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Once upon a time in Hawaii’s Minoa Valley there lived a little green gecko. He lived in the eaves of a big white house right next door to the Aioli Tea Gardens. There were many geckos living in the lush green gardens and they loved the shiny green leaves and moist, dark soil of Minoa Valley. They were happy in the beautiful garden and didn’t mind the daily rains. They sang and chirped night and day, enjoying an on-going veritable banquet of insects that lived in the valley. This particular little green gecko, however, didn’t chirp. He didn’t like the rain and refused to join the rest of the geckos when they called to him. “Come and play. It’s December and there’s plenty to eat!†But silently he ignored them and hid under the eaves of a big white house. He grumbled and complained night and day, refusing to help the rest of the geckos control the hordes of mosquitos that hummed in the moist valley air. “We all must do our part to control the Mosquitos in Minoa,†the Great Green Gecko announced from time to time. But the little green gecko just sulked and complained, rain OR shine, refusing to help and refusing to chirp like the rest of the geckos in the garden. Then one day in December, a most unusual thing occurred. The people who lived in the big white house came home with a large green tree tied to the roof of their car! That’s most unusual, thought the little green gecko, moving closer to get a good look. The man took the tree down from the roof of the car and carried it to the door of the house. This is most unusual the gecko thought again as he ran down the wall. As the tree passed through the door, the little green gecko jumped into it and snuggled into its branches. I must see what they are going to do with this tree, he thought to himself as silently he hid among the pine needles. He thought the smell of the tree was most unusual and not at all like the sweet fragrances he was comfortable with in the Minoa Valley. Quickly the tree was set up in the corner window. This is great! He thought. I can bask in the sunlight and when it rains I will be warm and dry. Just as he was getting comfortable, the lady who lived in the house began to tie pieces of colour ribbon and shiny glass balls on to the branches of the tree. The little Green gecko was frightened and ran to the top of the tree only to find a lighted flashing star, off and on. This is most unusual, he said to himself. What can all this mean? From inside the box she took out a tiny shelter and set it under the tree. What’s this? He wondered. Next came the tiny manger, a cow, two sheep and a donkey. Not much bigger than me! Thought the gecko. Two figures were placed in the shelter, one that looked like the woman and one that looked like the man. Three shiny figures were set out next, as brightly colour as a chameleon, thought the gecko. Last from the box came two children, one with a tiny lamb in his arms. “I wonder what all of this means?†chirped the little gecko. This is most unusual! And he settled back into the tree. When at last the lady seem satisfied that every branch was properly decorated, she brought out the little brown box. All of a sudden there was a “most unusual†noise and lights began to twinkle all around him. “Joy to the World,†the music box chimed as it sat on the branches above his head. What a beautiful song, he thought as he listening quietly. Day after day the gecko sat in the “unusual†tree. Every night when the man and lady came home they would turn the lights on the tree and listen to the music box play “Joy to the World.†Each night the little green gecko would creep down to the tiny figures under the tree and wonder. Most unusual, he would think to himself and climb back into the branches. Then one night he noticed that there was a special excitement in the house. Visitors were arriving. A little boy and girl danced around the tree. They clapped their hands when the lights came on and sang with sweet clear voices along with the music box as it played, “Joy to the World!†At last the children sat down beside the tree and the lady took out the little brown box. From inside the box she took the last little figure and placed it in the manger. It was a tiny little baby. Most unusual, thought the gecko as he edged closer to the little stall. What can this mean? He wondered. Then the man took a large black book into his lap, opened the pages and began to read. He read about a woman named Mary and a man named Joseph who went to a city called Bethlehem. There was no place for them to spend the night and so they stayed in an animal shelter on the edge of town. Mary had a baby that night and laid Him in a manger because she had no crib. Angels told shepherds that the baby was born. “Joy to the World,†they sang (The little green gecko recognized that song!) Kings came with gifts for the baby and worshipped Him. What a wonderful story, thought the little gecko. Silently the little gecko listened as the man told how this baby was Jesus, the Son of God, who loved people of the world so much that He was willing to die to save them. “He sees every sparrow that falls,†the big black book said. “Why, if He can see a sparrow, he can see me too!†chirped the little gecko, and his heart was strangely warmed. That night as the house lay sleeping, he climbed down the tree and crept up to the stall. Gazing down upon on the infant, he remembered all that he had heard. How selfish and lazy I’ve been, he thought. How I wish I could tell everyone this beautiful story, but what can a gecko do? He looked into the face of the infant Jesus, then over to the shepherds with their sheep and the brightly attired wise men with their shining gifts. I too would like to give the infant King something!†he thought, noticing that the baby lay exposed to the night air. “I bet there were mosquitos there too. Why, if I’d been in Bethlehem, I would have eaten the mosquitos humming in the manger. It would have been my job!†he chirped with some importance. The more he thought about it, the happier it made him feels. “I’d do it just because I wanted to!†he decided. About that time the little green gecko looked out the window into the Aioli Tea Gardens. A most unusual sight awaited his eyes. There was a manger scene out on the garden, only much, much larger. Real animals and real people stood bathed in light and wonderful music filled the night air. Watching, he noticed that the shepherds were scratching their necks and the wise men slapped their arms, while the mother Mary was trying very hard to keep the mosquitos away from the manger. People who had come to see the live nativity scene batted and slapped the air around them, finally turning away and going home, unable to enjoy the beautiful pageantry. “This is awful!†cried the little gecko. “Everyone needs to hear this wonderful story!†He ran down the tree and squeezed through a crack in the window. Running from branch to branch and leaf to leaf, he chirped out in a loud gecko voice, “Come on everybody. It’s Christmas Eve and we have a job to do!†“What’s come over you? Cried out to all, of the other geckos. “We’re tired; we’ve worked hard all day long.†“Now, now!†the little green gecko chirped telling them what he had seen. “It’s a wonderful story and the world needs to hear it,†he implored. “If it’s made such a change in you, it must be wonderful indeed!†replied the Great Green Gecko. “Let’s help!†they all cried out together, “For its Christmas Eve!†They chirped and sang as they scurried to the light. SNAP! POP! ZING! Flashed their tongues as, they darted from leaf to leaf. “Joy to the World†the music rang and the little green gecko chirped and sang. The shepherds the shepherds stopped scratching and the kings stopped slapping themselves. Mary smiled as the little green gecko climbed up on the edge of the manger fiercely attacking every mosquito that flew near the infant. Crowds began to gather and people carried candles and stood listening to the Christmas Story. When at last the music swelled, “Joy to the World,†the crowd sang. The little gecko could hardly contain himself. “Joy to the World,†he chirped, “Joy to the World!†That night when all was quiet the little green gecko slipped back into the house. He crept under the Christmas tree and smelled the fragrant pine. “This has been a most unusual night,†he said to himself and he fell asleep beneath the manger. In the morning the children came into the room and squealed with delight. “A Christmas Gecko!†they cried out and lay on their tummies to get a good look. Sure enough, there he was quietly watching over the Baby Jesus. “No mosquitos will harm this baby,†they said, turning on the tree lights. “Joy to the World,†the music box played. “Joy to the World,†the children sang. “Joy to the World,†the little green gecko chirped, happily. Every year since that eventful night in the Aioli Tea Gardens, seven days before Christmas when the Living Nativity is shown, if you listen very carefully there will be a most unusual sound heard in the leaves. It is the sound of a little green gecko happily singing... JOY TO THE WORLD, the Lord has come!
Tags: JOY TO THE WORLD, the Lord has come!, swalk1955
The lights are blinking merrily
The tinsel’s on the tree
It sits there in the window
For all the world to see. The house is filled with holly
And pinecone scents the air
The Christmas cards keep coming
Each one is hung with care. The gifts are tied with ribbons red
And topped with pretty bows
I’m done with all the details
As far as Christmas goes. The fire is softly glowing
I think about your touch
But Christmas isn’t Christmas
I miss you oh, so much. If I could have just anything
My Christmas wish would be
To wake up in the morning
And find you here with me. I reminisce our Christmas’ past
The joy and love we shared
Moonlit walks and midnight talks
And ways you showed you cared. Staring at your picture
I long to be set free
Tonight the tears are streaming
As I hold it next to me. Flakes of snow swirl through the air
I’m braced for stormy weather
I wait for brighter days ahead
When we can be together. So hold a place in heaven dear
Someday when life is through
I’ll be the Christmas angel
Who shares this day with you.
Tags: Christmas Without You, swalk1955
Once there was an elf named Frez that would get so nervous during Christmas time that he would eat two lunches at the elf cafeteria. He tried to be just too perfect in toymaking and never thought they were good enough for the children. The dolls' eyes never sparkled enough, thought Frez, and the wagons were not as shinny as last year. Nothing seemed to be going right and the time for delivery of the presents was getting closer.
It was beyond anybody’s understanding why Frez was getting so particular and asking for an elf suit larger than his size. Then, one day Santa found out what the problem was and decided to solve it. It seemed that Frez was not a young elf, but elves never looked their age by the virtue of being ever cheerful and happy. Frez needed to feel he was special, so Santa assigned him his own project called "special toys." These were the toys that were broken and needed to be repaired with love. Frez was so glad to be in charge of such a project that he had only one lunch that day because he had to hurry back to his tasks.
There is a lesson to be learnt from what Santa did for the elf. Sometimes we have off days when we just don’t feel positive. Someone's smile or invitation to join some friends can make our whole day worthwhile.
Frez is now content with assembling the broken toys and transform them into something new, and he has stopped being a voracious eater that he once used to be because he is happy. He even wears his old suit now, and his new suit is taken in for his smaller waist.
Its wise for us to try and do something worthwhile everyday so that a "Frez Attack" will never get us. We all have special talents and potentials and we can definitely help someone out if he is feeling a bit low. It takes only a few seconds to be able to know why someone is not feeling happy. Take out that time from your usual day and listen. Most importantly, we are here to help each other and all of us have that hidden talent to do it. Start to make use of that talent today.
Tags: a, christmas, story, swalk1955
The little angel felt happy, as a young girl held her in the palm of her hand. But the moment she let go the little angel felt quite sad.
"Please come back," pleaded the little angel. But the young girl didn't hear her.
The little angel tried to follow the young girl, but her wings wouldn't budge. She was stuck. And no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't free herself.
Her plea for help didn't go unanswered, however, as a gruff voice said, "Can I be of assistance, madam?"
Although she heard the voice call out, the little angel didn't see anyone.
"Who said that?" asked the little angel.
"I did," said a large polar bear.
"I hear you, kind sir. But I can't see you."
"I can't see you either," said the polar bear. "Where are you?"
"I'm not sure. All I see is a big wall. And to make matters worse, I'm stuck."
"A big wall is all that I see, too," said the polar bear. "And I am also stuck. This is most peculiar."
As she struggled to break free, the little angel hoped that everything happening was just a dream. But when she opened her eyes the next morning, the wall was still all she could see.
"Are you still there?" called out the little angel to the polar bear.
"Yes, and still stuck."
"Me too," she said in a sad voice.
But the little angel's sadness soon faded, when the young girl was standing beside her once more. The little angel thought that the young girl had come back for her, but she had not.
Suddenly everything around the little angel started to shake, and then the young girl was gone. The little angel asked the polar bear if he had also felt the great tremble, but he had something else on his mind. He asked her if she too smelled something wonderful.
"Yes," said the little angel. "But how can you think of food right now?"
And then a voice said, "Hello, I'm a gingerbread man."
The little angel and polar bear could hear the gingerbread man, but they couldn't see him. The gingerbread man told them he was stuck and couldn't move. But unlike the little angel and polar bear, the gingerbread man was facing a window; and through it he could see snowflakes falling outside.
"How do you get to see such things? All we can see is a big wall," said the polar bear.
"I don't know," said the gingerbread man, "but it sure is lovely."
The little angel's eyes filled with tears. She thought that she would never be able to see such things herself. And then the young girl came back yet again, but this time she plugged something into the big wall.
Suddenly beautiful lights flashed in all directions!
The young girl then placed a candy cane right above a little angel, and right below a polar bear.
"What do you think, Mommy?"
"I think it's the most beautiful Christmas tree ever," said the young girl's mother.
"Now there's only one last thing to do," said her father.
The young girl's father proceeded to place a gold star atop the Christmas tree, but before doing so, he asked everyone in the room to make a wish. And everyone did. Later that night the gingerbread man ran away as fast as he could - the polar bear was outside playing in the snow - and the little angel was in the young girl's room watching over her.
Tags: make a wish, swalk1955
Another year draws near its close
I ask, Dear Lord, please think of those
who touch our lives by being there
The friends with so much love to share
Please wrap their spirits in Your grace
So only smiles beam 'cross each face
Let each one know they are held dear
Then, fill their hearts with Christmas cheer
Those with new babes, new jobs, or lives
Please Lord, keep hope within their eyes
So they shall always know they're blessed
By a faithful God Who grants the best
Should hardship fall on others' hearts
Lord, lead them to a brand new start
Lift their feet through the uphill climb
Then, guide them to a better time
Lord, summon angels - day and night
To bring miracles and sheer delight
Toward all my friends, near and abroad
Bless them with all that You can laud
Grant them good tidings, dreams, and health
And moments of kind-natured wealth
So their New Years' will surely be
As hallowed as You are to thee
Amen
Tags: christmas, prayer, swalk1955
If I gave myself a Christmas gift, I’d make Christmas past my Christmas present, Christmas as it ought to be.
To hear the Christmas church bells ring,
To sing the songs we love to sing, To see the Christmas candles glow, To kiss beneath the mistletoe, That’s the Christmas gift I’d give to me, Christmas as it ought to be.
If I gave myself a Christmas gift,
I’d make every day like Christmas Day, Christmas as it ought to be.
To see white Christmas fill the sky,
To taste that spicy mincemeat pie, To see good friends and family All gathered by the Christmas tree. That’s my Christmas gift from me to me, Christmas as it ought to be.
If I gave myself a Christmas gift,
I’d fill my sock with peace on earth, Christmas as it ought to be.
To put an end to bigotry,
To wipe out wars and poverty, To say to millions everywhere, The world is big enough to share. That’s the Christmas gift I’d give to me, Christmas as it ought to be.
Tags: Christmas. gift. swalk1955
Our day-to-day demands can quickly take their toll on our well-being if we are not vigilant about caring for ourselves as best we can. One way we can ensure that we have an opportunity to relax and recuperate each day is to create a soft place to land when we arrive home. This landing pad, whether it is an entire room or merely a small corner of a larger area, can provide us with a safe and comforting refuge in which we can decompress and recover from the day’s stresses. There, we are enveloped in feelings of security that transcend other issues that may be unfolding in our homes. Our landing pads also act as way stations that enable us to shift our attention away from our outer-world concerns and back to our inner-world needs. To create a soft place to land in your home, begin by scouting potential locations. Or perhaps your entire home is your landing pad in which case you may only need to declutter. Your habits can often provide you with insight into the perfect spot, as there may be an area of your home you gravitate to naturally when you are in need of comfort. Any space in which you find it easy to let go of stress and anxiety can become your landing pad. A basement or attic, spare room, or unused storage area, furnished with items that soothe you, can give you the privacy you need to unwind. If you appreciate the elements, you may find that spending time in a section of your garden or outdoor patio helps you release the day’s tensions. Preparing these spaces can be as easy as replacing clutter with a small selection of beautiful objects that put you in a relaxed frame of mind. Remember to consider noise and activity levels while choosing the site of your landing pad. If you know that ordinary human commotion will distract you from your purpose, look for a secluded spot. The soft place to land that you create should inspire within you the mantra, “I can breath here. I can relax here. I know I am safe here.†When you return to your home after braving worldly rigors, you will feel a subtle yet tranquil shift occur inside of you as you settle in to this most personal of retreats and feel centered once again. 
Tags: Your Comfort Zone Create a Soft Place to Land, swalk1955
The power of intention is how you allow your divinity to be expressed through your humanity in ways that affirm your worth and confirm your ability to create your reality as you wish it to be. It is through intention, conscious or unconscious, that you create your reality and the family of humanity creates its experience of the world. Unconscious intention is how you draw karmic experiences and the situations that reveal your soul wounds into being. Conscious intention allows you to find the healing and purpose in your lessons because while you allow the healing to occur you also see each situation in its highest aspects, which includes the potential for joy. Attention is the focus of the mind, which is grounded in time and space. Time includes the past, present and future, space is the reality the mind is aware of, which is either grounded in fear or in unconditional love. There is no 'real' reality because it is all an illusion but to the mind, whatever its attention is drawn to is what it grounds itself into. The mind's attention moves from pain and fear to joy and love and it aligns itself with the point of greatest pain and fear. This becomes your attention and no matter what you intend, the fear must be released before the mind can accept a different energetic aspect of a potential reality. Attention and intention must be balanced to allow manifestation to flow. Attention comes from the mind, intention from spirit and you can know whether there is alignment by what you pay attention to. What is your mind focused on, where is your fear and where do you feel the energy is not flowing? That is where your energy is not aligned with your intention and once this is addressed your intention can flow again with your creation and manifestation will occur with the grace and ease that happens when you are aligned in body, mind, emotions and spirit, expressing your mastery through your humanity, connected with Spirit and remembering that your divine birthright is to have a life of joy, peace, love and unlimited abundance of whatever your heart desires
Tags: whatever your heart desires, swalk1955
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Ripples
Posted On 12/04/2011 10:17:48
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In a world of six billion people, it’s easy to believe that the only way to initiate profound transformation is to take extreme action. Each of us, however, carries within us the capacity to change the world in small ways for better or worse. Everything we do and think affects the people in our lives, and their reactions in turn affect others. As the effect of a seemingly insignificant word passes from person to person, its impact grows and can become a source of great joy, inspiration, anxiety, or pain. Your thoughts and actions are like stones dropped into still waters, causing ripples to spread and expand as they move outward. The impact you have on the world is greater than you could ever imagine, and the choices you make can have far-reaching consequences. You can use the ripple effect to make a positive difference and spread waves of kindness that will wash over the world. Should the opportunity arise, the recipient of a good deed will likely feel compelled to do a good deed for someone else. Someone feeling the effects of negative energy will be more likely to pass on that negative energy. One act of charity, one thoughtful deed, or even one positive thought can pass from individual to individual, snowballing until it becomes a group movement or the ray of hope that saves someone’s life. Every transformation, just like every ripple, has a point of origin. You must believe in your ability to be that point of origin if you want to use the ripples you create to spread goodness. Consider the effect of your thoughts and actions, and try to act graciously as much as possible. A smile directed at a stranger, a compliment given to a friend, an attitude of laughter, or a thoughtful gesture can send ripples that spread among your loved ones and associates, out into your community, and finally throughout the world. You have the power to touch the lives of everyone you come into contact with and everyone those people come into contact with. The momentum of your influence will grow as your ripples moves onward and outward. One of those ripples could become a tidal wave of positivity.
Tags: ripples, swalk1955
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