The Success Poem

He has achieved success

who has lived well,

laughed often, and loved much;

who has enjoyed the trust of

pure women,

the respect of intelligent men and

the love of little children;

who has filled his nich

eand accomplished his task;

who has left the world better than he found it

whether by an improved poppy,

a perfect poem or a rescued soul;

who has never lacked appreciation

of Earth's beauty

or failed to express it;

who has always looked for the best in others

and given them the best he had;

whose life was an inspiration;

whose memory a benediction.
Bessie Anderson Stanley

You Are Like A Pencil

Did you know that we are like pencils?

Here is how:

I. Like pencils, our mistakes can he corrected. Not erased.. we can't change the past...but we can rectify it.

2. Like pencils, painful sharpening serves to make us better. Our difficult times can actually sharpen our skills or shape us into the persons we were meant to be.

3. Like pencils, we can do great things when we allow ourselves to be held in Someone's hand.

4. Like pencils, we can leave our mark whenever possible. That is what we're here for -- to leave our mark. it may be in small ways. it may be in the lives of people we have touched or nurtured, but we must leave something good behind when we can.

5. Like pencils, it is what is on the inside that matters. Whether it is understanding or intolerance, love or bitterness, peace or unrest, kindness or self- centeredness, hope or despair, courage or fear, what is on the inside matters most.

Next time you use a pencil, pause and think about that little writing tool. It teaches some great lessons about living.