Pravs World - Inspirational Quotes and Messages

Searching For Happiness

Realize that true happiness lies within you. Waste no time and effort searching for peace and contentment and joy in the world outside.

Remember that there is no happiness in having or in getting, buy only in giving.

Reach out. Share. Smile. Hug.
Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others, without getting a few drops on yourself.

Credits for Photography: Imanol Gabilondo

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Facing River of Difficulties

A very tired traveler came to the banks of a river.

There was no bridge by which he could cross. It was winter, and the surface of the river was covered with ice. It was getting dark, and he wanted to reach the other side while there was enough light to see. He debated about whether or not the ice would bear his weight.

Finally, after much hesitation and fear, he got down on his knees and began very cautiously to creep across the surface of the ice. He hoped that by disturbing the weight of his body, the ice would be less apt to break under the load.

After he made his slow and painful journey about halfway across the river, he suddenly heard the sound of singing behind him. Out of the dusk, there came a 4-horse load of coal driven by a man singing merrily as he went to his carefree way. Here was the traveler, fearfully inching his way on his hands and knees. And there, as if whisked along by the winter’s wind, went the driver, his horses, his sled, and the heavy load of coal over the same river!

The story illustrates how many of us go through life.

Some stand on the bank of decisions unable to make up their minds about the course to take. Others stand on the banks trying to muster enough courage to cross over to the other side of the task or problem encountered.

On the other hand, some individuals crawl and creep through life for fear of thin ice.

Their faith is not strong enough to hold them up. Still there are those who whisked along whistling as they go. Their faith is UNSHAKABLE.

……When we face the river of difficulties, we do not have to fear, nor do we creep through life. God has promised to help, and with God’s help we can merrily make our way to the other side safely.

From Archives; Shared on Text Mail 

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The Cold Within

Six humans trapped by happenstance
In black and bitter cold.
Each one possessed a stick of wood,
Or so the story’s told.

Their dying fire in need of logs,
The first woman held hers back
For on the faces around the fire,
She noticed one was black.

The next man looking cross the way
Saw one not of his church,
And couldn’t bring himself to give
The fire his stick of birch.

The third man sat in tattered clothes;
He gave his coat a hitch.
Why should his log be put to use
To warm the idle rich?

The rich man just sat back and thought
Of the wealth he had in store.
And how to keep what he had earned
From the lazy poor.

The black man’s face bespoke revenge
As the fire passed from his sight,
For all he saw in his stick of wood
Was a chance to spite the white.

And the last man of this forlorn group
Did naught except for gain.
Giving only to those who gave
Was how he played the game.

The logs held tight in death’s still hands
Was proof of human sin.
They didn’t die from the cold without,
They died from the cold within.

From Archives; Shared on Poembook

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Never Give Up On Anything

Its Madness -
To hate all roses, because you got scratched by one thorn.
To give up all your dreams, because one did not come true.
To lose faith in prayers, because one was not answered.

To give up on your efforts, because one of them failed.
To condemn all your friends, because one of them betrayed.
Not to believe in love, because someone was unfaithful.

Remember that, another chance may come up.
A new friend, A new love, A new life.

Never give up on anything!

Credits for Photography: Imanol Gabilondo

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The Cage Door

A fable tells about two birds, each in a cage with food and water. One bird rebelled against his conditions, rejected the food and  kept knocking his head against the cage door. A few hours later, he died of his injuries.

The other bird said, “Nothing’s worth dying that way.

Let me enjoy the food and water and be grateful for the little space in which I can fly.” At the end of the day, the master came to free both birds.  But only one was ready and able to enjoy freedom while the other lost it once and forever.

Our life may get trapped in a cage. Closed doors might be health problems, job problems, financial limitations, feeling of rejection and insecurity, marriage problems, inability to meet your life partner, etc.

If we focus on the closed door, we will eventually act like the poor bird. But if we enjoy our life the way it is granted, we will eventually be freed. In such situations, “It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.”

From Archives; Shared on Text Mail

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Like a Valiant Sailor

Like a valiant sailor,
I brave through the waters of life,
The current so strong, the current of wrong, of pain, of sorrow…
Pulling me in, plunging me in the depths of sin.

The turbulent ocean, the intimidating skies,
I am alone….
Alone, to navigate my way home…
Searching…. searching for terrain …

I know I am lost,
Lured away with the amplification of the mysterious seas,
The distinction between right and wrong…as far apart as north and south
Heading in one direction alone…it’s my call…
I am the Captain of my ship…

I cannot see you. I can hear you from afar ….in the stillness of my heart
the mounting sound of your gallant bells ring…
You promised you’d be there. Standing upright…
To warn me, to protect me, to guide me.
My lighthouse, my savior…
Lead me home, lead this weary sailor home…

From Archives; Shared on Poembook

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Drops of Oil

A certain shopkeeper sent his son to learn about the secret of happiness from the wisest man in the world. The lad wandered through the desert for forty days, and finally came upon a beautiful castle, high atop a mountain. It was there that the wise man lived.

Rather than finding a saintly man though, our young lad, on entering the main room of the castle, saw a hive of activity tradesmen came and went, people were conversing in the corners, a small orchestra was playing soft music, and there was a table covered with platters of the most delicious food in that part of the world.

The wise man listened attentively to the boy’s explanation of why he had come, but told him that he didn’t have just then to explain the secret of happiness.

He suggested that the boy look around the palace and return in two hours. Meanwhile, I want to ask you to do something, said the wise man, handing the boy a teaspoon that held two drops of oil. As you wander around, carry this spoon without allowing the oil to spill.

The boy began climbing and descending the many stairways of the castle, keeping his eyes fixed on the spoon. After two hours, he returned to the room where the wise man was. Well, said the wise man, did you see the Persian tapestries that are hanging in the dining hall? Did you see the garden that took the master
gardener 10 years to create? Did you notice the beautiful parchments in my library?.

The boy was embarrassed, and confessed that he had observed nothing. His only concern had been not to spill the oil that the wise man had entrusted to him.

Then go back and observe the marvels of my world, said the wise man. Relieved, the boy picked up the spoon and returned to his exploration of the palace, this time observing all the works of art on the ceilings and the walls. He saw the gardens and the mountains all around him, the beauty of the flowers. Upon returning to the wise man, he related in detail everything he had seen.

But where are the drops of oil I entrusted to you, asked the wise man. Looking down at the spoon he held, the boy saw that the oil was gone. Well, there is only one piece of advice I can give you, said the wisest of wise men. The secret of happiness is to see all the marvels of the world, and never to forget the drops of oil on the spoon.

This story serves as just a little reminder that while we get all caught up in the frenzy of work and assignments, we mustn’t forget about the drops of oil, the things in life that really matter… friends, family, stuffed toys… and the ties that bind..

From Archives; Shared on Text Mail

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Through The Storms

I did not know His love before, the way I know it now.
I could not see my need for Him, my pride would not allow.
I had it all, without a care, the Self-sufficient lie.
My path was smooth, my sea was still, not a cloud was in my sky.

I thought I knew His love for me, I thought I’d seen His grace,
I thought I did not need to grow, I thought I’d found my place.
But then the way grew rough and dark, the storm clouds quickly rolled;
The waves began to rock my ship, my anchor would not hold.

The ship that I had built myself was made of foolish pride.
It fell apart and left me bare, with nowhere else to hide.
I had no strength or faith to face the trials that lay ahead,
And so I simply prayed to Him and bowed my weary head.

His loving arms enveloped me, and then He helped me stand.
He said, You still must face this storm, but I will hold your hand.
So through the dark and lonely night He guided me through pain.
I could not see the light of day or when the storm might wane.

Yet through the aches and endless tears, my faith began to grow.
I could not see it at the time, but my light began to glow.
I saw God’s love in brand new light, His grace and mercy, too.
For only when all self was gone could God’ love shine through.

It was not easy in the storm, I sometimes wondered, Why
At times I thought, I can’t go on. I’d hurt, and doubt, and cry.
But God never left my side, He guided me each day.
Through pain and strife, through fire and flood,
He helped me all the way.

And now I see as never before how great His love can be.
How in my weakness He is strong, how God cares for me!
He worked it all out for my good, although the way was rough.
He only sent what I could bear, and then He cried, Enough!

He raised His hand and said, Be still! He made the storm clouds cease.
He opened up the gates of joy and flooded me with peace.
I saw His face now clearer still, I felt His presence strong,
I found anew His faithfulness, He never did me wrong.

Now I know more storms will come, but only for my good,
For pain and tears have helped me grow as naught else ever could.
I still have so much more to learn as God works in me;
If in the storm I’ll love Him more, that’s where I want to be!

From Archives; Shared on Poembook

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Road Of Life

If you don’t seem to advance, do not be discouraged. If things don’t see right, do not be downhearted.

It does not matter how fast you move ahead in life, but what matters is the road on which you move ahead. On the road of life, be true to others. More importantly be true to yourself.

Credits for Photography: F Monteiro

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Friendship Has No Fear

A soldier approached his officer; seeking his permission to fetch his friend, not yet back from the battlefield. The officer refused permission stating that his friend would be probably dead.  There was no point in going out and losing his life, too, the officer said.

Unmindful of the consequence, the soldier went and an hour later returned, mortally wounded, carrying his dead friend.

The officer was furious; “Ï told you he was dead.  Now I’ve lost both of you.  Tell me, was it worth going out there to bring in a corpse”

The dying man replied, “Öh, it was sir.  When I got to him he was still alive.  And he said to me, ‘Jack, I was sure you would come.”

Friendship has no fear. It expresses itself in sacrifice. Humanity survives purely because of love for each other. 

From Archives; Shared on Text Mail

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