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In the pages of this bi-monthly magazine, we
present a unique mix of
articles, coupons,advertising, and
online content designed to
enhance family life, promote
the success of business, and
complement tourism. |
Angela
Rose-O'Brien
Publisher
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Clay Balls
A man was exploring caves by
the seashore. In one of the
caves he found a canvas bag
with a bunch of hardened
clay balls. It was like
someone rolled clay balls
and left them out in the sun
to bake.
They didn’t look like much,
but they intrigued the man,
so he took the bag out of
the cave with him. As he
strolled along the beach, he
would throw the clay balls
one at time out into the
ocean, as far as he could.
He thought little about it.
Until he dropped a clay ball
and it cracked open on a
rock, Inside was a beautiful
precious stone! Excited, the
man started breaking open
the remaining clay balls,
each contained a similar
treasure. He found thousands
of dollars worth of jewels
in the 20 or so clay balls
he had left.
Then it struck him. He had
been on the beach a long
time. He had thrown maybe 50
or 60 of the clay balls with
their hidden treasures into
the waves. Instead of
thousands of dollars, he
could have taken home tens
of thousands, but he had
just thrown it away!
It’s like that with people.
We look at someone, maybe
even ourselves, and we see
the external clay vessel. It
doesn’t look like much from
the outside. It isn’t always
beautiful or sparkling, so
we discount it. We see that
person as less important
than someone that is more
beautiful or stylish, or
well known or wealthy.
But we have not taken the
time to find the treasure
hidden inside that person.
There is a treasure in each
and every one of us. If we
take the time to get to know
that person, and if we ask
God to show us that person,
the way HE sees them, then
the clay begins to peel
away, and the brilliant gem
begins to shine forth.
May we not come to the end
of our lives and find out
that we have thrown away a
fortune in friendships
because the gems were hidden
in bits of clay. May we see
the people in our world the
way God sees them.
I am so blessed by the gems
of friendship…I have with
each of you.
Thank you for looking beyond
my clay vessel.
–Author unknown
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