Customer Service Rep: Can you install LOVE?

Customer: I can do that. I’m not very technical, but I think I am ready to install now. What do I do first?

CS Rep: The first step is to open your HEART. Have you located your HEART ma’am?

Customer: Yes I have, but there are several programmes running right now. Is it okay to install while they are running?

CS Rep: What programmes are running ma’am?

Customer: Let me see … I have PAST HURT.EXE, LOWESTEEM.EXE, GRUDGE.EXE, and RESENTMENT.COM running right now.

CS Rep: No problem. LOVE will automatically erase PASTHURT.EXE from your current operating system. It may remain in your permanent memory, but it will no longer disrupt other programmes. LOVE will eventually overwrite LOWESTEEM.EXE with a module of its own called HIGH SELFESTEEM.EXE. However, you have to completely turn of GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM. Those programmes prevent LOVE from being properly installed. Can you turn those off ma’am?

Customer: I don’t know how to turn them off. Can you tell me how?

CS Rep: My pleasure. Go to your Start menu and invoke FORGIVENESS.EXE. Do this as many times as necessary until GRUDGE.EXE and RESENTMENT.COM have been completely erased.

Customer: Okay, I’m done. LOVE has started installing itself automatically. Is that normal?

CS Rep: Yes it is. You should receive a message that says it will reinstall for the life of your HEART. Do you see that message?

Customer: Yes I do. Is it completely installed?

CS Rep: Yes, but remember that you have only the base programme. You need to begin connecting to other HEARTS in order to get the upgrades.

Customer: Oops … I have an error message already. What should I do?

CS Rep: What does the message say?

Customer: It says “ERROR 412 – PROGRAM NOT RUN ON INTERNAL COMPONENTS.” What does that mean?

CS Rep: Don’t worry ma’am, that’s a common problem. It means that the LOVE programme is set up to run on external HEARTS but has not yet been run on your HEART. It is one of those complicated programming things, but in non-technical terms it means you have to “LOVE” your own machine before it can “LOVE” others.

Customer: So what should I do?

CS Rep: Can you find the directory called “SELF-ACCEPTANCE”?

Customer: Yes, I have it.

CS Rep: Excellent, you are getting good at this.

Customer: Thank you.

CS Rep: You’re welcome. Click on the following files and then copy them to the “MYHEART” directory: FORGIVESELD.DOC, SELFESTEEM.TXT, REALIZEWORTH.TAX, and GOODNESS.DOC. The system will overwrite any conflicting files and begin patching any faulty programming. Also, you need to delete SELDCRITICISM.EXE from all directories, and then empty your recycle bin afterwards to make sure it is completely gone and never comes back.

Customer: Got it. Hey! My HEART is filling up with really neat smiles. SMILE.MPG is playing on my monitor right now and it shows that WARMTH.COM, PLEACE.EXE and CONTENTMENT.COM are copying themselves all over my HEART!

CS Rep: Then LOVE is installed and running. You should be able to handle it from here. One more thing before I go …

Customer: Yes?

CS Rep: LOVE is freeware. Be sure to give it and its various modules to everybody you meet. They will in turn share it with other people and they will return some really neat modules back to you.

Customer: I will. Thank you for your help.

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and a four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together nightly at the dinner table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating rather difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass often milk spilled on the tablecloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about grandfather," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor. So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner at the dinner table. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. Sometimes when the family glanced in grandfather's direction, he had a tear in his eye as he ate alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food. The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and mama to eat your food from when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work. The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb. If they see us patiently provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day that building blocks are being laid for the child's future.

Let us all be wise builders and role models. Take care of yourself, ... and those you love, ... today, and everyday!

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do. Finally he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey. He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They each grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement, he quieted down. A few shovel loads later, the farmer looked down the well, and was astonished at what he saw.

As every shovel of dirt hit his back, the donkey did something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up. As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed, as the donkey stepped up over the edge of the well and trotted off.

The Moral:

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up. Each of our troubles is a stepping stone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up!

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

1. Free your heart from hatred.

2. Free your mind from worries.

3. Live simply.

4. Give more.

5. Expect less.

Thomas Carlyle is the author of the book ‘The French Revolution’. Once, John Stuart Mill, the famous Philosopher and writer asked him, ‘Would you kindly lend me the manuscript of your work ‘The French Revolution’. I would like to go through the first part of your work.’ Carlyle readily gave him the manuscript.

After some days Mill knocked at his door one night and entered the hall in a dazed condition, ‘What is it Mill?’ asked Carlyle.

‘My friend,’ stammered the philosopher gasping; ‘I am…… I…am sorry, your manuscript was swept away by the maid and destroyed except for a few torn pages.’

Carlyle was stunned.

Gathering his wits, he slowly said, ‘Why do you keep standing? Pray sit down. Well, what has happened has happened. So, do not worry.’

Mill sat down with a sigh. He talked with his friend for hours, well past midnight thinking that he should console Carlyle. In the end Carlyle came closer to him and said ‘Listen, my friend! Now do not think about it any more. Take it like this it is like the master asking a pupil who has written a bad essay to rewrite it to perfection.’

There was a very rich woman, who lived in a beautiful palatial mansion. She lacked nothing; she enjoyed all the comforts that money could buy.

However, she was a selfish soul; she had no thought for others. Her doors were always shut in the face of people who came to ask her for donations and help for good causes. Not a penny of her money would she give away to another.

Years passed. Her long, self-centered life was drawing to a close. Gradually, life after death began to haunt her.

One day, she had a strange dream in which she saw herself die, and mounted up to the heavenly world. It was a strange and fascinating place, and she felt quite lost, not knowing where to go. Meeting an angel, she enquired of him, "Can you please show me the way to my eternal home? I have come up to heaven after a long life. I am weary, and I would like to see the place where I shall live forever!"

"Come with me, I shall show you the way," said the Angel. And he led her through the beautiful territory of the heavenly world. Here she saw vast palaces, exquisite villas, beautiful mansions. But the Angel led her on until they entered a slum like territory. There were broken huts and humble cottages everywhere. The Angel stopped outside a poor, lowly hut, and said to her, "This is to be your eternal home."

The woman recoiled in horror at the sight of the hut. "How is this possible?" she Cried. "On earth God gave me a beautiful mansion to live in! How can my heavenly home be so poor and shabby?"

The Angel said to her, "Your eternal home is built with what you send to us here. This is the best we could do with what you sent to us."

The rich woman awoke from her dream in a cold sweat. She resolved to turn over a new leaf, and to share what she had with those in need.

The money that we give to the poor is deposited in our account in the Bank of Providence.

While building the bridge across the ocean, Hanuman played an active role. One day Rama came up to watch the construction. He noticed that Hanuman had a queue of monkeys standing in front of him with big boulders and rocks. Hanuman took one rock from one monkey and wrote the name Ram on it. He threw it into the ocean. The rock just stood without submerging. On that the other rocks and boulders stood and hence the bridge was getting constructed.

Rama watched this with amazement. He started wondering how this could happen. How could mere writing of his name on the stone make it stand in water? He wondered if it had anything to do with Hanuman. He thought of trying it out himself to find out.

He felt that if this was due to Hanuman’s faith and if Rama himself had none of that faith it would be very embarrassing. He waited till it was dark. He wanted to make sure that no one was watching him try out the power of his name.

In the darkness he did not see Hanuman watching him go to the river. Rama slowly crept near the river and took a stone. He wrote the name Rama on it. He threw the stone into the ocean. The stone sank into the waters.

Immediately there was a huge shout. Rama turned around to see that all the monkeys had gathered there to watch Rama throw the stone. At their head was Hanuman. Hanuman roaring with laughter that Rama himself could not keep the stones afloat. Rama felt terribly sheepish.

Suddenly Hanuman turned to the hordes of monkeys and asked, “Seriously, do you know why that stone cannot float on the waters?”

The monkeys shook their heads. Hanuman said, when I let go of them I think of Rama and his power holds the stone in water, now when Rama himself lets go of the stone who can save the stone? So the stone sinks in the water.

Rama was pleased to hear Hanuman’s interpretation of this incident.