A drop of honey attracts more flies than a barrelful of vinegar. Yes, you read it right! It’s an old saying, relevant for all ages. Richard McKenzie one of his poem writes, “I have only one mouth, yet can choose to speak wisely. I have only two eyes, yet can choose to see hope. I have only two ears, yet can choose to hear joy. I have only one heart, yet can choose to love unconditionally. I have only one mind, yet can choose to think positively. I have only two feet, yet can choose to stand up and make a difference.” Do you experience something similar? Suppose we had more of them, what would this world have been? Can we give this a thought?
God
has given us two gifts: one is CHOICE, the other is CHANCE. Choice is to select
the best and it is up to each one of us to make a choice. “In life never be like the hand that
crushes the flower but be like a crushed flower which leaves behind a fragrance
in the hand which crushes it.” Problems, sufferings, pains, sorrows
come and go. Do not linger with these, for they too will pass. Just become
aware and live with your true self. Always remember you are
precious,
special, loved, and a unique
masterpiece
of God, the Master Craftsman.
“Life is a one-way street. No matter how
many detours you take, none of them drives you back. So, enjoy life’s every
moment as none of them will be the same again.” Try not to hang on… Just let it
occur and let go. Learn to find joy in all the happenings… this is what St.
Ignatius means, “Finding God in all things.”
Recently,
in my readings, I came across the seven questions posed by Robert D. Smith on
how to seize the Essence of Today. They are:
1.Whose
life am I going to brighten today?
2.What
three things am I most grateful for today?
3.What
memories am I going to create today?
4.What
challenges am I going to overcome today?
5.What
value am I going to create today?
6.How
much joy can I create for others and myself today?
7.What
life changing decisions am I going to make today?
An
old tale goes thus. Once a parched seeker tracked down an unseen clay
pot
filled with water. He approached
the
pot for a drink. As he drank the cool water from the pot, he asked the pot for
no specific reason, “Dear pot, why are you so cool in this hot summer.” The pot
coolly replied, “See, my past is clay, and my future too is clay, then in the
remaining days between, why do I need to be hot. Let me be cool.” This is what
we are called to be. “Remember
thou art dust, and unto dust thou shall return.” So be humble, be grateful and be
present; enjoy the ‘now.’ It’s up to each one of us what we want to become - ‘A
drop of honey or a barrelful of vinegar.’
As
you walk along and the path of life seems hard to plod, then muster courage to
sing aloud…
“One day at a time sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking of you.
Just give me the strength to do every
day what I have to do.
Yesterday’s gone Sweet Jesus,
And tomorrow may never be mine.
God help me today, show me the way, one
day at a time.”
