'Life is too short and friends are too few.'

[Disgusted-Daily]

One day, the father of a very wealthy family took his son on a trip to the country with the express purpose of showing him how poor people live.



They spent a couple of days and nights on the farm of what would be considered a very poor family.



On their return from their trip, the father asked his son, 'How was the trip?'



'It was great, Dad.'



'Did you see how poor people live?' the father asked.



'Oh yeah,' said the son.



'So, tell me, what did you learn from the trip?' asked the father.



The son answered:



'I saw that we have one dog and they had four.



We have a pool that reaches to the middle of our garden and they have a creek that has no end.



We have imported lanterns in our garden and they have the stars at night.



Our patio reaches to the front yard and they have the whole horizon.



We have a small piece of land to live on and they have fields that go beyond our sight.



We have servants who serve us, but they serve others.



We buy our food, but they grow theirs.



We have walls around our property to protect us, they have friends to protect them.'



The boy's father was speechless.



Then his son added, 'Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are.'



Isn't perspective a wonderful thing? Makes you wonder what would happen if we all gave thanks for everything we have, instead of worrying about what we don't have.



Appreciate every single thing you have, especially your friends!



'Life is too short and friends are too few.'

[Clipper]

I love the story todd. I don't know why I am inclined to find your posts today, to be deep and reflective, but I am praying that you are at peace with those reflective thoughts. We all stop now and again to reflect on our lives and our vulnerability and mortality. Be blessed my friend, no matter what the reasons for your reflection.

[thelma]

Todd - I always told my children when we were stuggling financially and I as a Single Parent was trying so hard to keep my four children fed, clothed, and shelter over their heads - "Always look back; there are people that don't have 1/2 of what you have and wish they could live as good as you do. There will always be someone that has more than you do, but there are plenty that don't have as much as you do".

They must have listened as they never complained when they had to eat leftovers, or that they never sat down to a steak dinner, or that they didn't have designer clothes and a large number of shoes. Now that they are all grown adults with families of their own, they have often said what they remember of their childhood - "Mom, I remember that no matter where we lived, you always made it our home. I also remember never going to bed hungry and you were always there when I needed you".

We didn't have much financiallly in those days - but we had each other and tons of love that got us thru those tough times.