>>"The story goes that some time ago a man punished his 5-year-old
> >>daughter
> >> >>for wasting a roll of
> >> >>expensive gold wrapping paper.
> >> >>
> >> >>Money was tight and he became even more upset when the child
> pasted
> >> >>the gold paper so as to decorate a box to put under the Christmas
> tree.
> >> >>Nevertheless, the little girl brought the gift box to her father
> the
> >>next
> >> >>morning and said, "This is for you, Daddy."
> >> >>
> >> >>The father was embarrassed by his earlier over reaction, but his
> anger
> >> >>flared again when he found the box was empty.
> >> >>He spoke to her in a harsh manner, "Don't you know, young lady,
> when
> >> >>you
> >> >>give someone a presentthere's supposed to be something inside the
> >> >>package?"
> >> >>
> >> >>The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said,
> >> >>"Oh, Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was
> full."
> >> >>
> >> >>The father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms
> around is
> >> >>little girl, and he begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary
>
> >> >>anger.
> >> >>
> >> >>An accident took the life of the child only a short time later and
> it
> >> >>is
> >> >>told that the father kept that gold box by his bed for all
> >> >>the years of his life. And whenever he was discouraged or faced
> >>difficult
> >> >>problems he would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and
> >>remember
> >> >>the loveof the child who had put it there.
> >> >>
> >> >>In a very real sense, each of us as human beings have been given
> a
> >>golden
> >> >>box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children,
> >> >>family,
> >> >>friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could
>
> >> >>hold.
> >> >>
> >> >>You now have two choices. You can:
> >> >>1- Pass this on to your friends, or 2- Delete it and act like it
> didn't
> >> >>touch your heart.
> >> >>
> >> >>As you can see, I took choice No. 1.
> >> >>
> >> >>Friends are like angels who lift us to our feet when our wings
> have
> >> >>trouble remembering how to fly. Think positive and act. This is
> nice
> >> >>-finding something positive out of every negative which we don't
> always
> >> >>manage to do.
> >> >>
> >> >>I am thankful.... For the husband who snores all night, because he
> is
> >> >>at
> >> >>home asleep with me and not with someone else.
> >> >>
> >> >>For my teenage daughter who is complaining about doing dishes,
> because
> >> >>that means she is at home & not on the streets
> >> >>
> >> >>For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.
> >> >>
> >> >>For the mess to clean after a party, because it means that I have
> been
> >> >>surrounded by friends.
> >> >>
> >> >>For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I
> have
> >>enough
> >> >>to eat.
> >> >>
> >> >>For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in
> the
> >> >>sunshine.
> >> >>
> >> >>For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning,
> because
> >>it
> >> >>means I have a home.
> >> >>
> >> >>For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it
> means
> >>that
> >> >>we have freedom of speech.
> >> >>
> >> >>For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot,
> because
> >>it
> >> >>means I am capable of walking and that have been blessed with
> >> >>transportation
> >> >>
> >> >>For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have
> clothes to
> >> >>wear.
> >> >>
> >> >>For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it
>
> >> >>means
> >>I
> >> >>have been capable of working hard.
> >> >>
> >> >>For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, becauseit
> means
> >> >>that I am alive.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >>AND FINALLY...
> >> >>
> >> >>For too much e-mail, because it means I have friends who are
> thinking
> >> >>of
> >> >>me. Send this to someone you care about.
> >> >>
> >> >>I JUST DID!!!!
> >> >>
> >> >>THINK POSITIVE!!
> >> >>>>> >>