NAP- Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket

Reflections

Thanks.. Gift of your being and ... for the Sandpiper

Each of us are given a gift of 86,400 seconds each and every day!
Have you used one or two today or yesterday yet, to say "Thank You"?
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Wherever you are, you are there for a reason. There are times when the reason will be patently evident. At other times you will need to be patient to understand why. Having a kindness consciousness will enable you to understand seemingly puzzling occurrences. The less you want to be in a certain place, the more you should be on the lookout for opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life.

TODAY IS A GIFT
"Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself:
I — not events — have the power to make me happy

or unhappy today.
I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet.
I have just one day, today,

and I'm going to be happy in it."

Groucho Marx

.................
The Sandpiper by Robert Peterson

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.
I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the
world
begins to close in on me. She was building a sand castle or something and
looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.
"Hello," she said.

I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.

"I'm building," she said.

"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring.

"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."

That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.

A sandpiper glided by.

"That's a joy," the child said.

"It's a what?"

"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."

The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself,
hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life seemed
completely out of balance.

"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.

"Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson."

"Mine's Wendy... I'm six."

"Hi, Wendy."

She giggled. "You're funny," she said.

In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on. Her musical giggle
followed me.
"Come again, Mr. P," she called "We'll have another happy day."

After a few days of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, and an
ailing mother, the sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out of
the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat.

The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me.The breeze was chilly but
I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.

"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.

"I don't know. You say."

"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is."

"Then let's just walk."

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face. "Where do you
live?" I asked.

"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter.

"Where do you go to school?"

"I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation."

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was
on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day.
Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed.

Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in
no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and
felt like demanding she keep her child at home.

"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, "I
d rather be alone today." She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.

"Why?" she asked.

I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought, My God,
why was I saying this to a little child?

"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."

"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and--oh, go away!"

"Did it hurt?" she inquired.

"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, and with myself.

"When she died?"

"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself. I
strode off.

A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there.

Feeling guilty, ashamed and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to
the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door.

A drawn looking young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.

"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and
wondered where she was."

"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much. I'm
afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please, accept
my apologies."

"Not at all -- she's a delightful child" I said, suddenly realizing that I
meant what I had just said.

Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia. Maybe she didn't
tell you."

Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.

"She loved this beach so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no. She
seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days.
But
the last few weeks, she declined rapidly." Her voice faltered, "she left
something for you ... if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while
I look?"

I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely
young
woman.

She handed me a smeared envelope with "MR. P" printed in bold childish
letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow beach, a
blue sea, and a brown bird. Underneath was carefully printed:

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes and a heart that had almost forgotten to love
opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry,
I'm so sorry," I uttered over and over, and we wept together.

The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words
-- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage,
and undemanding love.
A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand -- who
taught me the gift of love.

NOTE: This is a true story sent out by Robert Peterson. It happened over
20 years ago, and the incident changed his life forever. It serves as a
reminder to all of us that we need to take time to enjoy living, and life,
and each other. The price of hating other human beings is loving ones
selfless.

Life is so complicated, the hustle and bustle of everyday traumas can make
us lose focus about what is truly important or what is only a momentary
setback or crisis.

This week, be sure to give your loved ones an extra hug, and by all means,
take a moment...even if it is only ten seconds, to stop and smell the
roses.

This comes from someone's heart, and is read with many, and now I share it
with you.

May God Bless everyone that receives this!

There are NO coincidences! Everything that happens to us happens for a
reason. Never brush aside anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can
teach us?

I wish for you, a Sandpiper.

God bless you!
......................
No longer forward nor behind
I look in hope or fear;
But, grateful, take the good I find,
The best of now and here.
~ John Greenleaf Whittier

I Live in the Land of Thankfulness
I love the Land of Thankfulness where blessings overflow.
I claim it as my native home, most charming land I know;
And if I've need of anything, no matter what it be,
I just give thanks with confidence and see it come to me.
I like to live in Thankfulness! Would live there all my days;
Would let its spirit stir my soul and fill my heart with praise.
I questioned once how I had found a place of such a kind;
Knew I'd discovered it, because I'd thankful thoughts in mind
Oh, come with me to Thankfulness! We ask this of you:
That you be always thankful, friend, but this is all you do.
And if there's anything you need, no longer doubt or fear;
The thing you seek's awaiting you, it surely will appear.
Copyright © 2004 - Frank B. Whitney Founder of Unity Publication "Daily Word"
The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the
thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron,
so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
~Henry Ward Beecher

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by
a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with
deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
~ Albert Schweitzer

Best of all is it to preserve everything in a pure, still heart, and let there be
for every pulse a thanksgiving, and for every breath a song.
~Konrad von Gesner

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it ...
is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
~ William Arthur Ward

If the only prayer you ever say in your whole life is,
"thank you," that would suffice.
~Meister Eckhart

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial
into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity.
It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend.
Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today,
and creates a vision for tomorrow.
~Melody Beattie

What if you gave someone a gift, and they neglected to thank you for it ...
would you be likely to give them another? Life is the same way.
In order to attract more of the blessings that life has to offer,
you must truly appreciate what you already have.
~Ralph Marston

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
~Gladys Berthe Stern

Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion.
Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception.
Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude.
Every virtue divorced from thankfulness
is maimed and limps along the spiritual road.
~John Henry Jowett

When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears.
~ Anthony Robbins

The hardest arithmetic to master
is that which enables us to count our blessings.
~Eric Hoffer

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget
that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

We can only be said to be alive in those moments
when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
~Thornton Wilder

Let's be grateful for those who give us happiness;
they are the charming gardeners who make our soul bloom.
~Marcel Proust

Real life isn't always going to be perfect or go our way,
but the recurring acknowledgment of what IS working in our lives
can help us not only to survive but surmount our difficulties.
~Sara Ban Breathnach

Make it a habit to tell people thank you.
To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the
expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those
around you, and you'll soon find many others around you.
Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it.
~ Ralph Marston

Margaret Mead's Change

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead

HAPPY BUDDIES DAY!!!


Forward to all your friends, including me. And don't tell me you're too busy for this. You know the phrase "stop and smell the flowers"!
See how many "bouquets" you end up with!

Happiness keeps You Sweet,

Trials keep You Strong,

Sorrows keep You Human,

Failures keep You Humble,

Success keeps You Glowing,

But Only You Can Keep Going!

You are special!

Today is " online buddy day " . Share this with your online friends - even me , if I'm one of them

When there is no wind, Row...Don't wait for Tomorrow!

" SOMEDAY WHEN..."

Another season passing, passing in time
The dreams so clear, seems so long ago
Fading in Spring, and more with each Fall.

A husband, a wife ... a child and then two.
Another Winter, building a bike for under the tree,
Thoughts of taxes, they soon will be due,
Another new year, as holidays draw nearer.


Each new Spring seems warmer than last,
Seems the grass in the yard grows far too fast.
There's still time enough for those dreams long ago
Someday when the kids are all grown,
Someday when they are out on their own.

Another year ... another ... or two ...
Dreams, the life of our sleep,
Fleeting thoughts ... a long ago wish.

Then one day, another Spring ...
A smile, a thought ... dreams from the past.
Someday when ... my children are grown up,
I'll quit this job, my life my own ...
I'll see the world ... I remember when.

Our hearts, ageless they know of no bounds,
Until one day, the dreams we would live
Are now out of reach ... we ran out of time.
They never got past "Someday When"
Having been replaced instead of with,
"What could have been."

So dreams they stay inside of our hearts,
Turned into just wishes, past "Wishes" on stars.
We thought we had time, as they most always began
With the simple notion of ... "Someday When."

An untouchable place "Someday When"
Today is as good as any day can be ...
To live the beginning of a least one of those dreams.

Through the warm spring days, Summer then Fall,
Then on through the Winter ... time passes slow.
Until one day, the direction we look,
Is not of the future, but a place of the past.

A time comes to all, when all we will have
Are the memories of love, and the lives we have lived
Or ... dreams turned to wishes wished on the stars
Waiting for tomorrows for our dreams to come true.
Dreams that began with "Someday When"...
And stayed there ... empty place unfulfilled.

"Tomorrow" never comes when our dreams
"Always" begin with "Someday When."
That place in our hearts, where time never ends
A place where, "When" sleeps, if never begins.

... Don't Wait For Tomorrow ...

Links

Universal Love Story
Life's Reality