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QUALITY OF LIFE ALWAYS SURPASSES QUANTITY OF LIFE!
- Ronald Bainbridge
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
Updated: Apr 11
The Stories we shall be
sharing with you,
Centre around:
(Real People, Real Events, Real Places)
(Stories of: Real People, Real Events, Real Places
And are dedicated to HELPING
PEOPLE FIND SALVATION, PEACE and HOPE
Through entering a personal Relationship
With Jesus Christ, who declared,
“In this world you will have trouble,
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
(John 10:10; 14:1-6)
(16:33; Acts 2:36-47
TODAY’S MESSAGE OF
QUALITY OF LIFE
ALWAYS SURPASSES
QUANTITY OF LIFE!
Friend, on Thursday, June 30, 2004, a major newspaper here in Western Australia carried the story of the death of Mattie Stepanek under the heading of “America mourns boy poet who gave peace a chance.” This often-ebullient boy, both wise and mischievous, was one of the most widely read poets during the late 20th Century and early 21st Century.
Three of his five books made the New York Times bestseller list. Oprah Winfrey made him famous. Former United States president Jimmy Carter made him a friend. Both attended the funeral of Mattie Stepanek.
On Monday, June 28, 2004, more than 1,000 people filled a church building in Wheaton, Maryland, to say goodbye to a 13-year-old who had every reason to complain about life but did not.
In his eulogy, Mr Carter told the congregation that throughout his long and varied public life, which had included shaking millions of hands, travelling to more than 120 countries, and knowing kings and queens, presidents and prime ministers, Mattie was the most extraordinary person he had known. Mr Carter spoke of Mattie’s devotion to peace. “He was deeply aware of global affairs,” he said.
The “Why me?” question never occurred to Mattie! There was no real answer that came to him. “Why not me?” he said. He made his goal not to receive a miracle and certainly not to wallow in self-pity but to use his life productively.
As a tribute to a young man who was mature beyond his years, here is his poem “Making Real Sense of the Senses” (from Heartsongs, New York: VSP Books/Hyperion, 2001). Mattie wrote this poem when he was only 5 years old!
“Our eyes are for looking at things,
But they are also for crying,
When we are very happy or very sad!
Our ears are for listening.
But so are our hearts.
Our noses are for smelling food
But also, the wind and the grass and
If we try very hard, butterflies.
Our hands are for feeling,
But also, for hugging and touching so gently!
Our mouths and tongues are for tasting.
But also, for saying words, like
“I love you,” and
“Thank you, God, for all of these things.”
Friend, as you reflect on the sentiments expressed in this poem, written by Mattie Stepanek, I sincerely hope that you too, will want to pray with me, “Thank you, God, for allowing us to have Mattie for a while. And thank you for the reminder that quality counts far more than the quantity of our lives here on earth. May each of us genuinely offer up a “heart song” today and be part of the chorus of your people that sings the praise of your name throughout the earth!
“Remember to look at your glass half full
And not half empty. A lot of my strength
Comes from God! God has given me a gift –
The gift of life – and it’s amazing that I live
Each day!”
(Mattie Stepanek)
Mattie Stepanek on Larry King Live
To hear and view this ~Video~
Please click on the link below
Friend, I hope this is a very good day for you! If you would like to write to Discovering A BETTER LIFE, we’d be pleased to hear from you. Our address is:
Unit 49/2 Plantation Street,
Menora, Western Australia 6050
E-mail us at: abl-alb@omninet.net.au
Phone us on: (+61) 0456 538 006
“We are prone to judge success by the index of our salaries
Or the size of our automobiles, rather than by the quality
Of our service and our relationship to humanity!
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929 – 1968)
Friend, it is the quality of your relationship with God
That will enable you to feel Special!
Ron Bainbridge
Co-ordinator of:
We invite you to visit our Social Media Outlets:
"He Was Just Like Me"
A Tribute to Mattie J.T. Stepanek
To hear and view this ~Video~
Please click on the link below
THE PRESIDENT & THE POET
THE JIMMY & MATTIE STORY
To hear and view this ~Video~
Please click on the link below
To hear and view this ~Video~
Please click on the link below
“The world will never be the world they see!”
Oceans! by Hallal Music Acapella
To hear and view this ~Video~
Please click on the link below
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