The Praying Hands

Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked almost eighteen hours a day at his trade and any other paying chore he could find in the neighborhood.

Despite their seemingly hopeless condition, two of Albrecht Durer, the Elder's, children had a dream. They both wanted to pursue their talent for art, but they knew full well that their father would never be financially able to send either of them to Nuremberg to study at the Academy.

After many long discussions at night in their crowded bed, the two boys finally worked out a pact. They would toss a coin. The loser would go down into the nearby mines and, with his earnings, support his brother while he attended the academy. Then, when that brother who won the toss completed his studies, in four years, he would support the other brother at the academy, either with sales of his artwork or, if necessary, also by laboring in the mines.

They tossed a coin on a Sunday morning after church. Albrecht Durer won the toss and went off to Nuremberg. Albert went down into the dangerous mines and, for the next four years, financed his brother, whose work at the academy was almost an immediate sensation. Albrecht's etchings, his woodcuts, and his oils were far better than those of most of his professors, and by the time he graduated, he was beginning to earn considerable fees for his commissioned works.

When the young artist returned to his village, the Durer family held a festive dinner on their lawn to celebrate Albrecht's triumphant homecoming. After a long and memorable meal, punctuated with music and laughter, Albrecht rose from his honored position at the head of the table to drink a toast to his beloved brother for the years of sacrifice that had enabled Albrecht to fulfill his ambition. His closing words were, "And now, Albert, blessed brother of mine, now it is your turn. Now you can go to Nuremberg to pursue your dream, and I will take care of you."

All heads turned in eager expectation to the far end of the table where Albert sat, tears streaming down his pale face, shaking his lowered head from side to side while he sobbed and repeated, over and over, "No ...no ...no ...no."

Finally, Albert rose and wiped the tears from his cheeks. He glanced down the long table at the faces he loved, and then, holding his hands close to his right cheek, he said softly, "No, brother. I cannot go to Nuremberg. It is too late for me. Look ... look what four years in the mines have done to my hands! The bones in every finger have been smashed at least once, and lately I have been suffering from arthritis so badly in my right hand that I cannot even hold a glass to return your toast, much less make delicate lines on parchment or canvas with a pen or a brush. No, brother ... for me it is too late."

More than 450 years have passed. By now, Albrecht Durer's hundreds of masterful portraits, pen and silver-point sketches, watercolors, charcoals, woodcuts, and copper engravings hang in every great museum in the world, but the odds are great that you, like most people, are familiar with only one of Albrecht Durer's works. More than merely being familiar with it, you very well may have a reproduction hanging in your home or office.

One day, to pay homage to Albert for all that he had sacrificed, Albrecht Durer painstakingly drew his brother's abused hands with palms together and thin fingers stretched skyward. He called his powerful drawing simply "Hands," but the entire world almost immediately opened their hearts to his great masterpiece and renamed his tribute of love "The Praying Hands."

The next time you see a copy of that touching creation, take a second look. Let it be your reminder, if you still need one, that no one -- no one - - ever makes it alone!

Remember to sincerely thank those who have helped you to get where you are!

Source: www.astrogemswww.astrogems.com/stories.php.com/stories.php

I was 20 and had just finished my first degree when I aksed my father's advice on how to approach the world of work. He had a long and distinguished career in the Indian Army and rose to become commander-in-chief of a million men. He was a soldier's soldier and his men adored him. His manner was strict and firm, but he was very friendly. He appreciated and trusted people and gave then freedom.

"Come and see me in my office if you want to talk to me about work" he said. So I made an appointment with his ADC and went to see him. He had a huge office and I felt very small.

"You are starting out and you will be given a lot of tasks to fulfill" he said. "The first thing is always to do something to the best of your ability. Then the second time you do it, give it that little bit extra". What he was saying was: "Take the initiative; be innovative; be creative. Always go the extra mile."

Source: Karan Bilimoria, founder and chief executive of Cobra Beer, speaking to Sheridan Winn for "Business Life".

Dear friends, even in the Gospel we come across Jesus telling His disciples to go an extra mile if somebody ask them to go with them."If someone takes your coat, give him your cloak as well; if he makes you go a mile with him, go with him two." [Mathew]  It is always good to put our energy and strength or heart fully into what we do. We can do better if we put a bit extra effort from our side. So today let's "Take the initiative; be innovative; be creative. Always go the extra mile."

Always render more and better service than is expected of you, no matter what your task may be.  -Mandino, Og

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THE BEST ADVICE EVER GIVEN ON TIME MANAGEMENT

Charles M. Schwab, who transformed Bethlehem Steel Company into the largest indendent steel producer in the world in the world, once issued a challenge over the dinner table to a management consultant name Ivy Lee: “Show me a way to get more things done with my time and I’ll pay you any fee within reason.” Lee handed him a pad of blank paper.

“Each evening write down the things you have to do tomorrow, he said, “and number them in order of importance. First thing in the morning start working on item one and two…then the same with three…then four. Don’t be worried if you haven’t finished them all, if you can’t do it by this method you can’t do it by any other. Use this system every day.” Shortly afterwards Schwab sent Lee a cheque for $25, 000. He said later that it was the most profitable lesson he had ever learnt in his business career.

-John Adair

Hey! friends how do you manage your time? Do you plan ahead or do you do the things as they come your way? It is good that we need to plan our time ahead and if we do so we will save lot of time and will achieve many things within a short span of time. Let's try to plan our day, week and months ahead of time. If you do so you will see what you can achieve and how much time you will have in your hand.  

Time is the most valuable coin in your life. You and you alone will determine how that coin will be spent. Be careful that you don’t let other people spend it for you.
~ John Dryden

REST IF YOU MUST, BUT DON’T YOU QUIT

When things go wrong as they sometimes will,

When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,

When the funds are low and the debts are high,

And you want to smile, but you have to sigh.

When care is pressing you down a bit,

Rest if you must, but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,

As every one of us sometimes learns.

And many a failure turns about

When he might have won had he stuck it out.

Don’t give up though the pace seems slow-

You may succeed with another blow!

Success is failure turned inside out-

The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,

And you never can tell just how close you are.

If may be near when it seems so far.

So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit-

It’s when things seem worst that you must not quit.

Every bucket counts

One day, having learned that the King of Fez was hunting lions in the neighbourhood, they decided to invite him and his court, and killed a number of sheep in his honour. The sovereign had dinner and went to bed. Wishing to show their generosity, they placed a huge goatskin bottle before his door and agreed to fill it up with milk for the royal breakfast.

The villagers all had to milk their goats and then each of them had to tip his bucket into the container. Given its great size, each of them said to himself that he might just as well dilute his milk with a good quantity of water without anyone noticing.

To the extent that, in the morning, such a thin liquid was poured out for the king and his court that it had no taste than the taste of meanness and greed.

Source: "Leo The African" by Amin Maalouf

Dear friends, at times we too think like the villagers. We do stay, work with lots of people in our offices, schools and communities. When times comes to share or to be generous we tend to be like the villagers saying to ourselves, 'who will notice if I do not give my best'. Every individual makes a difference in one's life and every individual counts much in the community or society. Their share and contribution counts a lot. If one does not do his/her part the whole community suffers and as a consequence all the members suffer. Remember we are called to be sharers of God's love and mercy. We are called to be generous. We need to share what we can afford and remember God loves a cheerful giver. So let's not be selfish today and give what we can to others. Let's be sincere and generous. Every bucket counts and every generous act matters. 

The frogs and the tower

There once was a bunch of tiny frogs...... Who arranged a running competition. The goal was to reach the top of a very high tower. A big crowd had gathered around the tower to see the race and cheer on the contestants...

The race began...

Honestly, no-one in crowd really believed that the tiny frogs would reach the top of the tower. You heard statements such as:

"Oh, WAY too difficult!!"

"They will NEVER make it to the top".

"Not a chance that they will succeed. The tower is too high!"

The tiny frogs began collapsing. One by one...... Except for those who in a fresh tempo were climbing higher and higher...

The crowd continued to yell "It is too difficult!!! No one will make it!"

More tiny frogs got tired and gave up...

...But ONE continued higher and higher and higher...

This one wouldn't give up!

At the end, everyone else had given up climbing the tower. Except for the one tiny frog who, after a big effort, was the only one who reached the top!

THEN all of the other tiny frogs naturally wanted to know how this one frog managed to do it?

A contestant asked the tiny frog how the one who succeeded had found the strength to reach the goal?

It turned out...

That the winner was deaf.

Dear friends, in our country, society, communities, schools and groups we to have people or the audience who always tries to discourage us by saying we need to follow the tradition. It is out of question to do things with new ideas and ways. There are people who tries to discourage us in venturing into new projects and missions. But remember we need not give up we need to move on to do good with new ideas and ways. At times we may need to be deaf like that tiny frog who managed to climb the tower and became the winner. Remember all the successful people did not tread the same beaten path but they chose to tread the new allies and roads.  Let's not give up our desires and hopes in mere saying of the people's views and comments. 

The starfish

Once a man was walking along a beach. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day. Off in the distance he could see a person going back and forth between the surf's edge and and the beach. Back and forth this person went. As the man approached, he could see that there were hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand as the result of the natural action of the tide.

The man was stuck by the the apparent futility of the task. There were far too many starfish. Many of them were sure to perish. As he approached, the person continued the task of picking up starfish one by one and throwing them into the surf.

As he came up to the person, he said: "You must be crazy. There are thousands of miles of beach covered with starfish. You can't possibly make a difference." The person looked at the man. He then stooped down and pick up one more starfish and threw it back into the ocean. He turned back to the man and said: "It sure made a difference to that one!"

Dear friends remember every freedom fighter made a difference to our country. Their sacrifice their zeal and their courage made a difference in your and my life. It is because of their different way of thinking and way of doing things enabled India to stand as a free country from the clutches of the British Government. 

It is one Lady who made a difference in our salvation history. It is Her attitude, Her yes, that made a difference in the life of every Christians. She thought and went ahead with God's plan which was different from Her plans and desires. It is because of Her that Son of God came down on earth to save and redeem us. 

So dear friends, as we celebrate the 65th Independence Day of Our Mother India and Solemnity  of the Assumption of Mary let's strive to make a difference in our life and in others life. Wishing u Happy Independence and Happy Feast of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven.