Inspirational articles from Living Life Fully--The Price Is Right by Zig Ziglar

The Price Is Right
Zig Ziglar

In the days of yesteryear a Chinese rice farmer was working at his hilltop farm. He saw the ocean swiftly withdraw from the shore, much like a huge animal crouching just before it pounces on its prey. He instinctively knew that a huge tidal wave would quickly follow. Seeing his neighbors working in their fields by the seashore and knowing their only means of escape was to run to the hills, he set fire to his rice field and then furiously rang the temple bell as a warning to them. From the seashore his neighbors saw the fire and rushed to help him. From the safety of his hilltop, they watched the water as it swirled over the fields they had just left. They knew their safety had been bought at a price. Do we ever reflect on what has been bought for us at a price? Our freedom was bought at a price. Lincoln paid for the freeing of slaves with his life. Many of us enjoy things today that were bought at a price. Some of the best-educated people in America today got that way because from the time they were born, their parents set aside money on a regular basis to pay for their education. Many of us enjoy good health because scientists have spent time in laboratories researching and finding drugs and medicines that improve our health.
The list is endless. But do we ever take time to write a note, make a phone call, or otherwise express appreciation to those who bought our pleasures and luxuries with their own sacrifice? You would be amazed at the response you will get if you do. The recipient of your compliment will be delighted, and you will feel even better than the recipient does. Something as simple as a smile can bring amazing results. When you smile at someone, he or she spontaneously smiles back. Even people who might have frowns on their faces, who are desperately in need of a smile, will usually return yours. They'll feel better because of their own smile, which came as a result of your smiling at them. You'll feel better in the process. As the old saying goes, "A smile is a little curve that sets a lot of things straight." Give it a try, and you'll be glad you did.
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I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I
can do, or any kindness that I can show to a fellow creature, let me do
it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.

Stephen Grellet
(also attributed to William Penn)

One has made at least a start on discovering the meaning of
human life when one plants shade trees under which one
knows full well one will never sit.

Elton Trueblood

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