Man and His Best Friend

A man and his dog were walking along a road.
The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.

He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years.
He wondered where the road was leading them.

After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road...
It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill,
it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight.

When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold.
He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.
When he was close enough, he called out, Excuse me, where are we?

Why this is Heaven, sir...the man answered.
Wow!!! Would you happen to have some water? the man asked...

Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.

Can my friend... gesturing toward his dog, come in, too? the traveler asked...

I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets...

The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road
and continued the way he had been going with his dog.

After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed... There was no fence.

As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.

Excuse me! he called to the man.. Do you have any water?

Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in...

How about my friend here? the traveler gestured to the dog...

There should be a bowl by the pump...

They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it...

The traveler filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself... then he gave some to the dog...

When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree...


What do you call this place? the traveler asked...


This is Heaven... he answered...

Well, that's confusing... the traveler said... 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too...

Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope... That's hell...

Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?

No... we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind...

The Wooden Bowl Story

The Wooden Bowl

If you have heard this before you will remember the tale of the Wooden Bowl~
If you have not heard this before you will remember tomorrow~ a week from now~
a month from now~A year from now~

A frail old man went to live with his son~ daughter-in-law~and four-year-old grandson.
The old man's hands trembled~ his eyesight was blurred~ and his step faltered

The family ate together at the table~ But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and
Failing sight made eating difficult~
Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor~
When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth~

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess~
We must do something about father~ said the son~
I've had enough of his spilled milk~ noisy eating~ and food on the floor~

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner~
There~ Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner~
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two~ his food was served in a wooden bowl~

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction~
sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone~
Still~ the only words the couple had for him were sharp
admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food~

The four-year-old watched it all in silence~

One evening before supper~ the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor~
He asked the child sweetly~ What are you making? Just as sweetly~the boy responded~
Oh~ I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up~
The four-year-old smiled and went back to work~

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless~
Then tears started to stream down their cheeks~
Though no word was spoken~ both knew what must be done~

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table~
For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family~ And for some reason,
Neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork
was dropped~ milk spilled~ or the tablecloth soiled~

On a positive note~I've learned that~ no matter what happens~ how bad it seems today~ life does go on~ and it will be better tomorrow~

I've learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles six things~
A rainy day~ children~ animals~the elderly~ lost luggage~ and tangled Christmas tree lights~

I've learned that making a ~living~ is not the same thing as making a ~life~

I've learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance~

I've learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands~
You nee d to be able to throw something back sometimes~

I've learned that if you pursue happiness~ it will elude you
But~if you focus on your family~ your friends~ the needs of others~
Your work and doing the very best you can~ happiness will find you

I've learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart~ I usually make the right decision.

I've learned that even when I have pains~ I don't have to be one~

I've learned that every day~ you should reach out and touch someone~

People love that human touch ~holding hands~ a warm hug~ or just a friendly pat on the back~

I've learned that I still have a lot to learn~