High heels, sun glasses, flashy T shirts and swanky jeans mark this generation. Beauty tonics are enjoying a sudden spurt of popularity today. About half a century ago this was not the case. People spent their time, energy and money on better things. Their focus was their contribution to the family, society and country. When we complained about papa’s torn shirt in Kodaikanal where we went for holidaying, his matter-of-fact reply was, “Oh, nobody knows me here.” Back at home when he went to the clinic the same way, he would quell our nagging by saying, “Oh, everybody knows me here.” Once in Kodaikanal when he was washing the car, a tourist asked, “Hey driver, can you drop me near the lake?” My father replied, “No,no, Sir. My master will scold me,” Yet he earned the name of a “do-gooder.”
My mother’s father once visited her. My father went to receive him at the railway station. He checked the fi rst and second class compartments and returned ome only to find he had reached home before him. His explanation was, “There was no fourth class and so I came by the third class.” He became a minister in the then Madras state.
Our former and late chief minister Kamaraj Nadar was known for his spartan lifestyle. Once when he was wearing his thundu (shoulder cloth) on the wrong side, his associates pestered him for the reason. His casual reply was, “I just wanted to hide the hole in my shirt.” These were great souls whose thinking was high and living simple. Mahatma means, ‘The great soul.’ It is a worthy title for the father of our nation, Gandhi, who moved history in a positive direction. How many of us would dare emulate him?
John the Baptist was a noble soul for whom nothing mattered other than to give the clarion call for the coming Messiah. He was greatest among those born of women, yet practiced frugal living. He taught us to be content with what we have. Samuel, the great prophet was honoured by all Israel. Yet when Saul caught hold of the hem of his rob, the old, wornout robe tore (I Sam 15 : 27). Prophets of old were known for their simplicity, humility and boldness.
People laid their possession at the Apostles’ feet. If Peter were alive today he can be traveling in a limousine. But Peter was walking on the street(Acts 5 : 15).
Jesus lived an austere life and taught us the same. He mingled with the common folk, sat with them and taught them without a pulpit. He walked the dusty roads of Jerusalem. And what lofty thinking His was! He said we should serve and not be served; that leaders should be servants. “Better to be a nobody” (simple living) “and yet have a servant” (high achievement) “than to be somebody” (high living) “and have no food” (low achievement) says the wise man(Prov 12:9; 13:4). It is not about a successful life but a worthy life. You are upwardly mobile. Good. For what purpose? Have clear objectives.
Are you thinking high? Are you mainly concerned with self-aggrandisement or is your focus “others”? Are you chasing thrills, wealth, titles or fame? “He who serves his brother best, gets nearer to God than all the rest” said Alexander Pope.
“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth”(Eccl 7:1). Good name does not come by the scent you spray on yourself.
It comes by your lofty ideals in life. What matters is not being applauded when you arrive, but being missed when you leave. People rejoicing at your birth is not great but a sorrowing crowd on your departure says it all. It devotes a life well lived with a purpose in a dog-eat-dog world. So think about what you can do for others rather that what they can do for you. Many of Jesus’ disciples were today we-live-tomorrow-we-go men. But Jesus influenced their thinking and changed their altitude. They became “world-turners.” Lay down your aspirations at the feet of the Lord and seek His touch so that your thinking will become high as His and your life simple as His. Read what Paul says about himself : “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourself know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said :
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20 : 33-35).
It is crystal clear that Paul earned more than he needed and spent the extra money for his weak companions. Note his superior principles of hard work and service. A person’s true worth is not what he thinks or feels bur how he uses his thoughts and feelings to help others. Research shows that happiest people tend to think of others, not just themselves. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said : “We make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give.” Are we making a living or making a life? George Washington Carver says about death : “One of the things that has helped me as much as any other is not, ‘When am I going to die?’ but ‘How much can I do while I am alive.” About him it is said, “He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.”
Live Simple, Think Highly!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, 8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
High heels, sun glasses, flashy T shirts and swanky jeans mark this generation. Beauty tonics are enjoying a sudden spurt of popularity today. About half a century ago this was not the case. People spent their time, energy and money on better things. Their focus was their contribution to the family, society and country. When we complained about papa’s torn shirt in Kodaikanal where we went for holidaying, his matter-of-fact reply was, “Oh, nobody knows me here.” Back at home when he went to the clinic the same way, he would quell our nagging by saying, “Oh, everybody knows me here.” Once in Kodaikanal when he was washing the car, a tourist asked, “Hey driver, can you drop me near the lake?” My father replied, “No,no, Sir. My master will scold me,” Yet he earned the name of a “do-gooder.”
My mother’s father once visited her. My father went to receive him at the railway station. He checked the fi rst and second class compartments and returned ome only to find he had reached home before him. His explanation was, “There was no fourth class and so I came by the third class.” He became a minister in the then Madras state.
Our former and late chief minister Kamaraj Nadar was known for his spartan lifestyle. Once when he was wearing his thundu (shoulder cloth) on the wrong side, his associates pestered him for the reason. His casual reply was, “I just wanted to hide the hole in my shirt.” These were great souls whose thinking was high and living simple. Mahatma means, ‘The great soul.’ It is a worthy title for the father of our nation, Gandhi, who moved history in a positive direction. How many of us would dare emulate him?
John the Baptist was a noble soul for whom nothing mattered other than to give the clarion call for the coming Messiah. He was greatest among those born of women, yet practiced frugal living. He taught us to be content with what we have. Samuel, the great prophet was honoured by all Israel. Yet when Saul caught hold of the hem of his rob, the old, wornout robe tore (I Sam 15 : 27). Prophets of old were known for their simplicity, humility and boldness.
People laid their possession at the Apostles’ feet. If Peter were alive today he can be traveling in a limousine. But Peter was walking on the street(Acts 5 : 15).
Jesus lived an austere life and taught us the same. He mingled with the common folk, sat with them and taught them without a pulpit. He walked the dusty roads of Jerusalem. And what lofty thinking His was! He said we should serve and not be served; that leaders should be servants. “Better to be a nobody” (simple living) “and yet have a servant” (high achievement) “than to be somebody” (high living) “and have no food” (low achievement) says the wise man(Prov 12:9; 13:4). It is not about a successful life but a worthy life. You are upwardly mobile. Good. For what purpose? Have clear objectives.
Are you thinking high? Are you mainly concerned with self-aggrandisement or is your focus “others”? Are you chasing thrills, wealth, titles or fame? “He who serves his brother best, gets nearer to God than all the rest” said Alexander Pope.
“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth”(Eccl 7:1). Good name does not come by the scent you spray on yourself.
It comes by your lofty ideals in life. What matters is not being applauded when you arrive, but being missed when you leave. People rejoicing at your birth is not great but a sorrowing crowd on your departure says it all. It devotes a life well lived with a purpose in a dog-eat-dog world. So think about what you can do for others rather that what they can do for you. Many of Jesus’ disciples were today we-live-tomorrow-we-go men. But Jesus influenced their thinking and changed their altitude. They became “world-turners.” Lay down your aspirations at the feet of the Lord and seek His touch so that your thinking will become high as His and your life simple as His. Read what Paul says about himself : “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourself know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said :
“It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20 : 33-35).
It is crystal clear that Paul earned more than he needed and spent the extra money for his weak companions. Note his superior principles of hard work and service. A person’s true worth is not what he thinks or feels bur how he uses his thoughts and feelings to help others. Research shows that happiest people tend to think of others, not just themselves. Former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill said : “We make a living by what we get, but make a life by what we give.” Are we making a living or making a life? George Washington Carver says about death : “One of the things that has helped me as much as any other is not, ‘When am I going to die?’ but ‘How much can I do while I am alive.” About him it is said, “He could have added fortune to fame, but caring for neither he found happiness and honour in being helpful to the world.”
Live Simple, Think Highly!
Dr. Lilian Stanley
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91 9843511943
lilianstanley@gmail.com
Blessing Youth Mission
13 Church Colony
Vellore 632006, India
+91-416-2242943, +91-416-2248943
hq@bymonline.org
www.bymonline.org
Click here for more options
To buy books written by Dr. Lilian Stanley, kindly reach to us in the follwing address
Blessing Literature Centre
21/11 West Coovam River Road,
Chintadripet,
Chennai 600 002, India.
+91-44-28450411, Mob:8806270699
blc@bymonline.org
