In Memoriam:Let's agree to disagree

Let's agree to disagree was our friend,a father,a brother,a sister,faithful companion and most of all,a keeper of the peace.There was once a time when most arguments would end with this name.No matter what the source of the debate was,it would end whenever this name was mentioned.

Over the course of the years,we slowly began to forget about the existence of this fine statement and have finally reached the all or nothing point.What happened to us?When did it become wrong for people to share opposing views?I thought we had finally agreed that diversity is the spice of life.Unfortunately,it appears that the current world view prefers only a certain kind of diversity.

I refer to the new perception emerging that having conservative opinions about anything makes you intolerant and evil.It is now a huge plus for you to you agree with everyone about their lifestyle choices,their religious choices and beliefs and whatever else they choose to come up with.If you don't agree with them you are intolerant and unaccepting of other people.I wonder if it has occurred to those carrying this mindset that they are also being intolerant and unaccepting in attempting to force their opinions on everyone else.

I personally try my best not to judge anyone for whatever or however they choose to live their lives,because its their lives.All I can do is be a friend and try to show the love that I myself have been shown by God,and I most definitely will not force my beliefs down your throat or expect you to agree with me.All I ask is that you show me the same kind of consideration and not try to force me to agree with your beliefs.And yes,that includes trying to force it down my throat and the throats of my children through seemingly harmless TV programs and cartoons.

I mourn the death Of Let's agree to disagree,because we wouldn't be in this stand-off if he were still here.Rest Not In Peace,because I am hoping that you will be resurrected soon,and we will all dwell together in harmony once again.

Sincerely,

Me

I read this story recently and it really got me thinking.A lot of the time we forget that perception is not only one way,but is influenced mainly by ourselves.I decided to share it with you.Enjoy!

NB:No copyright infringement intended.This is not my original material!

A young couple moved into a new neighbourhood. The next morning whilst eating breakfast, the young woman sees her neighbour hanging the wash outside.

“That laundry is not clean” she said. “She doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better laundry soap”. Her husband looked on, but remained silent.

Every time the neighbour would hang laundry to dry, the young woman would

make the same comments.

About one month later, the woman was surprised to see nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband: “Look, she has learnt how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this”!

The husband said: “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows”!!!
And so it is with life. What we see when watching others depends on the purity of the window 

through which we look! Easy to discuss other people, their lives and things that don’t really concern us. Yet we tend to forget- our window isn’t that clean afterall!!!
Take the big fat log out of your own eyes before you can remove the skinny little stick from someone else’s.

Enjoy your week!

The Grass is not always greener on the other side

Once upon a time there lived a farmer with his wife and children on his own land.He had a plow and an old ox that he would use to prepare his land for farming.He wasn’t rich but he was content because he had all he needed.Then one day an old priest passing through his farm told him the story of how beautiful diamonds were being found all over the world in India,South Africa,Spain and all kinds of other places.Men were picking up these diamonds and selling them to become wealthy.That night this farmer could not sleep just imagining all the diamonds he could sell and the money to be made.The next day he decided to go look for some of these diamonds in India.He sold all his land and property to another farmer,gave some money to his family and told them he would be back with lots of money.He set off,went to India,then to South Africa,then Spain,and all kinds of places,just searching for diamonds.He never did find them,and was poor,old,wretched and tired.One day he simply jumped into the sea and drowned.
Meanwhile the other farmer who bought his property was plowing one day with the same plow and ox the previous owner had used when he noticed this black shiny rock.He picked it up and noticed how a rainbow of colors seemed to be literally caught in it.He was so taken with it that he took it into his house and set it on his mantle.A few days later this old priest passing through again went to visit the new owner and saw the rock on his mantle.He asked the farmer where he got it and he said they were just lying around his farm.That old priest used to be a jeweller,and he saw that that rock was a diamond.He went out with the farmer and walked the land,and there were just acres and acres of these rocks.This is the story of the mines of Golconda,the richest diamond find in history.
The previous farmer had been walking all over the diamonds in his own backyard but lost his life chasing diamonds in exotic countries.If the grass looks greener on the other side,fertilise and water your side!No need to go chasing diamonds when they are right in your own home!-Culled from Russel Conway’s Acres of Diamonds by Yvonne Nyavor.

Image copyright http://pinoytransplant.com/2011/05/17/no-green-grass-of-home/