Jack’s Winning Words 3/14/17
“Every burden is a blessing.”  (Walt Kelly)  NBC News closes its broadcast with a segment, Inspiring America.  Recently, the story was of an 8th grader who was born with one arm and has become an outstanding basketball player.  In an interview, he said, “You are who you are, and you can’t change that.”  That goes for all of us.  My mother-in-law would say to her children, “Just do your best!”  Good advice!:  Do your best…whatever the circumstances!    ;-)  Jack

FROM TAMPA SHIRL:  Do your best and god will do the rest! That is one of postings on my bulletin board!====JACK:  I saw this quote which seems to relate..."Pray as if it's up to God.  Work as if it's up to you."

FROM SHALOM JAN:  A retired pastor from Baltimore, Dr. Wolfe, filled in at my childhood church in Arlington, VA for quite a while.  He was the first to stand on the chancel step and speak to the children in the congregation.  Several times he said, "Do your best!  Angels can do no better!"  That has stayed with me when I struggled with classwork and in other endeavors even to today.....JACK:
One of the first words I learned in the study of Greek was ἄγγελος (angelos), someone who serves God.  An angel is someone who does their best to serve God.  I know some people like that.

FROM RI IN BOSTON:  You know the words..."somebody said, oh you'll never do that, but he with a chuckle replied, that even if he couldn't, he wouldn't say so till he tried."  Even then you don't give up.  You try...try...again!====JACK:  Did you know that W.E. Hickson, a 19th century English educator wrote the words..."'Tis a lesson you should heed:  Try, try, try again.  If at first you don't succeed,  Try, try, try again"?

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Guidepost magazine often brings stories of people who have "survived" and made their lives count, like the young basketball player. Reader'sDigest this month has the story of a young woman, an avid and skilled skier who, through a bus accident was badly burned over 96% of her body, given a 1-1,000 chance to survive, and beat the odds, and is skiing the most challenging courses again, in spite of some permanent disability.  These people's stories surely do inspire, and cause us to evaluate what WE'RE doing with our own abilities!!  Our burdens often bring out the best is us, as we "cope'.====JACK:  Maybe a good prayer would be:  "Dear Lord, help me learn to cope."  I wonder if that was the prayer of Jesus on the cross when he prayer..."Into thy hands I commend my spirit."

FROM OUTHOUSE JUDY:  Red Skelton would always say "Goodnight and God Bless"!  He could have added "Do your best" into the middle of his statement.====JACK:  ...or, "do your best and God will bless."  His original closing was, "So until next week I'll say good health, good life, and may God bless. Goodnight."

FROM A FRIEND:  Walt Kelly’s quotation is an especially well-timed reminder this week of negotiating.  Thank you.====JACK:  Negotiate...Finding as way over, through, around an obstacle or a difficulty.  I like the hymn, "Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me."

FROM ST PAUL IN MESA:  good words, Jack, thanks.   Garrison Keillor used to end one of his shows with:  Keep in touch,  do good work, and one other admonition which I can't recall right now:):)====JACK:  The line I always liked was, "Well, that's the news from Lake Wobegon, where all the women are strong, all the men are good-looking, and all the children are above average."