Inspirational Stories / Motivational Stories

A Teacher's Life Lessons Using A Jar And Some Golf Balls

By A Professor on October 23, 2012 / 138,388 views

By A Professor on October 23, 2012 / 138,388 views

This is a very important life lesson that a philosophy teacher taught his students. The teacher cleared off his desk and placed on top of it a few items. One of the items was an empty mason jar. He proceeded to fill up the jar with golf balls until he could fit no more. He looked at the classroom and asked his students if they agree that the jar is full. Every student agreed that the jar was indeed...

Every Step Of The Way

By Joseph J. Mazzella on October 22, 2012 / 10,279 views

I saw something wonderful the other day. I was on my way to pick up some groceries with my grown children in the car. It was a brisk, sunny day with peak Fall colors blessing the trees and my heart with their beauty. As a car in front of us came to a stop in order to turn off the highway, however, I saw something even more beautiful. A young mother was walking along holding the hand of her toddler. When they...

The Mystery And The Magic

By Joe Mazzella on October 18, 2012 / 8,811 views

When I was a young boy Autumn always seemed to be filled with mystery and magic. I would go to sleep on a warm Summer's night with the mountains full of green leaves and awake on a cool Fall morning with the hills full of reds and yellows. I would be amazed at how one tree's leaves would be one color and a different tree's leaves another. I would pick up the freshly fallen leaves, take them inside and give them...

Two Boxes Of Rice

By Joe Mazzella on October 10, 2012 / 3,955 views

I drove to a local supermarket the other day. My shopping list was long and my wallet was light. Still, I needed to get a week's worth of groceries for my family. I parked my car, looked down at my list, and hoped I could afford it all....

A Little Closer To Heaven

By Joe Mazzella on October 03, 2012 / 8,191 views

It is a lovely Autumn day as I write this. An evening rain has led to a brisk morning. There is a freshness in the air too that makes my lungs expand with joy. The sun is up, slowly warming the world with its heat and light. On the trees the green leaves are rapidly changing to wondrous colors created by God's own hand. The yellows and golds are shining in the sunlight. The brilliant oranges are putting the...

Humility And The Hitchhiker

By Shayne Sprague on September 30, 2012 / 4,582 views

So I never pick up hitch-hikers as a rule. I don't know what moved me to do so today. I was heading from North Platte to Brady and he was just outside of North Platte. He jumped in and said "thanks for stopping". I said no problem, I'm going to Brady about 23 miles up the road, and I’ll take you that far. ...

Home For Christmas

By Chaska Moore on September 28, 2012 / 6,829 views

Kelsie survived breast cancer 5 years ago. We were all elated. Many in the family shaved their heads in solidarity when she lost hers to Chemo. When she lost a breast and female organs, we felt helpless. There was nothing we could do but pray and love her. So, when doctors pronounced her cancer-free, it was a real call for celebration. But the joy was not the end of the story. Kelsie has been in unexplained...

Candles On A Cake

By Joe Mazella on September 25, 2012 / 6,991 views

I have a birthday coming up soon, but I decided not to put any candles on my cake this year. I thought that 46 of them might ruin the icing or set off the smoke alarm. The funny thing, though, is that when I looked in the mirror this morning I didn't see a middle-aged man looking back at me. Sure there was gray in the hair and wrinkles around the mouth and eyes. The skin wasn't as smooth and the hair wasn't as...

All The Little Things

By Joe Mazzella on September 19, 2012 / 7,559 views

Over the years I have learned that the best lives are built one choice and one change at a time. They are not built on some big triumph or accomplishment but rather on all the little things we choose to do every single day. What are some of these little things that you can do to change your own life? Here are just a few of them. Say "Good Morning God!" when you wake up everyday. Watch the sunrise. Watch...

Soaking Up The Sun

By Joe Mazzella on September 18, 2012 / 7,288 views

When you go through this life with your eyes open, you soon see that everything in it is a miracle. You realize that you are a part of this miracle too from your first breath until your last sigh. You start to notice that you are connected not only with every person on this planet but also with every part of creation as well from the stones under your feet to the sun in the sky. I got a beautiful reminder...

Memories Of Mom

By Joe Mazzella on September 04, 2012 / 7,932 views

Memory is often the source of our greatest joys as well as our deepest regrets. I cherish every memory I have of my Mom, but at the same time I regret no longer being able to create new ones with her. My Mom left this world when I was only 25 years old. I was far too young and foolish then to realize what a blessing every moment with her was. I never got a chance to say, "Thank You" to her for all of them. All I...

The Secret Ingredient

By Joe Mazzella on August 29, 2012 / 8,157 views

My Italian Grandmother's spaghetti sauce was a wonder to behold. After church on Sundays our family would always gather around for a huge dinner that was more a feast than a meal. For hours before the smell of the simmering sauce would fill the house and I would breathe in deep with delight. My Nana would slowly cook Italian sausages, meatballs, potatoes, and pieces of chicken in it too. Then she would boil...

A Tiny Wave

By Joe on August 21, 2012 / 1,754 views

Life is full of miracles. They come in all sizes too. Most people only notice the big miracles, but the tiny miracles surround us everyday. They are gentle reminders of how much God loves us and how much we can love too. I got one of these miracle reminders just the other day as I was driving my...

It's Better To Give Than Receive

By Chris on August 21, 2012 / 4,141 views

I had been coming to work with hard boiled eggs in the morning for myself every day this past week. My co-worker at the desk next to me noticed and kindly asked if I could bring in one for her one day. Naturally, I agreed. A couple days go by and I forgot to bring her an egg. It was the last egg too, I had no...

One Kind Act Starts A Lifetime Of Love

By Joe on August 14, 2012 / 7,351 views

I was sitting in a chair, sipping iced tea out of a thermos, and trying to stay awake. The group of adults around me were trying to do the same. We were all there to renew our first aid cards for our jobs working with the handicapped. The room was an old converted day treatment area and wasn't meant for so many people. Even with the air conditioning it felt hot and stuffy. All of us there had taken the class many...

It's Worth It

By Matthew on August 07, 2012 / 1,857 views

The mattock cut into the ground again and again. Every time I raised it I slammed it down even harder. It felt as heavy in my arms as my broken heart did in my chest. Still, I powered through the pain and finished loosening up the dirt. I tossed the mattock aside, picked up a shovel and began to dig. Sweat and tears burned my eyes but I didn't stop. I kept going until the aching in my arms and back matched the...

Ode To Dolly, And The Jar Fly

By Harold Scott on August 06, 2012 / 8,293 views

I, by no means, am, as wealthy, or as famous as Dolly, but, I, like her, grew up in a rural part of Tennessee, as a part of a rather large family of six siblings, along with my parents. Eight people in a small house, made for some creativity on the part of my Daddy and Mom. It was also a home with a front porch, and, I even recall a few straight back chairs. (We used them as sleds in the snow, talk about getting...