• I believe- that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.
• I believe- that no matter how good a friend is, they’re going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.
• I believe- that just because someone doesn’t love you the way you wantthemo doesn’t mean they don’t love you with all they have.
• I believe- that true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.
• I believe- that it’s taking me a long time to become the person I want to be.
• I believe- that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.
• I believe- that you can keep going, long after you can’t.
• I believe- that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.
• I believe- that either you control your attitude or it controls you.
• I believe- that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.
• I believe- that money is a lousy way of keeping score.
• I believe- that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.
• I believe- that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down, will be the ones to help you get back up.
• I believe- that sometimes when I’m angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me the right to be cruel.
• I believe- that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you’ve had and what you’ve learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated.
• I believe- that it isn’t always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.
• I believe- that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief.
• I believe- that just because two people argue, it doesn’t mean they don’t love each other. And just because they don’t argue, it doesn’t mean they do.
• I believe- that you shouldn’t be so eager to find out a secret. It could change your life forever.
• I believe- that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.
• I believe- that your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people Who don’t even know you.
• I believe- that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you will find the strength to help.
• I believe- credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.
• I believe- that the people you care about most in life are taken from you too soon.

Christmas is a time of year that can be challenging to many. There are memories, regrets, and losses that seem to rush to our minds, especially as we get older. There is nothing wrong with feeling sadness at Christmas, it doesn’t diminish or disprove your faith in any way. If you look at it in the right way, it can merely be a longing for a better place and the reflection of a life lived loving and connecting with others. Sometimes though, our loneliness is tied to anger, regret or bitterness. Either way, here is a touching story to help you decided how to to approach life.

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She is 92 years old, petite, well poised, and proud. She is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with her hair fashionably coiffed, and her makeup perfectly applied, in spite of the fact she is legally blind.

Today she has moved to a nursing home. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making this move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, where I am employed, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready.

As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet curtains that had been hung on her window. “I love it,” she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

“Mrs. Jones, you haven’t seen the room…just wait,” I said. Then she spoke these words that I will never forget: “That does not have anything to do with it,” she gently replied.

“Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not, does not depend on how the furniture is arranged. It is how I arrange my mind. I have already decided to love it. It is a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice. I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or I can get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do work.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I will focus on the new day and all of the happy memories I have stored away…just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you have already put in.

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, who we’ll call Brother Smith. She says Brother Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons.

One particular day, Sally walked into seminary and knew they were in for another fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Brother Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry . . . and he would allow them to throw darts at the person’s picture.

Sally’s girlfriend (on her right), drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend (on her left), drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of Brother Smith, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on his face. Sally was pleased at the overall effect she had achieved.

The class lined up and began throwing darts, with much laughter and hilarity. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Brother Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats.

As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn’t have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Brother Smith began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the target was a picture of Jesus . . .

A complete hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced out.

Brother Smith said only these words, “In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me.”

No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of each student focused only on the picture of Christ. The students remained in their seats . . . even after the bell rang . . . then slowly left the classroom, tears streaming down their faces.

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’ (Matthew 25:40)