To those who look up to our encouragement, to those who need us at their side, never lose an opportunity to bring sunshine into their lives, regardless where we are or what our situation is. We need to try. Even a few encouraging words could make a huge difference in someone’s life.

It’s not enough to have lived. Be determined to live for something. It should be creating joy for others. There are many ways, regardless of the circumstances.

There was a story of a man who needed the help of his son but the son was in prison. But even then, the son did something extra ordinary to help his dad.

An old man lived alone in Minnesota. He wanted to spade his potato garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his situation:

Dear Son,
I am feeling pretty bad because it looks like I won’t be able to plant my potato garden this year. I hate to miss doing the garden because your mother always loved planting time. I’m just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot. If you were here, all my troubles would be over. I know you would dig the plot for me, if you weren’t in prison.
Love,
Dad

Shortly, the old man received this telegram: ‘For Heaven’s sake, Dad, don’t dig up the garden!! That’s where I buried the GUNS!!’

At 4 a.m. the next morning, a dozen FBI agents and local police officers showed up and dug up the entire garden without finding any guns.

Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what had happened, and asked him what to do next.

His son’s reply was: ‘Go ahead and plant your potatoes, Dad. It’s the best I could do for you, from here.’

The moral of the story is that we make progress only if we stop cursing and complaining about the situation and have the courage to do something about them. No matter where we are, if we have decided to do something deep from our hearts, we can dot it. It is the thought that really matter, not where we are or where the person is.

By Tim Pedrosa