HOW LUCKY YOU ARE

If you woke up this morning
with more health than illness,
you are more blessed than the
million who won't survive the week.

If you have never experienced
the danger of battle,
the loneliness of imprisonment,
the agony of torture or
the pangs of starvation,
you are ahead of 20 million people
around the world.

If you attend a church meeting
without fear of harassment,
arrest, torture, or death,
you are more blessed than almost
three billion people in the world.

If you have food in your refrigerator,
clothes on your back,
a roof over your head and a place to sleep,
you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank,
in your wallet,
and spare change,
you are amongthe top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still married and alive,
you are very rare,
especially in the United States.

If you hold up your head with
a smile on your face and are truly thankful,
you are blessed because the majority can,
but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them
or even touch them on the shoulder,
you are blessed because
you can offer God's healing touch.

If you can read this post,
you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world
that cannot read anything at all.

You are so blessed in ways you may never even know.

WHY VEGETARIANISM?

Apples

1. protect heart
2. prevent constipation
3. block diaorrhea
4. improve lung capacity
5. cushion joints

Apricots

1. combat cancer
2. control blood pressure
3. save eyesight
4. shield against Alzheimer's
5. slow aging process

Artichokes

1. aid digestion
2. lower cholesterol
3. protect heart
4. stabilize blood sugar
5. guard against liver diseases

Avocadoes

1. battle diabetes
2. lower cholesterol
3. help stop strokes
4. control blood pressure
5. smoothes skin

Bananas

1. protect heart
2. quiet a cough
3. strengthen bones
4. control blood pressure
5. blocks diaorrhea

Beans

1. prevent constipation
2. help hemorrhoids
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. stabilize blood sugar

Beets

1. control blood pressure
2. combat cancer
3. strengthen bones
4. protect heart
5. aid weight loss

Blueberries

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. stabilize blood sugar
4. boost memory
5. prevent constipation

Broccoli

1. strengthens bones
2. saves eyesight
3. combats cancer
4. protects heart
5. controls blood pressure

Cabbages

1. combat cancer
2. prevent constipation
3. promote weight loss
4. protects heart
5. help hemorrhoids

Cantaloupes

1. Save eyesight
2. control blood pressure
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. support immune system

Carrots

1. save eyesight
2. protect heart
3. prevent constipation
4. combat cancer
5. promote weight loss

Cauliflowers

1. protect against prostate cancer
2. combat breast cancer
3. strengthen bones
4. banish bruises
5. guard against heart disease

Cherries

1. protect heart
2. combat cancer
3. end insomnia
4. slows aging process
5. shield against Alzheimer's

Chestnuts

1. promote weight loss
2. protect heart
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. control blood pressure

Chilies & Peppers

1. aid digestion
2. soothe sore throat
3. clear sinuses
4. combat cancer
5. boost immune system

Figs

1. promote weight loss
2. help stop strokes
3. lower cholesterol
4. combat cancer
5. control blood pressure

Fish

1. protects heart
2. boost memory
3. combat cancer
4. support immune system

Flax

1. aids digestion
2. battles diabetes
3. protects heart
4. improves mental health
5. boosts immune system

Garlic

1. lowers cholesterol
2. controls blood pressure
3. combats cancer
4. kills bacteria
5. fights fungus

Grapefruit

1. protects against heart attacks
2. promotes weight loss
3. helps stop strokes
4. combats prostate cancer
5. lowers cholesterol

Grapes

1. save eyesight
2. conquer kidney stones
3. combat cancer
4. enhance blood flow
5. protect heart

Green Tea

1. combats cancer
2. protects heart
3. helps stop stroke
4. promotes weight loss
5. kills bacteria

Honey

1. heals wounds
2. aids digestion
3. guards against ulcers
4. increases energy
5. fights allergies

Lemons

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. control blood pressure
4. smoothen skin
5. stop scurvy

Limes

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. control blood pressure
4. smoothen skin
5. stop scurvy

Mangoes

1. combat cancer
2. boost memory
3. regulate thyroid
4. aid digestion
5. shield against Alzheimer's

Mushrooms

1. control blood pressure
2. lower cholesterol
3. kill bacteria
4. combat cancer
5. strengthen bones

Oats

1. Lowers cholesterol
2. combat cancer
3. battle diabetes
4. prevent constipation
5. smoothen skin

Olive Oil

1. protects heart
2. promotes weight loss
3. combats cancer
4. battles diabetes
5. smoothens skin

Onions

1. reduce risk of heart attack
2. combat cancer
3. kill bacteria
4. lower cholesterol
5. fight fungus

Oranges

1. support immune system
2. combat cancer
3. protect heart
4. strengthen respiration

Peaches

1. prevent constipation
2. combat cancer
3. help stop strokes
4. aid digestion
5. help hemorrhoids

Peanuts

1. protect against heart disease
2. promote weight loss
3. combat prostate cancer
4. lower cholesterol
5. aggravate diverticulitis

Pineapple

1. strengthens bones
2. relieves colds
3. aids digestion
4. dissolves warts
5. blocks diaorrhea

Prunes

1. slow aging process
2. prevent constipation
3. boost memory
4. lower cholesterol
5. protect against heart disease

Rice

1. protects heart
2. battles diabetes
3. conquers kidney stones
4. combats cancer
5. helps stop strokes

Strawberries

1. combat cancer
2. protect heart
3. boost memory
4. calm stress

Sweet Potatoes

1. save eyesight
2. lift mood
3. combat cancer
4. strengthen bones

Tomatoes

1. protect prostate
2. combat cancer
3. lower cholesterol
4. protect heart

Walnuts

1. lower cholesterol
2. combat cancer
3. boost memory
4. lift mood
5. protect against heart disease

Water

1. promotes weight loss
2. combats cancer
3. conquers kidney stones
4. smoothes skin

Watermelon

1. protects prostate
2. promotes weight loss
3. lowers cholesterol
4. helps stop strokes
5. controls blood pressure

Wheat

1. combats colon cancer
2. prevents constipation
3. lowers cholesterol
4. helps stop strokes
5. improves digestion

Wheat Bran

1. combats colon cancer
2. prevents constipation
3. lowers cholesterol

GET RID OF STRESS

A professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students “How much do you think this glass weighs?”

'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ....the students answered.

“I really don't know unless I weigh it,” said the professor, “but, my question is: What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?”

Nothing' …..the students said.

'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.

'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student.

“You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?”

“Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!”....ventured another student & all the students laughed.

“Very good. But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?” asked the professor.

'No'....was the answer.

“Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?”

The students were puzzled.

“What should I do now to come out of pain?” asked the professor again.

“Put the glass down!” said one of the students.

“Exactly!” said the professor.

Life's problems are something like this.

Hold them for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.

Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.

Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.

Moral

It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life, but EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to ‘PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before you go to sleep. That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh & strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!

TWO CHOICES

Two Choices....What would you do?....you make the choice. Don't look for a punchline, there isn't one.

Read it anyway....

The question is: Would you have made the same choice?

At a fundraising dinner for a school that serves learning-disabled children, the father of one of the students delivered a speech that would never be forgotten by all who attended. After extolling the school and its dedicated staff, he offered aquestion: "When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does is done with perfection. Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do. Where is the natural order of things in my son?"

The audience was stilled by the query. The father continued. "I believe, that when a child like Shay, physically and mentally handicapped comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child."

Then he told the following story:

Shay and his father had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, "Do you think they'll let me play?" Shay's father knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but the father also understood that if his son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

Shay's father approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, "We're losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we'll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning."

Shay struggled over to the team's bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. His Father watched with a small tear in his eye and warmth in his heart. The boys saw the father's joy at his son being accepted. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay's team scored a few runs but was still behind by three. In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as his father waved to him from the stands. In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay's team scored again. Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat. At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game? Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn't even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball. However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay's life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact. The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed. The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay. As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher. The game would now be over. The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman. Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game. Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman's head, out of reach of all team mates. Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, "Shay, run to first! Run to first!" Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base. He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled. Everyone yelled, "Run to second, run to second!" Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base .... By the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball .... the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team. He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher's intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman's head. Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home. All were screaming, "Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way, Shay." Shay reached third base because the opposing short stop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, "Run to third! Shay, run to third!" As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, "Shay, run home! Run home!" Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team.

"That day", said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, "the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world". Shay didn't make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making his father so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

AND NOW A LITTLE FOOTNOTE TO THIS STORY:

We all send thousands of jokes through the e-mail without a second thought, but when it comes to sending messages about life choices, people hesitate. The crude, vulgar, and often obscene pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion about decency is too often suppressed in our schools and workplaces. If you're thinking about forwarding this post, chances are that you're probably sorting out the people in your address book who aren't the "appropriate" ones to receive this type of message. Well, the person who sent you this believes that we all can make a difference. We all have thousands of opportunities every single day to help realize the "natural order of things." So many seemingly trivial interactions between two people present us with a choice: Do we pass along a little spark of love and humanity or do we pass up those opportunities and leave the world a little bit colder in the process?

A wise man once said every society is judged by how it treats it's least fortunate amongst them.

You now have two choices:

1. Ignore

2. Copy & Forward

'May your day, be a Shay Day'

DO'NT EVER BE LATE

A priest was being honored at his retirement dinner after 25 years in the parish.

A leading local politician and member of the congregation was chosen to make the presentation and give a little speech at the dinner. He was delayed so the priest decided to say his own few words while they waited.

" I got my first impression of the parish from the first confession I heard here. I thought I had been assigned to a terrible place. The very first person who entered my confessional told me he had stolen a television set and, when stopped by the police, had almost murdered the officer. He had stolen money from his parents, embezzled from his place of business, had an affair with his boss's wife, taken illegal drugs, etc. etc."

"I was appalled. But as the days went on I knew that my people were not all like that and I had, indeed, come to a fine parish full of good and loving people."....

Just as the priest finished his talk, the politician arrived full of apologies at being late.

He immediately began to make the presentation and give his talk. "I'll never forget the first day our parish priest arrived," said the politician. "In fact, I had the honor of being the first one to go to him in confession."

Moral

DON'T EVER BE LATE