A PRAYER

Lord!

Keep me from the habit of thinking I must say something on every occasion on every subject.

Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affair.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless detail – give me wings to get the points.

I ask for grace enough to listen to the tales of other’s pains. Help me to endure them with patients. But seal my lips on my own aches and pains- they are increasing and my love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by.

Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally it is possible that I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet. I don’t want to be a saint. Some of them are so hard to live with- but a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the Devil.

Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people. And give me O Lord! The grace to tell them so.

Make me thoughtful but not moody, helpful, but not bossy.

With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all but thou

Knowest, Lord! That I want a few friends at the end.

Source: Reader's Digest

Relationships-28 Practical Quotes

1.   In life you'll realize there is a purpose for everyone you meet.  Some will test you, some will use you, and some will teach you.  But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.

2.   Keep people in your life who truly love you, motivate you, encourage you, enhance you, and make you happy.  If you know people who do none of these things, let them go.

3.   Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring – all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

4.   The most beautiful thing is to see a person you love smiling.  And even more beautiful is knowing that you are the reason behind it.

5.   Choose your relationships wisely.  It's better to be alone than to be in bad company.

6.   Being alone does not mean you are lonely, and being lonely does not mean you are alone.

7.   Lies help no one in the long run.  So… 1) don’t say "I love you" if you don't mean it. 2) Don't say "I understand" if you have no clue. 3) Don't say "I'm sorry" if you're not. 4) Be honest with yourself and your loved ones.

8.   Tell the truth, or eventually someone will tell it for you.

9.   You know you've found true love when you catch yourself falling in love with the same person over and over again.

10.   Don't wait for the right person to come into your life.  Rather, be the right person to come to someone's life.

11.   The one who is meant for you encourages you to be your best, but still loves and accepts you at your worst.

12.   Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.

13.  Some relationships are like glass.  It's better to leave it broken, than to hurt yourself more by trying to put it back together.

14.  Just because one person doesn't seem to care for you, doesn't mean you should forget about everyone else who does.

15.  Someone else doesn't have to be wrong for you to be right.

16.   It is okay to be angry.  It is never okay to be cruel.

17.  Never do something permanently foolish just because you are temporarily upset.

18.  Silence is often the loudest cry.  Pay attention to those you care about.

19.  We don't always need advice.  Sometimes all we need is a hand to hold, an ear to listen, and a heart to understand.

20.   It's not so much what you say that counts, it' how you make people feel.

21.  A silent hug means a thousand words to the unhappy heart.

22.  Don't mess with someone's feelings just because you're unsure of yours.

23.  True happiness comes from within, not from someone else.  Don't make the mistake of waiting on someone or something to come along and make you happy.

24.  Don't choose the one who is beautiful to the world, choose the one who makes your world beautiful.

25.  If you feel like your ship is sinking, it might be a good time to throw out the stuff that's been weighing it down.

26.  Let go of people who bring you down, and surround yourself with those who bring out the best in you.

27.   Just because it didn't last forever, doesn't mean it wasn't worth your while.

28.  Say what you mean and mean what you say.  Don't expect others to read your mind, and don't play games with their heads and hearts.  Don't tell half-truths and expect people to trust you when the full truth comes out.  Half-truths are no better than lies.  And don't ignore someone you care about, because lack of concern hurts more than angry words.

Source: Dailytenminutes.com

12 Things that happened to the kids growing up in the digital age!

Kids growing up now have great fun and learning experiences with new technology such as iPods, iPads, cell phones, skype, and podcasts. But, alarmingly, they are missing out on a whole range of learning, social interaction, physical activities, and emotional intelligence skills. Let me tell you what has happened to these kids. You cannot say you were not warned!

1. Kids are not playing outside anymore

More and more children are playing inside and are attached to their devices, computers, and video games. The UK government has got alarmed about the drop in the numbers of kids playing normal childhood games in the open air.

They have invested over £300 million to encourage teachers to do more sport in schools. They also want more kids to play games like hide-and-seek and hopscotch. The benefits are enormous as kids will be healthier, happier and less prone to obesity.

At the moment, about 33% of boys are not getting the recommended daily hour of exercise. The Play England site has loads of ideas on how to reconnect children with nature.

2. Kids are not learning through face-to-face interaction

How does a baby learn to express and judge emotion? How do they start to learn language? They do it by watching their parents' facial expressions and they begin to become social creatures, acquiring essential skills which will be vital when they start playgroups and schools. But guess what is happening? The parents are increasingly absorbed in their electronic devices and cannot be bothered to even look, smile or coo at their own children! Watch parents in a café and you will see what I mean.

The alarm was raised by several paediatricians. One of these, Dr. Jenny Radesky, actually carried out a study of 55 groups of parents while they were eating at fast food joints. She and her researchers spent a whole summer doing this. She does not claim that the study has been done scientifically but has just observed what is going on. Needless to say, she is urging parents to put away their smartphones and give their children some attention. It will be vital for their development.

3. Parent-kid relationships are negatively affected

The digital parents are opting out of parenting and this is unfair to the children. The use of devices was also having a very bad effect on the way the parents actually interacted with their kids. There was a lot of negative, harsh interaction when it actually took place. It also made parents more cranky.

This is mentioned by Dr. Wendy Sue Swanson of Seattle Children's Hospital in her blog. She recommends that making boundaries for use of digital devices is very important, so that real parenting can be done. She also says that both kids and parents should take digital breaks together.

4. Kids' reading ability may be affected

There is not much research on this. But one initial study done by the Schugars of West Chester University suggests that the kids reading comprehension could be negatively affected. Their study showed that the kids who read paper books were better at comprehension than those who were using only ebooks. Kids on ebooks were inclined to skip the text and concentrate on all the interactive visual features such as popups. The best solution would be to encourage kids to read more paper books.

5. Kids have never played board games

Kids are online most of the time. Figures show that this has jumped by 38% since 2009. Whatever happened to those board games? Look at all the benefits a child gets, when you play together:

• Child learns vocabulary, counting, math, reading
• You can bond with him or her
• Child learns about turn-taking, winning and losing
• She or he can gain confidence, builds self esteem
• Satisfies competitive urges
• Increases attention span and focus
• Helps concentration

While many games and apps on smartphones are also good at building some learning skills, they can never replace the human interaction.

6. Kids do not know what real friendship means

When we grew up, we had friends, real friends. Virtual friends did not exist. Look at today's teems who can count up to a few hundred friends on Facebook. The problem is that they have never seen most of them and they only know them very superficially through a virtual friend of a friend. Staying connected is great and today's teens send an average of 3,000 texts a month.

But it seems that the concept of friendship and intimacy is being irrevocably changed and this will impact relationships later on. Studies at UCLA show that digital bonding is considerably less than real face-to-face interaction.

7. Kids are losing their creativity

Trevor Baylis, the famous inventor of the wind up radio, fears that children are not getting the hands on experience that he got when he was a boy. This is affecting their creativity. He learned about putting things together by playing with a Meccano set or by building model aeroplanes and so on. Few kids now never get their hands on games like this. Everything is done for them.

8. Kids are not learning empathy

Being tolerant, caring and controlling your emotions are life skills that will serve you well. But the digital era kids are not learning any of these skills at all. You cannot empathize with a device, at least, not yet! The best way is to play with other kids and to learn about sharing, turn-taking and giving. No, I don't think there's an app for that yet!

9. Kids' scores in math and reading are not increasing

Look at what is going on in the Kyrene School District. They have invested over $33 million on updating classroom technology. Students get to create Facebook pages based on Shakespearian characters. Some choose song tracts and rapper tunes to match the mood of a character in a play or novel. It is all innovative and very exciting. The only problem is that the test scores in math and reading in this school district have remained just the same as in 2005 when there was no high tec in the schools.

10. Kids are getting no input on values and attitudes

The lack of real social interaction with parents and peers means that there is less and less time spent on teaching core values such as tolerance, kindness, honesty, diligence and respect. The devices are great for some learning activities but the parent-child relationship is becoming tenuous.

11. Kids are losing sleep

Dr. Kimberley Young, Director of the Center for Internet Addiction Recovery, has warned that children may lose track of time while they are online. This has serious consequences for doing household tasks and chores. It also affects their mood and they become irritable when they are forced to switch off. One of the most serious aspects is loss of sleep because this impacts on schoolwork the following day.

12. Kids need supervision

Parents should be on the alert for any sort of online addiction. They themselves have to set the example and make sure that there is a balance between more traditional games and online activities. A happy balance can be achieved with these tips:

• Use Skype together to bond with grandparents
• Play video games together
• Negotiate digital break times where both parents and kids switch off all devices
• Encourage outdoor activities when possible

Digital media is here to stay. They are great learning and entertainment tools but they need to be used with caution and not at the expense of real face-to-face interaction.

Source: dailytenminutes.com

The Virtue of Sweetness

Just as eating and serving something sweet makes your taste buds feel sweetness, and for a while after, you remain happy, become sweet-natured yourself so that words filled with sweetness are constantly spoken. Such sweet words make both you and others happy.

Use this method to always sweeten everyone's mouth; constantly maintain sweet vision, sweet words and sweet actions.

Source: Thought for the day

NEVER NEGLECT THE IMPORTANCE OF A DROP

Recently, when I was going to bed after using my bathroom, I started hearing sound of drops of water from the tap in slow successions, but since it was dropping into an empty bucket, I decided to let it be.

But, alas! When I woke up the next morning, around 5 am, the bucket was almost full! I was surprised that just drops even in such slow successions could produce that much. I couldn't help it, 'Just drops?!' I questioned rhetorically.

But the following night, I made sure that the tap in my bathroom was locked completely and I checked the bucket and saw that it was empty, though wet. Then I went to sleep.

I guess you already know what I saw the next morning. The bucket was not wet as I had left it, but it was now dry!

Then I realized the importance of a drop and how much difference it can make in all ramifications of one's life compared to a dry tap.

Imagine letting the drops be for a year, I would be scooping with drums at the end of the year!

• So, how about that drop of savings?
• How about that drop of kindness and love everyday?
• How about a drop of reading useful books today and every day?
• How about that drop of a verse of the scripture today and every day?
• How about that drop of prayer today and every day?
• How about a drop of worship today and every day?
• How about a drop of step towards your God-given dream today and every day?
• How about a drop of giving into your heavenly account?
• What virtue and discipline will you start today in little drops?

So never neglect the importance of a drop. For when the harvest time comes, you would have made a big difference.

Source: dailytenminutes.com

UNCERTAINTY & MYSTERY

UNCERTAINTY & MYSTERY

Are Energies of Life.

Don’t let them scare you unduly,

As they keep boredom at bay

And spark creativity.

 ​​

 Always remember

UNCERTAINTY is the only certainty in life

9 Best Seeds for Your Health

1. Chia Seeds

Chia seeds have been getting a lot of good attention in recent years, which makes sense seeing as they're considered one of the healthiest superfoods out there.

What’s in them?
Chia seeds are loaded with vitamins and minerals, contain ten times more nutritional fibers than rice, eight times more Omega-3 fatty acids than salmon, six times more calcium than milk and three times more iron than spinach. On top of that, they contain an inordinate amount of antioxidants that fight cell damage.

Why you should eat them
Eating chia seeds can help you lose weight, relieve joint pains, and protect the body from heart disease and diabetes. The seeds also help keep your liver in good shape, and since they contain no gluten, they're perfect for people with celiac disease.

What can you do with them?
These seeds go well with a number of dishes, thanks to their ability to take on the food’s flavors. Here are some recommendations:
•    Cooked, as a side dish
•    Added protein for salads
•    A crispy coating for chicken or fish
•    Added to fruit shakes
•    Added while baking bread

2. Hemp Seeds

These are the seeds of the cannabis plant. Hemp may have great industrial benefits, but its seeds have even greater health benefits.

What’s in them?
Hemp seeds are the perfect source for all 20 amino acids, including the nine essential acids our bodies cannot produce on their own. They’re rich in a protein and are a great source of phytochemicals - chemical compounds that occur naturally in plants and are beneficial to our health.

Why you should eat them
If you care about your health, you should be eating hemp seeds. They’ll boost your immune system, bolster your cardiovascular system, and help with cell regeneration. The seeds do not contain THC (the active substance in marijuana), and are perfectly safe and legal to consume.

What can you do with them?
The seed’s nutty flavor makes them great as an addition to a variety of foods:
•    Grind into hemp flour to bake with
•    Prepare hemp milk
•    Add to various pastries
•    Raw – as snacks

3. Pomegranate Seeds

This biblical fruit is also an abundant source of health benefits.

What’s in them?
Rich in antioxidants, pomegranate seeds help fight off the effects of free radicals, promoting the integrity and health of your cells. Among those antioxidants you can find polyphenols, which help prevent cancer and heart disease. Like most other red fruits, pomegranates are rich in vitamin C, which is a natural booster for the immune system.

Why you should eat them
The antioxidants keep our body’s building blocks in good shape, as well as prevent blood clots from forming. Another benefit is maintaining the elasticity of our blood vessels, which helps blood flow. Finally, pomegranates also help maintain the integrity of the cartilage in our joints, preventing the onset of arthritis.

What can you do with them?
These delicious seeds have so much potential:
•    Added to green salad
•    Pomegranate chicken
•    As a delicious juice
•    As a topping for a cheesecake

4. Flax Seeds

Flax has been known around the world as a health booster for years.

What’s in them?
Flax seeds are an excellent source of nutritional fiber, which keeps your digestive system healthy and functioning properly. They are also packed with polyphenols and linoleic acid, both of which have many health benefits for the human body.

Why you should eat them
The fibers in the seeds will help regulate your bowels and provide an extended sense of satiety. The linoleic acids have powerful anti-inflammatory properties, and have been shown to stop the development of tumors. The polyphenols regulate hormone production in the body, and are particularly recommended for women who are struggling with PMS and menopause.
What can you do with them?
Known worldwide, flax seeds are also a popular addition to a variety of dishes, such as:
•    A crunchy addition to salad
•    Added when baking bread
•    Added inside muffins
•    Added inside yogurt

5. Pumpkin Seeds

Next time you’re carving out a pumpkin, keep the seeds – they’re filled with nutrients and proteins.

What’s in them?
Pumpkin seeds are considered to be a perfect source of plant protein. 100 grams of these seeds contain about 54% of the required daily intake of protein. On top of that, pumpkin seeds contain a lot of vitamin B and folic acid, as well as a unique chemical called tryptophan-L, which our brain converts into serotonin, an important neurotransmitter that elevates our mood.

Why you should eat them
The protein and folic acid in the seeds help build and repair our muscles. The seeds themselves serve as a powerful antacid. Finally, the tryptophan-L is a known mood enhancer.

What can you do with them?
These seeds can be eaten after being roasted and salted, or in a variety of other ways:
•    A crunchy, protein-rich addition to salad
•    A great topping for soups
•    As part of pesto sauce
•    In yogurt

6. Sesame Seeds

Sesame is thought to be one of the first seeds ever to be used, as well as being a source of healthy and delicious oil.

What’s in them?
The seeds are rich in minerals such as magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, zinc and manganese, and also contain vitamin B and lots of fiber. They also provide the eater with two special chemicals – sesamin and sesamolin.

Why you should eat them
The many minerals in the seeds make them a veritable nutritional bomb, which helps strengthen our bones and regulate cell division, sugar levels and salt levels. The sesamin and sesamolin lower bad cholesterol (LDL) and are only found in sesame seeds.

What can you do with them?
The many uses of sesame include:
•    Making tahini
•    Making halva (raw tahini with honey)
•    Added flavor to string beans
•    Delicious topping for bread and savory pastries

7. Sunflower Seeds

Delicious in their own right, they’re also incredibly healthy.

What’s in them?
Sunflower seeds are a great source of vitamin E, which helps maintain the health of our cardiovascular system, as well as phytosterols and magnesium.

Why you should eat them
The vitamin E in the seeds helps prevent and repair damage to blood vessels. The phytosterols lower LDL levels and boosts the immune system. They also act as an anti-carcinogen.

What can you do with them?
These seeds are available in many food stores, but you should avoid the roasted and salted versions. Instead, try using fresh seeds when making:
•    Salads
•    Soups
•    Bread
•    Chicken and fish

8. Cumin Seeds

Cumin is mostly known as a delicious Middle Eastern spice, but cumin seeds also pack a hefty amount of benefits.

What’s in them?
The seeds are rich in iron, which is beneficial to the liver, and contain chemicals that stimulate the production of digestive enzymes. Another powerful ingredient is the large quantity of antioxidants, which help fight cell damage and the onset of cancer.

Why you should eat them
Iron is highly beneficial for liver and circulatory system health, and the enzymes in cumin cause your digestive function to speed up and improve. Cumin is also recommended for a case of sore throat or a cold. It also acts as a booster for kidney and immune system function.

What can you do with them?
The seeds can be consumed as is, or in their more popular guise, ground into a spice. They can be added into a variety of dishes, giving them a flavor upgrade.
•    Base for Indian-style dishes
•    Fish filet wrapped in cumin seeds
•    Added to stews
•    Roasted seeds in salad
•    Vegetarian lentil and cumin balls

9. Grape Seeds

Most people prefer seedless grapes, but the seeds are actually surprisingly healthy.

What’s in them?
Grape seeds are rich in vitamin E, linoleic acid, and flavonoids, which are antibacterial and antifungal.

Why you should eat them
Grape seed oil has been used as medicine for thousands of years. Grape seeds keep your circulatory system healthy, have anti-inflammatory properties, and can reduce diabetes symptoms. Furthermore, they’re rich in antioxidants, which keep your cells and soft tissues safe from free radicals.

What can you do with them?
The main use is as an oil, so try the following:
•    Stir-fried vegetables in grape oil
•    Quinoa in balsamic vinegar and grape oil
•    Beef marinated in grape oil
•    Natural grape ice cream

Source: ba-bamail