Wednesday, May 7, 2008

~Thankful Thursday~



Psalms 1: 1-3

1 Happy are those who don't listen to the wicked, who don't go where sinners go,
who don't do what evil people do.
2 They love the Lord's teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night.
3 They are strong, like a tree planted by a river. The tree produces fruit in season,
and its leaves don't die. Everything they do will succeed.

Inspiration - "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches! The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly.So I asked, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!" This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you. Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day.

Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... "Love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't."

Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!

It's sad that so many people go through life being angry for whatever reason. Sometimes we've probably done the very same thing or let the way someone acted affect us negatively. Life is too short short to wake up with regrets. If it is hard to pray for the people who treat you badly at first. I think you will find that after a while this may change.

Lord, I thank you for each day that you give me. Help me make the most of it. Help me to use my time wisely. Help me to love the way that you love and to be strong in my faith. Lord, I pray that others see you in me.

Thankful Thursday is hosted by Iris at Sting My Heart.

10 comments:

Mary said...

Cheryl,

I have been going through a time of tribulation and want to thank you for your inspirational message.

Today I am thankful for choice - the choice to smile and wave instead of being a garbage truck.

Blessings,
Mary

Denise said...

Thank you for this inspiring post, be blessed.

i said...

This is a great post. Really inspiring. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous said...

thanks for sharing your beautiful and inspiring list of TT. God bless!

Melanie said...

Cheryl, Thank you so much for the reminder you shared with us through your post. I'm fearful that I share my garbage with others more than I should. Definitely something I do not want to do... I needed this reminder today.

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Anonymous said...

How wonderful is the attitude of that taxi driver! I love that illustration.

Darlene said...

Wonderful post! Thanks for sharing. I love the colors on you page.
Have a great weekend!

Cheryl said...

I have read this and loved it! I love the scripture you used. BTW you have such a lovely name. I really love the way you spell it!hahaha Happy Thankful Thursday! God Bless~

eph2810 said...

Oh, Cheryl - I love the story of the garbage truck. I have to remember that when I am getting discouraged by life around me.

Thank you so much for sharing your grateful heart with us.

Blessings to you and yours...

Anonymous said...

Thanks for posting this great story! My name is Chris, and I work with David J. Pollay, the author of The Law of the Garbage Truck™ - Beware of Garbage Trucks™! I just wanted to stop by and let you know that you can read the original story on David’s blog davidjpollay.typepad.com I know he’d love to have you stop by!

Also check out the video of people in New York City taking the No Garbage Trucks!™ Pledge: bewareofgarbagetrucks.com. It’s pretty cool.

Thanks again!

Chris

chris@bewareofgarbagetrucks.com