Gentle Words of Encouragement

Spend every day preparing for the next.
As you reach forward with one hand, accept the
advice of those who have gone before you, and in the
same manner, reach back with the other hand to those
who follow you, for life is a fragile chain of
experiences held together by love. Take pride in being a
strong link in that chain. Discipline yourself, but do
not be harsh. The pleasures of life are yours to be taken.
Share them with others, but always remember that
you, too, have earned the right to partake.

Know those who love you; love is the finest of all gifts
and is received only to be given. Embrace those who
truly love you; for they are few in a lifetime...

Then return that love tenfold, radiating it from your
heart to fill their lives, as sunlight warms the darkest
corners of the earth. Love is a journey, not a destination.
Travel its path daily. Do this and your troubles
will be as fleeting as footprints in the sand. When
loneliness is your companion and all about you seem
to be gone, pause and listen, for the sound of
loneliness is silence, and in silence , we hear best.
Listen well, and your moments of silence will always
be broken by the gentle words of encouragement
spoken by those of us who love you.

Tim Murtaugh