Friends are like Angels
| When God created Fathers | A song
When God created Mothers | Children
learn what they live
ABC's of Friendship 1Kor 13 vir 'n pa
Our friends are like angels,
Who brighten our days;
In all kinds of wonderful,
Magical ways.
Their thoughtfulness comes,
As a gift from above;
And we feel we're surrounded,
By warm, caring love.
Like upside-down rainbows,
Their smiles bring the sun;
And they fill ho-hum moments,
With laughter and fun.
Friends are like angels,
Without any wings;
Blessing our lives,
With the most precious things.
~ Emily Mathews ~
When the good Lord was
creating Mothers ... He was into His sixth day of "overtime." An
angel appeared and said, "You're sure doing a lot of fiddling around on this
one!"
God nodded and said, "Yes, but have you read the specs on this
order? She has to be completely washable, but not made of plastic.
She has to have 180 moveable parts ... all replaceable.
She'll have to run on black coffee and leftovers.
She'll need a lap that disappears when she stands up.
She'll have to have a kiss that can cure anything from a scraped finger to a
disappointed love affair. She will also need six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said, "Six pairs of hands? ... No
way!"
"It is not the hands that are causing me problems," said the
Lord. "It's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
"That's on the standard model?" asked the angel.
The Lord nodded and said, "One pair is to see through closed doors when she
asks, "What are you kids doing in there?" ... although she'll already know.
She needs another pair here in the back of her head that can see the things she
shouldn't have to, but things that she has to know.
And of course, she'll need a set of eyes here in front that will be able to look at a
child when he goofs up. Those eyes will be able to say, "I understand and
I love you," without even muttering a word."
"Lord," said the angel touching God's sleeve gently, "You had
better go to bed. Tomorrow ..."
"I can't," interrupted the Lord. "I'm so close now
to creating something that is so much like myself, that I just can't stop.
I've already created one who can ... heal herself when she is sick, feed a family of
six on one pound of hamburger, and can get a nine-year-old to stand under a shower."
Slowly, the angel circled and carefully looked at the model of a Mother. "It's
too soft!" the angel sighed.
"But she's tough!" said the Lord excitedly. "You
cannot imagine what this mother will be able to do or the things that she will be able to
endure."
The angel asked, "Can she think?"
"Not only can she think, but she will be able to reason and compromise," said
the Creator.
Finally the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek of the
mother. "There's a leak in her!" the angel
pronounced. "I told you that you were trying to put too much into this
model."
"That's not a leak," said the Lord. "It's a
tear!"
"What's it for?" asked the angel.
The Lord said, "It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, love
and pride."
"Wow! You're a genius!" said the angel.
The Lord looked somber and said, "But I didn't put it there!"
~ Author Unknown ~
"When God Created Fathers"
When the good Lord was creating Fathers ... He
started with a tall frame.
An angel nearby said, "What kind of Father is that? If
you're going to make children so close to the ground, why have you put the Fathers up so
high? He won't be able to shoot a marble without kneeling, play pretend
drinking tea, tuck a child in bed without bending, or even kiss a child without a lot of
stooping."
God smiled and said, "Yes, but if I make him child-size, who would
children have to look up to?"
And when God made a Father's hands, they were large.
The angel shook her head sadly and said, "Do you know what you are
doing? Large hands are clumsy. They can't manage diaper pins, small
buttons, rubber bands on pony tails, or even remove splinters caused by baseball
bats."
Again God smiled and said, "I know, but they're large enough to hold
everything a small boy empties from his pockets, all his daughter's paper dolls, jump
rope, yet small enough to cup a child's face in his hands."
Then God molded long slim legs and broad shoulders.
The angel nearly had a heart attack. "Do you realize you just made a
Father without a lap? How is he going to pull a child close to him without the
kid falling between his legs?"
God smiled and said, "A Mother needs a lap. A Father
needs strong shoulders to pull a wagon, to balance a child on a bicycle, or to hold a
sleepy head on the way home from the circus."
When God was in the middle of creating two of the largest feet anyone had ever seen,
the angel giggled and could not contain herself any longer. "That's not
fair. Do you honestly think those large boats are going to get out of bed early
in the morning when the baby cries? Or walk through a birthday party without
crushing one or two of the guests?"
Again God smiled and said, "It will work, you'll see. It
will support a small child who wants to ride a horse to Banbury Cross, or scare mice away
from a summer cabin, or walk in shoes that will be a challenge to fill."
God worked throughout the night, giving the Father few words, but a firm authoritative
voice; eyes that could see everything, yet remain calm and tolerant.
Finally, almost as an after-thought, He added tears. Then he
turned to the angel and said, "Now are you satisfied that he can love
as much as a Mother can?"
The angel said nothing more.
~ Erma Bombeck ~
Children Learn What They Live
If a child lives with CRITICISM,
He learns to CONDEMN.
If a child lives with HOSTILITY,
He learns to FIGHT.
If a child lives with RIDICULE,
He learns to be SHY.
If a child lives with SHAME,
He learns to feel GUILTY.
If a child lives with TOLERANCE,
He learns to be PATIENT.
If a child lives with ENCOURAGEMENT,
He learns to be CONFIDENT.
If a child lives with PRAISE,
He learns to APPRECIATE.
If a child lives with FAIRNESS,
He learns JUSTICE.
If a child lives with SECURITY,
He learns to have FAITH.
If a child lives with APPROVAL,
He learns to LIKE HIMSELF.
If a child lives with ACCEPTANCE
and FRIENDSHIP,
He learns to LOVE in the
world.
A SONG
None knows the day that friends must part
None knows how near is sorrow;
If there be laughter in your heart,
Don't hold it for to-morrow.
Smile all the smiles you can to-day;
Grief waits for all along the way.
To-day is ours for joy and mirth;
We may be sad to-morrow;
Then let us sing for all we've worth,
Nor give a thought to sorrow.
None knows what lies along the way;
Let's smile what smiles we can to-day.
Edgar Guest
The ABC's of Friendship
Always be honest.
Be there when they need you.
Cheer them on.
Don't look for their faults.
Every chance you get, call!
Forgive them.
Get together often.
Have faith in them.
Include them.
Just listen.
Know their dreams.
Love them unconditionally.
Make them feel special.
Never forget them.
Offer to help.
Praise them honestly.
Quietly disagree.
Rescue them often.
Say you're sorry.
Talk frequently.
Use good judgment.
Vote for them!
Wish them good luck!
X-ray yourself first.
Your words count.
Zip your mouth when told a secret.
1Kor
13 vir 'n pa
Al sou ek die mooiste huis in die buurt hê en met die duurste BMW ry,
maar my vrou en kinders geniet nie die weelde van my teenwoordigheid
nie, dan is ek so waardeloos soos 'n bankkrediet met 'n nulbalans.
Al het ek die gawe van woorde sodat ek 'n direksie met my argumente kan swaai, of skares
na my preke kan laat stroom, en ek het nie die liefde om na my kinders te luister nie,
doen ek meer kwaad as goed.
Al ken ek die geheimenisse van die Beurs en die Reserwebank; en besit ek al die kennis van
rugby- en krieketreëls; en al het ek al die geloof dat ons hierdie land met gebed
kan verander, maar ek het nie die liefde om my kinders die gevare van baie geld te leer,
langs die baan te staan as hulle speel of hulle te leer bid nie, dan het ek niks bereik
nie.
Al gee ek 'n dubbele tiende vir die armes, en al beroem ek my dat ek
in elke liefdadigheidsraad op my dorp dien en vakansies my gesondheid
opoffer om in malariagebiede sendingwerk te doen, en ek is te moeg om
saans vir my kinders boeke te lees of naweke in die veld te gaan stap,
baat dit my alles absoluut niks.
'n Pa wat liefhet, is geduldig met kinders wat sukkel met wiskunde;
'n Pa se liefde is vriendelik met 'n kind wat nie wil rugby speel nie;
hy is nie afgunstig op pa's met slimmer of mooier kinders nie;
hy is nie grootpraterig en verwaand oor sy kinders se prestasies nie;
'n Pa se liefde handel nie onwelvoeglik met die ma van sy kinders nie;
soek nie sy eie belang sodat sy huismense laaste kom nie;
is nie liggeraak en nukkerig as 'n kind bietjie ekstra aandag soek nie;
'n Pa wat sy kinders liefhet, hou nie boek van hulle foute en peper
hulle met verwyte nie.
'n Pa verbly hom nie oor 'n kind se foute met "Ek het jou gewaarsku maar jy wou nie
luister nie".
Hy is verheug as hy sy kinders die waarheid hoor praat - selfs tot
hulle eie nadeel.
Daarom wil ek my kinders se skandes met liefde bedek; in hulle glo,
die beste vir hulle hoop,en hulle kleredrag, klaery en kritiek verdra.
'n Opregte drukkie en 'n intieme gesprek van 'n ouer bly lank in 'n
kinderhart, maar die preek of toespraak wat ek liewer in die tyd wou skryf -sal oormôre
weer vergeet wees.
Vandag se noterings op die aandelemark - is volgende week niks werd nie.
In die lig van die Volmaakte wat kom,word al my kennis en besittings gerelativeer.
Toe ek 'n jong man was, was ek gesteld op my voorkoms,
my motor en my geleerdheid; maar noudat ek pa geword het,
wil ek graag my kinders met liefde, balans en geloof grootmaak.
Nou kyk ek nog vas teen rebelse tienergesigte,maar eendag as hulle groot is,sal hulle
verstaan wat ons hulle wou leer,en wat God ons almal leer.
En nou:
Geduld, aanmoediging en liefde bly,
Maar die waardevolste hiervan is onvoorwaardelike liefde!
Bron: Mini-stories vir pa's, gepubliseer deur Lux verdi.)
1Kor 13 vir 'n ma
As ek met my kinders praat oor reg en verkeerd ,
maar die liefde nie het nie, dan is ek soos 'n deurklok wat lui of die geratel van
kastrolle in die kombuis.
En al weet ek watter stadiums hulle deurgaan, en al verstaan ek al hulle
groeipyne en kan al hulle vrae beantwoord, en glo dat ek 'n toegewyde ma is, maar ek het
nie die liefde nie, dan is ek niks.
Al sou ek die vervulling van 'n loopbaan
prysgee om my kinders se
lewensgehalte te verbeter, en dwarsdeur die nag kostuums maak of koekies bak opkort
kennisgewing, maar kla omdat ek nie genoeg slaap kry nie, dan ontbreek dit my aan liefde
en bereik ek niks.
'n Liefdevolle ma is geduldig met haar kinders se onvolwassenheid en
vriendlik self wanneer hulle nie is nie; 'n
liefdevolle ma is nie jaloers op
hulle jeug nie, en sy hou dit nie teen hulle wanneer
sy iets vir hulle moet opoffer nie. 'n Liefdevolle ma dwing kinders nie om dinge te doen
soos sy nie. Sy is nie kort van draad nie self al het drie lastige kinders masels haar
twee weke lank in die huis vasgekeer, en sy is nie kwaad vir wat die kind in die eerste plek by die huis
aangedra het nie
'N Liefde volle ma is nie verlig wanneer haar stout kind uiteindelik
openlik ongehoorsaam is sodat sy hom kan straf
nie, maar sy is eerder saam met hom bly wannner hy inskikliker is. 'n Liefdevolle ma
dra baie van die verantwoordelikheid vir haar kinders. Sy glo in hulle en vestig haar hoop in elkeen se afsonderlike vermoee om as lig in die donker wereld te skyn.Boonop
verduur sy elke rugpyn en hartseer om dit reg
te kry.
'n Liefdevolle ma sterf nooit werklik nie. Tuisgebakte brood sal opgeeet
en vergeet word; silwerskoon vloere sal gou
weer stof en skoenmerke op kry.
En vir die kinders is speelgoed, maats en kos van allergrootste belang, maar as hulle
groot is, sal dit die kwalitiet van hulle ma se liefde wees wat sal bepaal hoedat hulle
ander sal liefhe. En so sal sy bly voortleef.
En nou bly sorg, opvoeding en 'n liefdevolle ma in die huis, maar die
grootste hiervan is 'n liefdevolle ma.
Author Unknown
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