Sarah

     I wrote this story about a unique and special woman for another blog. Sarah isn’t her real name, but her story is true. Periodically on this blog I am going to write about real people who have changed their own lives as well as those around them. The “Promise Cards,” aren’t just for other people. They are also for you as well. We should not just make promises to others; we should make them to ourselves. Only by helping ourselves first, by loving ourselves, and becoming better people, can we then reach out to others and make promises. Maybe you’ll recognize a little of yourself in Sarah. I hope you enjoy what Sarah has accomplished, how she has made herself a better person, and how she has made the lives of those around her better.

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
 the courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next. Amen.

A Story of Humility

     I found this story in a sermon called: "A Call to Humility" by Rev. Dr. Robert M. Bowman; Presiding Bishop, United Catholic Church 1998. I don't know where it originated, but it was sent to him by his eldest Son Rob. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

     Ruth was an elderly woman, alone in the world and living on social security. Like many seniors, she often found that there were too many days in a month. She ran out of money before she ran out of month. Sometimes it came down to choosing between medicines and food. But by carefully eliminating unnecessary expenses (like a car, movies, and the daily paper), she had learned to get by.Ruth’s mail usually came around ten thirty in the morning, and she looked forward to receiving it, even though it was mostly junk mail and bills. One Saturday morning, she went out to her mailbox about eleven (as was her custom). In it there was only one envelope. She thought it strange, because there was no stamp and no postmark, only her name and address, carefully handwritten on the envelope. She opened it and read: