The parable is told of an old dog that fell into a farmer’s well. After assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the dog but decided that neither the dog nor the well were worth the trouble of saving. Instead he planned to bury the old dog in the well and put him out of his misery.

 
When the farmer began shoveling, initially the old dog was hysterical. But as the farmer continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It dawned on the dog that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back he should shake it off and step up. This he did blow after blow. "Shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up, shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself.

{Enlarge to read the text.}


MOTHERS, I SALUTE YOU.
HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY,

Mike

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There once was an oyster, whose story I tell;
Who found that some sand, had gotten into his shell.
It was only a grain, but it gave him great pain;
For oysters have feelings, although they are plain.

Now, did he berate the harsh workings of fate,
That had brought him to such a deplorable state?
"No," he said to himself, "Since I cannot remove it,
I'll lie in my shell, and think how to improve it."

The years rolled around, as the years always do,
And he came to his ultimate Destiny...stew.
Now the small grain of sand that had bothered him so,
Was a beautiful pearl all richly a glow.



This tale has a moral, for isn't it grand,
What an oyster can do with a morsel of sand?
Think... What could WE do, If we'd only begin,
With some of the things that get under OUR skin [author unknown]


Make a wonderful, pearl of a day,

Mike

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 I just wanted
to tell of you
that I love you all
and I am so grateful
to have each of you in my life.
I hope you all have a wonderful and blessed day.

May today be all
that you need it
to be today.

May the peace of God
and the freshness of
the Holy Spirit rest in
your thoughts,
rule in your dreams tonight
and conquer all your fears.

May God manifest Himself
today in ways that you have
never experienced.

May your joys be fulfilled,
your dreams be closer and
your prayers be answered.

I pray that faith enters a
new height for you,
I pray that your territory
is enlarged and I pray
that you step into your destiny
within the ministry.

I pray for peace, health,
happiness and true and
undying love for God.

Mike

You can view Mike's Daily Blessings at http://www.TheWoods.phpbbnow.com

Good Morning prayerful friends and family,

Most of you know me well enough by now to be aware that I am a believer in the power of prayer. I'm also aware that our prayers are answered as to God's will and His all knowing wisdom.

Some often consider prayer a small thing. I say, "Enjoy the little things. One day you may look back and realize...
they were the BIG things." Simply put by Francis Xavier; "Be great in little things."

I thank all of you who have been praying for others. Here is an update on one of those we've been praying for. My cousin, Steve, had serious surgery on Tuesday of this week to remove a tumor. HE WAS DISMISSED FROM THE HOSPITAL ON THURSDAY! Is that not awesome? He has a long recovery period. Therefore prayer should continue. Furthermore we should joyfully be giving thanks to the God of heaven and earth.

God's word has a great deal to say about praying. One that stands out for me, "Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NASB.



I give thanks for you in my prayer today.

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