Some of us have collected ideas from many souces. This "book" will become a place to post and share some of those ideas as food for thought.
Please, if you have something to contribute, do so by adding your ideas as "comments" Click on "Food For Thought" above to see the comments and add your own.
(1.) DO IT NOW!
Dear God, I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good thing, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any fellow traveler, let me do it now. Let me not defer nor neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.
(2.) Character is doing what’s right when nobody’s looking.
~ J.C. Watts, Jr. U.S. Congressman
(3.) Burn the idea into the consciousness of every man that he can get well regardless of anyone. The only condition is that he trust in God and clean house. ~ Alcoholics Anonymous Page 98
(4.) When others asked "how's it going?" A newcomer earnestly 'working the steps' found himself saying "Somethimes, I think God's got the wrong man!" -- "The Promises were coming true for him, but he wondered if he deserved such wonderful results from practicing a simple program of action.
After a thousand days working the 12-Step Program of Recovery, I've come to experience great things; one is a new relationship with my 24-year old son - an alcoholic in recovery who has been practicing our program nearly a year longer than I. It's amazing how we've changed, how our relationship has improved. Rather than hateful things, here's the message he e-mailed to me today:
Subject: Why Humans Live Longer
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year- old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family there were no miracles left for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home. As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for the four-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience.
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion.
We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why." Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The four-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply, Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.