Counterfeit
When we get hurt by another person, we have a tendency not to trust in others.
In a relationship, if we get hurt by a woman or a man, then we tend not to trust women or men. Especially if we get hurt more than once.
Many people will hurt you. They are predators and actually enjoy causing pain. Usually, they've been hurt themselves, and hurt people, hurt people.
It's kind of like money.
There is counterfeit money out there. There are counterfeit or bad checks and stolen credit cards.
Once you've been burned with one bad check, you are skeptical about checks. That's why some businesses simply don't take checks; they've been burned.
There are millions of dollars of counterfeit money floating around and one day, you might get some.
But there is also billions of dollars of genuine money floating around. You don't throw ALL of the money away just because you got a few counterfeit bills do you?
No, you don't.
Then don't throw all of humanity away just because you encountered a few counterfeits.
And remember, even with the genuine, most money is extremely dirty. It has changed hands many times (often dirty hands) and has been who knows where. Most money is just full of germs.
You don't throw away twenty dollar bills just because they've been through some rough times do you?
No, you don't.
Give people the same chance that you give money.
Recognize there are the real and the counterfeit, and recognize that most of it has gone through and still has some dirt.
Inspect both well; however, those with wisdom can recognize the real from the counterfeit or have tools to tell the difference.
So what tools do you have to distinguish counterfeit people?
Parents.
Rarely have I counseled a relationship gone bad where the parents approved. Parents saw the real or the counterfeit.
Real and counterfeit, they are BOTH out there.
Don't shut out the real, and don't get taken by the counterfeit.
Pathways to Peace
©2002-2005 Get Inspired Now Network
www.pathways-to-peace.com
Gift of Love
Someone taught you how to love,
and probably didn't know it.
And in return, with every day,
it's now your turn to show it.
When you love, you give a gift,
and when you're gone it stays
to be passed on by those you've loved,
to make someone else's day.
So remember someone who loved you,
and show how much you care
by sharing all the love they gave
with people everywhere.
When you give away your love,
that doesn't mean it's gone.
Love will last forever,
so open your heart...and pass it on.
The Splinter
Author Unknown
Once there was a man who thought to cross America on foot. He bought a map of the USA and carefully plotted out his course. He would take the back roads and walk from morning till night, viewing the beautiful land all around him as he went, stopping at wayside inns and spending the night, rising the next morning to begin his journey again.
On the morning of the beginning of his journey, he walked outside on his porch and viewed the beautiful sunrise.
As he headed back into his house, his foot caught on a loose board and a splinter wedged in the ball of his right foot. The man sat down and lifted his foot and yelled at the splinter, "Out! Get out of my foot! Out, I say!"
Rising, he went inside and finished preparing for his journey. Heavy socks and thick walking shoes were to be his protection against the hard earth. T-shirt and shorts would be his main clothing. A backpack with a change of clothes and trail mix, a map and plans for the trip, identification, and a first aid kit along with various other items completed his gear. A full belly and plenty of sunscreen and he was off on his journey.
The man had not gone very far from home when he started to limp. The splinter seemed to grow larger and larger. But the man was determined and continued on his way.
That night he stopped at a little Bed and Breakfast Inn and got a room for the night. After eating supper at a local diner, he prepared for the morning before going to sleep. Finishing his shower, the man sat on the side of his bed, lifted his right foot and yelled at the splinter, "Out! Get out of my foot! Out, I say!" And then he went to bed.
The following morning, the man rose up and started dressing for the day. He lifted his foot and yelled at the splinter, "Out! Get out of my foot! Out, I say!" Then he renewed his journey.
The sun rose with a spectacular view as the world shimmered awake, but the man limped by with his eyes on his right foot, glancing up only now and then, missing a lot of the views.
The roadside bloomed in wonderful shades of blues, greens, reds, yellows, purples, oranges, and burgundies. Rabbits hopped and deer cropped in the fields all around. The birds sang and flew all around the man, but he was unaware. The splinter was bigger now, of that he was sure, as big as a two by four or maybe more.
The sunset came that evening in glorious hues of purples, reds, oranges, and blues, but the man did not notice. He focused on the painful throbbing of his right foot.
His mornings and nights started rolling together as the splinter grew and grew and grew, and his limp got bigger and bigger and bigger. His views got smaller and smaller as he focused more and more on his right foot.
Each morning and each night, the man would lift his foot and yell at the splinter, "Out! Get out of my foot! Out, I say!"
Halfway across America he went, inch by painful inch. Finally he could stand it no longer, caught a bus and went home.
Calling his best friend along the way to tell him he was coming home, the man settled into the swaying of the bus. Every so often, he would take off his right shoe, remove his right sock and yell at the splinter, "Out! Get out of my foot! Out, I say!"
Home at last, the man limped down his driveway to find his best friend waiting for him on his doorstep. All excited, his friend asked him about what he had seen, where he had gone, and what he had done.
The man had nothing to tell him but about the splinter that was lodged in his right foot. It hurt so much that he didn't feel like looking at the view. It hurt so much that he didn't feel like walking, much less going anywhere special. It hurt so much that he didn't feel like doing anything exciting. It hurt so much that he came home with his journey incomplete.
Then his friend asked the man, "Why didn't you remove the splinter?"
So many times in life, we let splinters get in our way. Instead of removing them and enjoying the rest of our journey, we simply yell at them thinking they will respond to our complaining and fussing. Then we cut the trip short.
What splinters do you carry?
A Little Wild Flower
Author Unknown
How is it that you have such might
to captivate my heart?
You marvel, bathed in sun's soft light,
exquisite work of art.
With bright green leaves on slender stem,
six petals brilliant blue.
Your aura, like a diadem,
of heaven's every hue.
Beguiling scent enfolds your form
so delicate yet strong.
Enchanted sweetness, summer warm
a glorious nature song.
How is it that you touch my soul
so deeply with your grace?
How is it that you make me sing
just gazing at your face?
It is because your flowerhood,
so whole yet so diverse,
so lovely and innately good,
mirrors the universe.
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