Perseverance can make miracles happen!

An eight-year-old child heard her parents talking about her little
brother. All she knew was that he was very sick and they had no
money left. They were moving to a smaller house because they could
not afford to stay in the present house after paying the doctor's bills.
Only a very costly surgery could save him now and there was no one
to loan them the money.
When she heard her daddy say to her tearful mother with whispered
desperation, 'Only a miracle can save him now', the little girl went to
her bedroom and pulled her piggy bank from its hiding place in the
closet. She poured all the change out on the floor and counted it
carefully.
Clutching the precious piggy bank tightly, she slipped out the back
door and made her way six blocks to the local drugstore. She took a
quarter from her bank and placed it on the glass counter.
"And what do you want?" asked the pharmacist.
"It's for my little brother," the girl answered back. "He's really very sick
and I want to buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.
"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his
head and my daddy says only a miracle can save him. So how much
does a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, child. I'm sorry," the pharmacist said,
smiling sadly at the little girl.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I can try and
get some more. Just tell me how much it costs."
In the shop was a well-dressed customer. He stooped down and
asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does you brother need?"
"I don't know," she replied with her eyes welling up. "He's really sick
and mommy says he needs an operation. But my daddy can't pay for
it, so I have brought my savings".
"How much do you have?" asked the man.
"One dollar and eleven cents; but I can try and get some more", she
answered barely audibly.
"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man, "A dollar and eleven
cents - the exact price of a miracle for little brothers."
He took her money in one hand and held her hand with the other. He
said, "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet
your parents. Let's see if I have the kind of miracle you need."
That well-dressed man was Dr Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon,
specialising in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed without
charge and it wasn't long before Andrew was home again and doing
well.
"That surgery," her mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder
how much it would have cost."
The little girl smiled. She knew exactly how much the miracle cost ...
one dollar and eleven cents ... plus the faith of a little child.
Perseverance can make miracles happen!

Abraham Lincoln's Letter to Headmaster

A letter written by Abraham Lincoln to the Headmaster of a school in
which his son was studying. It contains an advice, which is still
relevant today for executives, workers, teachers, parents and
students.

"A WORD TO TEACHERS"

"He will have to learn, I know, that all men are not just and are not
true. But teach him if you can the wonder of books... but also give him
quiet time to ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in
the sun and flowers on a green hillside.
In school, teach him it is far more honorable to fall than to cheat...
Teach to have faith in his own ideas, even if everyone tells him he is
wrong.
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people and tough with the tough.
Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd when
everyone getting on the bandwagon...
Teach him to listen to all men; but teach him also to filter all he hears
on a screen of truth, and take only the good that comes through.
Teach him, if you can how to laugh when he is sad... Teach him there
is no shame in tears.
Teach him to scoff at cynics and to be aware of too much sweetness.
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to highest bidders, but never to
put a price on his heart and soul. Teach him to close his ears to a
howling mob... and stand and fight if thinks he is right.
Treat him gently, but do not cuddle him, because only the test of fire
makes fine steel. Let him have the courage to be impatient. Let him
have the patience to be brave. Teach him always to have sublime
faith in himself, because then he will have faith in humankind.
This is a big order, but see what you can do. He is such a fine little
fellow my son!

"Abraham Lincoln"