If you wish to be above men, put yourself below them. If you wish to be before men, put yourself behind them.
This way, although you are above them, they will not feel your weight. And although you are before them, they will not count it as an injury.
This is how the rivers and seas are able to reign over all the mountain streams.
One day, the Sun and the Wind quarreled about which was the strongest and the Wind said, “I’ll prove that I am. See that old man down there with the coat? I bet I can get his coat off quicker than you can.”
So the Sun went behind a cloud, and the Wind blew until it was almost a tornado. But the harder it blew, the tighter the old man clutched his coat. Finally, the Wind calmed down and gave up.
Then the Sun came out from behind the clouds and smiled kindly on the old man. Presently, he mopped his brow and pulled off his coat. The Sun then told the Wind that gentleness and friendliness are always stronger than fury and force.
The end.
Consider every man you meet to be your superior in some way. By doing this, you will learn from him.
In his youth, Benjamin Franklin received a letter from one of his friends rebuking his opinionated nature. The letter is included here because I believe we can all learn from it.
“Ben, you are impossible. Your opinions have a slap in them for everyone who differs with you. They have become so offensive that nobody cares for them. Your friends find they enjoy themselves better when you are not around. You know so much that no man can tell you anything. Indeed, no man is going to try, for the effort would lead only to discomfort and hard work. So you are not likely ever to know any more than you do now, which is very little.”
What a great friend this man was! He told the truth. And Ben listened…and went on to become one of the greatest Diplomats in American history.
What can we learn from this letter?
Often, it is best to choose being nice, over being right. Forcing your opinion down another person’s throat never works. And know it alls tend to lose it all before they know it.
“We live in a world where bad stories are told, stories that teach us life doesn’t mean anything and that humanity has no great purpose. It’s a good calling, then, to speak a better story. How brightly a better story shines. How easily the world looks to it in wonder. How grateful we are to hear these stories, and how happy it makes us to repeat them.” – Donald Miller
The Bible is like a caged lion.
If someone is attacking the lion, don’t try to defend it…
Just unlock the cage.
I Love You in Ten Different Languages. Because Valentine’s day is right around the corner and well…saying “I love you” to someone you truly love never gets old… Enjoy 🙂
1. Spanish: Te quiero.
2. French: Je t’aime.
3. Russian: Ya tebya lyublyu
4. German: Ich liebe dich.
5. Japanese: Ai shiteru.
6. Chinese: wǒ ài nǐ
7. Icelandic: Ég elska þig.
8. Arabic: ana ah-hib ich (to a female)
ana ah-hib ek (to a male)
9. Hawaiian: Aloha Au Ia ‘Oe
10. Swahili: Nina kupenda
Self Improvement Sunday
12 Things I Learned From My Dog
1. Be loyal.
2. People have to earn your trust.
3. Rest and play are important daily practices.
4. There is nothing quite as thrilling as the wind in your face.
5. Always run to greet your loved ones.
6. Be direct with others. Let them know if they’ve invaded your territory.
7. Become a master at forgiveness.
8. Find joy in the simplicity of a long walk.
9. When you’re happy, show it. Jump around. Wag your entire body.
10. It’s easy to be a good listener. Just be silent, sit close, and gently nuzzle the one who is talking.
11. If what you’re looking for is buried deep, keep digging until you find it.
12. Find the sunshine and rest in it.
Recently I have been learning a valuable lesson. One which differs from what I thought to be true as a kid. Growing up, I always heard, “honesty is the best policy.” Perhaps this is true when you’re a young, naive, and innocent child. But now, in my early twenties, I’m beginning to realize that there is such a thing as being too honest and I dance this line far too often. For one, not every person can handle honesty. And for two, not everyone deserves it.