Mary had a little Lamb

Mary had a little Lamb,
His fleece was white as snow.
And everywhere that Mary went,
The Lamb was sure to go.
He followed her to school each day,
When it wasn't against the rules.
He made the children laugh and play
To have the Lamb at school.

Then the rules were changed one day,
Against the law it became.
To bring the Lamb of God to school.
Or even speak His name.
Every day got worse and worse,
And days turned into years.
Instead of hearing children laugh and play,
We hear them crying tears.

What must we do to stop the crime,
That's in our schools today?
Let the Lamb come back to school
And teach our kids to pray.

I've Learned

That I can't make someone love me.
All I can do
is be someone who can be loved.
The rest is up to them.

That no matter how much I care,
some people just don't care back.

That it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

That it's not what I have in my life
but who I have in my life that counts.

That I can get by on charm
for about fifteen minutes.
After that, I'd better know something.

That I shouldn't compare myself
to the best others can do
but to the best I can do.

That it's not what happens to people that's important.
It's what they do about it.

That I can do something in an instant
that could give me heartache for life.

That no matter how thin I slice it,
there are always two sides.

That it's taken me a long time
to become the person I want to be.

That it's a lot easier to react than it is to think.

That I should always leave loved ones
with loving words.
It could be the last time I see them.

That I can keep going long after I think I can't.

That I am responsible for what I do.

That either I control my attitude or it controls me.

That regardless of how hot and steamy
a relationship is at first,
the passion fades
and there had better be
something else to take its place.

That heroes are the people
who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done,
regardless of the consequences.

That learning to forgive takes practice.

That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

That sometimes when I'm angry
I have the right to be angry,
but that doesn't give me
the right to be cruel.

That true friendship continues to grow,
even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

That just because someone doesn't love me
the way I want them to
doesn't mean they don't love me
with all they have.

That maturity has more to do with
what types of experiences you've had
and what you've learned from them
and less to do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.

That you should never tell a child
their dreams are unlikely or outlandish.
Few things are more humiliating,
and what a tragedy it would be
if they believed it.

That my family will always be there for me.

That people I'm not related to
can love me
and teach me to trust people again.

Not all families are biological.

That it isn't always enough
to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn
to forgive yourself.

That no matter how bad
my heart was broken
the world didn't stop for my grief.

That our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible
for who we become.

That just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

That we don't have to change friends
if we understand that friends change.

That you shouldn't be so
eager to find out a secret.
It could change your life forever.

That two people can look
at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

That no matter how you try to protect your children,
they will eventually get hurt
and you will hurt in the process.

That no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves
get farther in life.

That your life can be changed
in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.

That even when you think
you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

That writing, as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.

That although the word "love"
can have many different meanings,
it loses value when overly used.

That it's hard to determine
where to draw the line
between being nice and
not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.


Instructions For Life

Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

Memorize your favorite poem.

Don't believe all you hear,
spend all you have,
or sleep all you want.

When you say, "I love you," mean it.

When you say, "I'm sorry,"
look the person in the eye.

Be engaged at least six months
before you get married.

Believe in love at first sight.

Never laugh at anyone's dreams.

Love deeply and passionately.
You might get hurt but
it's the only way to live life completely.

In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

Don't judge people by their relatives.

Talk slow but think quick.

When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer,
smile and ask,
"Why do you want to know?".

Remember that great love
and great achievements
involve great risk.

Call your mom.

Say "bless you," when you hear someone sneeze.

When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

Remember the three R's:
Respect for self;
Respect for others;
Responsibility for all your actions.

Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

When you realize you've made a mistake,
take immediate steps to correct it.

Smile when picking up the phone.
The caller will hear it in your voice.

Marry a person you love to talk to.
As you get older, conversational skills will
be as important as any other.

Spend some time alone.

Open your arms to change,
but don't let go of your values.

Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

Read more books and watch less TV.

Live a good, honorable life.
Then when you get older and think back
you'll get to enjoy it a second time.

Trust in God but lock your car.

A loving atmosphere in your home is so important.
Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.

In disagreements with loved ones,
deal with the current situation.
Don't bring up the past.

Read between the lines.

Share your knowledge.
It's a way to achieve immortality.

Be gentle with the earth.

Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

Mind your own business.

Don't trust anyone who doesn't close their eyes
when you kiss.

Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

If you make a lot of money,
put it to use helping others while you are living.
That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.

Remember that not getting what you want
is sometimes a stroke of luck.

Learn the rules, then break some.

Remember that the best relationship is one
where your love for each other
is greater than your need for each other.

Judge your success by what you had to give up
in order to get it.

Remember that your character is your destiny.

Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.


Good Thoughts

What We Learn Through the Ages

I've learned that I like my teacher
because she cries when we sing "Silent Night".

 - Age 6

I've learned that you can't hide a piece of broccoli
in a glass of milk.
  - Age 7

I've learned that when I wave to people in the country,
they stop what they are doing and wave back.
  - Age 9

I've learned that just when I get my room the way I like it,
Mom makes me clean it up.
  - Age 13

I've learned that if you want to cheer yourself up,
you should try cheering someone else up.
  - Age 14

I've learned that although it's hard to admit it,
I'm secretly glad my parents are strict with me.
  - Age 15

I've learned that silent company is often more healing
than words of advice.
  - Age 24

I've learned that brushing my child's hair
is one of life's great pleasures.
  - Age 26

I've learned that wherever I go,
the world's worst drivers have followed me there.
  - Age 29

I've learned that if someone says something unkind about me,
I must live so that no one will believe it.
  - Age 39

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly
but just don't know how to show it.
  - Age 41

I've learned that you can make someone's day
by simply sending them a little card.
  - Age 44

I've learned that the greater a person's sense of guilt,
the greater his need to cast blame on others.
  - Age 46

I've learned that children and grandparents
are natural allies.
  - Age 47

I've learned that no matter what happens,
or how bad it seems today,
life does go on,
and it will be better tomorrow.
  - Age 48

I've learned that singing "Amazing Grace"
can lift my spirits for hours.
  - Age 49

I've learned that motel mattresses are better
on the side away from the phone.
  - Age 50

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a man
by the way he handles these three things:
a rainy day,
lost luggage,
and tangled Christmas tree lights.
  - Age 51

I've learned that keeping a vegetable garden
is worth a medicine cabinet full of pills.
  - Age 52

I've learned that regardless of your relationship
with your parents,
you miss them terribly after they die.
  - Age 53

I've learned that making a living
is not the same thing
as making a life.
  - Age 58

I've learned that if you want to do something positive
for your children, try to improve your marriage.
  - Age 61

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.
  - Age 62

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life
with a catcher's mitt on both hands.
You need to be able to throw something back.
  - Age 64

I've learned that if you pursue happiness,
it will elude you. But if you focus on your family,
the needs of others, your work,
meeting new people, and doing the very best you can,
happiness will find you.
  - Age 65

I've learned that whenever I decide something with kindness,
I usually make the right decision.
  - Age 66

I've learned that everyone can use a prayer.
  - Age 72

I've learned that it pays to believe in miracles.
And to tell the truth, I've seen several.
  - Age 73

I've learned that even when I have pains,
I don't have to be one.
  - Age 82

I've learned that every day you should reach out
and touch someone.
People love that human touch - holding hands,
a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back.
  - Age 85

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn.
  - Age 92


The A - Z of Friendship

A Friend...

(A)ccepts you as you are.
(B)elieves in "you".
(C)alls you just to say "HI".
(D)oesn't give up on you.
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts).
(F)orgives your mistakes.
(G)ives unconditionally.
(H)elps you help yourself.
(I)nvites you over.
(J)ust to "be" with you.
(K)eeps you close at heart.
(L)oves you for who you are.
(M)akes a difference in your life.
(N)ever Judges.
(O)ffers support.
(P)icks you up.
(Q)uiets your fears.
(R)aises your spirits.
(S)ays nice things about you.
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it.
(U)nderstands you.
(V)alues you.
(W)alks beside you.
(X)-plains things you don't understand.
(Y)ells when you won't listen, and
(Z)aps you back to reality



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