The Story of the Little Grape Stem

Once upon a time there was a little grape stem. This stem was so glad to be alive. She drank water and
minerals from the soil and grew and grew. She was young and strong and could manage quite well ... all by herself.

But then, the wind was cruel, the rain was harsh, the snow was not one bit understanding, and the little grape stem suffered. She drooped, weak and suffering. It would be so easy to stop trying to grow, to stop
trying to live. And the grape stem was poor! The winter was long, and the stem was weary.

But then the little grape stem heard a voice. It was another grape stem calling out to her ... "Here, reach
out ... hang on to me." But the stem hesitated.

"What would this mean?" she thought. For you see, the little stem had always managed quite well ... all by
herself.

But then, ever so cautiously, she reached out towards the other grape stem. "See, I can help you," it said.
"Just wind your tendrils about me and I will help you lift your head." And the little stem trusted ... and
suddenly she could stand straight again.

The wind came ... and the rain ... and the snow, but when it came, the little grape stem was clinging to
many other stems. And although the stems were swayed by the wind and frozen by the snow, they stood
strongly united to each other. And in their untired strength ... they could smile and grow.

And then, one day the little grape stem looked down and saw a tiny stem, swaying, frightened. And our little grape stem said, "Here, hang on ... I will help you." And the other stem reached up to our grape stem, and
together all the stems grew.

Leaves budded ... flowers bloomed ... and finally, grapes formed. And the grapes fed many.

~ Author Unknown ~

Working Towards What You Already Have

The American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.

The Mexican replied, "Only a little while."

The American then asked, "Why didn't you stay out longer and catch more fish?"

The Mexican said, "With this I have more than enough to support my family's needs."

The American then asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican fisherman said, "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children,take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life."

The American scoffed, "I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing; and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. With the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats. Eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor; eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then Los Angeles and eventually New York where you will run your ever-expanding enterprise."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, how long will this all take?"

To which the American replied, "15 to 20 years."

"But what then?" asked the Mexican.

The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions?...Then what?"

The American said, "Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos."

~ Author Unknown ~

The mountains are God's majestic thoughts.
The stars are God's brilliant thoughts.
The flowers are God's beautiful thoughts.
--Robert Stuart MacArthur

There is a tide in the affairs of men,
which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;
Omitted, all the voyage of their life
is bound in shallows and in miseries,
we must take the current when it serves,
or lose our ventures.

--William Shakespeare

Daily Wish

My daily wish is that we may
See good in those who pass our way;

Find in each a worthy trait
That we shall gladly cultivate;

See in each one passing by
The better things that beautify

A softly spoken word of cheer,
A kindly face, a smile sincere.


I pray each day that we may view
The things that warm one's heart anew;

The kindly deed that can't be bought
That only from good are wrought,

A burden lightened here and there,
A brother lifted from despair,

The aged ones freed from distress;
The lame, the sick, brought happiness.


Grant that before each sun has set
We'll witness deeds we can't forget;

A soothing hand to one in pain,
A sacrifice for love - not gain;

A word to ease the troubled mind
Of one whom fate has dealt unkind.

So, friend, my wish is that we may
See good in all who pass our way.

~ Phil Perkins ~

Just Look Beyond

Just look beyond today for blessings,
Look past the skies of somber grey,
And look beyond the trials and heartaches
When God will turn your night to day.

Dear one, just trust Him in the shadow.
He wants the very best for you.
He'll walk beside you in the valley,
His grace and love will see you through.

Just look beyond today for blessings.
In God's time He'll reveal to you
The many joys that are awaiting,
The joys He's chosen just for you.

So don't give up, keep on believing -
There's happiness ahead for you.
Soon God will turn your trials to triumph,
And skies again will shine bright blue.

--Beverly J. Anderson