Phil Evans from
peoplestuff
Be Inspired!
VOLUME
06
One Week, One Day, One Step at a Time
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Introduction Sometimes reducing our troubles back to simple basics; one day at a time; one step at a time; can allow us to chew the big chunks in little pieces; instead of choking on the big pieces because they’re just too daunting! So, how do you eat an elephant?
One
bite a
t a tim
e!
Disclaimer This publication is distributed with the express and implied understanding that the author and publisher are not engaged in rendering legal, psychological, health, medical or other professional advice. If legal, psychological, health, medical or other professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a qualified professional should be sought. Neither the author nor publisher make any representation or warranty of any kind with regard to the information contained in the book. No liability shall be accepted for any actions caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly from using the information contained in this book.
2 Š copyright
peoplestuff
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LIFE: Here are some answers
Volume 06
I Think I Can When Meghan finished her double Master’s Degrees at the University, I can remember watching her get her diploma. As her line moved forward to the side of the platform, she seemed to have more energy than she could handle. I smiled as I saw her blow out air, a habit she’d had since childhood, and I realized she was just a little nervous. Though her degrees were important to her, I could almost see the wheels spinning, “Let’s go! Payback time is here, and I’m ready. I think I can make a difference in this world.” My earliest memories of Meggy always convinced me that she thought she could do whatever was required. When the doctors told her folks that she would never walk, nobody told baby Meggy. She would pull herself around in those old plaster casts, and leaning on the footstool and the over-stuffed chair, she would pull up and crow with delight. Struggle and try, struggle and try and never, never give up - these words seemed to form the central effort of all her behavior. When relatives were able to get her admitted to Shiner’s Hospital, she was in the hospital for months when she was three, and went back for another series of operations and slow recuperation when she was four. She willingly submitted to the foot exercises each day, and she and her mother learned to make a game of the painful manipulations. I can remember seeing her in brown high-topped shoes with tall braces attached. She would be dressed in sunny yellow with small bows around her braids, and though she walked haltingly, there was no such thing as quit trying. Her face reflected intense concentration as she moved across the room, but when she reached her destination, her face would glow with smiles. Her mother, with the same diehard determination, would read “The Little Engine That Could” to Meggy. I can still hear them echoing the words of the familiar children’s story: “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can!” When the engine made it over the enormous hill with the toys for the children, Meggy would laugh as she and her mother chorused, “I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could!” With that same faith and hope, Meggy mastered stairs, rugged outdoor ground, and hikes with playmates. I watched the braces give way to low cut oxfords and finally to patton leather Sunday shoes and sturdy sandals. She learned to run, she learned to skip, she learned to play games, and she learned to ride a bike. By kindergarten, she was exactly like every other child, and her determination and spunk took new directions. I watched her give over her Queen of the May crown to a child she thought more deserving. Though flowers were the love of her heart, I watched her give away the May Queen’s bountiful basket of blooms. Any later regrets about her spontaneous generosity?--if so, she and mom handled it, and learned a lesson for the next time. Though grade school sports and activities were challenging, she tried everything from monkey
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peoplestuff
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LIFE: Here are some answers
Volume 06
bars and swings to baseball and running. As her stamina improved, her concentration on learning and remembering improved. She and mom struggled with the early words until Meggy could read and recite fluently, and she frequently learned the words of stories by heart. During fifth grade, the doctors called for further surgery, and Meggy entered Shriner’s Hospital again. During the three months’ absence from school, she worked daily with the teacher employed by the hospital and kept up with the required learning. Her school classmates encouraged her with letters and cards. Once again, muscles atrophied in the long six weeks in casts, and when she returned home, she explained to family and friends that her first steps with high top shoes and walker were incredibly painful. The sharp pain was strong enough to cause her to pass out, but she gritted her teeth - and kept on walking. Again, God blessed her with continuous recuperation until she could walk and run, participate in junior high sports, and even wear high heels for her fifteen birthday. Scars faded, muscles strengthened, and Meg entered high school to earn honors and participate in a wide range of activities. The social and academic requirements of college and graduate school were difficult for Meg. As she lugged books and studied far into the night, she kept her eye on her goals, on the people she would help. Always in her heart was the over-flowing gratitude to God and others for all the care, help, and encouragement she received along the way. She graduated first in her class from a good church-related college and continued her preparation for teaching in graduate school. As I heard her name being called to receive her Master’s diploma, I watched her walk with grace and purpose toward the Dean. As she descended the stairs of the platform, a radiant smile broke forth, and I could just hear her thinking, “I thought I could, I thought I could, I thought I could!” Author Unknown
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peoplestuff
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LIFE: Here are some answers
Volume 06
It’s all about Perspective One day, a father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the firm purpose of showing his son how poor people live. They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family. On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, “How was the trip?” “It was great, Dad.” “Did you see how poor people live?” the father asked. “Oh yeah,” said the son. “So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?” asked the father. The son answered: “I saw that we have one dog and they had four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night. Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon. We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight. We have servants who serve us, but they serve others. We buy our food, but they grow theirs. We have walls around our property to protect us; they have friends to protect them.” The boy’s father was speechless. Then his son added, “Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we are.” Isn’t perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don’t have. Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends! “Life is often too short - and friends are often few.” Author Unknown
12 © copyright
peoplestuff
www.peoplestuff.com.au
LIFE: Here are some answers
Volume 06
Just another Miracle His name was Fleming, and he was a poor Scottish farmer. One day, while trying to make a living for his family, he heard a cry for help coming from a nearby bog. He dropped his tools and ran to the bog. There, trapped to his waist in black muck, was a terrified boy, screaming and struggling to free himself. Farmer Fleming saved the lad from what could have been a slow and terrifying death. The next day, a fancy carriage pulled up to the Scotsman’s sparse surroundings. An elegantly dressed nobleman stepped out and introduced himself as the father of the boy Farmer Fleming had saved. “I want to repay you,” said the nobleman. “You saved my son’s life.” “No, I can’t accept payment for what I did,” the Scottish farmer replied, waving off the offer. At that moment, the farmer’s own son came to the door of the family hovel. “Is that your son?” the nobleman asked. “Yes,” the farmer replied proudly. “I’ll make you a deal. Let me provide him with the level of education my son will enjoy. If the lad is anything like his father, he’ll no doubt grow to be a man we both will be proud of.” And that he did. Farmer Fleming’s son attended the very best schools and in time, he graduated from St. Mary’s Hospital Medical School in London, and went on to become known throughout the world as the noted Sir Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of Penicillin. Years afterward, the same nobleman’s son who was saved from the bog was stricken with pneumonia. What saved his life this time? Penicillin. The name of the nobleman? Lord Randolph Churchill. His son’s name? Sir Winston Churchill. As someone once said: “What goes around - comes around.” Author Unknown
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peoplestuff
www.peoplestuff.com.au
LIFE: Here are some answers
Volume 06
Just Listen! When I ask you to listen to me and you start giving advice - you have not done what I asked. When I ask you to listen to me and you begin to tell me why I shouldn’t feel that way - you are trampling on my feelings. When I ask you to listen to me and you feel that you have to do something to solve my problems - you have failed me - strange as that may seem. Listen! All I ask is that you listen. Not talk - or do - just listen. Advice is cheap - 1 dollar will get you Dorothy Dix and Dr Spock in the same newspaper. And I can DO for myself - I’m not helpless. Maybe discouraged and faltering - but not helpless. When you do something for me that I can, and need to, do for myself - you contribute to my fear and weakness. But when you accept as a simple fact that I do feel what I feel - no matter how irrational - then I quit trying to convince you and can get about the business of understanding what’s behind this irrational feeling. And when that’s clear - the answers are obvious, and I don’t need advice. So - please listen and just hear me - and if you want to talk - wait a minute for your turn - and I’ll listen to you. Author Unknown
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peoplestuff
www.peoplestuff.com.au
LIFE: Here are some answers
Volume 06
Just Down The Forest Path Just down the forest path Is a clearing where I see Horses of all kinds and breeds Gathered, though they’re free There’s Mustangs, mares, and thoroughbreds, Ponies, stallions, too... And, it makes me wonder why it is We can’t live the way they do They’ve learned to live together, With all the other breeds... They’ve found a way to get along While fulfilling all their needs Wouldn’t it be wonderful To learn the lesson here That all of us could get along, If we’d just forget our fear... Maybe someday we will see Just down the forest path... Peace, and love, and harmony Has finally come to pass. Author Unknown
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peoplestuff
www.peoplestuff.com.au
LIFE: Here are some answers
Volume 06
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