I know it's long, but just read it . . .

The story goes that some time ago a man punished his 5-year-old
daughter for wasting a roll of expensive gold wrapping paper. Money was
tight and he became even more upset when the child pasted the gold paper
so as to decorate a box to put under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless,
the little girl brought the gift box to her father the next morning and
said, "This is for you, Daddy." The father was embarrassed by his
earlier over reaction, but his anger flared again when he found the box
was empty. He spoke to her in a harsh manner, "Don't you know, young
lady, when you give someone a present there's supposed to be something
inside the package?"

The little girl looked up at him with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh
Daddy, it's not empty. I blew kisses into it until it was full." The
father was crushed. He fell on his knees and put his arms around this
little girl, and he begged her to forgive him for his unnecessary anger.


An accident took the life of the child only a short time later and it is
told that the father kept that gold box by his bed for all the years of
his life. And whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems he
would open the box and take out an imaginary kiss and remember the love
of the child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us as human beings have been given a
golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our
children,family and friends. There is no more precious possession
anyone could hold.

Friends are like angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have
trouble remembering how to fly. Think positive and act. This is nice
finding something positive out of every negative, which we don't always
manage to do.

I am thankful....

For the partner who snores all night, because he is at home asleep with
me and not with someone else.

For the taxes that I pay, because it means that I am employed.

For the clothes that fit a little too snug, because it means I have
enough to eat.

For my shadow that watches me work, because it means I am out in the
sunshine.

For a floor that needs mopping, and windows that need cleaning, because
it means I have a home.

For all the complaining I hear about the government, because it means
that we have freedom of speech.

For the parking spot I find at the far end of the parking lot, because
it means I am capable of walking and that have been blessed with
transportation.

For the pile of laundry and ironing, because it means I have clothes to
wear.

For weariness and aching muscles at the end of the day, because it means
I have been capable of working hard.

For the alarm that goes off in the early morning hours, because it means
that I am alive.

And lastly...

For too much e-mail, because it means I have friends who are thinking of
me.

THINK POSITIVE!!