78) Teach children lessons using stories- It's all in the Attitude

"There is little difference in people, but that little difference makes a big difference. The little difference is attitude. The big difference is whether it is positive or negative." Clement Stone.

A little girl, walking on the seashore, was tossing stranded star fish back into the sea. An old man who watched her said: "There are thousands of them. You can't put all of them back into the sea. What difference does it make by throwing in a few?" The little girl heard him. Without stopping what she was doing she said: "It does, to this one", as she tossed one more star fish into the sea.

Very often we are like the old man, cynical of small acts; wanting instead to do great things. Mother Teresa ends this argument with words: We cannot do great things; 'only small things with great love'. We cannot change the way the world transacts; we can only change ourselves and a few whom we can influence. In turn, those we influence will impact a few more. That is the sphere of influence that we can get into. We all cannot become CEOs; but can do excellently what we are called to do. Our children may not become school pupil leaders; but they can join the leader in doing well what is expected of them. All of them may not have the talents other children have; but they can perform creditably in the area they are blessed with. The positive attitude of doing their best, even in the smallest task makes a big difference.

77) Teach children lessons using stories - Judge Not

"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged."

Matt 7:1
I was shocked, confused, bewildered

As I entered Heaven's door,

Not by the beauty of it all,

Nor the lights or its decor.

But it was the folks in Heaven

Who made me sputter and gasp--

The thieves, the liars, the sinners,

The alcoholics and the trash.

There stood the kid from seventh grade

Who swiped my lunch money twice.

Next to him was my old neighbor

Who never said anything nice.

Herb, who I always thought

Was rotting away in hell,

Was sitting pretty on cloud nine,

Looking incredibly well.

I nudged Jesus, "What's the deal?

I would love to hear Your take.

How did all these sinners get up here?

God must have made a mistake.

And why's everyone so quiet,

So somber - give me a clue."

"Hush, child," He said, "they're all in shock.

No one thought they'd be seeing you."

JUDGE NOT.

Remember...Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian

any more than standing in your garage makes you a car .

Every saint has a PAST...

Every sinner has a FUTURE (Message taken from the internet.)

If only we stopped to think we would be shocked at the number of times in a day we judge others without the slightest qualm. We character assassinate even those who are close to us. The children hear us do this day after day. What example are we setting them? What do we expect them to learn from our words and actions? How can we be shocked when we hear them blame, fault, accuse, bad-mouth those they know? It is time we gave the admonition: "Judge not" serious thought, for the sake of our children.

76) Teach children lessons using stories - Closed Doors ? New Paths.

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are." Theodore Roosevelt.

Closed Doors

We need to learn to praise the Lord as much for a closed door as we do an open door. The reason God closes doors is because He has not prepared anything over there for us. If he didn't close the wrong door, we would never find the right door.

God directs our path through the closing and opening of doors. Once a door closes, it forces you to change your course. Another door closes, it forces you to change your course again. Then, finally, you find the open door and you walk right into your blessings.

The Lord directs our paths through the opening and closing of doors, but instead of praising him for the closed door (which keeps us out of trouble); we get upset because we "judge by the appearances. "

You have an ever-present help in the time of trouble that is always standing guard. Because He walks ahead of you, He can spot trouble down the road and set up a roadblock or detour accordingly. But through our lack of wisdom, we try to tear down the roadblocks or push aside the detour sign. Then the minute we get into trouble, we start crying, "Lord, how could You have done this to me?"

We have got to realize that the closed door can be a blessing. Didn't He say that no good thing would He withhold from them that love Him?

If you get terminated from your job, praise God for the new opportunities that will manifest themselves: it might be another job, it might be school.

If that man or woman won't return your call, it might not be them, it might be the Lord setting up a roadblock (just let it go).

We can sometimes trap ourselves in doubt and discouragement through judging by appearances. Be grateful for the many times our Father has closed doors to us just to open them in the most unexpected places.

The Lord won't always say in spoken words: "Go to the left, now to the right" ... sometimes He will just close the doors that are wrong for you.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

What do we do when we face adversity? Grumble? Curse God? Blame others? Or stop to think? Is there a shaft of light coming through that closed door? Is there hope where none can be seen? Is it a test of our maturity? If we panic, our children will do the same. If we throw up our hands in despair, our children will do likewise. So, each time we are faced with a problem , we have to think of what lesson we are teaching the children. We just cannot act on impulse. The advice that Roosevelt gives us at the top of this post, is well worth pondering.