The Inspiring Story: Acres of Diamonds.

There was a farmer in Africa who was happy and content. 

He was happy because he was content. He was content because he was happy.

One day a wise man came to him and told him about the glory of diamonds 

and the power that goes along with them. The wise man said, 

"If you had a diamond the size of your thumb, you could have your own city. 

If you had a diamond the size of your fist, you could probably own your own country." 

And then he went away. That night the farmer couldn't sleep. He was unhappy 

and he was discontent. He was unhappy because he was discontent and 

discontent because he was unhappy.

                            The next morning he made arrangements to sell off his farm, 

took care of his family and went in search of diamonds. 

He looked all over Africa and couldn't find any. He looked all through Europe 

and couldn't find any.  When he got to Spain, he was emotionally, 

physically and financially broke. He got so disheartened that 

he threw himself into the Barcelona River and committed suicide.

                            Back home, the person who had bought his farm was watering 

the camels at a stream that ran through the farm. Across the stream, 

the rays of the morning sun hit a stone and made it sparkle like a rainbow. 

He thought it would look good on the mantle piece. He picked up 

the stone and put it in the living room.

That afternoon the wise man came and saw the stone sparkling. 

He asked, "Is Hafiz back?" The new owner said, "No, why do you ask?" 

The wise man said, "Because that is a diamond. I recognize one when I see one." 

The man said, no, that's just a stone I picked up from the stream. Come, I'll show you.

There are many more." They went and picked some samples and sent them 

for analysis. Sure enough, the stones were diamonds. They found that 

the farm was indeed covered with acres and acres of diamonds.*

What is the moral of this story? There are five morals:

1. When our attitude is right, we realize that we are all walking on acres 

and acres of diamonds. Opportunity is always under our feet. 

We don't have to go anywhere. All we need to do is recognize it.

2. The grass on the other side always looks greener.

3. While we are dyeing the grass on the other side, there are others 

who are dyeing the grass on our side. They would be happy to trade places with us.

4. When people don't know how to recognize opportunity, 

they complain of noise when it knocks.

5. The same opportunity never knocks twice. The next one may be 

better or worse, but it is never the same one.

Author:Unknown

The Parable Of The Pencil

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, 

just before putting him into the box. 

"There are 5 things you need to know," 

he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. 

Always remember them and never forget, and 

you will become the best pencil you can be."

1) You will be able to do many great things, 

but only if you allow yourself to be held 

in Someone's hand."

2) You will experience a painful sharpening 

from time to time, but you'll need it to 

become a better pencil."

3) You will be able to correct any mistakes 

you might make."

  4) The most important part of you will always 

be what's inside.

5) On every surface you are used on, you must 

leave your mark. No matter what the condition, 

you must continue to write."

The pencil understood and promised to remember, 

and went into the box with purpose in its heart.

Now replacing the place of the pencil with you. 

Always remember them and never forget, and 

you will become the best person you can be. 

1) You will be able to do many great things, but only if you 

allow yourself to be held in God's hand, and allow 

other human beings to access you for the many gifts 

you possess.

2) You will experience a painful sharpening from 

time to time, by going through various problems in life, 

but you'll need it to become a stronger person. 

3) You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make. 

4) The most important part of you will always be 

what's on the inside.

5) On every surface you walk through, you must leave 

your mark. No matter what the situation, you must 

continue to do your duties.

Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you 

to know that you are a special person and only you can 

fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that 

your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.

Unknown Author.

The Barber Who Didn't Believe

A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and 

his beard cut as always. He started to have a good 

conversation with the barber who attended him. 

They talked about so many things and various subjects. 

Suddenly, they touched the subject of God. The barber said: 

"Look man, I don't believe that God exists as you say so." 

"Why do you say that?" asked the client. "Well, it's so easy, 

you just have to go out in the street to realize that 

God does not exist. Tell me, if God exists, 

would there be so many sick people? 

Would there be abandoned children? 

If God exists, there would be no suffering nor pain. 

I can't think of a God who permits all of these things." 

The client stopped for a moment thinking but he didn't want 

to respond so as to prevent an argument. The barber finished

his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left 

the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair 

and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had 

his hair cut and he looked so untidy). 

Then the client again entered the barber shop and 
he said to the barber:"know what? Barbers do not exist." 

"How come they don't exist?"-asked the barber. 

"Well I am here and I am a barber." 

"No!" the client exclaimed. "They don't exist because if they did 

there would be no people with long hair and beards like that man 

who walks in the street." 

"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to us." 

"Exactly!"- affirmed the client. "That's the point. God  does exist, 

what happens is people don't go to Him and  do not look for Him 

that's why there's so much pain and suffering in the world."

Author Unknown

A Million Dollar Lesson

A cab driver taught me a million dollar lesson in 
customer satisfaction and expectation. 
Motivational speakers charge thousands of dollars 

to impart his kind of training to corporate executives 
and staff. It cost me a $12 taxi ride. 

I had flown into Dallas for the sole purpose of calling on 
a client. Time was of the essence and my plan included 
a quick turnaround trip from and back to the airport. 
A spotless cab pulled up.

The driver rushed to open the passenger door for me 
and made sure I was comfortably seated before he closed 
the door. As he got in the driver's seat, he mentioned that 
the neatly folded Wall Street Journal next to me for my use. 
He then showed me several tapes and asked me what type 
of music I would enjoy.

Well! I looked around for a "Candid Camera!" 
Wouldn't you? I could not believe the service I was 
receiving! I took the opportunity to say, "Obviously you 
take great pride in your work. You must have a story to tell." 

"You bet," he replied, "I used to be in Corporate America. 
But I got tired of thinking my best would never 
be good enough. I decided to find my niche in life 
where I could feel proud of being the best I could be.

I knew I would never be a rocket scientist, but 
I love driving cars, being of service and feeling like I have 
done a full day's work and done it well. I evaluate 
my personal assets and... wham! I became a cab driver.

One thing I know for sure, to be good in my business 
I could simply just meet the expectations of my passengers. 
But, to be GREAT in my business, I have to EXCEED 
the customer's expectations! I like both the sound and 
the return of being 'great' better than just getting 
by on 'average'" 

Did I tip him big time? You bet! Corporate America's 
loss is the traveling folk's friend! 

Lessons to learn:

1) Go an Extra Mile when providing  any Service to others.

2) The is no good or bad job. You can make any job good.

3) Good service always brings good return.

  by : Petey Parker  

Beautiful Inspiring Story: Mother's Love

 A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen 

one evening while she was fixing supper, and 

handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. 

After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, 

and this is what it said: 

For cutting the grass: $5.00 

For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00 

For going to the store for you: $.50 

Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25 

Taking out the garbage: $1.00 

For getting a good report card: $5.00 

For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00 

Total owed: $14.75 

Well, his mother looked at him standing there,and

 the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind.

                She picked up the pen, turned over the paper                          he'd written on, and this is what she wrote: 

For the nine months I carried you

 while you were growing inside me: 

No Charge 

For all the nights that I've sat up with you 

 doctored and prayed for you: 

No Charge 

For all the trying times, and all the tears that

  you've caused through the years: 

No Charge 

For all the nights that were filled with dread,

 and for the worries I knew were ahead: 

No Charge 

For the toys, food, clothes, and

even wiping your nose: 

No Charge 

Son, when you add it up,

 the cost of my love is: 

No Charge. 

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written,

there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked 

 straight at his mother and said, "Mom, I sure do love you."

And then he took the pen and in great big letters

he wrote: "PAID IN FULL". 

Lesson from the Above Inspiring Story:

1) You will never know how much your parents  

worth till you become a Parent 

2) Be a giver not an asker, especially with your parents.

 there is a lot to give, besides money.

Advice: IF your mom is alive and close  to you, give her

 a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness. If she is far away

call her. if she passed away, pray for her.

By unknown Author 

Story of Generous Giving

Generosity and kindness doesn't mean that you give only 

when you have lot or after fulfilling all your needs, but 

in fact you can still give when you yourself is struggling. 

Generosity literally means willingness and liberty in 

giving away ones own money, time, talent and etc 

sincerely without any personal gain as shown in the 

following story.

Mahatma Gandhi went from city to city, village to village 

collecting funds for the Charkha Sangh. During one of his 

tours he addressed a meeting in Orissa. After his speech 

a poor old lady got up. She was bent with age, her hair 

was grey and her clothes were in tatters. The volunteers 

tried to stop her, but she fought her way to the place 

where Mahatma Gandhi was sitting.

"I must see him," she insisted and going up to Mahatma Gandhi 

touched his feet. Then from the folds of her sari she brought 

out a copper coin and placed it at his feet. Mahatma Gandhi 

picked up the copper coin and put it away carefully. 

The Charkha Sangh funds were under the charge of 

Jamnalal Bajaj. He asked Mahatma Gandhi for the coin but 

Mahatma Gandh refused.

"I keep cheques worth thousands of rupees for the Charkha Sangh," 

Jamnalal Bajaj said laughingly "yet you won't trust me with a 

copper coin." "This copper coin is worth much more than 

those thousands" Mahatma Gandhi said.

"If a man has several lakhs and he gives away a thousand or two, 

it doesn't mean much."

But this coin was perhaps all that the poor old lady possessed. 

She gave me all she had. That was very generous of her. 

What a great sacrifice she made. That is why I value this copper coin 

more than a crore of rupees.

The Battle Between the Two

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about 

a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two "wolves" 

inside us all. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, 

regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, 

lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. 

The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, 

humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, 

compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked 

his grandfather: "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, 

"The one you feed."

Author: Unknown

Inspiring Story: Love & Acceptance

A story is told about a soldier who was finally coming home

 after having fought in Vietnam. He called his parents from 

San Francisco. “Mom and Dad, I’m coming home, but I’ve got 

a favor to ask. I have a friend I’d like to bring with me.” 

“Sure,” they replied, “we’d love to meet him.” “There’s 

something you should know,” the son continued, “he lost an arm

and a leg. He has nowhere else to go and I want him to come

live with us.” “I’m sorry to hear that, son. Maybe we can help 

him find somewhere to live.” “No, Mom and Dad, I want him 

to live with us.” 

“Son,” said the father, “you don’t know what you’re asking. 

Someone with such a handicap would be a terrible burden on us. 

We have our own lives to live, and we can’t let something 

like this interfere with our lives. I think you should just 

come home and forget about this guy. He’ll find a way 

to live on his own.”

At that point, the son hung up the phone. The parents heard 

nothing more from him. A few days later, however, 

they received a call from the San Francisco police. Their son 

had died after falling from a building, they were told. 

The police believed it was a suicide. The grief-stricken 

parents flew to San Francisco and were taken to the city morgue 

to identify the body of their son. 

They recognized him, but to their horror they also discovered 

something they didn’t know. Their son had only one arm 

and one leg.

Lesson from the Inspiring Story:

The parents in this story are like many of us. We find it easy 

to love those who are good-looking or fun to have around, 

but we don’t like people who inconvenience us or make 

us feel uncomfortable. We would rather stay away from 

people who aren’t as healthy, beautiful, or smart as we are. 

Thankfully, there’s someone who won’t treat us that way. 

Someone who loves us with an unconditional love that 

welcomes us into the forever family, regardless of 

how messed up we are.

Author Unknown