Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person's ultimate good as far as it can be obtained. (C. S. Lewis, British professor and apologist) Just a few weeks ago we were hearing a lot about love during the Christmas season. Family, friends,...
If necessity is the mother of invention, persistence is certainly the father. (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author) The familiar adage that Swindoll quotes about necessity has been proven true time and time again. When we’re really pressed for the solution to a...
Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face. (Victor Hugo, 19th century French author) Although many people love winter and activities in the snow and on the ice, the word winter often brings thoughts of overcast skies, dreariness, and cold. In the...
By: Lynda Shadel I walk the dogs after I come home from work. As soon as I step in the door, Wally begins eye contact with me, wanting to go on our walk. He will not leave me alone—following me everywhere. Finally, I say, “Do you want to go for a walk?” My eye contact...
Sometimes not saying anything is the best answer. You see, silence can never be misquoted. (Source unknown) Many of us have a rather quick tongue, and we respond quickly at any provocation, sometimes to our shame. Especially when the conversation turns to...
The secret to happiness, of course, is not getting what you want; it’s wanting what you get. (Rabbi Hyman Schachtel, London-born cleric and author) This is a very difficult lesson for children to learn—and even adults struggle with it, too. It seems so natural to...
Support is only worth what it costs to give it. (Source unknown) That sounds like something an Internet service provider might want to consider. Can he afford to hire support staff if their service is ineffective? In another context, when someone says he is supporting...
What we see depends mainly on what we look for. (John Lubbock, 19th century British politician and philanthropist) Lubbock’s statement should be a warning to the honest student and researcher. When we set out to find answers to puzzles, we begin with pre-conceived...
Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. (Harry Ward Beecher, 19th century clergyman) It’s uplifting to be around grateful people, people who don’t hesitate to say “Thank You,” and always seem to appreciate the kindness of others. On the other...
Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19th century American essayist) Things seem to go so slowly for us at times, that we become very impatient and try to hurry them along—sometimes with great loss. As the seed in the soil needs...
Mountaintops inspire leaders but valleys mature them. (Winston Churchill. WW II British leader) People often refer to their “mountaintop experiences,” those momentous occasions when some life-changing event occurred or decision was made. In reality, of course,...
You cannot step into the same river twice. (Heraclitus, 6th century B.C. Greek philosopher) What do you suppose Heraclitus meant? If you step into the Mississippi at Dubuque, Iowa, are you in a different river from the water you might step into in New Orleans? Or if...