FRIENDSHIP

LIFE IS TO BE FORTIFIED BY MANY FRIENDSHIPS - TO LOVE AND TO BE LOVED IS THE GREATEST HAPPPINESS OF EXISTENCE
 - Sydney Smith  

Get not your friends by bare compliments, but by giving them sensible tokens of your love.  It is well worthwhile to learn how to win the heart of the man the right way.  Force is of no use to make or  preserve a friend, who is an animal that is never caught or tamed but by kindness and pleasure.  Accept them by your civilities, and show them that you desire nothing more than their satisfaction; oblige  with all your soul that friend who has made you a present of his own.  - SOCRATES   

SAY IT WITH FLOWERS

FLOWERS - These are God's thoughts of beauty taking form to gladden mortal gaze - Wilberforce

The flowers are nature's jewels, with whose wealth she decks her summer beauty - Croly

Flowers are love's truest language - P. Benjamin 

READING AL-QURAN

SURAH 56 - AL-WAQI'AH 

Those who, in this life, enjoyed reading and studying the Qur'an, shall derive even more enjoyment from doing so in the hereafter.  Believers shall be fully and generously rewarded for their deeds and efforts in this life.  They will be guests of their Lord in the auspicious company of angels and prophets.  They will enjoy more than  kings and emperors here on earth could ever dream of.  

Welcome to view at: www.banyuemas2qss.blogspot.com. (please save this website address)


I set up this blog in May 2011.


I take this opportunity to thank Huseyin Meric for joining as Follower for "banyuemas2qss"

GOD'S GIFT

CHILDREN

CHILDHOOD SHOWS THE MAN AS MORNING SHOWS THE DAY - Milton

I LOVE THESE LITTLE PEOPLE; AND IT IS NOT A SLIGHT THING, WHEN THEY, WHO ARE SO FRESH FROM GOD, LOVE US - Dickens

THE OTHER SIDE OF ME

LOVE:  
 Quote

 I NEVER COULD EXPLAIN WHY I LOVE ANYBODY, OR ANYTHING - Walt Witman

Unquote

Dear Netlog Readers,

Welcome to this website:  www.banyuemas21c.blogspot.com (please click or type out).  With all good intention,  netlog.com is a platform for me to make more friends. Netlog had been introduced and registered by a cousin in Australia.  Please be informed that we can talk anything under the sun via emails except my love life.  Please understand that I can deny friendship, for a reason.

I thank Huseyin Meric for joining as Follower.  I also thank my Netlog friends, they are professionals,  for contributing photos which all of you will take notice of, as I carry on blogging. I have a good life in this part of the world and never a day is boring with my fifth generation downwards, the eldest is 43 years old.  Alhamdulillah!

I sign off:  KNOWLEDGE ONCE GAINED CASTS A LIGHT BEYOND ITS OWN IMMEDIATE BOUDARIES"  - Tyndall

Happy Viewing!

Sincerely,
AISHAH 

NABI MUHAMMAD S.A.W.

Al-Quran telah menjelaskan hikmah ini dengan kenyataan yang jelas. Firman Allah SWT:

"Dialah yang mengutus kepada kamu yang ummi seorang Rasul di antara mereka, yang membacakan ayat-ayat-Nya kepada mereka, menyucikan mereka dan mereka diajar akan kitab dan hikmah, dan sesungguhnya mereka sebelumnya benar-benar dalam kesesatan yang nyata."  Al-Jumu'ah: 2)

Sesungguhnya umat yang baik adalah umat yang mengerti sejarah hidup Nabinya kemudian mengambil 'iktibar dan pengajaran daripadanya dan seterusnya berusaha untuk meneladani cara hidup yang telah ditunjuk-ajar dengan lengkap dan sempurna.  Bukankah jika seseorang itu memahami Sejarah Rasulullah s.a.w. kemudian ia mengikuti jejak hidupnya bererti ia telah mengamalkan agamanya secara menyeluruh? Kerana itulah dikatakan bahawa peribadi Rasulullah s.a.w. itu ibarat al-Quran yang berjalan di atas bumi.  Sungguh tepatlah apa yang dikatakan bahawa: "Muhammad s.a.w. itu ibarat al-Quran yang berjalan di atas bumi." 

AL-QURAN:  All welcome to view specifically on Al-Quran which I had recently set up at:

www.banyuemas2qss.blogspot.com.  

I set up this website in May 2011

I appreciate my readers to type out or save this website address: any comments you can post at:

www.banyuemas21c.blogspot.com

as I much prefer that Al-Quran webpage is "clear and clean"  

SIMPLY SAID

THE SUPREME HAPPINESS IN LIFE IS THE 

CONVICTION THAT WE ARE LOVED - Victor Hugo

Fresh flowers are such a lovely thing of beauty. Once in a while I pick a bouquet or a single perfect rose to give to a neighbour, friend or relative.

Early one morning I gathered a beautiful bouquet of sweet-smelling long-stemmed roses for myself.  The roses were definitely a delight for my eyes.  While I thought about how pleasing they were for me to enjoy, a calm gentle voice outside of myself simply said, Give them to your friend.

I went straight into the house and arranged the roses in a vase.  Then I wrote this note as small as I could.... For my friend.  I went across the street to my neighbour's who is also one of my closest friends, and I left the bouquet at the front door.

Later that day my friend called to thank me.  She said the flowers were a true blessing.  Late the night before she had been arguing with one of her children.  Being cruel, as teenagers can sometimes be, her child said to her, "You have no friends."

What a surprise when she went to leave for work that morning and found not just the blessings of the bouquet of flowers, but the tiny note which simply said "For my friend."   

NEW LOOK!

A NEW LOOK - HOW TO START BLOGGING - I HAVE GONE NUTS!

TAKING A BREAK.....

BOOK AS A COMPANION

"A BOOK IS A GARDEN, AN ORCHARD, A STOREHOUSE, A PARTY, A COMPANY BY THE WAY, A COUNSELLOR, A MULTITUDE OF COUNSELLORS" - H. W. Beecher

The book is a companion that does not praise you and does not entice you to evil.  It is a friend that does not bore you, and it is a neighbour that causes you no harm. It is an acquaintance that desires not to extract from you favours through flattery, and it does not deceive you with duplicity and lies. When you are pouring through the pages of a book, your senses are stimulated and your intellect sharpens. It can even be said that you sometimes learn from the pages of a book in a month, that which you do not learn from the tongues of men in a century. 

The book obeys you by night as it does by day, both when you are travelling and when you are at home.  A book is not impaired by sleep nor does it tire in the late hours of the night.  It is the teacher who is there for you whenever you are in need of it, and it is the teacher who, if you refuse to give to it, does not refuse to give to you.  If you abandon it, it does not decrease in obedience.  If the only benefit of a book was that it keeps you from foolish daydreaming and prevents you from frivolity, it would certainly be considered a true friend who has given you a great favour.    

UMUR

Madah:

Kenikmatan hidup ialah kesihatan dan masa muda
Tanpa keduanya tiadalah manusia akan bahagia

Si tua mencis bukanlah benci hidup lagi
Tapi yang dikesalkan kelemahan kini menimpa diri

Umur empat puluh itu ialah umur yang disebutkan Allah Ta'ala di dalam firmanNya:

"Bukankah Kami telah memberikan kamu umur yang cukup, dimana setiap orang yang mahu mengingat sudah dapat mengambil peringatan, dan sudah pula tiba kepada kamu orang yang memberi peringatan." (Fathir: 37)

Diriwayatkan, bahawa Rasulullah s.a.w. ketika merasakan bahawa umur umatnya terlalu pendek antara umat-umat sebelumnya, baginda pun memohon dan bertadharru' kepada Allah Ta'ala mengadukan kependekan umur umatnya, sehingga tiada terluang masa untuk mereka memperbanyak ketaatan kepada Allah Ta'ala serta mengusahakan amalan untuk akhiratnya. Dengan demikian akan berkuranganlah nasib mereka untuk mendapatkan pahala yang banyak dari Tuhan, atau untuk mencapai darjat dan kedudukan yang tinggi di sisi Allah azzawajalla. Maka Allah s..w.t. pun menganugerahkan kepada umat Muhammad itu malam Lailatul-qadar yang merupakan lebih utama dari seribu bulan, agar kelebihan itu menjadi pengganti kepada umur mereka yang pendek, dan menambah pula pahala dan kebajikan mereka, sehingga apabila seseorang mereka bangun malam dan mengerjakan ibadat kepada Allah Ta'ala pada malam Lailatul-qadar itu, samalah seolah-olahnya ia bangun beramal untuk seribu bulan, iaitu menyamai masa delapan pula tiga tahun empat bulan. Jadi, jika ada orang yang bangun beribadat pada malam Lailatul-qadar selama dua belas tahun, umpamanya, maka samalah ia seperti orang yang membuat ketaatan kepada Allah Ta'ala selama lebih seribu tahun.

MUTIARA KATA

Sebaik-baiknya sahabat ialah orang yang anda percayai, anda merasa damai dengannya, anda dapat mengadu kesusahan anda kepadanya, ia dapat menceritakan kepada anda kesusahannya dan tidak membocorkan rahsia anda.

Memberi maaf adalah lebih lazat daripada membalas dendam, bekerja lebih nikmat daripada menggangur, qanaah lebih bernilai daripada harta, dan kesihatan lebih baik daripada kekayaan.

Wanita yang cantik lagi takwa, rumah yang luas, rezeki yang cukup, dan tetangga yang soleh adalah kenikmatan yang kurang disedari oleh kebanyakan manusia

STOP. LOOK , AND LISTEN

Stopping to know what you are doing and why, is not a one-time activity. It must be a daily activity. Spend time every morning or evening to think about the coming day. Set aside a day twelve times a year to plan your month. And spend one whole week each year reflecting and evaluating, to measure the year that's passed, to plan the year that is coming, and to stay on track with your purpose.

The world stands aside

to let anyone pass who knows

where he is going.

- DAVID STARR GORDON

TIMELY DEPARTURE ...FRIENDSHIP

FRIENDSHIP

Quote: It is great to have friends when one is young, but indeed it is still more so, when you are getting old. When we are young, friends are, like everything else, a matter of course. In the old days we know what it means to have them. - Edward Grieg Unquote

To look at him you would think he was a pauper. When you got to know him he was really a prince. Everyday he would walk, actually shuffle, his way down to the stockbroker's office to visit his friends and watch his investments. Every afternoon at about two o'clock, Billy would walk through the door and bring a smile to our faces. His cap was always on crooked, and he always worn his worn and torn overcoat regardless of the temperature, with a scarf in the winter and a buttoned up shirt in the summer, and always a smile (crooked teeth and all). He was our unofficial leader, our spokesperson. If Billy said it was so, then it was so! We were a handful of guys getting together everyday to watch the stock ticker and wait for Billy's daily words of wisdom. With his cockney accent and his reassuring wink, he seemed to make everything seem okay no matter how the market was doing or how gloomy things seemed in the real world. Then one day, everything wasn't all right. Our Billy, our 80-year-old pal, our leader had cancer! (sob..sob..sob)

It didn't seem to matter anymore tha this investments would go unwatched. What was important was that we watched Billy. He was going fast. The only family he had was an older sister in England so we became his family. A few of us took, turns sitting with him in the hospital. Garry, who was Billy's friend and financial advisor, took the lead watch. Garry was there almost all the time. We didn't want Billy to be alone.

One evening, we knew the end was near. I offered to spend the night and sit with Garry and Billy, but Garry said to go home and that I could relieve him in the morning.

About 5.00 a.m. my wife and I were awakened by a loud knock on our front door. I got up to see who it was, and no one was there. At 9.00 a.m. Garry called to say that Billy had passed away during the night. "What time did he say good-bye?" I asked.

"5.00 a.m." was his shocking reply. The only explanation we had for the knock on our door at 5.00 a.m. was that Billy had "winked" good-bye for one last time!

BEAUTY - ENJOY

WILL BE BACK SOON!

SURAH LUQMAN

SURAH 31 * LUQMAN

THIS SURAH OPENS WITH A REFERENCE to the righteous and the rewards awaiting them which is followed by an allusion to the mischief and their evil designs against Islam.

The surah elaborates further on the reward awaiting the righteous. It says: “Those that have faith and do good works shall enter the gardens of delight, where they shall dwell forever. God’s promise shall be fulfilled; He is the Almighty, the Wise” (8-9)

The surah derives its title from a sage mentioned by name in verse 12 : We learn that when Prophet Muhammad was asked about Luqman he gave the Arabs of Makkah an account of a set of succinct but powerful instructions Luqman had given his son, which are rich in wisdom and sensible advice.

Luqman’s advice to his son begins thus: “My son, serve no other deity besides God, or polytheism (Arabic: shirk) is a grave transgression.” This is followed by a bidding to be kind to one’s parents who are, apart from God, immediately responsible for one’s existence. The advice continues: “My son, observe the prayer, enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil . Endure with fortitude whatever befalls you. That is a duty incumbent on all. And turn not your cheek away from people in (false) pride, and walk not haughtily on earth: for behold, God does not love anyone who, out of self-conceit, acts in a boastful manner.” (17 – 18)

It closes with the statement: “Be modest in your bearing and lower your voice: the harshest of voices is the braying of the ass” (19). The testament is a wonderful collection of profound wisdom and high religious and moral principles, which people of all generations ought to learn and observe.

ILMU PALING TINGGI

Imam Ghazali berkata, "Hati memerlukan ilmu dan hikmat agar dengannya nafsu syahwat dan marah dapat dikekang untuk melaksanakan perkara-perkara yang bermanfaat sahaja."

Maksud Hikmat: Imam Malik berpendapat, hikmat adahlah sunah dan kefahaman yang mendalam berkenaan agama Allah. Imam Mujahid mentafsirkannya sebagai ilmu, kefahaman serta Quran. Mengikut satu lagi pendapat dari Imam Mujahid, hikmat bermaksud percakapan yang benar.

Imam Ghazali berkata: "Ilmu yang paling mulia ialah ilmu tentang Allah serta keagungannya. Penguasaan ilmu ini dan keyakinan yang lahir daripadanya berbeza antara seorang dengan seorang yang lain. Di peringkat awal, ilmu ini di peroleh berdasarkan usaha dan kesungguhan sehingga seseorang mengenali sifat-sifat yang wajib, mustahil serta harus bagi Allah. Di tahap yang paling tinggi, ilmu dan keyakinan terhadap Allah terhasil berdasadarkan penglihatan mata hati yang di kurniakan oleh Allah."

Mereka yang tidak mengenali Allah akan mewarisi penyakit sombong dan takbur yang membinasakan.

YEAR OF THE DRAGON

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Will be back soon!

HANG TUAH, HANG JEBAT VS ABU BAKAR, UMAR, USMAN DAN ALI...

CONTRIBUTED ARTICLE

......Disebabkan adanya halangan dan tentangan, Islam menganjurkan umatnya supaya berjihad. Islam ajar umatnya berjihad kalau setiap pekerjaan ini boleh dilaksanakan tanpa halangan dan mudah.

Firman Allah SWT:

"Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, bersabarlah kamu dan kuatkanlah kesabaran dan tetaplah bersiap-siaga (di perbatasan negerimu) dan bertakwalah kepada Allah SWT supaya kamu beruntung."

Surah Ali Imran ayat 200

Kalau Islam semudah itu, apakah tujuan Allah SWT mengajar hamba-hamba-Nya supaya berjihad? Apakah tujuan Allah SWT mengajar hamba-Nya melawan nafsu?

Apa yang pasti, memartabatkan Islam bukanlah perkara yang mudah, malah digalangi dengan seribu satu kesusahan. Perkara ini dinyatakan sendiri oleh Allah SWT dalam Al-Quran.

"Kalau yang kamu serukan kepada mereka itu keuntungan yang mudah diperoleh dan perjalanan yang tidak seberapa jauh, pastilah mereka mengikutimu, tetapi tempat yang dituju itu amat jauh terasa oleh mereka."

Surah at-Taubah ayat 42

Oleh itu, melalui ajaran-ajaran begini, kita dapat fahami bahawa Islam bukan ajaran remeh. Dalam keadaan jerih-payah, kita perlu berhempas-pulas sehingga terpaksa mengorbankan harta benda dan nyawa, kita harus bersabar ketika sedang melaksanakan kerja-kerja Allah SWT.

Orang Melayu zaman dahulu taat melulu kepada sultan, dan sesiapa yang berani mencabar perintah sultan walaupun ia berunsurkan kezaliman akan terima padahnya. Timbullah cerita Hang Tuah yang begitu taat setia kepada rajanya, sedangkan Hang Jebat pula kitakan menderhaka. Hari ini, tukarkan pola pemikiran kita seratus peratus daripada Hang Jebat dan Hang Tuah*, kepada Saidina Abu Bakar ra, Umar ra, Usman ra, dan Ali ra. Barulah kita layak digelar Muslim dan bukan sekadar Melayu yang mudah lupa.

*Ideologi Hang Jebat dan Hang Tuah berbeza dengan pemikiran Abu Bakar dan Umar. Hang Tuah sanggup membunuh sahabatnya Hang Jebat yang dikatakan menderhaka kepada raja kerana tidak bersetuju dengan arahan raja membunuh Hang Tuah tanpa usul periksa terlebih dahulu. Saidina Abu Bakar ra dan Umar ra hanya mencari keredaan Allah SWT semata-mata, bahkan Saidina Abu Bakar ra, meminta kaum Muslimin mebetulkannya jika tindakannya menyalahi perintah Allah SWT dan ajaran Rasulullah SAW setelah diangkat menjadi khalifah umat Islam yang pertama.

2012 DOOMSDAY PREDICTIONS DEBUNKED....

Apocalyse Not Now: 2012 Doomsday Predictions Debunked by NASA

On December 21, 2012, many doomsday believers fear the apocalyse - anything from a rogue planet smashing into us to our world spinning end over end. However, the world should expect nothing more next year than the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, NASA says.

Many people point to the end of the Mayan Long Count calendar on December 21, 2012 as evidence of the coming apocalyse, but astronomers have been quick to stress that there is nothing to be concerned about.

According to the ancient Mayan calendar, next year's winter solstice marks the end of a 144,000-day cycle. This cycle which begins as the mythical Maya creation date, has already been repeated 12 times. The 13th will end in 2012 capping a full 5,200-year Mayan cycle of creation.

This date has long been shrouded in mystery,with many claiming that it will bring destruction to our planet.

Rogue planet Nibiru?

One fear is that a rogue planet that has been dubbed "Nibiru" or "Planet X" is supposedly aimed at Earth. Self-proclaimed Nibiru expert Nancy Lieder, who says she is in contact with the aliens from Zeta Reticuli, first said Nibiru would cause widespread disaster in May 2003, only to change it to December 21, 2012.

There is, however, no evidence that Nibiru is real.

"Nibiru is ridiculous because it doesn't exist - it never existed as anything other than a figment of the imagination by pseudo-scientists who don't seem bothered by a complete lack of evidence, " astronomer Don Yeomans, manager of NASA'S Near-Earth Object program office at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., told SPACE.com

There is no basis for the claim that it might be lurking behind the sun, as it could not have hidden from observation until now, Yeomans said. If such a planet was headed toward Earth by December 21, 2012, it would already be visible now, Yeomans said. If such a planet was headed toward Earth by December 21, 2012, it would already be visible to the naked eye.


***** Welcome to view "SURAH 99 AL-ZALZALAH (THE EARTHQUAKE) at: www.banyuemas2qss.blogspot.com

JANGKAAN BERLAKU KIAMAT PADA TAHUN 2012?

Ramalan tarikh kiamat bukan perkara baru. Sudah sering kali penduduk dunia dimomokkan dengan ramalan-ramalan ini nanum ternyata dunia tetap hidup dengan pelbagai akitivitinya.

Pada tahun 2009 dan 2010, ramalan perihal kiamat kedengaran lagi dan kali ini berdasarkan teori 'pengakhiran kalendar' kaum Maya, Mexico. Berpandukan kalendar kaum Maya, kiamat diramalkan akan berlaku pada 21 Disember 2012 dan sebuah filem mengenainya bertajuk 2012 diterbitkan di bawah arahan Roland Emmerich.

Disebabkan isu 2012 ini dikaitkan dengan fenomena alam, iaitu pada tarikh itu akan berlaku jajaran galaksi di mana sistem solar kita - matahari, bumi, bulan bersama planet-planet lain, akan berada pada garisan 'Galaktic Beam', sejajar dengan titik pusat galaksi, maka NASA terpaksa mengeluarkan kenyataannya. Para sudut sains astronomi, pakar-pakar mengesahkan penjajaran sistem solar yang dikatakan berlaku setiap 5,125 tahun, tidak akan berlaku pada tahun 2012.

Demikian juga dengan dakwaan Planet Nibiru atau Planet X akan melanggar bumi pada tahun 2012. Ini juga pembohongan dan tidak akan berlaku. Malah planet itu sebenarnya tidak wujud. Kisah planet ini dikaitkan dengan kisah-kisah dongeng kaum Sumeria pada zaman dahulu. Pada asalnya, ramalan yang mengatakan planet ini akan melanggar bumi pada bulan Mei 2003, dan selepas ia tidak menjadi kenyataan, diubah tarikhnya kepada Disember 2012.

Dalam Islam, kalendar kaum Maya dan pentafsiran atau persepsi manusia mengenainya bukannya kalam Tuhan, bukannya wahyu dan bukannya dalil bagi diimani. Demikian juga dengan filem 2012 ia bukan rujukan untuk kita. Apa yang jelas, pengarah filem 2012 mengaut keuntungan melebihi $769 juta dolar Amerika, mengikut en.wikipedia. org/wiki/2012_(film)

Dalam surah al-A'raf ayat 187, Allah berkata, "Mereka bertanya kepadamu (wahai Muhammad) mengenai hari kiamat, 'Bilakah masa datangnya?' Katakan, 'Sesungguhnya pengetahuan mengenainya hanya ada di sisi Tuhanku, tidak ada sesiapa pun yang dapat menerangkan kedatangannya pada waktunya melainkan Dia."


**** Sila lihat "TRAGEDI AKHIRAT" di www.banyuemas2qss.blogspot.com

ONE YEAR OLDER!

Dear Readers,

'WITH ALL BEST WISHES FOR YEAR 2012'

The past is gone forever

Episodes of the past are finished: former days are gone with, and you benefit nothing by carrying out an autopsy over them, by turning back the wheels of history.

Today is all that you have

When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening - live as though today is all that you have. Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life's span is but one day, as if you were born in it and will die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between an obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty. Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart. Organise the hours of the day, so that you make years out of minutes and months out of seconds. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, remember Him, prepare for the final parting from this world, and live today happily and at peace. Be content with your sustenance, your wife, your children, your work, your house and your station in life.

Leave the future alone until it comes

The important thing to know is that tomorrow is from the world of the unseen, a bridge that we do not cross until it comes. Who knows, perhaps we might never reach the bridge, or the bridge might collapse before we reach it, or we may actually reach it and cross safely.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

EDUCATION

First we shall want the pupil to understand, speak, read, and write his mother tongue well - H. G. Wells





Education should be a conscious, methodical application of the best means in the wisdom of the ages to the end that youth may know how to live completely - Austin O'Malley

The school should always have as its aim that the young man leave it as a harmonious personality, not as a specialist. This in my opinion is true in a certain sense even for technical schools...The development of general ability for independent thinking and judgement should always be placed foremost, not the acquisition of special knowledge. - Albert Einstein

GREETINGS...GREETINGS!.....

'WISHING ALL A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS'

GIFTS

The best thing to give to your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent, tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to a father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity - Balfour

OUR ONCE UPON A TIME ....

Even without the torn jeans, he made a scruffy-looking ten year old. His fifth grade classmates had never seen anyone as poorly dressed and unpolished as Marco. This was his first day of elementary school in a quaint New England town of well-to-do families. Marco's parents were migrant fruit pickers and his classmates eyed him with suspicion for the first part of the day. Even though they whispered and made comments about his clothes, he didn't seem to notice.

Then came recess and the kickball game. Marco led off the first inning with a home run, earning him a bit of respect from his wardrobe critics. Next up to kick was Richard, the least athletic and most over-weight child in the class. After his second strike (amid the groans of his classmates), Marco edged up to Richard and quietly said, "Forget them, kid. You can do it!" Richard kicked a home run and at that precise moment, something began to change in Marco's class. Over the next few months, Marco was able to teach the class many new things. Things such as how to tell when fruit was ripe, how to call a wild turkey and, especially, how to treat other people.

By the time Marco's parents finished their work in the area, the class was preparing to celebrate Christmas. While other students brought the teacher fancy scarves, perfumes and soaps, Marco stepped up to the teacher's desk with a special gift. It was a rock that he delivered into the teacher's hands which was beautiful and bright. "I polished it up special," he said.

Years later, the teacher still had Marco's rock on her desk. At the beginning of each school year, she would tell her class about the gentle boy who taught her and her class not to judge a book by its cover. And that it's what's on the inside of others that truly counts.

From: This Little Light of Mine

JENNIFER...A CHRISTMAS STORY...(sob...sob)

MERRY CHRISTMAS. Love, Jennifer

(In the previous story, Merry Christmas, Jennifer, Wayne Furrow sent his departed daughter, Jennifer, a Christmas letter via the Internet. It was picked up by a few people and shortly after, Mr. Furrow received this reply.)

Dad,

I did get to experience the Internet and you're right .... I love it. I don't think it's the same Net you are on though. I travel the universe - no downtime, flames, smears, nothing like that at all.

I am with you Christmas morning. Actually, I'm with you every morning. Haven't you felt my presence? Heard my voice? Seen me in a thousand different places? I can do that for a while but eventually I will have to spend more and more of my time spreading around the things you taught me: love, caring, giving, loyalty.

I can't say that I miss you because where I am there are no feelings that are sad. Honestly! Not ever! I do know when you think of me and I am happy. Did you know that I can view my whole life with you and Sarah and Mom in just a few seconds! Can you imagine?

I have so many other people here that are the greatest. Someday you'll find out for yourself. Just remember this Daddy, I'm never sad. I have a feeling that someday this great feeling will be even greater. That's because you'll be with me. Don't be in any rush though. There are a lot of neat things that you can do down there that I can' t do up here, like, love Mom a lot.

Love, Jennifer


Mr. Furrow, I lost a wife and a child a long time ago. I wish I could have received one last letter. God be with you and please forgive an old man's sentimentality. Your letter touched me at the very core of my being.

Every blessing to you.
Fr. Howard Gorle

MERRY CHRISTMAS, Jennifer

Hi, sweetheart. Christmas won't be the same without you this year, but we will try to cope with the many memories of our 19 years spent with you. All I want for Christmas is to have you back with us, but knowing that is impossible I will settle for a letter to you: God will hopefully hand-deliver it in time for the holiday.

I missed having you being here to help me with my Christmas shopping. You always had a sense of what your mom liked. I managed okay, I think you were probably helping me. Your mom will love the gift you sent her from Heaven! Sarah too!

Your mom has done a lot of baking this week; uncooked cake, date squares, etc. Surprised, eh?

Our traditional Christmas get-together will be at your Uncle Steve's place this year. We don't know how we will handle it, but will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Sarah is doing okay, still dating Brian (which has really helped her).

We know she misses you mostly at nights, when you two would do so much talking. She misses her big sister's advice and odd spat!

I have to go to the cemetry tomorrow and shovel 3 1/2 feet of snow, in case some of the family want to visit your grave site. We decorated the poles, hung a white and red bird and a few bells for you to hear when the wind blows. It really looks nice. We know Patrick misses you, and you him. Sorry I wasn't more supportive of your relationship, that will bother me until I can apologise in person.

I'm sorry you never got to experience the Internet, Jenny. You would have loved it! I have met some wonderful people online, families that have also lost children. They have helped me tremendously in coping with your death. Most times, other than your mom, it has been my only release. Losing one's child is the most pain a parent can experience, and being able to correspond with others in the same situation is surely a blessing. Jennifer, we will miss you always. We will never stop loving you or ever forget you!

Love, Sarah, Mom and Dad Furrow

IHSAN SESAMA INSAN

Ihsan juga dituntut semasa bergaul sesama manusia. Tuhan menjelaskan dalam surah al-Qasas ayat 77 yang bermaksud, "Buatlah ihsan sebagaimana Allah telah membuat kebaikan kepadamu. Janganlah kamu lakukan kerosakan di muka bumi. Sesungguhnya Allah tidak menyukai mereka yang melakukan kerosakan."

Berhubung dengan perintah melakukan ihsan yang terdapat dalam ayat ini, Imam Ibn Kathir berkata: "Buatlah kebaikan kepada hamba-hamba Tuhan sebagaimana Tuhan berbuat baik kepada kamu." Dalam hadis yang lain yang dilaporkan oleh Imam Tabrani dan Bazzar, nabi berkata, "Mahukah aku tunjukkan tentang sesuatu yang akan menaikkan darjatmu? Bersopan santunlah dengan mereka yang tidak mempedulikanmu. Maafkanlah mereka yang menzalimimu. Berikanlah kepada mereka yang bakhil terhadapmu. Hubungilah mereka yang memutuskan hubungan persaudaraan denganmu."

Antara insan yang wajib kita gauli dengan ihsan adalah ibu bapa kita. Tuhan menyatakan dalam surah al-Israk ayat 23 yang bermaksud, "Dan Tuhanmu telah memerintakan supaya kamu tidak menyembah selain Dia dan hendaklah kamu berbuat ihsan (iaitu kebaikan) kepada ibu bapamu dengan sebaik-baiknya. Apabila salah seorang antara mereka ataupun kedua-duanya mencapai umur tua, janganlah kamu mengucapkan perkataan 'uh' kepada mereka dan janganlah kamu membentak mereka. Sebaliknya ucaplah kepada mereka ucapan yang mulia."

Konsep ihsan sesama manusia diperincikan lagi dalam surah an-Nisak ayat 36 yang bermaksud, "Sembahlah Allah dan janganlah kamu mempersekutukannya dengan suatu apa pun. Dan berbuat ihsanlah kepada kedua-dua ibu bapa, kaum kerabat, anak-anak yatim, orang-orang miskin, tetangga yang dekat dan tetangga yang jauh, rakan-rakan karib, ibnus sabil (iaitu mereka yang terputus bekalan dalam perjalanan termasuk juga anak-anak yang tidak diketahui ibu bapa mereka) dan hamba sahayamu. Sesungguhnya Tuhan tidak menyukai mereka yang sombong dan yang suka membangga-banggakan diri."

THANKS .....AGAIN!

A British family journeyed to Scotland for a summer vacation. The mother and father were looking forward to enjoying the beautiful Scottish countryside with their young son. But one day the son wandered off all by himself and got into trouble. As he walked through the woods, he came across an abandoned swimming hole, and as most boys his age do, he took off his clothes and jumped in. He was totally unprepared for what happened next. Before he had time to enjoy the pool of water, he was seized by a vicious attack of cramps. He began calling for help while fighting a losing battle with the cramps to stay afloat.

Luckily, it happened that in a nearby field a farm boy was working. When he heard the frantic cries for help, he brought the English boy to safety. The father whose son had been rescued was of course very grateful. The next day, he went to meet the youth who had saved his son's life. As the two talked, the Englishman asked the brave lad what he planned to do with his future. The boy answered, "Oh, I suppose I'll be a farmer like my father." The grateful father said, "Is there something else you'd rather do?" "Oh, yes!" answered the Scottish lad. "I've always wanted to be a doctor. But we are poor people and could never afford to pay for my education." "Never mind that," said the Englishman. "You shall have your heart's desire and study medicine. Make your plans, and I'll take care of the costs." So, the Scottish lad did indeed become a doctor.

There is more. Some years later, in December of 1943, Winston Churchill became very ill with pneumonia while in North Africa. Word was sent to Sir Alexander Fleming, who had discovered the new wonder drug, penicillin, to come immediately. Flying in from England, Dr. Fleming administered his new drug to the ailing prime minister. In doing so, he saved Churchill's life for the second time. For it was the boy Winston Churchill whom Alexander Fleming had rescued from the swimming hole so many years before.

FISIOLOGI SABAR DAN FIKIRAN POSITIF

Kajian yang dilakukan di Harvard School of Public Health and the Department of Veterans Affairs menunjukkan golongan tua yang optimis mempunyai risiko yang rendah menghidap sakit jantung koronary. Fikiran negatif memberi impak negatif dalam kehidupan. Mengikut satu kajian pelajar-pelajar yang bersikap pesimistik sering kali menghidap penyakit selesema, sakit kerongkong dan demam influenza. Mereka yang berfikiran negatif sering dihinggapi tekanan atau stres. Tekanan jangka panjang menyebabkan paras lemak meningkat dalam darah. Lebihan lemak ini menyempitkan pembuluh darah. Apabila ini berlaku dalam pembuluh darah koronari, serangan jantung akan berlaku. Pengeluaran hormon kortisol meningkat pada waktu stres. Hormon ini menyebabkan tekanan darah meningkat. Apabila keadaan ini berterusan individu itu boleh menghidap penyakit darah tinggi. Hormon adrenalin memudahkan proses pembekuan darah. Ini boleh menyebabkan serangan sakit jantung berlaku.

NEEDED: PEOPLE!

Opportunities must be nourished if they are to survive. As Peter Drucker, the father of modern management, says, "Feed an opportunity; starve a problem."


You cannot do it on your own. You will need the help of others - and you will need to give help to others - if you want to be successful. And that will require you to connect with others. To do that, follow these suggestions:

* Focus on people.

* Be likable.

* Show others that you care.

* Remember everyone's name.

* Walk slowly through the crowd.

* Be generous.

SIKAP

"Apabila kita melihat masalah sebagai kesempatan membangunkan diri, kita berfikiran positif."

Mengikut kajian yang dilakukan oleh Carnegie Institute, "Dari kajian ke atas 10,000 orang, Carnegie Institute merumuskan, 15% kejayaan adalah berpunca daripada latihan teknical, 85% berpunca daripada personaliti. Aspek personaliti yang paling penting untuk kejayaan adalah sikap."