Two short stories with LIFE Lessons for reflection

1. Story To
Reflect
Upon 151
Seven Wonders of the World
A teacher once asked her class of 8-year old children to list down what
they think are the present Seven Wonders Of The World. After some
time the teacher collected the papers. There were some similarities as
well as areas of disagreement. She went through the lists and found
that the most popular ones were:
* The Great Wall Of China
* The Taj Mahal
* The Pyramids of Egypt
* The Grand Canyon
* The Eiffel Tower
* The Statue of Liberty
* The Niagara Falls
The teacher then noticed that one girl had not passed up her list. She
appeared to be still thinking. The teacher approached her and asked,
“Sweetie, haven’t you decided on the Seven Wonders Of The World?”
The girl said, “Teacher, there are so many and it’s difficult to decide.”
“Never mind,” the teacher said. “Tell us. Perhaps we can help.”
The girl hesitated and then said, “I think the Seven Wonders Of The
World are:
* To See * To Hear * To Smell * To Taste
* To Touch * To Think * To Love
The teacher and the whole class were amazed at the profound answers
of the girl.
Reflections
* We take for granted many ‘ordinary’ things which are truly
wondrous.
* There are many things which truly important and matter the
most in life – love, kindness, compassion, wisdom and
understand. These can be developed through the proper use of
our senses and mind.

2. Story To
Reflect
Upon 152
Bag Of Cookies
A woman bought a book and a bag of cookies from an airport
shop. She found a place to sit while waiting for her flight which
was a couple of hours due. Sitting next to her was a middle-aged
man , a stranger. She started to read the book. As she read her
book, she dipped her hand inside the bag of cookies placed
between her and the stranger. She started to munch one by one at
each cookie and at the same time was engrossed at the book.
Despite the fact that she was at her book, somehow, she knew that
each time she took out a cookie from the cookie bag, the stranger
also grabbed one to munch. “This is too much,” she thought to
herself. “The stranger is stealing from my cookie bag.” However
she chose to ignore the matter even though she could feel her anger
and irritation rising. This went on until only one cookie was left in
the bag. “Now let’s see what he’d do,” the woman thought
furiously. The stranger took out the last cookie, broke it into two
and offered one half to the woman. She snatched the half cookie
with anger amounting at what she considered the height of
rudeness on the part of the stranger. Soon it was time for her to
board the plane. She marched off without looking at the thieving
ingrate.
When she boarded the plane and took her seat, she, to her great
shock, found that her cookie bag was in her hand luggage. Only
then did she realize, the cookies she had been eating were actually
from the cookie bag belonging to the stranger who had been so
kind to share them with her. She had mindlessly put her own
cookie bag into her hand luggage. It was too late for her to
apologize to the stranger. She was the rude one, the ingrate, the
thief.
Reflection
* Sometimes we react in ill will and anger to a happening thinking it is due
to the wrong of another. Later we realize that the mistake is ours.
* The trained mind takes things calmly and does not react negatively. It
investigates and resolves any ‘conflict’ peacefully.