebelum Mencuba

2009-03-18T05:49:00.000-07:00

Alkisah, seorang pembuat jam tangan bertanya kepada jam yang sedang dibuatnya.

“Wahai jam, apakah kamu sanggup untuk berdetik 31,104,000 kali selama setahun?”

“Ha?,” kata jam terperanjat, “Mampukah saya?”

“Bagaimana kalau 86,400 kali dalam sehari?”

“Lapan puluh enam ribu, empat ratus kali? Dengan jarum yang halus-halus seperti ini?” jawab jam penuh keraguan.

“Bagaimana kalau 3,600 kali dalam satu jam?”

“Dalam satu jam mesti berdetik 3,600 kali? Sebanyak itu? Tetap juga jam tersebut ragu-ragu dengan kemampuan dirinya.

Tukang jam itu dengan penuh kesabaran kemudiannya bertanya kepada si jam.
“Kalau begitu, sanggupkah kamu berdetik satu kali setiap detik?”

“Haaaa, kalau begitu, aku sanggup!” kata jam dengan penuh yakin.

Maka, setelah selesai dibuat, jam itu berdetik satu kali setiap detik. Tanpa terasa, detik demi detik terus berlalu dan jam itu sungguh luar biasa kerana ternyata selama satu tahun dia telah berdetik tanpa henti. Dan itu bererti ia telah berdetik sebanyak 31,104,000 kali.

Moral Of The Story : Ada kalanya kita ragu-ragu dengan segala tugas pekerjaan yang begitu terasa berat. Namun sebenarnya kalau kita sudah menjalankannya, kita ternyata mampu. Bahkan yang kita anggap mustahil juga mampu untuk dilakukan sekalipun. Jangan berkata “tidak” sebelum anda mencuba.

Tulisan Di Atas Pasir

2009-03-18T05:45:00.000-07:00

Di pesisir sebuah pantai, tampak dua anak sedang berlari-larian, bercanda, dan bermain dengan riang gembira. Tiba-tiba, terdengar pertengkaran sengit di antara mereka. Salah seorang anak yang bertubuh lebih besar memukul temannya sehingga wajahnya menjadi biru lebam. Anak yang dipukul itu diam terpaku seketika. Lalu, dengan mata berkaca-kaca dan raut muka marah menahan sakit, tanpa berbicara sepatah kata pun, dia menulis di atas pasir: “Hari ini temanku telah memukul aku !!!”

Teman yang lebih besar merasa tidak enak, tersipu malu tetapi tidak pula berkata apa-apa. Setelah setelah itu, dasar-anak-anak, mereka segera kembali bermain bersama. Saat lari berkejaran, kerana tidak berhati-hati, tiba-tiba anak yang dipukul tadi terjerumus ke dalam lubang perangkap binatang. “Aduh…. Tolong….Tolong!” ia berteriak meminta tolong. Temannya segera menjenguk ke dalam lubang dan berkata, “Teman, adakah engkau terluka? Jangan takut, tunggu sebentar, aku akan segera mencari tali untuk menolongmu.” Bergegas anak itu berlari mencari tali. Saat dia kembali, dia berteriak lagi menenangkan sambil mengikatkan tali ke sebatang pokok. “Teman, aku sudah datang! Tangkap tali ini dan ikatkan dipinggangmu, pegang erat-erat, aku akan menarikmu keluar dari lubang.”

Dengan susah payah, akhirnya teman kecil itu pun berhasil dikeluarkan dari lubang dengan selamat. Sekali lagi, dengan mata berkaca-kaca, dia berkata, “Terima kasih, sahabat!” Kemudian, dia bergegas berlari mencari sebuah batu karang dan berusaha menulis di atas batu itu, “Hari ini, temanku telah menyelamatkan aku.”

Temannya yang diam-diam mengikuti dari belakang bertanya kehairanan, “Mengapa setelah aku memukulmu, kamu menulis di atas pasir dan setelah aku menyelamatkanmu, kamu menulis di atas batu?” Anak yang di pukul itu menjawab sabar, “Setelah kamu memukul, aku menulis di atas pasir kerana kemarahan dan kebencianku terhadap perbuatan buruk yang kamu perbuat, ingin segera aku hapus, seperti tulisan di atas pasir yang akan segera terhapus bersama tiupan angin dan sapuan ombak.”

”Tapi, ketika kamu menyelamatkan aku, aku menulis di atas batu, kerana perbuatan baikmu itu akan kukenang dan akan terpatri selamanya di dalam hatiku, sekali lagi, terima kasih sahabat.”

Moral Of The Story : Hidup dengan memikul beban kebencian, kemarahan dan dendam, sungguh melelahkan. Apalagi bila orang yang kita benci itu tidak sengaja melakukan bahkan mungkin tidak pernah tahu bahwa dia telah menyakiti hati kita, sungguh ketidakbahagiaan yang sia-sia. Memang benar…. bila setiap kesalahan orang kepada kita, kita tuliskan di atas pasir, bahkan di udara, segera berlalu bersama tiupan angin, sehingga kita tidak perlu kehilangan setiap kesempatan untuk berbahagia.Sebaliknya… tidak melupakan orang yang pernah menolong kita, seperti tulisan yang terukir di batu karang. Yang tidak akan pernah hilang untuk kita kenang selamanya.”

The Colourful Of Friendship

2009-03-18T05:44:00.001-07:00

Once upon a time the colors of the world started to quarrel. All claimed that they were the best. The most important. The most useful. The favorite.

Green said:
“Clearly I am the most important. I am the sign of life and of hope. I was chosen for grass, trees and leaves. Without me, all animals would die. Look over the countryside and you will see that I am in the majority.”

Blue interrupted:
“You only think about the earth, but consider the sky and the sea. It is the water that is the basis of life and drawn up by the clouds from the deep sea. The sky gives space and peace and serenity. Without my peace, you would all be nothing.”

Yellow chuckled:
“You are all so serious. I bring laughter, gaiety, and warmth into the world. The sun is yellow, the moon is yellow, the stars are yellow. Every time you look at a sunflower, the whole world starts to smile. Without me there would be no fun.”

Orange started next to blow her trumpet:
“I am the color of health and strength. I may be scarce, but I am precious for I serve the needs of human life. I carry the most important vitamins. Think of carrots, pumpkins, oranges, mangoes, and papayas. I don’t hang around all the time, but when I fill the sky at sunrise or sunset, my beauty is so striking that no one gives another thought to any of you.”

Red could stand it no longer he shouted out:
“I am the ruler of all of you. I am blood - life’s blood! I am the color of danger and of bravery. I am willing to fight for a cause. I bring fire into the blood. Without me, the earth would be as empty as the moon. I am the color of passion and of love, the red rose, the poinsettia and the poppy.”

Purple rose up to his full height:
He was very tall and spoke with great pomp: “I am the color of royalty and power. Kings, chiefs, and bishops have always chosen me for I am the sign of authority and wisdom. People do not question me! They listen and obey.”

Finally Indigo spoke, much more quietly than all the others, but with just as much determination:
“Think of me. I am the color of silence. You hardly notice me, but without me you all become superficial. I represent thought and reflection, twilight and deep water. You need me for balance and contrast, for prayer and inner peace.”

And so the colors went on boasting, each convinced of his or her own superiority. Their quarreling became louder and louder. Suddenly there was a startling flash of bright lightening thunder rolled and boomed. Rain started to pour down relentlessly. The colors crouched down in fear, drawing close to one another for comfort.
In the midst of the clamor, rain began to speak:

“You foolish colors, fighting amongst yourselves, each trying to dominate the rest. Don’t you know that you were each made for a special purpose, unique and different? Join hands with one another and come to me.”
Doing as they were told, the colors united and joined hands.

The rain continued:
“From now on, when it rains, each of you will stretch across the sky in a great bow of color as a reminder that you can all live in peace. The Rainbow is a sign of hope for tomorrow.”
And so, whenever a good rain washes the world, and a Rainbow appears in the sky, let us remember to appreciate one another.

Kawal Amarahmu

2009-03-18T05:35:00.000-07:00

Suatu ketika, ada seorang anak laki-laki yang bersifat pemarah. Untuk mengurangkan kebiasaan marah sang anak, ayahnya memberikan sekantung paku dan mengatakan pada anak itu untuk memakukan paku di pagar rumah setiap kali dia marah.

Hari pertama anak itu telah memakukan 48 paku ke pagar setiap kali dia marah. Dari hari ke hari, jumlah itu berkurang. Dia mendapati bahwa ternyata lebih mudah menahan amarahnya daripada memakukan paku ke pagar.

Akhirnya tibalah hari dimana tiada satupun paku yang dipaku lagi lantaran anak itu mulai belajar mengawal amarahnya. Dia memberitahukan hal ini kepada ayahnya, yang kemudian mengusulkan agar dia mencabut semula satu paku untuk setiap hari dimana dia tidak marah.

Hari-hari berlalu dan anak laki-laki itu akhirnya memberitahu ayahnya bahwa semua paku telah tercabut olehnya. Lalu sang ayah menuntun anaknya ke pagar. “Hmm, kamu telah berhasil dengan baik anakku, tapi, lihatlah lubang-lubang di pagar ini. Pagar ini tidak akan sama seperti sebelumnya.

“Ketika kamu mengatakan sesuatu dalam kemarahan. Kata-katamu meninggalkan bekas seperti lubang ini, di hati orang lain.

Kamu dapat menusukkan pisau pada seseorang, lalu mencabut pisau itu. Tetapi walau beberapa kali kamu minta maaf, luka itu akan tetap ada… dan luka kerana kata-kata adalah sama sakitnya bahkan kadang kala lebih menyakitkan..”

Kisah Kucing Kecil

2009-03-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

Seekor anak kucing yang kecil mungil sedang berjalan-jalan di ladang pemiliknya. Ketika dia mendekati kandang kuda, dia mendengar binatang besar itu memanggilnya.

Kata kuda itu,"Kamu pasti masih baru di sini, cepat atau lambat kamu akan mengetahui kalau pemilik ladang ini mencintai saya lebih dari binatang lainnya, sebab saya boleh mengangkut banyak barang untuknya, saya kira binatang sekecil kamu tidak akan bernilai sama sekali baginya", ujarnya dengan sinis.

Kucing kecil itu menundukkan kepalanya dan pergi, lalu dia mendengar seekor lembu di kandang sebelah berkata : "Saya adalah binatang yang paling disayangi di sini kerana isteri tuan kita membuat keju dan mentega dari susu saya. Kamu tentu tidak berguna bagi keluarga di sini", dengan nada mencemuh.

Satu demi satu binatang di situ ikut serta dalam percakapan itu, sambil menceritakan betapa tingginya kedudukan mereka di ladang itu. Ayam pun berkata bagaimana dia telah memberikan telur, kucing bangga bagaimana dia telah menghalau tikus-tikus dari ladang itu. Semua binatang sepakat bahawa si kucing kecil itu adalah haiwan yang tidak berguna dan tidak dapat memberi sumbangan apapun kepada keluarga itu.

Terpukul oleh kecaman binatang-binatang lain, kucing kecil itu pergi ke tempat sepi dan mulai menangis menyesali nasibnya, sedih rasanya tidak berteman, dianggap tak berguna pula..

Ada seekor kucing tua di situ mendengar tangisan tersebut, lalu bertanya mengapa dia mengeluh dan bersedih. "Saya tidak dapat memberikan sumbangan kepada keluarga disini, sayalah haiwan yang paling tidak berguna disini."

Kata kucing tua itu : "Memang benar bahwa kamu terlalu kecil untuk menarik pedati, kamu tidak bisa memberikan telur, susu ataupun bulu, tetapi bodoh sekali jika kamu menangisi sesuatu yang tidak bisa kamu lakukan. Kamu harus menggunakan kemampuan yang diberikan oleh Sang Pencipta untuk membawa kegembiraan."

Malam itu ketika pemilik ladang baru pulang dan tampak amat lelah kerana kepenatan bekerja seharian di ladang, kucing kecil itu lari menghampirinya, menjilat kakinya dan melompat ke pelukannya. Sambil menjatuhkan diri ke tanah, pemilik ladang dan kucing kecil itu berguling-guling di rumput disertai tawa ria.

Akhirnya pemilik ladang itu memeluk kucing kecil itu erat-erat dan mengelus-elus kepalanya, seraya berkata : "Meskipun saya pulang dalam keadaan penat, tapi rasanya semua keletihan saya hilang, bilamana kau menyambutku semesra ini. Kamulah yang paling berharga di antara semua binatang di ladang ini, kecil kecil kamu telah mengerti ertinya kasih………"

Moral Of The Story : Jangan sedih kerana kamu tidak dapat melakukan sesuatu seperti orang lain kerana memang tidak memiliki kemampuan untuk itu, tetapi apa yang kamu dapat lakukan, lakukanlah itu dengan sebaik-baiknya…..

Jangan sombong jika kamu merasa banyak melakukan beberapa hal pada orang lain, kerana orang yang tinggi hati akan direndahkan dan orang yang rendah hati akan ditinggikan.

"Kasih Sayang adalah hal yang diperlukan oleh semua insan, maka berikan kasih sayang untuk semua yang telah menemani kita, maka dengan itu akan kamu temui kebahgiaan

The Marble Tiles

2009-03-18T05:25:00.000-07:00

There was this museum laid with beautiful marble tiles, with a huge marble statue displayed in the middle of the lobby. Many people came from all over the world just to admire this beautiful marble statue.

One night, the marble tiles started talking to the marble statue.
Marble tile: “Marble statue, it’s just not fair, it’s just not fair! Why does everybody from all over the world come all the way here just to step on me while admiring you? Not fair!”

Marble statue: “My dear friend, marble tile. Do you still remember that we were actually from the same cave?”

Marble tile: “Yeah! That’s why I feel it is even more unfair. We were born from the same cave and yet we receive different treatment now. Not fair!” he cried again.
Marble statue: “Then, do you still remember the day when the designer tried to work on you, but you resisted the tools?”

Marble tile: “Yes, of course I remember. I hate that guy! How could he use those tools on me, it hurt so badly.”

Marble statue: “That’s right! He couldn’t work on you at all as you resisted being worked on.”

Marble tile: “So???”

Marble statue: “When he decided to give up on you and start working on me instead, I knew at once that I would be something different after his efforts. I did not resist his tools, instead I bore all the painful tools he used on me..”

Marble tile: “Mmmmmm…….”

Marble statue: “My friend, there is a price to everything in life. Since you decided to give up half way, you can’t blame anybody who steps on you now.”

Airmata Mutiara

2009-03-18T05:17:00.000-07:00

Pada suatu hari seekor anak tiram di dasar laut mengadu dan mengeluh pada ibunya sebab sebutir pasir tajam memasuki tubuhnya yang merah dan lembik. “Anakku,” kata sang ibu sambil bercucuran air mata, “Tuhan tidak memberikan pada kita, barang tangan sekalipun, sehingga ibu tak bisa menolongmu.”

Si ibu terdiam, sejenak, “Sakit sekali, aku tahu anakku. Tetapi terimalah itu sebagai takdir alam. Kuatkan hatimu. Jangan terlalu lincah lagi. Kerahkan semangatmu melawan rasa ngilu dan nyeri yang menggigit. Balutlah pasir itu dengan getah perutmu. Hanya itu yang boleh kau lakukan”, kata ibunya dengan sendu dan lembut.

Anak tiram pun melakukan nasihat ibuya. Rasa sakit bukan alang kepalang. Terkadang di dalam kesakitannya, ia meragukan nasihat ibunya. Dengan air mata ia bertahan, bertahun-tahun lamanya. Tetapi tanpa disedarinya sebutir mutiara mulai terbentuk dalam dagingnya. Makin lama makin halus. Rasa sakit pun makin berkurang. Dan semakin lama mutiaranya semakin besar.

Akhirnya sesudah sekian tahun, sebutir mutiara besar, utuh mengilap, dan berharga mahal pun terbentuk dengan sempurna. Penderitaannya berubah menjadi mutiara. Air matanya berubah menjadi sangat berharga. Dirinya kini, sebagai hasil derita bertahun-tahun, lebih berharga daripada sejuta tiram lain yang cuma disantap orang.
Cerita di atas adalah sebuah paradigma yg menjelaskan bahawa penderitaan adalah lorong untuk menjadikan “tiram biasa” menjadi “tiram luar biasa”. Kerana ia menegaskan bahawa kekecewaan dan penderitaan dapat mengubah “orang biasa” menjadi “orang luar biasa”.

Kebanyakan orang yang putus asa disaat berada di dalam kesusahan kerana mereka tidak tahan dengan cubaan yang mereka alami. Ada dua pilihan sebenarnya yang boleh kita pilih. Menjadi `tiram biasa’ yang disantap orang, atau menjadi `tiram yang menghasilkan mutiara’. Sayangnya, lebih banyak orang yang mengambil pilihan pertama, sehingga tidak menghairankan bila jumlah orang yang berjaya lebih sedikit dari orang yang `biasa-biasa saja’.

Mungkin disaat ini kita sedang mengalami kepayahan, kekecewaan, patah hati, atau terluka kerana orang-orang di sekitar kamu. Namun cubalah untuk tetap tersenyum dan
sematkan dalam hati “Airmataku diperhitungkan Tuhan.. dan penderitaanku ini akan mengubah diriku menjadi mutiara.”

Kisah Pendayung Sampan Dengan Profesor

2009-03-17T06:31:00.000-07:00

"Suatu hari, seorang Professor yang sedang membuat kajian tentang lautan menumpang sebuah sampan. Pendayung sampan itu seorang tua yang begitu pendiam. Professor memang mencari pendayung sampan yang pendiam agar tidak banyak bertanya ketika dia sedang membuat kajian.

Dengan begitu tekun Professor itu membuat kajian. Diambilnya sedikit air laut dengan tabung uji kemudian digoyang-goyang.

Selepas itu dia menulis sesuatu di dalam buku. Berjam-jam lamanya Professor itu membuat kajian dengan tekun sekali. Pendayung sampan itu mendongak ke langit.Berdasarkan pengalamannya dia berkata di dalam hati, "Hmm. Hari nak hujan."

"OK, semua sudah siap, mari kita balik ke darat" kata Professor itu. Pendayung sampan itu akur dan mula memusingkan sampannya ke arah
pantai. Hanya dalam perjalanan pulang itu barulah Professor itu menegur pendayung sampan.

"Kamu dah lama kerja mendayung sampan?" Tanya Professor itu.

"Hampir seumur hidup saya." Jawab pendayung sampan itu dgn ringkas.

"Seumur hidup kamu?" Tanya Professor itu lagi.

"Ya".

"Jadi kamu tak tahu perkara-perkara lain selain dari mendayung sampan?" Tanya Professor itu.

Pendayung sampan itu hanya menggelengkan kepalanya. Masih tidak berpuas hati, Professor itu bertanya lagi, "Kamu tahu geografi?" Pendayung sampan itu menggelengkan kepala.

"Kalau macam ni, kamu dah kehilangan 25 peratus dari usia kamu." Kata Professor itu lagi, "Kamu tahu biologi?" Pendayung sampan itu menggelengkan kepala. "Kasihan. Kamu dah kehilangan 50 peratus usia kamu. Kamu tahu fizik?" Professor itu masih lagi bertanya.
Seperti tadi, pendayung sampan itu hanya menggelengkan kepala. "Kalau begini, kasihan, kamu sudah kehilangan 75 peratus dari usia kamu. Malang sungguh nasib kamu, semuanya tak tahu.Seluruh usia kamu dihabiskan sebagai pendayung sampan." Kata Professor itu dengan nada mengejek dan angkuh. Pendayung sampan itu hanya berdiam diri.

Selang beberapa minit kemudian, tiba-tiba hujan turun. Tiba-tiba saja datang ombak besar. Sampan itu dilambung ombak besar dan terbalik. Professor dan pendayung sampan terpelanting. Sempat pula pendayung sampan itu bertanya, "Kamu tahu berenang?" Professor itu menggelengkan kepala. "Kalau macam ini, kamu dah kehilangan 100 peratus nyawa kamu." Kata pendayung sampan itu sambil berenang menuju ke pantai.

Moral of the Story:

Dalam hidup ini IQ yang tinggi belum tentu boleh menjamin kehidupan. Tak guna kita pandai dan tahu banyak perkara jika tak tahu perkara-perkara penting dalam hidup. Adakalanya orang yang kita sangka bodoh itu rupanya lebih berjaya dari kita. Dia mungkin bodoh dalam bidang yang tidak kena mengena dengan kerjayanya, tetapi "MASTER" dalam bidang yang diceburi.

Hidup ini singkat. Jadi, tanyalah pada diri sendiri untuk apakah ilmu yg dikumpulkan jika bukan utk digunakan dan boleh digunakan?

Tinggalkan masalah anda sebentar

2009-03-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Seorang pensyarah sedang memberi kuliah tentang Stress Management.
Dia mengangkat segelas air dan bertanya kepada pelajarnya, "Berapa beratkah segelas air ini pada fikiran anda semua?" Mahasiswa mengatakan beratnya anggaran dari 20 gram hingga 500 gram.

"Ini bukanlah masalah berat secara total, tetapi tergantung kepada berapa lama anda memegangnya. Jika saya memegangnya selama 1 minit, tidak ada masalah. Jika saya memegangnya selama 1 jam, lengan kanan saya akan sakit. Dan jika saya memegangnya selama 1 hari penuh, mungkin anda harus memanggil ambulan untuk saya. Beratnya sebenarnya sama, tapi semakin lama saya memegangnya, maka bebannya akan bertambah".

"Jika kita membawa beban kita terus menerus, lambat laun kita tidak akan mampu membawanya lagi. Beban itu akan meningkat beratnya". "Apa yang harus kita lakukan adalah meletakkan gelas tersebut, berehat sejenak sebelum mengangkatnya lagi".

Kita harus meninggalkan beban kita secara periodik, agar kita dapat lebih segar dan mampu membawanya lagi. Jadi sebelum pulang ke rumah dari pejabat dan sebagainya, tinggalkan beban pekerjaan. Jangan bawanya pulang. Beban itu dapat diambil lagi besok. Apapun beban yang ada di bahu anda hari ini, cuba tinggalkan sejenak jika boleh. Setelah berehat ambilnya kembali.

Hidup ini singkat, jadi cubalah menikmatinya!!

Antara Semut, Labah-Labah Dan Lebah

2009-03-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

Tiga binatang kecil ini menjadi nama dari tiga surah di dalam Al-Qur'an.An Naml [semut], Al 'Ankabuut [labah-labah], dan An Nahl [lebah].

Semut, menghimpun makanan sedikit demi sedikit tanpa berhenti.
Kononnya, haiwan kecil ini dapat menghimpun makanan untuk bertahun-tahun.Padahal usianya tidak lebih dari setahun. Ketamakannya sedemikian besar sehingga ia berusaha dan seringkali berhasil memikul sesuatu yang lebih besar dari tubuhnya.

Labah- labah pula, sarangnya adalah tempat yang paling rapuh [ Al 'Ankabuut; 29:41], ia bukan tempat yang aman, apapun yang berlindung di sana akan binasa. Bahkan yang jantannya disergap untuk dihabiskan oleh betinanya. Telur-telurnya yang menetas saling berdesakan hingga saling memusnahkan. Inilah gambaran yang mengerikan dari kehidupan labah-labah.

Lebah, memiliki naluri yang dalam bahasa Al-Qur'an - "atas perintah Tuhan ia memilih gunung dan pohon-pohon sebagai tempat tinggal" [ An Nahl;16:68]. Sarangnya dibuat berbentuk segi enam, bukannya lima atau empat agar efisen dalam penggunaan ruang. Makanannya adalah serbuk sari bunga. Lebah menghasilkan lilin dan madu yg sangat manfaat bagi kita. Lebah sangat disiplin, mengenal pembahagian kerja dan segala yang tidak berguna disingkirkan dari sarangnya. Lebah tidak mengganggu kecuali jika diganggu. Bahkan sengatannya pun dapat menjadi ubat.

Sikap kita dapat diibaratkan seperti jenis binatang ini. Ada yang berbudaya 'semut'. Sering menghimpun dan mengumpul harta, mengumpul ilmu yang tidak dimanfaatkan. Entah berapa banyak juga jenis 'labah-labah' yang ada di sekeliling kita. Yang hanya berfikir, "Siapa yang dapat dijadikan mangsa".

Seorang mukmin diibaratkan sebagai 'lebah'. Sesuatu yang tidak merosakkan dan tidak menyakitkan. Tidak makan kecuali yang baik, tidak menghasilkan kecuali yang bermanfaat dan jika menimpa sesuatu, tidak merosakkan dan tidak pula memecahkannya.

Semoga kita menjadi ibarat lebah. Insya Allah!

Tempayan Retak

2009-03-17T06:22:00.000-07:00

Seorang tukang air memiliki dua tempayan besar; masing-masing tergantung pada kedua hujung sebuah pikulan, yang dibawanya menyilang pada bahunya.

Salah satu dari tempayan itu retak, sedangkan tempayan yang satu lagi tidak. Jika tempayan yang tidak retak itu selalu dapat membawa air penuh setelah perjalanan panjang dari mata air ke rumah majikannya, tempayan retak itu hanya dapat membawa air setengah penuh.

Selama dua tahun, hal ini terjadi setiap hari. Si tukang air hanya dapat membawa satu setengah tempayan air ke rumah majikannya.Tentu saja si tempayan yang tidak retak merasa bangga akan prestasinya, kerana dapat menunaikan tugasnya dengan sempurna. Namun si tempayan retak yang malang itu merasa malu sekali akan ketidak sempurnaannya dan merasa sedih sebab ia hanya dapat memberikan setengah dari paras yang seharusnya dapat diberikannya.

Setelah dua tahun tertekan oleh kegagalan pahit ini, tempayan retak itu berkata kepada si tukang air, "Saya sungguh malu pada diri saya sendiri, dan saya ingin mohon maaf kepadamu."

"Kenapa?" tanya si tukang air.

"Kenapa kamu merasa malu?"

"Saya hanya mampu, selama dua tahun ini, membawa setengah paras air dari yang seharusnya dapat saya bawa kerana adanya retakan pada sisi saya telah membuat air yang saya bawa bocor sepanjang jalan menuju rumah majikan kita. Kerana cacatku itu, saya telah membuatmu rugi," kata tempayan itu.

Si tukang air merasa kasihan pada si tempayan retak, dan dalam belas kasihannya, dia berkata, "Jika kita kembali ke rumah majikan besok, aku ingin kamu memperhatikan bunga-bunga indah di sepanjang jalan." Benar, ketika mereka naik ke bukit, si tempayan retak memperhatikan dan baru menyedari bahawa ada bunga-bunga indah di sepanjang sisi jalan, dan itu membuatnya sedikit terhibur.Namun pada akhir perjalanan, ia kembali sedih kerana separuh air yang dibawanya telah bocor, dan kembali tempayan retak itu meminta maaf pada si tukang air atas kegagalannya.

Si tukang air berkata kepada tempayan itu, "Apakah kamu memperhatikan adanya bunga-bunga di sepanjang jalan di sisimu tapi tidak ada bunga di sepanjang jalan di sisi tempayan yang lain yang tidak retak itu? Itu kerana aku selalu menyedari akan cacatmu dan aku memanfaatkannya."

"Aku telah menanam benih-benih bunga di sepanjang jalan di sisimu, dan setiap hari jika kita berjalan pulang dari mata air, kamu mengairi benih-benih itu.Selama dua tahun ini aku telah dapat memetik bunga-bunga indah itu untuk menghias meja majikan kita.Tanpa kamu sebagaimana kamu ada, majikan kita tak akan dapat menghias rumahnya seindah sekarang."

Setiap dari kita memiliki cacat dan kekurangan kita sendiri.Kita semua adalah tempayan retak.Allah Maha Bijaksana, tak ada yang terbuang percuma. Jangan takut akan kekuranganmu. Kenalilah kelemahanmu dan Ketahuilah, di dalam kelemahan kita, kita menemukan kekuatan kita."

Parable Of The Pencil

2009-03-17T06:19:00.000-07:00

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box.

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."

"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in Someone's hand."

"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."

"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."

"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."

"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best person you can be.

One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.

Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you'll need it to become a stronger person.

Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.

Four: The most important part of you will always be what's on the inside.

And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

Value

2009-03-17T06:08:00.000-07:00

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?"
Hands started going up.
He said, "I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first, let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.
He then asked, "Who still wants it?"
Still the hands were up in the air.
"Well," he replied, "What if I do this?" And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now all crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.
"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. You are special - Don't ever forget it!

Life Still Has A Meaning

2009-03-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

If there is a future there is time for mending-
Time to see your troubles coming to an ending.

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.

Who Have Made A Difference In Your Life??

2009-03-17T05:56:00.001-07:00

You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read straight through, and you'll get the point, an awesome one. .....

Take this quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor actress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are
no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten.
Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel, appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you. Easier?

Moral Of The Story : The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care. Pass this on to those people who have made a difference in your life.

Lobak, Telur @ Semangkuk Kopi?

2009-03-17T05:51:00.000-07:00

Pada suatu hari, seorang pemuda kelihatan gelisah kerana beranggapan hidup terasa amat menyakitkan. Setiap kali dia dapat menyelesaikan sesuatu kerumitan, timbul pula masalah lain yang memerlukannya ‘berjuang’ lagi.

Akhirnya pemuda itu bertemu dengan ayahnya, seorang tukang masak. Dia menceritakan masalah yang dihadapinya dan didengar dengan sabar oleh bapanya. Setelah habis dia mencurahkan perasaannya, bapanya membawa pemuda itu ke dapur.

Di situ, si ayah mengisi tiga periuk dengan air dan meletakkan periuk itu di atas api. Apabila air mendidih, dia memasukkan lobak merah di dalam periuk pertama, telur di periuk kedua dan serbuk kopi di periuk ketiga. Bahan itu dibiarkannya mendidih.

Si anak tertanya-tanya dan menunggu dengan tidak sabar sambil memikirkan apa yang dilakukan ayahnya. Setelah 20 minit, si ayah mematikan api. Ia menyisihkan lobak dan meletaknya dalam mangkuk, mengangkat telur dan meletakkannya di mangkuk lain, dan menuangkan kopi dalam mangkuk yang lain juga. Lalu ia bertanya anaknya“Apa yang kau lihat, nak?”
“Lobak, telur dan kopi,” jawab si anak.

Si ayah mengajaknya mendekati mangkuk dan memintanya merasai lobak itu. Pemuda itu menurut dan dirasakan lobak itu enak.

Ayahnya meminta pemuda itu mengambil telur dan memecahkannya. Setelah membuang kulitnya, ia mendapati sebiji telur rebus yang mengeras.

Terakhirnya, ayahnya meminta dia merasai kopi. Pemuda itu tersenyum ketika merasai kopi dengan baunya yang harum.
“Apa erti semua ini, ayah?” tanya pemuda itu.

Ayahnya berkata, tiga bahan yang direbus tadi menghadapi kesulitan sama – direbus dalam air yang mendidih tetapi setiap satu menunjukkan reaksi berbeza. Sebelum direbus, lobak bersifat keras dan sukar dipatahkan. Namun selepas direbus, lobak menjadi lembut dan lunak.

Telur pula sebelumnya mudah pecah tetapi apabila direbus, isinya menjadi keras. Serbuk kopi mengalami perubahan yang unik. Setelah ada dalam rebusan, serbuk kopi mengubah air berkenaan.
“Kamu termasuk dalam kategori mana?” tanya si ayah.

Pemuda itu terdiam.

“Air mendidih itu umpama kesukaran dan dugaan yang kamu lalui. Ketika kesukaran dan kesulitan mendatangimu, bagaimana kau meghadapinya? Apakah kamu lobak, telur atau kopi?”
Pemuda itu termenung memikirkan perumpamaan yang diberikan bapanya.

“Jika kamu lobak yang kelihatannya keras, kamu akan mudah menyerah kepada penderitaan dan kesulitan. Kamu bakal hilang kekuatan. Atau kamu adalah telur yang awalnya memiliki hati lembut, dengan jiwa yang dinamik, tetapi dengan adanya cabaran dan kegagalan, menjadi keras dan kaku, walaupun kelihatan sama pada luarannya.

“Ataukah kamu adalah serbuk kopi? Ia mengubah air panas yang menyakitkan itu. Ketika air mencapai suhu terpanas, kopi terasa semakin nikmat. Sepatutnya kamu menjadi serbuk kopi ketika keadaan menjadi semakin buruk, kamu menjadi semakin
baik dan membuat keadaan di sekitarmu juga menjadi semakin baik,” jelas si ayah dengan penuh pengajaran kepada anaknya itu.

Butterfly

2009-03-17T05:48:00.000-07:00

A man found a cocoon of a butterfly. One day a small opening appeared. He sat and watched the butterfly for several hours as it struggled to force its body through that little hole. Then it seemed to stop making any progress. It appeared as if it had gotten as far as it could, and it could go no further.

So the man decided to help the butterfly. He took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon.

The butterfly then emerged easily. But it had a swollen body and small, shriveled wings.
The man continued to watch the butterfly because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to be able to support the body, which would contract in time.
Neither happened! In fact, the butterfly spent the rest of its life crawling around with a swollen body and shriveled wings. It never was able to fly.

What the man, in his kindness and haste, did not understand was that the restricting cocoon and the struggle required for the butterfly to get through the tiny opening were God's way of forcing fluid from the body of the butterfly into its wings so that it would be ready for flight once it achieved its freedom from the cocoon.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our lives. If God allowed us to go through our lives without any obstacles, it would cripple us. We would not be as strong as what we could have been. We could never fly!

I asked for Strength.........
And God gave me Difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for Wisdom.........
And God gave me Problems to solve.
I asked for Prosperity.........
And God gave me Brain and Brawn to work.
I asked for Courage.........
And God gave me Danger to overcome.
I asked for Love.........
And God gave me Troubled people to help.
I asked for Favors.........
And God gave me Opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted ........
I received everything I needed!

The Difference He Made.. (Adapted from true story by Randy Poole)

2009-03-17T05:47:00.000-07:00

Amidst the morning mist of the a swift returning side
I set out on my daily run, my walkman on my side.
Lost within my private world apart from cares and woes
I ran along the moistened shore, the sand between my toes.
In the distance, I saw a boy, as busy as can be.
He was running, stooping, picking up and tossing in the sea.
Just what he threw, I couldn’t tell, I looked as I drew near.
It seemed to be a rock or shell, as I approached him I could hear.
‘Back you go, where you belong. Your safes now hurry home.
Your family’s waiting for you little starfish, hurry on!’
It seemed the evening tide had washed the starfish on the shore,
And the swift receding water left a thousand there or more.
And this self-appointed savior, was trying one-by-one
To toss them back into the sea, against the racing sun.
I saw his plight was hopeless, that most of them would die.
I called out from my private world, “hey kid, why even try?”
“Must be at least a thousand here, strewn along the beach,
And even if you had the time, most you’ll never reach.
You really think it makes a difference, to waste your time this way?”
And then I paused and waited, just to hear what he would say.
He stooped and took another, and looked me in the eye.
“It makes a difference to this one sir, this starfish will not die!”
With that, he tossed the little life, back where there was hope.
He stooped to take another. I could tell this was no joke.
The words that he spoke tome cut like a surgeon’s knife.
Where I saw only numbers, he saw only life.
He didn’t see the multitude of starfish on the sand,
He only saw the little life he held there in his hand.
He didn’t stop to argue, to prove that he was right,
He just kept tossing starfish in the sea with all his might.
So I too stooped, and I picked up, and I tossed into the sea,
And I thought, just what a difference that this boy has made in me..

It doesn’t matter what other people think what we are doing is useless, impossible or insignificant. We can’t change the whole world, but we will do what we can. If it is only a few stranded starfish that we can throw back into the sea of life, then we have already made a difference. Let’s go on making a difference

Doubts Of A Little Camel

2009-03-17T05:41:00.000-07:00

Moral of The Story : Skills, Knowledge, abilities and experiences are only useful if you are at the right place! Where are you now?

Illuminated By Blindness

2009-03-17T05:39:00.000-07:00

There was a blind girl who hated herself because she was blind. She hated everyone, except her loving boyfriend. He was always there for her. She told her boyfriend, "If I could only see the world, I will marry you."

One day, someone donated a pair of eyes to her. When the bandages came off, she was able to see everything, including her boyfriend.

He asked her, "Now that you can see the world, will you marry me?" The girl looked at her boyfriend and saw that he was blind. The sight of his closed eyelids shocked her. She hadn't expected that. The thought of looking at them the rest of her life led her to refuse to marry him.

Her boyfriend left in tears and days later had a note sent to her saying, "Take good care of your eyes, my dear, for before they were yours, they were mine."

This is often how our human nature works when our status changes. Only a very few remember what life was like before, and who was always by their side in the most painful situations.

Life is a gift.
Today, before you say an unkind word, think of someone who can't speak.
Before you complain about the taste of your food, think of someone who has nothing to eat.
Before you complain about your husband or wife, think of someone who's crying out to God for a companion.
Today, before you complain about life, think of those who may have died before their time.
Before whining about the distance you drive, think of those who walk the same distance on foot.
When you are tired and complain about your job, think of the unemployed, the disabled, and those who wish they had your job.
And, when depressing thoughts seem to get you down, put a smile on your face and think: you're alive and still around for a reason.

Test Your Brain.. This Is Really Cool!!!

2009-03-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

This is not a test - just a phenomenon. All readings are explained. Read out loud the text inside the triangle below

More than likely you said, 'A bird in the bush,'! and. .......if this IS what YOU said, then you failed to see that the word THE is repeated twice!Sorry, look again.

Next , let's play with some words.What do you see?

In black you can read the word GOOD, in white the word EVIL (inside each black letter is a white letter). It's all very physiological too, because it visualize the concept that good can't exist without evil (or the absence of good is evil).

Now, what do you see?

You may not see it at first, but the white spaces read t he word optical, the blue landscape reads the word illusion. Look again! Can you see why this painting is called an optical illusion?

This one is quite tricky! The word TEACH reflects as LEARN.

Last one. What do you see?

You probably read the word ME in brown, but....... when you look through ME you will see YOU! Do you need to look again?

The second one is amazing so please read all the way though.

ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST

Count every ' F ' in the following text:

FINI SHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITHTHE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...

(SEE BELOW)

HOW MANY ?WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- no joke.

READ IT AGAIN!

Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down. The reasoning behind is further down. The brain cannot process 'OF'.

Incredible or what? Go back and look again!!Anyone who counts all 6 'F's' on the first go is a genius.

More Brain Stuff . . From Cambridge University .

O lny srmat poelpe can raed this. I cdnuolt blveiee that I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd what I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in what oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is that the first and last ltteer be in the rgh it pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. This is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed this psas it on !!

Inspiring Stories For Teachers : Sharpening Skills

2009-03-17T05:31:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job in a timber merchant, and he got it. His salary was really good and so were the working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an Axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to fell the trees. The first day, the woodcutter brought fifteen (15) trees. "Congratulations," the boss said, "Carry on with your work!" Highly motivated by the words of his boss, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he only could bring ten (10) trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he was only able to bring seven (7) trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees. "I must be losing my strength." The woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on. "When was the last time you sharpened your axe?" the boss asked. "Sharpen? I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees..."

Moral of the story: Most of us never update our skills. We think that whatever we have learned is very much enough. But good is not good when better is expected. Sharpening our skills from time to time is the key to success.

The Teacher & Little Teddy Stoddard

2009-03-17T05:28:00.000-07:00

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same. However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.

Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be unpleasant. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then putting a big "F" at the top of his papers. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise. Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners... he is a joy to be around.." His second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle." His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class." By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of herself.

She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper That he got from a grocery bag Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume.. But she stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist. Teddy Stoddard stayed after school that day just long enough to say, "Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the children left, she cried for at least an hour. On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic. Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets.."

A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in life. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he'd stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer.... The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, MD. The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together. They hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for* believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference." Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said, "Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you." (For you that don't know, Teddy Stoddard is the Dr. at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines that has the Stoddard Cancer Wing.)

Warm someone's heart today. . . pass this along. I love this story so very much, I cry every time I read it. Just try to make a difference in someone's life today? tomorrow? Just "do it".

Reach For The Star

2009-03-17T01:48:00.000-07:00

I stood in my kitchen window today, watching my daughters playing on the swingset. I struggled not to run and help as my disabled 5 yr old tried over and over to get herself sitting on the swing. As I was about to look away and regain control of my emotions, she succeeded and sat there in her Blues Clues hat looking very happy with her accomplishment.
It was the hopes of that look that held me back from running to her aid. As i watched her there rocking back and forth on the swing I wondered if she would ever be sitting here swinging toward the sky, as her big sister does. I started remembering... all the time's we'd reached for the stars. All the accomplishments we had been told to never expect.My babygirl had reached for the stars many times before - and grabbed hold and done what she was never supposed to succeed at. Why would this time be any different? The same baby they told me would never hold up her own head - now sat on the swing set, proud of the fact she got there by herself. The little one the Dr refused to brace because, after all, 'she's never going to walk', was using those very same legs to kick the ground and move the swing a little. I stood there reminiscing, remembering all the little, and not so little , miracles we had seen. As I came out of my reverie, still staring out the window, I realized I was witnessing yet another miracle. For there was my little daughter, her feet firmly planted on the ground, pushing with enough force that her swing was swinging her higher, bringing her closer to the stars. I wish I could express the happiness that it brought, not only to me, but to her little face. She sat swinging, holding on tightly (with fingers that were never to grasp a thing) reaching... again reaching, for the stars.

A Teacher's Wish

2009-03-17T01:44:00.000-07:00

As the year is coming to an end, I’m starting to have sad thoughts of all the smiling faces, I have come to know and love, The faces I have greeted, As they come into my door and my life, And thinking of the time, But not from my memory For in my memory, they stay forever. I hope in some way I have touched their lives, As they have touched mine. Thinking of this day brings tears to my eyes, Knowing that I may never see them again, And even if I did, they won’t have remembered. But I hope in some small way, Even though they won’t remember me, That a part of me will remain in them forever, Maybe a hug or tender touch, Or maybe just a quiet look that says “I care’… I hope somewhere in their memory, They will remember that someone loves them, In her own special ways. I wish for them a happy and wonderful life, Full of only good and beautiful things, And I hope that some small part of me, Might have had something to do with it… Goodbye, and good luck, dear friends... May Allah bless your journey ahead.

Balang Mayonis & Secawan Kopi

2009-03-17T01:41:00.000-07:00

Di dalam sebuah kelas falsafah, seorang profesor berdiri di hadapan dewan kuliah, meja di hadapannya terdapat beberapa barangan. Tanpa sepatah perkataan, kelas bermula dengan beliau mengambil sebuah balang mayonis yang besar dan mengisinya dengan bola golf. Dia kemudian bertanya kepada para pelajarnya, adakah balang tersebut penuh, dan pelajarnya menjawab "ya!". Profesor kemudian mengambil sekotak batu kerikil halus dan menuangkannya ke dalam balang yang telah dipenuhi bola golf tadi, lantas menggoncang balang tersebut dengan lembut. Bebatu kerikil mengisi ruangan kosong di antara bola-bola golf. Sekali lagi dia bertanya akan pelajarnya sama ada balang tersebut telah penuh, pelajarnya lantas menjawab "ya..." Tanpa menjelaskan apa-apa kepada pelajarnya, profesor tersebut lantas mengambil pula sebuah kotak yang berisi pasir dan menuangkannya ke dalam balang tersebut. Pasir yang dituang mengisi ruangan di antara batu kelikir dan bola golf. Seperti tadi dia bertanya lagi kepada para pelajarnya sama ada balang tersebut telah penuh. Dalam keadaan yang penuh persoalan, rata-rata pelajarnya menjawab "Ya.." Sejurus selepas itu, profesor itu kemudiannya mengeluarkan dua cawan kopi dari bawah mejanya dan menuangkan kedua-duanya ke dalam balang yang telah sedia ada diisi batu golf, batu kerikil dan pasir tersebut. Air kopi mengisi ruangan yang terdapat di antara pasir. Para pelajar mula ketawa dan tersenyum meihat tindakan profesor tersebut. " Sekarang..." profesor mula bersuara apabila riuh rendah dan gelak ketawa pelajarnya berkurangan. "Saya mahu anda semua menganggap balang ini sebagai kehidupan anda... Bola-bola golf mewakili perkara penting - Tuhan, keluarga anda, anak-anak, kesihatan anda, kawan-kawan dan semangat anda - Jika anda kehilangan segalanya dan hanya perkara penting ini yang masih anda ada, hidup anda masih penuh. Batu kerikil halus ini pula mewakili perkara-perkara lain seperti kerja anda, rumah atau kereta anda, manakala pasir pula mewakili perkara-perkara lain, yakni perkara-perkara kecil." " Jika anda memasukkan pasir ke dalam balang dahulu..." "...anda tidak akan mempunya ruang untuk batu kerikil dan bola golf. Ini sama juga seperti kehidupan anda. Jika anda menghabiskan masa dan tenaga untuk perkara-perkara kecil, anda tidak akan mempunyai ruang untuk perkara yang sebenarnya lebih penting untuk diri anda." "Ambil perhatian untuk perkara yang kritikal untuk kebahagiaan anda. Luangkan masa gembira untuk anak-anak. Sentiasa melakukan pemeriksaan kesihatan, bawa pasangan anda untuk makan malam, yang pasti, anda akan masih ada masa untuk membersihkan rumah atau urusan lain. Sila ambil berat akan bola golf dahulu - iaitu perkara yang benar-benar penting. Tetapkan keutamaan. Perkara lain cumalah pasir..." Salah seorang pelajarnya mengangkat tangan dan bertanya apakah pula yang diwakili oleh air kopi. Profesor tersebut tersenyum. "Saya gembira ada yang bertanya. Ianya menunjukkan bahawa tidak kira bagaimana penuh pun kehidupan anda, akan sentiasa ada ruang untuk secawan dua kopi bersama rakan-rakan..." Renungan untuk semua. Apabila kehidupan anda seakan terlalu penuh dan tampak sukar untuk diuruskan, apabila 24 jam sehari seperti tidak mencukupi, ingatlah kisah Balang Mayonis dan 2 cawan kopi ini...