I came across this a couple of days ago and was so struck by the first stanza… I just had to share it.
Looking down into my father’s
dead face
for the last time,
my mother said without
tears, without smiles,
without regrets,
but with civility
“Goodnight, Willie Lee, I’ll see you
in the morning.”
And it was then I knew that the healing
of all our wounds
is forgiveness
that permits a promise of our return
at the end.
I asked for strength that I might achieve;
I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health that I might do greater things;
I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches that I might be happy;
I was given poverty that I might be wise.
I asked for power that I might have the praise of men;
I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life;
I was given life that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for
but everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered,
I am, among all men, most richly blessed.
A few months ago I relayed the story about an Indiana man whose dog saved his life. To dog-loving readers, it will probably come as no surprise that it’s happened again. (Well, different dog; different man.)
Kevin Weaver, of Ocoee, Florida, says the last thing he remembers from the day he almost died was walking his dog, Belle. If you asked her, Belle would tell a different story. You see, Belle has been trained to keep a close eye on Kevin, who is diabetic, and to call for help should anything unusual happen. (Belle periodically licks his nose to take her own reading of his blood sugar levels.) When Kevin suffered a seizure brought on by a sudden drop in blood sugar, he fell and hit his head. Belle retrieved his cell phone from the table and called 911.
[Read the story from the Orlando Sentinel]
[Read more about Dogs4Diabetics]
It’s summer, and apart from miscellaneous sports and trips to the pool, kids tend to become bored easily. I’m always on the lookout for activities to keep us occupied, and if they have some educational value, all the better. I recently happened on a site that fits the bill: Instructables.
Instructables is a collaborative project where people the world over can teach others how to make something. According to the site, “making things is part of being human. Whether you make bikes, kites, food, clothing, protocols for biology research, or hack consumer electronics, a good way to show ‘How-To’ is critical.” Since the folks at Squid Labs make things for a living, they spent some time looking for a convenient system to document their projects. When they couldn’t find one that suited their needs they (what else?) built one. Instructables is the result.