Blog Archives

Discouraged?

4/29/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

We like to cheer for the underdog in theory, but seldom like to actually be the underdog. Keeping the spirit up in spite of the odds is a major challenge in life. Here's a lesson from a story I read on the Internet.

As I was driving home from work one day, I stopped to watch a local Little League baseball game that was being played in a park near my home. As I sat down behind the bench on the first-baseline, I asked one of the boys what the score was. "We're behind 14 to nothing," he answered with a smile.

"Really," I said. "I have to say you don't look very discouraged."

"Discouraged?" the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. "Why should we be discouraged? We haven't been up to bat yet."

One of the great life lessons I have gleaned from my sports addiction is not to give up. Until the third out in the bottom of the ninth, the game is not over. As long as there is time on the clock, the winner has not been declared. Where there is life, there is hope. I have also seen this in the lives of the many men and women, boys and girls that I have had the privilege of coming to know in my work as a chaplain. What a blessing!

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume 3 (2005).

The Nails

4/27/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

There was a little boy with a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, to hammer a nail in the back fence. The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Then it gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said, "You have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there. A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one.

Friends are a very rare jewel, indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, they share a word of praise, and they always want to open their hearts to us. Show your friends how much you care.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

Isn't Your Bag Heavy Enough?

4/24/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

One of my teachers had each one of us bring a clear plastic bag and a sack of potatoes. For every person we'd refuse to forgive in our life experience, we were told to choose a potato, write on it the name and date, and put it in the plastic bag.

We were then told to carry this bag with us everywhere for one week, putting it beside our bed at night, on the car seat when driving, next to our desk at work. The sack was cumbersome and came to feel quite heavy at times. Remembering to keep it close was a bother, too.

Naturally, the condition of the potatoes deteriorated to a nasty slime. This was a great metaphor for the price we pay for keeping our pain and heavy negativity!

Too often we think of forgiveness as a gift to the other person, and it clearly is for ourselves!!

So the next time you decide you can't forgive someone, ask yourself ... isn't your bag heavy enough?

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

Asking the Right Question

4/22/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

For more than twenty years Professor Edwin R. Keedy of the University of Pennsylvania Law School used to start his first class by putting two figures on the blackboard--4 2.

Then he would ask, "What's the solution?"

One student would call out, "Six." Another would say "Two." Then several would shout out "Eight!" But the teacher would shake his head in the negative. Then Keedy would point out their collective error.

"All of you failed to ask the key question: What is the problem? Ladies and Gentlemen, unless you know what the problem is, you cannot possibly find the answer."

This teacher knew that in law as in everyday life, too much time is spent trying to solve the wrong problem--like polishing brass on a sinking ship.

We must always be asking the question, "What's the problem?" Whether it is in our profession or in our personal lives, there is no point in working on those things that don't need it. Our strengths may be more comfortable, and may be easier, but it is our areas of weakness that need attention. It takes courage to face the problems.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

The Maestro at His Best

4/19/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

When the famous violinist Paganini played a concert in one of the great halls of Europe, it was equivalent to the draw of a modern rock concert. The story is told of one such night in Paris. As Paganini appeared on the stage, the excited buzz of the audience turned to expectant applause. But as the maestro began to play, a string broke on his exquisite violin. Any concern passed quickly as the artist picked up the tune on his remaining three strings. Unbelievably, another string snapped - followed moments later by a third string. Now the buzz in the audience was more anxious, even disgruntled, it wasn't expectant anymore. But the old maestro just raised his hand, calling for silence. As the audience became quiet again, he made a simple announcement - "Ladies and Gentlemen - Paganini - and one string." What followed was easily the most amazing musical performance that crowd had ever seen, or ever would see - as the master played a rich and flawless melody - on one string.

When did the master most powerfully demonstrate his skill? When he had the least to work with - one string. When does God - our Master - most powerfully demonstrate how much He can do? When He has the least to work with. When our strings are broken and we have almost nothing left - that's when He plays His masterpieces.

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

The Gift

4/17/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Many years ago, a volunteer at Stanford Hospital got to know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion from her 5-year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.

The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, "Yes, I'll do it if it will save Liz."

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister. He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, "Will I start to die right away?" Being young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all of his blood.

Some gifts cannot be measured in the gift itself, but in the motivation, the intent.
Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

Getting It Together

4/15/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

Once there was a little boy who wanted his Dad to teach him how to play catch. One sunny day the little boy's father was sitting on the couch drinking and watching a baseball game. The boy rushed into the house exclaiming, "Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, show me how to play catch!"

The father, blankly staring at the television screen, replied, "In a little while son. Let me finish watching this inning. Come back in five minutes."

"Okay, Daddy," said the boy and ran out of the room. Five minutes later the boy returned screaming, "Daddy, let's go, let's play some catch now!"

The father turned to the boy and said, "Hold on son. The inning is not quite over. Come back in five more minutes."

"Okay, Daddy," said the boy as he shuffled out of the room.

Five minutes later the boy returned ball and glove in hand eagerly awaiting for his father to play some catch.

"Daddy, Let's go. I want to be Ken Griffey, Jr.!" shouted the boy.

By this time the father had cracked open another cold one and another inning was taking place. Frustrated by the boy's constant hindrances, the dad scanned the room. He noticed a magazine underneath the coffee table. On the cover of the magazine was a large picture of the world. The father, who was angered and annoyed, bean tearing the magazine cover into small pieces. After a few moments of shredding the magazine cover, the father placed the torn pieces in front of the boy. He said, "Son, once you put this picture of the world back together we can play catch. But do not interrupt me again until you are done!"

Apprehensively, the boy took the magazine and sulked into his room as he sobbed. "Okay, Daddy, I won't."

A few moments later the boy returned and said, "I'm done, Daddy. Can we play catch now?"

Stunned, the father glanced toward his child. There in his small hands laid the magazine with the world pieced perfectly together. Amazed the dad asked his child how he put the world together so quickly.

"It was simple," stated the boy. "On the back of the world was a picture of a person. Once I put the person together, that's when the world came together."

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

Look Up

4/11/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

If you put a buzzard in a pen six or eight feet square and entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of his ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of ten or twelve feet. Without space to run, as is his habit, he will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.

The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.

A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler will be there until it dies unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the bottom it will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.

In many ways, there are lots of people like the buzzard, the bat and the bee. They are struggling about with all their problems and frustrations, not realizing that if they look up, they'll find the answer.

Don't you love it?

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

The Most Important Question

4/8/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: "What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?" Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

"Absolutely," said the professor. "In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'Hello'."

I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name: Dorothy.

This story passed on to me was included in Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).

The Way You Look at It

4/6/2013

© Patty Fitts. All Rights Reserved.

A man pulled into a gas station on the outskirts of town. As he filled his tank, he remarked to the attendant, "I've just accepted a job in town. I've never been to this part of the country. What are the people like here?"

"What are the people like where you came from?" the attendant asked.

"Not so nice," the man replied. "In fact, they can be quite rude."

The attendant shook his head. "Well, I'm afraid you'll find the people in this town to be the same way."

Just then another car pulled into the station. "Excuse me," the driver called out. "I'm just moving into this area. Is it nice here?"

"Was it nice where you came from?" the attendant inquired.

"Oh, yes! I came from a great place. The people were friendly, and I hated to leave."

"Well, you'll find the same to be true of this town."

"Thanks!" yelled the driver as he pulled away.

"So what is this town really like?" asked the first man, now irritated with the attendant's conflicting reports.

The attendant just shrugged his shoulders. "It's all a matter of perception. You'll find things to be just the way you think they are."

Reprinted from Grace Drops, Volume II (2004).