JOY JUICE

by Linda Davenport

Six Words That Changed a Life Six words - "Smile...it can't be that bad." - changed Judy's life. Judy is a young woman I worked with some years ago. She was in her late twenties, maybe early thirties, more than a little overweight, and not the most stylish dresser. What was most striking about her appearance was her smile; it was always there. Anyone passing Judy in the hallway was greeted with that smile and a soft, "Hello," or, "Good morning," in her gentle, Minnesota accent.

I happened to be with Judy one day when she had her driver's license out of her purse. The photograph on her license showed a face that looked like it had never smiled! The corners of her mouth were turned down, her face looked slack, and the eyes were dark and troubled. The overall impression was anger and deep grief. "Whoa! Judy...is that really you? What in the world was going on? You look like you're mad at the world!" Judy giggled. "Yes, it's me. I used to look like that all the time."

She then shared with me her story and the six words that changed her life. Judy had moved to Tennessee to care for an invalid uncle. Her life revolved around caring for this much older and very ill man who, though grateful, offered little in the way of good company for a shy young woman.

When he died, Judy realized for the first time that she had nothing - no job skills no education, no experience with which to support herself, and no friends. Lonely, grieving, and terrified, she took a big step and enrolled in a community college CAD/CAM program. The Judy that walked the halls between classes was the Judy captured in her driver's license photo. She didn't talk, didn't smile, didn't make eye contact.

One day, however, she met an instructor in the hallway who, in passing, said, "Smile...it can't be that bad." As Judy told me the story, she giggled again. "I was so embarrassed! And I didn't say anything at all. I couldn't. But I started thinking...maybe he was right." Nothing in Judy's life had changed, but she made a decision to smile anyway, to put a smile on her face without waiting for it to spontaneously show up. And so she did.

She would arrive at school and, very self-consciously at first, put a smile on her face as she walked across the parking lot. She forced herself to look up at the people she met, even if only for an instant. Over and over she repeated to herself the six words that started her down the path: "Smile...it can't be that bad." Without realizing it, she said, she had begun to practice "fake it 'till you make it," acting happy even when she wasn't. "And when I did," she said, "things changed.

People stopped avoiding me. Before, people sometimes crossed the halls to walk on the other side, and if they didn't, I did. When I started smiling, even though I didn't really feel it, people reacted differently. It took a little while, but one morning, someone actually said hello to me. And I smiled for real!"

Judy later went to the instructor who had made the comment and thanked him. As you might expect, he was surprised that his almost throwaway comment had that kind of impact. Judy met his family, visited his church, and slowly developed a social network. After living in Tennessee for more than ten years, she made her first friends.

When she told me the story, she finished with, "See? You never know how you might influence someone with what you say. Those six words changedmy life. When I started acting happy, I became happy. I didn't even know it was happening, but it was, and I'm so glad he told me to, 'Smile...it can't be that bad.' He was right...it wasn't that bad...and it won't ever be that bad again."

Today's Joy Juice by Judy - happiness is a choice; fake it 'till you make it if you have to; and pay attention to the words you say...you may change someone's life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Linda Davenport is a freelance writer and full-time communications professional. She publishes "Joy Juice" every week on her website, Happy By Nature, and blogs her personal journey at http://heartsongshymnal.blogspot.com  If you'd like to contact Linda, join the conversation on either website or email her at mntngal@comcast.net

Thoughts to Ponder

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.

~Aristotle

Christmas Greetings

I wish you Christmas greetings, my friend,
abundant blessings without any end,
treasures more precious than silver or gold,
faith that is strong and strength to be bold;
love, laughter, a heart filled with cheer,
and a generous spirit to last you all year.

Health and happiness wishes I send,
for loving family, the kindest of friends.
May starlight guide you along on your way,
to the Babe, in your heart, asleep on the hay.
There hope will find you and worry will cease
as you open His gift, your soul will find peace.
Peace of Christ be with you,
~ Linda Gleason ~

Thoughts to Ponder

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.

~ Epictetus

Thoughts to ponder

‎"There are seven things that will destroy us: Wealth without work; Pleasure without conscience; Knowledge without character; Religion without sacrifice; Politics without principle; Science without humanity; Business without ethics."

~Mahatma Gandhi

FRIENDSHIP

by Cherri Walston

Friendship is one of the many blessings God has given each one of us. I am so grateful for the lasting friendships I have cultivated through the years. As women, we know that true friendship is a sacred commodity. This is a relationship that is to be cherished and revered for a lifetime. We've experienced friendships that have come and gone because of misunderstandings, differences in lifestyles, spiritual or personal growth. For whatever reasons, they have left a permanent mark on our hearts of what true friendship really is.

I am known to be a very outgoing person and can interact with people from various cultures and backgrounds. I believe this is one of the many gifts God has bestowed upon me. I say this with great humbleness: as a child I was very shy and reserved. During my early years, I longed for friends. I wanted people to accept and like me. Even in high school, I felt like an outcast because I wasn't chosen to be in what I thought was the "In" group.

Consequently, this had a negative affect on my self-esteem. I placed little value on myself. My self-worth was overshadowed by the quantity of relationships versus the quality of true friendships. As I matured, I learned to filter through those relationships that weren't holding me up in the best light. Sometimes that meant I had to light the path on my own.

Self Acceptance our elite, and not so elite, society would have you believe that it is about who you know or who you are connected to. There is nothing wrong with having well-known friends or being in the circle of connected people. However, it becomes a problem when your self-worth is based on whom you know.

Be you - love you! Wherever you think you aren't in life yet, should never be an indication of where you are headed. Accept your shortcomings, mistakes; accept that some people won't like you and some you don't need to be connected to anyway. You can receive all the accolades you can stand, but until you can accept and love yourself, they are only a clanging cymbal.

The Key is Quality Not Quantity Networking is one of the hottest concepts in building relationships in the professional and entrepreneurial world. We are taught to meet and connect with as many individuals as we can. Whether it is to find a new career/job, build your business or build future relationships down the road.

When I was starting my career in training and development and my business as a coach, I was meeting people and collecting a lot of business cards. I would have a handful of cards, but no connections that related to myspecific needs. I soon realized that the quantity of cards never measured up to the value of networking. I quickly learned that I needed to position myself where my target audience gathered; a place that supported myvision. Many times that meant a smaller and more intimate gathering.

Isn't it funny how sometimes we enter into relationships the same way? We get sucked into a lot of drama and no substance. Then we scratch our heads trying to figure out how we got ourselves into this situation. You will later realize that sometimes less is more. For me, a quality relationship whether it is personal/professional is one based on character, excellence, and standards I set for my own life. Not perfection, but one of value that adds to not distracts from.

There Is Joy In Being Your Own Best Friend. A true friend is someone who accepts you as you are, feels those fears and anxieties with you, and sees your limitations. A true friend will celebrate you, cry with you, and reason with you for your own good. I can truly say that I have a small, yet valuable set of sister friends who have helped me to be the best I can be. However, I am learning to be my own best friend too.

When I feel like I'm not where I need to be, I smile and remember where I came from. When I fear stepping out of my comfort zone, I feel the fear and say, "go for it girl". And when I am confronted with my limitations, I tell myself to do what I can. A way will be made because God never fails. I find pure joy in laughing at my quirkiness, the silly things I say and do. When you become comfortable with yourself, you'll realize you don't need a crowd to feel good.

Just be YOU!

You are your own best friend!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cherri Walston, M.S. is a certified Professional Coach, trainer and speaker. She is the president and CEO of The Coach Jazzy, LLC, a coaching practice for women going through some type of transition in their life: career, separation, divorce or a physical challenge, who are committed to cause something new in their life. Cherri coaches women on how to move beyond their limitations to get want they want in life. Website: http//:www.coachcherri.com  Email: jazzyc@coachcherri.com

"A New Beginning"

REFLECTION BY HENRI NUOWEN                                        

We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, a unique opportunity to make everything new..  Imagine that we could live each moment as a moment filled with new life. Imagine that we could live each day as a day full of promises. Imagine that we could walk through the new year listening to a voice saying to us "I have a gift for you and can't wait for you to see it." Imagine.

Is it possible that our imagination can lead us to the truth of our lives: Yes, it can! The problem is that we allow our past to say to us :You know it all, you have seen it all, be realistic; the future will be just another repeat of the past. Try to survive it as best you can"

  

There are many cunning foxes jumping on our shoulders and whispering in our ears the great lie "There is nothing new under the sun ... don't let yourself be fooled."

So what are we to do? First, we must send the foxes back to where they belong - their foxholes. And then we must open our minds and our hearts to the voice that resounds through the valleys and hills of our life saying "Let me show you where I live among my people. My name is God-with-you."  

CHRISTMAS IS FOR LOVE

Author Unknown

 

Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages. But mostly, Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a small elf-like student with wide-eyed innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas.

Mark was an 11 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister's son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn't been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child.

I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day (at the risk of arousing his aunt's anger, I later found) to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman, who always spent much time with him.

As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large gray eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, "Did you really miss me?"

I explained how he had been my best helper. "I was making you a surprise," he whispered confidentially. "It's for Christmas." With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. He didn't stay after school any more after that.

Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back. "I have your present," he said timidly when I looked up. "I hope you like it." He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box.

"Its beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?" I asked opening the top to look inside. "

"Oh you can't see what's in it," He replied, "and you can't touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights, and safe when you're all alone."

I gazed into the empty box. "What is it Mark," I asked gently, "that will make me feel so good?" "It's love," he whispered softly, "and mother always said it's best when you give it away." And he turned and quietly left the room.

So now I keep a small box crudely made of scraps of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile as inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them that there is love in it.

Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth and song, for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.

BATTING MY EYELASHES AT YOU

By Janet Perez Eckles

 

A baby camel asked his mother, "Why do we have such large hoofs on our feet?"

She turned to him. "God made us that way for a very special reason," and she began her explanation. "The big hoofs are to keep us from sinking into the sand."

"Oh! So why do we have long eyelashes?"

"It's to protect our eyes from the sand."

"Why the big humps?"

"That is to store fat and have enough energy to go long distances in the hot desert!"

"I see!" the baby camel stretched his neck and looked up at his mother, "The big hoofs are to keep from sinking into the sand, the long eyelashes are to keep the sand out of our eyes, and the humps are to store energy to travel long distances.then what are we doing in this cage in the middle of a zoo?"

Like the camel, I had asked the same kind of questions. When my blindness set in, I initially locked myself in a cage of self-pity and bitterness.

Weary from pacing within that gloomy cage, something nudged me to see beyond my circumstance and unfortunate plight.

Heavens! What was I thinking? Those bars were self-imposed. But worst of all, I'd supported them with the cold metal of my negative attitude.

Eventually, eagerness to leave my stuffy cell of discontent prompted me to open my ears to hear a reassuring whisper--God had created me for much more.

Itching to break free, I broke down those bars and stepped out into the desert of life. I trudged through the heat with determination and drive. I endured the blistering sun with perseverance and tenacity. I quenched mythirst with fresh inspiration and encouragement. And the hooves of confidence kept me from sinking into the sand of insecurity.

Thinking ahead, I made sure I'd stored a healthy supply of wisdom and positive attitude to take me through the long haul.

Goodness gracious. Each time I reached another point in my journey, myeyes saw a whole new world with opportunities to make a difference. Best of all, I was delighted with the affirmation that I was indeed created for much more!

Bars come in all sizes and shapes. Some are physical; others are emotional or even mental. But none can withstand the force of determination that breaks them down. The effort is worth it and the results, simply amazing!

So, batting my long eyelashes to keep out the sand of discouragement, I challenge you: Step back and peek at what bars limit you. Take a deep breath, Break them down, and emerge into the freshness of a new life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janet Perez Eckles lacks physical sight, but uses her insight to impart inspirational messages across the country. She's a freelance writer, and contributor to seven books including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She authored "Trials of Today, Treasures For Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life."

She offers encouragement to splash joy into your day at: http://www.janetperezeckles.com

A Police officer wrote this! Please read coz it may save your life or your love ones

--- This is good for for you who are driving

Crucial…Because of recent abductions 

In daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation... 
This is for you & for you to share with your wife, husband, your children & everyone you know. 
After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward/share them to someone you care about. 
It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in. 

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: 
The elbow is the strongest point  on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do it! 

2. Learned this from a tourist guide. 
If a robber asks for your wallet or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. 
Toss it away from you.... Chances are that he is more interested 
in your wallet or purse than you & he will go for the wallet/purse. 
RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION! 

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out  the hole & start waving like crazy.  The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives. 

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., & just sit 
(doing their cheque book, or making a list, etc. (DON'T DO THIS!) 
The predator may be watching you,  & this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. 
AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.... 
If someone is in the car with a gun to your head 
DO NOT DRIVE OFF, 
Repeat: 
DO NOT DRIVE OFF! 
Instead run the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. 
Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. 
As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having your body found in a remote location. 

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot or parking garage: 
A.)   Be Aware: 
look around you, look into your car,  at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat 
B.)   If you are parked next to a big van, 
enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their female victims 
by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars. 
C.)   Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, & on the passenger side.... if a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back  into the mall, or work & get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. 
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. 
(And better paranoid than dead.) 

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. Stairwells are horrible places to be alone, 
& the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT! 

7. If the predator has a gun & you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! 
The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times, & even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zig -zag pattern! 

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: 
STOP!! It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, 
well educated man,  who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. 
He walked with a cane, or a limp,  & often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, 
which is when he abducted his next victim. 

9. Another Safety Point: 
Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last 
& she called the police because it was late & she thought it was weird... The police told her 
'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door..' 
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window & she was worried 
that it would crawl to the street & get run over. The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer 
has a baby's cry recorded & uses it to coax women out of their homes, thinking that someone 
dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. 

10. Water Scam! 
If you wake up in the middle of the night to hear all your taps outside running, or what you think is a burst pipe, DO NOT GO OUT TO INVESTIGATE! These people turn on all your outside taps full bore so that you will go out to investigate  & then they attack.

Stay alert, keep safe, and look out for your neighbours! 
Please pass this on. 
This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because  the Crying Baby Theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana  

I'd like you to forward this to all the women you know. It may save a life.  
A candle is not dimmed by lighting another candle.. 
I was going to send this to the ladies only, but guys,  if you love your mothers, wives,sisters,daughters, etc., you may want to pass it onto them, as well. 

Send this to any woman you know that may need to be reminded that the world we live in
has a lot of crazies in it, & it's better to be safe than sorry.. 
Everyone should take 5 minutes to read this. It may save your life or 
a loved one's life

Thought for Today

Christmas is love in action. Every time we love, every time we give, it's Christmas.

~Dale Evans

FEARLESS IN DIFFICULT TIMES.

By Ton Pascal

Am I making the right choice? Should I change directions and line of work, or should I look for another job? When things are not what you used to know, and difficult times surround you at every turn, it is normal that you start questioning yourself and your motivation. BUT it is then that you need to see YOU for who you really are.

First of all, you need to believe in yourself 100%. You will also need a good dose of strong motivation, lots of positive thinking and positive attitude. Simple no? Yes, very much so, if you have, or are willing to learn how to put the above prerequisites to work.

This task can be very intimidating for people who are not very organized or detail oriented. If this is your case, talk to your friends and family about your situation. They can be a positive support. Or, it may be time to think about bringing in a life coach. Your fear and resistance will try to push you back and a strong supporter will make a huge difference in achieving your goals. This much talk about spiritual evolution didn't start for nothing. Like it or not, we do live in a very physical, ordinary and dirty world.

If we look at statistics from the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Ca., 37,000 Americans die by their own hand each year, one every 16 minutes. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S.A. and the third ranking killer of young people. People aged 65 and older accounted for 16% of suicide deaths in 2004 alone. Of nearly 16,000 violent deaths occurring in 16 states, 56% were suicides.

The difficult times we are facing in our world right now require a more spiritual approach to our everyday lives, I cannot emphasize it enough. More then ever, we need to assert ourselves and find our inner peace. When some people tell you "don't be a cry baby, life is good," what you really want to do is to slap them. You have a mortgage, or a payment due, taxes, the wife's card, kid's school, and God knows what, and there is no money in the bank. And life is good? It sucks!!!

"There are three ingredients in the good life: learning, earning and yearning," said Christopher Morley. Being a spiritual self help advocate doesn't mean I disagree with you. We are on the same reality page.

Here are a few easy and practical things I suggest you can do to make it through these difficult times:

1- Gratitude. Use this simple formula of Positive Attitude and gratitude. You know what it means, this positive thinking and attitude jargon. You are not a moron, but what we often forget is to give thanks for all that we have in life. Don't resist changes and situations, it only brings anxiety and pain. Each time you are thankful, you transform that moment into positive energy, which then will transform your life.

2- Positive Affirmations. Use positive affirmations as much as possible. Do them from getting up to when you go to bed. It will imprint in your brain a new 'positive attitude route' to follow. You may encounter resistance from your old self to this new path, but don't resist, and be thankful that you have these choices, and it is you who designs and creates your own reality. Make a selection of positive affirmations and paste them around your house. I have a list of them on my blog, Dream Your Life Positively, feel free to copy it. You can start with these: I am good, I am beautiful and I am successful. I am grateful for my life. I am grateful for myself. I accept only what is good and positive.

3- Visualize. Visualize your life and everything you want in a perfect state of completion. Sounds, smells, tastes, bring all these sensations into your dream. The richer and more vivid your visualizations, the sooner you will experience them in your real life. Breathe deeply and rhythmically when doing your visualizations. Deep breathing is like a deep inner cleansing. It purifies your body and your mind of all negative thoughts and feelings.

4- Meditate. In a state of relaxation, slowly bring up your problems. Learn how to look into them as a spectator. Again, don't resist. Let them come and go without being emotionally involved with them. Don't judge the scenarios and action playing in your mind. They are neither good nor bad. Observe them, you don't want to control what is happening. They are situations and different options that make life interesting as it is. Your mortgage, your overdue bills, family problems will be there tomorrow, but you are now able to look at them from a different angle. Your newly learned unemotional focus allows your mind to be clear of despairing thoughts and emotions.

The above exercises have the power to move things around and these desperate challenges become positive opportunities for learning. You now welcome and give thanks for this new opening in your life. It may seem a little simplistic, the above steps, but your challenge is to do it time after time and every day of your life. There are no easy answers or quick fixes for difficult situations, but with this understanding you are a step closer to inner peace. You were created with wonderful qualities. You are star stuff, pure energy, and a divine creation. Open yourself up and let this positive energy flow free.

Have a great journey,

Ton Pascal

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ton Pascal is a self-thought, spiritual self-help advocate and author. "Being responsible for your thoughts and actions is what I call spirituality." He believes that the times we are facing in our world require a more spiritual approach to our everyday lives. Dream Your Life Positively. This is what Ton Pascal's book is all about. It is not just being alive that makes life worth living, but the depth and sense you bring to your life. Your thoughts and dreams will provide for you a rich, meaningful and abundant life. Ton can be reached at tonpascal@dreamyourlifepositively.com

Thought for Today

In life, as in football, you won’t go far unless you know where the goalposts are.

~Arnold H. Glasgow

A CHANCE TO LIVE

By Ed Mitchell

Your choice to donate was so right.
 Written to honor the unknown family from Arizona who in December 2000 donated the gift of life in a time of grief -upon the death of a child.



My first kidney transplant was in July 1991 and ended in just 3 months. After serious infections a donated kidney showed signs of failure, its removal was inevitable to save my life. As signs of rejection occurred it brought all kinds of actions by my transplant team. Next as I slip into a coma my family was given little hope I would live. God would intervene and use the skills provided by the team to bring back my life and avoid death at the age of 37. At one point, I was given no hope of survival, but I did, despite all odds. Although all this happened it was still the best course of action because it allowed me an opportunity to prevent the dreaded alternative of dialysis 3 times a week. During those months, I learned that an organ transplant is a treatment and not a cure and comes with many pitfalls.



After 10 years on dialysis a true miracle occurred when on December 6, 2000. I received a call from the transplant team that a possible match was available. Transplantation is so unlike other surgery or hospital stays. First the long awaited call comes without warning telling me that a kidney is available. In moments, by my acceptance I implied my willingness to do everything possible to keep as healthy as possible in preparation for the major operation the following day. Also I knew this time by my acceptance that it would bring daily activities, sinceas I would have to constantly be diligent to follow my doctor's advice and follow endless preventative measures to insure that "Nick", my donated kidney would work long and give me a more productive life.

Please know that I will always remember my donor's sacrifice and my donor family's special love, and that while I am not keeping your child alive, by your choice I am keeping your gift of life, the kidney alive. Please know that it is a most humbling experience to get a donation from an unanticipated death of a child, your most precious possession. I knew it took all of your own inward courage to donate while still grieving and to give to me a stranger the gift of life.

By making the choice to accept the kidney I have learned in time to deal with the sometimes-overwhelming feelings and found the inward strength needed to conquer those feelings. In part that has happened due to your love, which has helped me, deal with all the feelings that come from just being so grateful to receive this kidney and end my many years of weekly dialysis.

Since 2000 Nick has worked great and while I have often faced additional problems over the years I have been able to start working again. I have also discovered that what is most important is that I continue to know where my true confidence and strength lies and that it's not within myself but in my strong belief and faith in God that has helped me to a greater understanding of situations, and to get through whatever happens in mylife's journey as well as my final destination.

I close with my prayer for you, and all organ donors that you too will also find a joy and peace from God by knowing you made the right choice when you gave the gift of life.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Ed Mitchell, 53 divorced and lives in Orlando, Florida. He enjoys swimming, camping, and RV. He is an Eagle and Moose and active in church and the transplant community having received 2 kidney transplants.