Explanation of God

Little Boy's Explanation of God -- Fabulous!!! -Out of the mouths of the Babes--

I certainly don't think an adult could explain this more beautifully!

THIS IS FABULOUS!!!

It was written by an 8-year-old named Danny Dutton, who lives in Chula Vista , CA .. He wrote it for his third grade homework assignment, to 'explain God.' I wonder if any of us could have done as well? 
(and he had such an assignment, in California , and someone published it, I guess miracles do happen!)
EXPLANATION OF GOD:

'One of God's main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn't make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn't have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.''God's second most important job is listening to prayers An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn't have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.''God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn't go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad's head asking for something they said you couldn't have.'

'Atheists are people who don't believe in God. I don't think there are any in Chula Vista . At least there aren't any who come to our church.'

'Jesus is God's Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn't want to learn about God.They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn't know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.' And God did not let Jesus stay in the grave, but raised him from the dead

'His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn't have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.'

'You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.' 

'You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there's anybody you want to make happy, it's God!

Don't skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn't come out at the beach until noon anyway.'

'If you don't believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can't go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He's around you when you're scared, in the dark or when you can't swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.'

'But...you shouldn't just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.


And...that's why I believe in God.'

Danny Dutton, 

Quotes About Dealing with Life's Challenges

Here are some amazing quotations that will give you a lot to think about. I wanted to share then with you. Enjoy and think about all it means in the living of life. These are wise words and...though not quotes from the Bible...are in tune with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Life is a challenge, meet it

Mother Theresa

Time on its back bears all things far away - Full many a challenge is wrought 

by many a day - Shape, fortune, name, and nature all decay

Plato

Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Experience is not what happens to a man (woman). 

It is what a man (woman) does with what happens to him (her).

Aldous Huxley

Stand up to your obstacles and do something about them. 

You will find that they haven't half the strength you think they have.

Norman Vincent Peale

Smooth seas do not make skilful sailors

African Proverb

The true measure of a man (woman) is not how he behaves 

in moments of comfort and convenience but 

how he stands at times of controversy and challenges

Martin Luther King Jr

Forgiveness

Last July we were with some people for the weekend...my husband, me, and four others. With one of the women there I have a history of being manipulated and dealing with always doing what she wants. I felt myself to be healed of that, so when she began the same behavior I dug in my feet and did not automatically comply. This led to some bickering between the two of us. In the end I received all the blame even though two of us were bickering. I ended up leaving in disgrace. No need for the details of my leaving except it was something that had never happened to me in my entire life. I was heartbroken, felt insulted, and my pain continued in an acute way for about two weeks.

For two of the people I had decided that they no longer live in my world. The other two were closer friends, so I licked my wounds and just tried to act normal. A couple of weeks ago this person called me and told me that she felt I still was angry about it and at her. We discussed it into the ground. Finally she said, "Let's just stop rehashing it. What I want to know is do you still want us to have a relationship." After the incident I had realized that the two of us were often a toxic combo and had decided to avoid getting together as much as possible. When she posed her question at the end of the phone conversation, I had had it. I told her that I could not see any reason or desire to continue our friendship. I said bye and hung up. I had felt that they had insulted me beyond measure and was glad to be done with it.

There is a lot more behind this friendship that began in about 1996.

Later in the evening  I received a text from her saying that she was sorry about the outcome of our talk and that she had hoped it would end differently. I thought about it a lot and reopened my mind about what had happened. I thought then and still do that I cannot be close the way we used to be. Still, I felt convicted about my attitude. When I sat down to my quiet time the next morning I told God that was not sure what was right to do and asked Him to show me in some way during our time together that morning what I should do. The last thing I did in my prayer time was to read "The Word for Today" devotional. That was Wednesday, January 15, and the title of the devotional is "You Must Forgive." As I read I knew that I was receiving God's answer to my question. I placed a call to the other person and told her that I was not happy with what had transpired the night before. I did some explaining using some of the words of the devotional. I ended it with that I felt God would like this much better than the first outcome. I told her that I did not know how it would look, but that I still wanted to have a friendship.

Then along comes our pastor with the message today...topic forgiveness!!!! His teaching about forgiveness took what I had already been given one step further. In the message we were given things to do and speak to help us let go of what have become overly licked wounds...to speak words to give forgiveness even when we are not emotionally attached to the concept. We should do this so that it will more strongly become our reality. This step two of the process I am in will be very helpful. I also felt that God was continuing the teaching and guidance that He had started this past Wednesday. It also was a confirmation to me that what I had thought about during my prayer time was right on.

I feel so much better now knowing what habits to cultivate. In the past I said I had forgiven, but I still allowed the pain and hurt to whip me around. I think I can stop this reliving and mourning and really forgive. Now I have to move on to apply what I have learned to my thoughts about the other couple.

CM

IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER

              This one will tug at your heart! I decided to share this here.  

IT'S WHAT YOU SCATTER

I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn't help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

'Hello Barry, how are you today?'

'H'lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus' admirin' them peas. They sure look good.'

'They are good, Barry. How's your Ma?' 

'Fine. Gittin' stronger alla' time.'

'Good. Anything I can help you with?' 

'No, Sir. Jus' admirin' them peas.' 

'Would you like to take some home?' asked Mr. Miller.

'No, Sir. Got nuthin' to pay for 'em with.' 

'Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?' 

'All I got's my prize marble here.'

'Is that right? Let me see it', said Miller.

'Here 'tis. She's a dandy.'

'I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?' the store owner asked.

'Not zackley but almost.'

'Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble'. Mr. Miller told the boy. 

'Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.'

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. 

With a smile she said, 'There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn't like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.'

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband's casket.

 Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband's bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

'Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.

They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim 'traded' them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.'

'We've never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,' she confided, 'but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ...'

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral:

We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.  

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn't make yourself...

• An unexpected phone call from an old friend.... Green stoplights on your way to work... 

• The fastest line at the grocery store.... 

• A good sing-along song on the radio...

• Your keys found right where you left them

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU GATHER, BUT WHAT YOU SCATTER THAT TELLS WHAT KIND OF LIFE YOU HAVE LIVED!