A certain man planted a rose and watered it faithfully and before it blossomed, he examined it.
He saw the bud that would soon blossom, but noticed thorns upon the stem and he thought, "How can any beautiful flower come from a plant burdened with so many sharp thorns? Saddened by this thought, he neglected to water the rose, and just before it was ready to bloom... it died.
So it is with many people. Within every soul there is a rose. The God-like qualities planted in us at birth, grow amid the thorns of our faults. Many of us look at ourselves and see only the thorns, the defects.
We despair, thinking that nothing good can possibly come from us. We neglect to water the good within us, and eventually it dies. We never realize our potential.
Some people do not see the rose within themselves; someone else must show it to them. One of the greatest gifts a person can possess is to be able to reach past the thorns of another, and find the rose within them.
This is one of the characteristic of love... to look at a person, know their true faults and accepting that person into your life... all the while recognizing the nobility in their soul. Help others to realize they can overcome their faults. If we show them the "rose" within themselves, they will conquer their thorns. Only then will they blossom many times over.
I joined a wedding tonight. I think I am a better love witness than all the guest presented because I was invited as a wedding photographer as well as the friend of the couple.
To most local people, it is a special wedding because the girl married an Indian guy. so, people appeared to be more quiet during the dinner. I didn't hear lound talking and finger guessing as usual in the local people's wedding.
During the dinner, the Indian friends played their traditional music and they all started to dance.Their music was powerful and the rhythm of the music almost made me want to join the dance. However, all the Chinese kept quiet and they just stood there to be a witness.
some people were wondering why she married the Indian not any rich local guy. I got the clue when the music was on.It was the characters of the nation that attracts her. Everyone is seeking the freedom of the soul and this spirit directed her towards her true love no matter what kind of ups and downs happened or will happen in the life.
I also noticed the waitress stood their quietly and they forgot to serve the dinner.I wondered if these girl were dreaming of their own wedding...
Tonight, the new couple wrote their love on the wedding cake, which was designed as a book based on their request, they take it as a symbol of the beginning of a new life.
I am always touched by the atmosphere of the wedding party. sometimes, I would be sleepless when coming back from the wedding party. May God bless the love birds!
For more wedding party photos, you can visit the link below, i am not sure how long it can last there.
Followed is a short essay from a net friend. I was simply touched by her short yet powerful words of her true love feelings. So I made a copy and may all loving birds be together forever.
I want to be your dearest girl friend
You pet me gently which makes me feel so good, I feel sure of being cared, which makes me locked in your magic power, without any note of wandering about anymore, just want to settle down in your arms, to be your dearest girl friend.
You provide a shelter for me to shield me from storm, fear and uncertainty, your constant concern weights heavier than any romantic empty words, your love is dearer than freaky flirtation, you make me feel dear of myself too. I want to be your dearest girl friend.
A group of graduates, well established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired. During their visit, the conversation turned to complaints about stress in their work and lives. Offering his guests hot chocolate, the professor went into the kitchen and returned with a large pot of hot chocolate and an assortment of cups - porcelain, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the hot chocolate.
When they all had a cup of hot chocolate in hand, the professor said: 'Notice that all the nice looking, expensive cups were taken, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. The cup that you're drinking from adds nothing to the quality of the hot chocolate. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was hot chocolate, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups... And then you began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor change the quality of life you have. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us. God makes the hot chocolate, man chooses the cups. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything that they have. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly...