The Cooling Stream

They were foreign nationals aged between 40 and 80. They had entered the country between 9-12 months ago.

They came to the country on tourist visas but were taken to the streets to beg for money. Some of them made up to 1000 dollars a month from begging at popular spots in the city.

The syndicate, including few women, was busted by the Immigration officers recently.

They claimed that they had been cheated by fellow countrymen who had promised them lucrative jobs in the country. But in the end, they were forced to beg.

It was believed that some local people were behind the syndicate.

One of them was excited about it since she could earn so much money a month.

*******

Begging has also become an organized business for some people in the country; no street or shopping complex will be spared; and babies, young kids and old folks are exploited for begging.

Some just don’t care about honest living, integrity and moral values.

But I am not condemning those who are desperate for help.

What I am saying is that a man must work for a living, and begging isn’t the right way to get it.

Now begging has become a lucrative occupation for some; so are the pick pockets and snatch thieves; so are the house-breakers and car thieves; so are the bank robbers and credit card thieves.

Oh! Just how safe are we in our own country and how secure our belongings?

Everyone is talking about it but not many are doing anything about it.

And the story continues.......

And now finally, begging has become a lucrative career.

In less than 2 weeks, my children will be back.

It will be another productive and fun time for all of us.

The home will be cosy and warm again, bursting with life, love and joy.

It will be another learning, sharing and growing experiences for all of us.

There is so much to discuss and decide; just about any topic under the sun.

Waiting for holiday season like this always fills me with anticipation and delight.

The home has been getting quieter and quieter with each passing moment.

Sometimes I just looked at my wife and smiled, rather lonely and bored.

Adam wanted a partner and God gave Eve as his wife, and a family to take care of.

Some has said that contentment in life comes with living less with oneself and more for others.

Maybe all of us are born for one another, and for doing good things together.

A time of gathering and celebrating will certainly spur us on to greater wisdom, understanding and compassion.

All the waiting will be worth it to the end.

We have seen our children grow and change, find romance or earn promotions, and go off in new and interesting territory, and it is all for the better.

All the worries and frustrations that have accompanied us have slowly disappeared, when we come to realize that they are in good hands, that our Almighty God is taking good care of them.

I smile with a hearty smile; I am satisfied with everything around.

And I close my eyes and enjoy a moment of peace and tranquility.

There are many things in life that are more than just words, and it will take time and effort to understand and appreciate each one of them.

And yes, more than words....... I smile... and smile again.

Everyone wants to be the center of attraction. There is this wonderful feeling when the world turns to us for counsel, direction, supervision, reference and execution. Academic and athletic excellences are great helps, so are social skills and the ability to get along with others. Understanding and appreciation play a major role in nurturing and maintaining relationships, so are behavioral standards and virtues in cultivating and consolidating friendships.

I was sitting and leaning over a cemented table, watching several groups of youngsters as they passed by in front of my in-laws’ house. They looked so trendy and stylish, so energetic and pushy, and so dominating and egoistic. I looked at them with a gentle and a hearty smile, remembering that I was young before.

I miss the fun of being young now that many of my teenage friends have gone away. Some have moved to a neighboring town or city, some a distance away, and some have gone for good. Those around me are either too busy with their family or too lazy to move around. We hardly have time to talk about old time and the latest happenings.

We are no longer the center of attraction; the world doesn’t just revolve around us anymore. Now that we have overwhelming and conflicting responsibilities, commitments and obligations to our family, relatives, friends, and others, we hardly have time for personal stuff. Life is no longer to possess all we can, but to give and share all we have. Many of us have to play supportive roles for the benefits and well being of others. Now we talk about the joy of sharing and giving; now we talk more about how to make others happy.

Life is people and life is progress. It will be very pleasing and encouraging to see our loved ones advance and excel over us. We all look for and move on for a better tomorrow, and we sacrifice ourselves for a better future.

If only the young people would listen.

There is always a limit as to how much we can eat, I told myself as I watched the TV show “Man Versus Food” yesterday.

I enjoy watching how food fanatic Adam Richman travels across America taking food challenges.

I enjoy watching him building up the atmosphere for food challenges.

I enjoy watching him eating with grace and style.

I enjoy watching him eating so much in a short time.

But I believe there is always a limit as to how much we can eat.

And yesterday, for the first time, I saw him lost the food challenge; how frustrating it must be for him.

But he received the big applause from his fans; seeing how they cheered him on made me smiled heartily with pride.

But there is always a limit as to how much we can eat in one sitting or in a day.

I looked at my tummy, realizing that I had been eating like a glutton for the past many years.

"Just eat," some of my friends told me over and again. "Don’t deny yourself the pleasure of eating."

But now look at the outcome........

Now I have problems buying clothing and shoes.

I have problems walking up and down the staircases.

Breathing often has become short, shallow, and rapid.

No, no. Eating isn’t that fun anymore; I need to cut down on food, quietly I told myself.

Forgoing the fun of eating delicious food?! Oh no!

Man Versus Food; that’s fun.

I smile rather ruefully as I looked at my protruding tummy........

I received the following story through an email and I pass it on.

One day a man saw an old lady stranded on the side of the road. Even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out. His Pontiac was still sputtering when he approached her.

Even with a friendly smile on his face, she was still worried. No one had stopped to help for the last hour or so. Was he going to hurt her? He didn't look safe; he looked poor and hungry.

He could see that she was frightened, standing out there in the cold. He knew how she felt. It was that chill which only fear can put in you.

He said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan Anderson."

Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough. Bryan crawled under the car looking for a place to put the jack, skinning his knuckles a time or two. Soon he was able to change the tire. But he had to get dirty and his hands hurt.

As he was tightening up the lug nuts, she rolled down the window and began to talk to him. She told him that she was from St. Louis and was only just passing through. She couldn't thank him enough for coming to her aid.

Bryan just smiled as he closed her trunk. The lady asked how much she owed him. Any amount would have been all right with her. She already imagined all the awful things that could have happened had he not stopped.

Bryan never thought twice about being paid. This was not a job to him. This was helping someone in need, and God knows there were plenty whom he had given a hand in the past. He had lived his whole life that way, and it never occurred to him to act any other way.

He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed, and Bryan added, "And think of me."

He waited until she started her car and drove off. It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home, disappearing into the twilight.

A few miles down the road the lady saw a small cafe. She went in to grab a bite to eat, and take the chill off before she made the last leg of her trip home.

It was a dingy looking restaurant. Outside were two old gas pumps. The whole scene was unfamiliar to her. The waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn't erase. The lady noticed the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan.

After the lady finished her meal, she paid with a hundred dollar bill. The waitress quickly went to get change for her hundred dollar bill, but the old lady had slipped right out the door. She was gone by the time the waitress came back. The waitress wondered where the lady could be. Then she noticed something written on the napkin.

There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote: "You don't owe me anything. I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: Do not let this chain of love end with you."

Under the napkin were four more $100 bills.

Well, there were tables to clear, sugar bowls to fill, and people to serve, but the waitress made it through another day. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written.

How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard........

She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered soft and low, "Everything is going to be all right. I love you, Bryan Anderson."

There is an old saying, "What goes around comes around."

Today I sent you this story, and I'm asking you to pass it on. Let this light shine.