"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Monday, May 23, 2011

Monday

Cheri sent me this and I started thinking how we are very much like pencils - which is really a strange thought - what do you think?

A PENCIL MAKER TOLD THE PENCIL 5 IMPORTANT LESSONS JUST BEFORE PUTTING IT IN THE BOX:

1. EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL ALWAYS LEAVE A MARK.

2. YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE.

3. WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4. IN LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS, WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.

5. TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU.

We all need to be constantly sharpened. This parable may encourage you to know that you are a special person, with unique God-given talents and abilities. Only you can fulfill the purpose which you were born to accomplish. Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot be changed and, like the pencil, always remember that the most important part of who you are, is what's inside of you and then allow yourself to be guided by the hand of God.

I thought that was kind of amazingly true. Life's Lessons all wrapped up in a pencil...




Don't wait for your ship to come in. Row out to meet it.

x_31c37fa
And very important for today - prayers for the people in the tornadoes yesterday.

30 comments:

MadSnapper said...

these are all true and i never thought i was a pencil. i must be one of those big fat ones for toddlers fingers. ha ha i have a little problem with number 2 since we can not always correct our mistakes, believe me I made a few that were doozers and were never corrected

Anonymous said...

5. TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU.

Amen!Friend!
~Jo
LazyonLoblolly

Kim said...

I love that story about the pencil - so simple and so true.

Southhamsdarling said...

Yes, indeed, prayers and thoughts are with all the people affected by the tornadoes. I don't know, weather-wise, it just seems to have been one thing after another this year, in all different parts of the world. I wonder what's going on? I love the story about the pencil - it's beautiful.

Changes in the wind said...

Love that last quote....

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Love the pencil analogy! Good lesson today Sandie!! hugs, Linda

Remington said...

Well put! Love it! Thank you for sharing....

Susan said...

Hi Fellow Pencil! Wish I were as skinny as a pencil! Ha ha ha h Great post.

I have always loved that illustration of a little kitten seeing a lion in the mirror. It's SO TRUE. How we perceive ourselves sets the tone for how we live our lives. So RRRRRROARRRRR!

Take care Sandie, and have a wonderful Monday. Susan

Knitty said...

Great analogy!

You'd think for all the mistakes I've made, my eraser would be smaller by now. ;-)

Doris Sturm said...

You are silly - I would have never in a million years compared people with pencils, but if you put it that way, there are similarities, but it could have been any other utilitarian object besides a pencil, right?

I've always loved that kitty photo who sees herself as a lion! Unfortunately when I look in the mirror, I do not see myself in such a grandiose light!

Karen Lange said...

This is wonderful! Love it. I will have to remember these. Glad you shared. :)

Praying for those in Missouri as well.
Blessings,
Karen

The Boston Lady said...

I love your little graphic at the bottom! Sandie you always come up with the most appropriate content for my mood each day. Are you psychic as well as funny.

It's been an awful spring for weather this year. My heart goes out to all who have been affected. Ann

Felicity Grace Terry said...

What a great parable - I love illustration of the cat.

Betty said...

I have that picture on a small wall hanging that I keep on a closet door. I bought it because it reminded me of one of my cats...Mikey. That's exactly how he sees himself.

Yes, prayers for the latest tornado victims. I couldn't believe the devestation when I saw in on TV this morning.

Anonymous said...

I love the pencil story and it's so very true.
It's a good lesson indeed...thank you very much for sharing :)

Debbie said...

Very good, Sandie!

I loved all of the little lessons. Number 5 was my favorite.

Ann said...

I like that. That's right on the money, we are a lot like a pencil.
We even come close to a mechanical pencil. When we can't get the lead out we need to find something to refill ourselves and get back to business :)
Happy Monday

Journeyin' Lady... said...

I was going to comment on my favorite of the 5 but find them ALL to be so good! To think-thoughts from a simple pencil!

DaCraftyLady said...

Sandie,
I never knew...lol...I love the mirror...and oh my yes so many prayers are needed....Debb

Bev said...

Love that Pencil story...how true!

Buttercup said...

I love this! I don't know how you can come up with such wonderfully inspiring quotes and thoughts, but you do and I am so grateful. Cannot thank you enough. Hugs and wishes for a great week.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Sandie, Neat thoughts.... Jo had the right idea about it being nothing unless it is held and guided by the hand that holds it. I think that is GOD.... Without God, we are truly nothing in this life...

And yes---we need to be sharpened at times --when we get dull.

Prayers go out to the people in Missouri --and other places, where the weather has caused so much devastation.
Hugs,
Betsy

Starry Dawn said...

Hi Sandie,
Good Morning, sweetheart!!
I never thought about this, that we could be sharpened as pencils. I guess, our minds could be molded or corrected in some ways. I enjoy reading your amazing blog.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the world, Sandie!!
I appreciate your kindness with me.
God's richest blessings may always abound in your live, and those you love, sweet Sandie!!
In God's Garden,
Poet Starry.

Linda O'Connell said...

So very true, all of it. Love the kitten/lion. Life is all about perception and atttitude.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

Hey Chatty...I just love the pencil lessons....That is very cool. I want to stand up and stand out and be the best pencil ever for HIm....Hugs to you Gayle....Oprah

Granny Annie said...

What about, "...in the end your just a short stub and your lead had fallen out and nobody can use you for anything?"

nick said...

And, of course, they are always a few not-too-sharp pencils in the box (Harold Camping comes to mind!)

Kimberly Krey said...

I read this to my kids over breakfast; they loved it like I did! Thanks for sharing; I've got to print this one out!

Kim@stuffcould.... said...

That is one good lesson! The pencil!

Sharon said...

This was great - I enjoyed the pencil lesson. I liked the five points (slight pun there...) And here I was waiting for something funny to learn from pencils - like "Get the lead out!"

Truly, though - it was really wise. Yes, when God sharpens, it isn't always easy - but it always makes us better.

GOD BLESS!