LIFE, LOVE AND LAUGHTER - might be of interest

[Maureen K Clifford]

EVERYONE NEEDS A LIFE FULL OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER –
YOU JUST HAVE TO DO WHAT YOU CAN TO ACHIEVE IT


Nothing is hopeless
if we are sustained by faith
and do what we can

Maureen Clifford © 10/11





This is a story not about me but another person, someone who has done the hard yards well and truly in her own life but who is now doing something positive towards promoting new beginnings for not just herself, but also for other people whose lives have over the past few years been ravaged by natural disasters across our country. Her own story is inspirational enough but she has reached out with compassion to others to help them tell their stories and let their voices be heard.

She is seeking stories and poems from people who have also gone through these disasters for a series of inspirational books that will inspire the heart and rekindle the soul. Books that will tell the human stories behind the Floods, Fires and Cyclones, that have hit our country. Your stories.

As a gesture of faith to pay it forward - upon publishing each book, once a year 10% of the profit made from that book will be donated to various plights surrounding the books topic

Her name is Bernadette – but she prefers to be called Bern and you can find out more here -

http://www.lifelovelaughterink.com/index.html

She says - Who am I? I am one person making a difference! Who are you? You are the second person making a difference!


Bern attached this inspirational story to her new web site – such a simple philosophy but such a powerful result



One day a terrible fire broke out in a forest and a large amount of the woodlands was suddenly engulfed by a raging wild fire. Frightened, all the animals fled their homes and ran out of the forest. As they came to the edge of a stream, they stopped to watch the fire.

The group were feeling very discouraged and powerless. They were all bemoaning the destruction of their homes. Every one of them thought there was nothing they could do about the fire…. except for one little hummingbird.

This particular hummingbird decided it would do something. It swooped into the stream, picked up a few drops of water and went into the forest to put them on the fire. Then it went back to the stream and did it again. It kept going back, again and again and again. All the other animals watched in disbelief; some tried to even discourage the hummingbird with comments like, "Don't bother, it is too much, you are too little, your wings will burn, your beak is too tiny, it's only a drop, you can't put out this fire."And as the animals stood around disparaging the little bird's efforts, the bird noticed how hopeless and forlorn they looked.


Then one of the animals shouted out and challenged the hummingbird in a mocking voice, "What do you think you are doing?" And the hummingbird, without wasting time or losing a beat, looked back and said, "I am doing what I can."



Like the hummingbird, we each must do what we can. Imagine, if everyone put one drop of water, on one cause every day….Imagine what we could do to build that better world we all dream about. Just imagine!

If this has inspired you to make a new beginning either in your own life or for someone else then you can check out more on Bern’s new site

Bern welcomes all submissions and thanks ABPA members for taking the time to read about her challenge.



Cheers

Maureen