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It's THE CAT'S MEOW! As many of you are aware, I lost my second child, by miscarriage, on February 6. Had she not been stillborn, my first daughter, Stella, would have been 6, today. Altho the topic is somewhat different than I'd originally planned, this issue is dedicated to my children...that, altho they never had the opportunity to reach their potentials, you and I may, by sharing the topics that are presented in this ezine, and by acting on the lessons we learn on our journey through Life, become 'the cat's meow' -- the best people we can be!



JAR of LIFE

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about 2" in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full? They agreed that it was. So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He then asked once more if the jar was full.

The students responded, "Yes".

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to realize that this jar represents your life. What does this tell you about Life?"

One eager beaver raised his hand and said, "No matter how full your schedule is, if you try really hard, you can always fit some more things into it!"

The professor shook his head and -- when the laughter subsided -- continued, "The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children, your dreams, the time you donate to the literacy program -- things that if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else -- the small stuff.

"If you put the sand and the pebbles into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your time and energy on the lesser things, you will never have room for the things that are important to you. Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing.

"There will always be time to go to work, give a dinner party and fix the disposal. Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."



A compilation of several versions seen lately.





REMEMBER TOFEED THE BIRDS!




Please follow instructions. A very good cause.

Please tell ten friends to tell ten today! The Breast Cancer site is having trouble getting enough people to click on it daily to meet their quota of donating at least one free mammogram a day to an underprivileged woman.

It takes less than a minute to go to their site and click on "donating a mammogram" for free (pink window in the middle). This doesn't cost you a thing. Their corporate sponsors/advertisers use the number of daily visits to donate mammograms in exchange for advertising.

Here's the web site! Pass it along to people you know.


http://www.thebreastcancersite.com

Reprinted from Chemo Angels for Jesus





STRENGTH OUT OF WEAKNESS
 
"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it [my problem]
away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient
for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my
weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" (2
Corinthians 12:8-9, NIV).
 
In his book, Confidence, Alan Loy McGinnis talks about a
famous study entitled "Cradles of Eminence" by Victor and
Mildred Goertzel, in which the family backgrounds of 300
highly successful people were studied. Many of the names of
those in the study were well known to most of us--including
Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill,
Albert Schweitzer, Gandhi, Einstein, and Freud, all of whom
were brilliant in their fields of expertise.
 
The results of this study are both surprising and
encouraging for many of us who came from a
less-than-desirable home life. For example: "Three-quarters
of the children were troubled either by poverty, by a
broken home, or by rejecting, over-possessive or dominating
parents.
 
"Seventy-four of 85 writers of fiction or drama and 16 of
the 20 poets came from homes where, as children, they saw
tense psychological drama played out by their parents.
 
"Physical handicaps such as blindness, deafness, or
crippled limbs characterized over one-quarter of the
sample."
 
These people who had confidence in their abilities and put
them to creative use all have had more weaknesses and
handicaps than many who have a lack of confidence because
of low self-esteem. So, what made the difference? Probably
by compensating for their weaknesses they excelled in other
areas.
 
One man reported, "What has influenced my life more than
any other single thing has been my stammer. Had I not
stammered I would probably have gone to Cambridge as my
brothers did, perhaps have become a don and every now and
then published a dreary book about French literature." The
speaker who stammered until his death was W. Somerset
Maugham, as he looked back on his life at age 86.
 
"By then he had become a world-renowned author of more than
20 books, 30 plays, and scores of essays and short
stories."
 
Speaking personally, I too came from a psychologically
distraught, dysfunctional family. What made the difference
for me was a deep sense of God's call and my faith in and
commitment to Jesus Christ (with a lot of hard work and
growth). However, I tremble to think where I would have
ended up had it not been for my Christian faith and
practice.
 
It's not what we have or don't have that matters in life
but what we do with what we have and what we do about
facing and resolving our issues. All God wants of us is
that we don't allow our past to determine our future and
that we use what we have to the best of our ability.
 
As somebody else has said and whom I have often quoted, "I
may have been a victim in the past but if I remain one, I
am now a willing volunteer." Another has said, "Hope for
the future gives us power in the present!" No matter what
our background, when we commit and trust our lives daily to
God, we can and do have hope for the future. It's up to us
what we do in the present about what God wants us to become
in the future.
 
Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me to see all that you
envision for me to be and do and that, with your help, I
can become that person. Help me to realize that I don't
have to allow my past to determine my future, and help me
to face and resolve every issue in my past that might be
holding me back in any way. And above all, I thank you that
when I commit and trust my life to you, you can turn my
weaknesses into strengths. Thank you for hearing and
answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

Reprinted from Acts Daily Encounter





Colleen Gallagher hasn't had an easy time of it. She has been struggling to make ends meet as she raises her two sons with no help from their father. She has been working most recently as a waitress in a small neighborhood tavern.

The CEO of a locally based fortune 500 company was in the place where Colleen Gallagher works one spring afternoon back in the late 60's, having a quick lunch meeting with 5 of his companies directors. They were discussing some cutbacks that were going to be imposed due to a sales decrease the previous quarter which caused a reduction in profits. Colleen had waited on this group many times, so she know just exactly the right distance to stay aware of their needs, yet unintrusive of their meeting... Their conversation was all about the downturn in the economy, and each member of the group took his turn in perfect rotation to excuse their situation based on the economic conditions of the market and shared their fear as to where it will all end... and how tough it would be to survive the cutbacks in their respective areas... and maybe even in their lives.

It was a slow time in the restaurant, so Colleen was able to stay within range and take in most of their conversation (or at least the gist of it). On her next stop to refresh their coffee, she smiled and made a comment to each of the 5 men around the table, acknowledging their concern and fears for the future, and when she got to John Pillsbury (the CEO) she smiled and told him that she was sure that things would surely get better soon, "I've seen tough times before, and they always seem to turn around, just work through it... don't ever give in to it. Ya'll are important people running a big company, you can become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. That's the secret".

The five men were astonished... they had barely allowed themselves to speak with this young lady in the past, and now she was offering their boss financial advice... She obviously had no concept of their circumstances, or who she was speaking with, and her ignorance offered them a hint of humor to the drama they were exploring. "Simple minds generate simple minded solutions", one VP was heard muttering under his breath.

As she started to walk away, John asked her to come back for a moment... he wanted to hear more about her theory of this economic recovery, and the partners sat back to witness the humor.

"What is going on in your life that indicats things are getting better ?"

Colleen just smiled and said "I know it's not really important in the world that you all live in, but my 5 year old son has been ill for quite some time now, and just yesterday he was accepted into a State run school for Special Children. He'll now be gone all week so now I'll be able to work additional shifts here... also, my landlord just yesterday allowed me to renew my lease for another year without the $25.00 per month rent increase I was expecting. (As if that wasn't enough,,,) "My oldest son is now in High School and with his working part time for a neighbor he was also helping out now with his own expenses. I know now that God really does answer prayers cause for the first time in years I know we're going to make it !

John Pillsbury sat there without saying a word... he knew that she had just listened to all of their personal and professional economic problems... "(I think I even mentioned having to cut back at the country club...)". No further comments were made by anyone, and in the silence, Colleen knew that she had just embarrassed herself... So she just smiled and walked away.

The conversation at the table turned to small talk and in a few minutes John called out for the check. When Colleen brought it to the table, John told her to "add a $1,000 tip to the tab!" Stunned, and not sure the offer was something other than a cruel joke, she prepared the credit-card slip. John signed it. But that's only the beginning.

As tears of gratitude started to pour down the woman's cheeks, John pulled some credit cards out of his pocket, fanned them like a hand of playing cards, and told the waitress, "Pick a card." When she reached and took his Platinum Visa in hand, he said, "That one has a $10,000.00 limit... Take it and go get yourself and your boys whatever you need". Simply have the merchants call me...here's my card.

As he turned with his friends and walked toward the door, Colleen heard him explaining his deed to his amazed partners... "I'm just so embarrassed that I'd never taken the time to speak with that girl before, and I can't believe how many times I thought I was doing a good deed by leaving an extra buck on the table..." Then he turned to Colleen and said, "please believe me, doing this will make me feel better than it does you".

Indeed, her spirits must have brightened considerably that day with $11,000 in tips, and John was true to his word. Strangely, Colleen realized that their was no flirting and no phone numbers and no strings attached... whatever was really going on here certainly seemed to be on the up and up, and in her world, this was nothing short of a miracle!

But strange as it sounds, Colleen only spent $3,000.00 of the tip that month and phoned John to thank him. "I want to bring your card back, and I want to make arrangements to pay you back. This gift has changed our lives more than you'll ever know... I could never thank you enough!"

John told Colleen that he'd stop that afternoon at the restaurant and pick up his card... she could buy him a cup of coffee and they'd be even. She waited throughout much of the afternoon with a "Thank You" tucked away in here apron, signed by each of her boys, and a fresh sunflower that her youngest had picked from his garden... she tied a bright red ribbon around the stem and laid it on the card at his table.

Finally at 4, John walked in the front door, was greeted with a shy hug, and escorted to his table. Then he focused on the Sunflower... The seconds that he stared at the flower seemed like hours to Colleen, as she realized how insignificant this was for all that he had done... she tried to break the silence by clearing her throat, then started in about "wanting to make sure that every penny is paid..." She fell silent as John looked up at her with tears rolling down his cheeks.

"Where did you get this flower, and why are you doing this to me!"

The comment took her breath away as she sat down in the seat across from him... They sat there in silence for a moment, then John said, "come with me." He took her by the arm and walked out the door to his car parked by the curb. Without protest she left, and without comment they traveled about 4 miles across town to a small church. Parking by the front door, John said, "please just follow me here a minute".

They walked to the front of the church together, and there laying on the alter was a freshly picked sunflower with a bright red ribbon tied around it.

Now both of their eyes were spilling over as John explained that five years ago today, his 8 year old daughter had died from Leukemia, and every years he would pick a sunflower from those she had planted in their back yard, and would bring it here... nobody knew... he had just dropped this off an hour earlier... that's why he was late...

They cried together as Colleen told him that her youngest son had picked the flower from his own garden earlier that morning... he is four years old and was diagnosed with Leukemia when he was three. His father had walked out on them last year unable to cope with the situation, and she had been handling everything by herself. The doctors had not expected him to live, but after starting in his new school this past month, he health has turned around, and his doctor just that morning had indicated that it seemed he was in remission.

I could go on with the story from here, but this one is probably better left for you to complete... all that needed to be shared is here. Life is a circle and it's players often come into our lives in strange disguises... how many valuable experiences do we miss because we aren't able or willing to connect with the messenger?



Reprinted from New Age Webworks Newsletter





*** DICK BAKER’s MAGIC WORDS – MY WORKPLACE MIRACLE ***
by Burt Dubin
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
These words change my life. They inspire me with belief in myself.
 
This belief in what I can do sustains me. It sustains me through many
crucibles. Through many crucibles in the years that follow.
 
Here's how it happens: At 17 I quit high school. It's not that I want to
quit in my senior year. It's my father. He ups and leaves us flat with no
notice. No notice and no money. The "us" is my Mom and my 2 little
sisters. There's no means of support. No cash to pay the rent. And the
food . And all the rest.
 
So I take the noble action. I quit high school. I go to the nearest large
factory. It happens to be RCA, in Camden, New Jersey. I lie about my age.
They believe me. They believe me because they need people now. There's a
war on. They only know they need people to do the essential work. They
need people now.
 
An electronics enthusiast, I bump myself up. Up and off the assembly line
in just a few weeks. I get myself assigned to the Test Cage. The Test Cage
is electronically isolated from the rest of the world. No signals can
enter. No signals can leave.
 
I love working with the CRT, the various meters and the alignment tools.
It's a Union Shop. Did you ever work in a Union Shop? If so, you'll
recognize what follows. The Shop Steward works along with everybody else.
And he watches everything with the object of protecting and preserving
jobs.
 
My job is to test and align electronic equipment destined for the USA
Department of Defense. The Time and Motion Study folks have established 45
minutes as the allowed time to complete one procedure.
 
After a few weeks, I figure out how to do this job in 15 minutes. And I
do. Instead of turning out 12 procedures per 8 hour shift, I do 36
complete procedures. The Shop Steward has a little talk with me. I resist
his recommendation that I slow down. There's a war on, I tell him.
 
He's not happy. So he gets 2 engineers, guys with white shirts and neatly
pressed navy blue trousers, (You know the type, their suits come with 2
pair of pants!) to visit me. They don't just visit. They bring their
yellow legal pads. They stand behind me. They stand behind me for 2 full
shifts. When one has to visit the bathroom, the other watched me with
eagle eyes.
 
After the 2 shifts, 16 hours of observing my every move, they file a
Report. In essence, they say, "the kid's right." (I, a late bloomer, was
not even shaving yet.) The kid's right! This means they rewrite the
procedure. Now my every motion becomes the prescribed motion for the whole
30-person group.
 
And they require someone to train the other in this simpler procedure.
 
Who do ya' think they pick. I'm the only one available. So, at 17 I show
the 29 others what to do and how to do it.
 
Wait, there's more. They bump me up. off the line, to new
responsibilities. I'm now the Troubleshooter for the whole group. This
means when someone runs into a problem, they call on me to solve it.
 
When I can't figure out what to do, I go to the Shift Supervisor, Dick
Baker. He's from Green Bay, Wisconsin. His religion is football. The Green
Bay Packers are his heroes. His Gods. Every other word out of his mouth is
Green Bay. (You've met the type.) He always solves the problem.
 
Here's the scene: I'm hunched over a work station. I'm staring down the
CRT and the perplexing problem. Dick Baker, a few feet away, quietly
speaks to the person he's with: "That young Burt is so good at what he
does--he never has to call on me for help any more."
 
I'm moved by those words. (They prove to be magic words.) Someone believes
in me. Someone believes I'm better than I know I am. Maybe he's right.
Let's find out.
 
I scrunch down addressing the problem. The sweat pours from my brow. I
break through and solve the problem. I never have to call on Dick Baker
for help ever again.
 
Because someone believes in me, I tap into a power I never knew was there.
Now I believe in myself. I believe in my power to transcend perceived
limits. This proves to be my workplace miracle!
 
Ever since that tender moment, thanks to Dick Baker, thanks to one person
believing in me, I've shattered perceived limits again and again.
 
"Think you can, think you can't, either way you're right." So said Henry
Ford. And you, dear Reader, can transcend the perceived limits of your
life.
 
Simply believe in yourself and your power. Then do what you must to create
the conditions and circumstances you desire. That's all it takes.
 
Copyright 2003 Burt Dubin
 
About the Submitter
 
Burt Dubin, a 20 year veteran of the business of speaking, mentors
speakers and wanna-be's world-wide. Burt works with people who want to be
speakers and with speakers who want to be masters.
 
The words of his clients, the admiration and respect expressed for his
work by some of the world's most successful speakers, testify to the
values you receive. For samples of the wisdom available to you, simply go
to http://www.SpeakingBizSuccess.com.
 
Burt Dubin, 1 Speaking Success Road, Kingman, Arizona 86402-6543, USA.
Phone 800-321-1225 Fax 928-753-7554. mail to: burt@SpeakingBizSuccess.com


Reprinted from Self Improvement





My dear Internet friend, Jon, who is a great lover of chain letters, forwarding, and women, sent this next piece. While THE CAT'S MEOW does not condone chain letters, we DO like the ideas espoused, herein, and are reprinting it just as sent (altho, since he omitted the pictures that 'should' be included, we have replaced them with some of our own....) February is both Women's History Month and Beautiful Women's Month.


PURPLE HATS & BEAUTIFUL WOMEN

 

In honor of women's history month and in memory of Erma Bombeck who lost her fight with cancer.



Pass this on to five women that you want watched over. If you don't know five women to pass this on to, one will do just fine.

 

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer.)

 

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.

 

I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.

 

I would have talked less and listened more.

 

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.

 

I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.

 

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

 

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.

 

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

 

I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.

 

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.

 

I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.

 

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

 

When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, "Later. Now go get washed up for dinner." There would have been more "I love you's." More "I'm  sorry's."

 

But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute...look at it and really see it ... live it .and never give it back. Stop sweating the small stuff.

 

Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.

 

Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

 

Let's think about what God HAS blessed us with. And what we are doing each day to promote ourselves mentally, physically, emotionally, as well.  We only get one shot at this and then it's gone. I hope you all have a blessed day.

 


______________________


______________________


Beautiful Women's Month

 

Age 3: She looks at herself and sees a Queen.

 

Age 8: She looks at herself and sees Cinderella.

 

Age 15: She looks at herself and sees an Ugly Sister (Mum I can't go to school looking like this!)

 

Age 20: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly"- but decides she's going out anyway.

 

Age 30: She looks at herself and sees "too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly" - but decides she doesn't have time to fix it, so she's going out anyway.

 

Age 40: She looks at herself and sees "clean" and goes out anyway.

 

Age 50: She looks at herself and sees "I am" and goes wherever she wants to go.

 

Age 60: She looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. Goes out and conquers the world.

 

Age 70: She looks at herself & sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life.

 

Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.

 

Send this on to all the women you are grateful to have as friends. Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier. Please send this to five phenomenal women today in celebration of Beautiful Women's Month. If you do, something good will happen: you will boost another woman's self esteem.





"May inspiration fill your heart and hands, run down your legs, onto your feet and cause spontaneous dancing."


Reprinted from Smile Awhile





The lightning bug makes me think of the way Genesis describes the creation of the heavenly bodies. First God made the sun to provide light in the daytime and the moon to provide light in the night, and then the narrator says simply, "And He made the stars also."----Not to provide light; he just made them "also," perhaps for the same reason he made lightning bugs! The joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.

Thanks

Tom McDonald - Caseyville, IL. - U.S.A.

Reprinted from Mr Mom





It seems that some folks are always "in the right place at the right time"! Wonder how they do it? It's easy -- and YOU can do it, too! Read "Paradigm Shift" -- it's free -- and find out how to get "nice surprises" in YOUR life, too!



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