~Words to Live by~

Life Quest

~Words to Live by~

Whatever you give away today or think or say - or do

will multiply tenfold and then return to you,

It may not come immediately nor from the

obvious source but the law applies unfailingly

through some invisible force.

Whatever you feel about another, be it

Love Hate or Passion,

will surely bounce right back at you

in some clear or secret fashion.

If you speak about some person a word of praise or two

soon tens of other people will speak kind words of you

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul

not secrets of the brain

kind ones bring us happiness

Petty ones - untold pain.

Giving works as surely as reflections in a mirror

If hate you send,, hate you'll get back

but loving brings love nearer

Remember as you start this day and duty crowds your mind

that kindness comes so quickly back to those whom first are kind

let that thought and this one direct us through each day

The only things we ever keep are the things we give away

~Author unknown~

~In Remembrance Of UGLY~

The words of Ugly's life asks us to give

LOVE to our little four legged strays

"who cannot speak of their pain"

only lick your hand, at the tiniest sign

of love" "Please get your tissues before

you read this story"

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived

in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident

tomcat. Ugly loved three things in this

world: Fighting, eating garbage, and, shall

we say, love.

The combination of these things combined

with a life spent outside had their effect

on Ugly. To start with, he had only one eye

and where the other should have been was a

hole. He was also missing his ear on the

same side, his left foot appeared to have

been badly broken at one time, and had

healed at an unnatural angle, making him

look like he was always turning the corner.

Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby,

striped type, except for the sores covering

his head, neck, and even his shoulders

Every time someone saw Ugly there was the

same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!!"

All the children were warned not to touch

him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed

him down, squirted him when he tried to

come in their homes, or shut his paws in

the door when he would not leave. Ugly

always had the same reaction.

If you turned the hose on him, he would

stand there, getting soaked until you gave

up and quit. If you threw things at him,

he would curl his lanky body around your

feet in forgiveness.

Whenever he spied children, he would come

running, meowing frantically and bump his

head against their hands, begging for their

love.

If you ever picked him up he would

immediately begin suckling on your shirt,

earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the

neighbor's dogs. They did not respond

kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. I tried

to rush to his aid. By the time I got to

where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's

sad life was almost at an end.

As I picked him up and tried to carry him

home, I could hear him wheezing and gasping,

and could feel him struggling.

It must be hurting him terribly, I thought.

Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking

sensation on my ear. Ugly, in so much pain,

suffering and obviously dying, was trying

to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me,

and he bumped the palm of my hand with his

head, then he turned his one golden eye

towards me, and I could hear the distinct

sound of purring.

Even in the greatest pain, that ugly

battled scarred cat was asking only for a

little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most

beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen.

Never once did he try to bite or scratch me,

try to get away from me, or struggle in any

way. Ugly just looked up at me completely

trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get

inside, but I sat and held him for a long

time afterwards, thinking about how one

scarred, deformed little stray could so

alter my opinion about what it means to

have true pureness of spirit, to love so

totally and truly.

Ugly taught me more about giving and

compassion than a thousand books, lectures,

or talk show specials ever could, and for

that I will always be thankful. He had been

scarred on the outside, but I was scarred

on the inside, and it was time for me to

move on and learn to love truly and deeply.

To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more

successful, well liked, beautiful, but for

me... I will always try to be Ugly.

~Author Unknown~