Motivation Mondays: The Greatest Gift
“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which is why we call it the present”” Bill Keane
Motivation Mondays: The Greatest Gift – Love Your Life!
The greatest gifts you can give your children are the roots of responsibility and the wings of independence. Denis Waitley
I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath;I am the memory of a moment of happiness; I am the last gift of the living to the dead;I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow. Khalil Gibran
Here’s what I tell anybody and this is what I believe. The greatest gift we have is the gift of life. We understand that. That comes from our Creator. We’re given a body. Now you may not like it, but you can maximize that body the best it can be maximized. Mike Ditka
Love is so unconditional; love liberates; love is the reason why I do what I do, and so I think it is the greatest gift we have. BeBe Winans
What is the Greatest Gift? Sure, we’re beneficiaries of many gifts; however, if you asked ten or more people about their greatest gift on any given day, you’d probably get as many answers as the folks quoted throughout this post. All answers have merit, and each of us will bring our beliefs and life experiences to bear when we answer the question. However, the key point is that, regardless of what we think or believe is the greatest gift, we don’t need to quibble over one simple fact: the gift of life opens the door to all the others. Without life, we don’t get a chance to experience love, friendship, family, health, courage, forgiveness, independence, inspiration, and many other gifts that come with each breath we take on this planet. Life comes before all the other gifts, and we can choose to express gratitude for it or take it for granted. Today, the present is our gift of breath, and we can give it great currency by making the best of each moment. With the gift of life comes the opportunity to create lasting memories with others, especially with our loved ones. Enjoy the story below….
A Father’s Special Gift
Years ago, there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art collecting. Together they traveled around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet and many others adorned the walls of the family estate.
The widowed elder man looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world. As winter approached, war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country.
After only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son was missing in action. The art collector anxiously awaited more news, fearing he would never see his son again. Within days, his fears were confirmed, the young man had died while carrying a fellow soldier to a medic. Contd below
“The greatest gift in life is to be remembered.” Ken Venturi
Motivation Mondays: The Greatest Gift – Love Your Life!
Inspiration is the greatest gift because it opens your life to many new possibilities. Each day becomes more meaningful, and your life is enhanced when your actions are guided by what inspires you. Bernie Siegel
One of the greatest gifts I’ve ever gotten is my daughter. Ace Frehley
Helping others isn’t a chore; it is one of the greatest gifts there is. Liya Kebede
It’s one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself, to forgive. Forgive everybody. Maya Angelou
What motivates us to create Memories? Yesterday, I wrote about the special gifts of renewal we receive during Easter season and how it is a time of rebirth and an opportunity to start afresh again. Whether we celebrate Easter or not, this month wraps up the first quarter of the year; it’s a good time to take stock of our goals and dreams and see where we are on our journey. This is also a great time to look at our lives and consider the memories we are creating and whether they align with our heart’s dreams and goals. We create memories through our interactions with others. Some memories are loving,g and others are harsh lessons, but all of our memories help us remember our connections with others and add to our treasure box of gifts that we bequeath to our loved ones when we leave this planet. So, what treasured memories are you creating with those you cherish today? Every day?
STORY CONTD
Distraught and lonely, the old man continued his life with anguish and sadness. The joy of art collecting, that he and his son had so enjoyed, would no longer be the same.
One winter morning a knock on the door awakened the depressed, old man. As he walked to the door, the masterpieces of art on the walls only reminded him that his son was not coming home. As he opened the door, he was greeted by a soldier with a large package in his hands. He introduced himself to the man by saying, “I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. May I come in for a few moments? I have something to show you.”
As the two began to talk, the soldier told of how the man’s son had told everyone of his, not to mention his father’s, love of fine art. “I am an artist,” said the soldier, “and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son. Though the world would never consider it the work of a genius, the painting featured the young man’s face in striking detail. Overcome with emotion, the man thanked the soldier, promising to hang the picture above the fireplace. A few hours later, after the soldier had departed, the old man set about his task. True to his word, the painting went above the fireplace, pushing aside thousands of dollars’ worth of art. His task completed, the old man sat in his chair and spent the rest of the day gazing at the gift he had been given.
“Love’s greatest gift is its ability to make everything it touches sacred.” Barbara de Angelis
Motivation Mondays: The Greatest Gift – Love Your Life!
The greatest gift of life is friendship, and I have received it. Hubert H. Humphrey
Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the best relationship. Buddha
The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance. Brian Tracy
Surprise is the greatest gift which life can grant us. Boris Pasternak
How do You Share Your Gratitude & Gifts? As is customary in my family, we exchange goodwill and blessings throughout the year and especially during special holidays; this Easter was no different. Since we all live around the globe, we use email and other ways to communicate. One of my sisters shared a story with us yesterday, and it got me thinking about this post. You have probably read the story whose author is unknown, and when I searched for it online, it came up under several different titles. I have shared the story throughout this post, and I hope you will take a moment to read it and reflect on its deeper message. Did it resonate with you? You are free to interpret it any way you wish … it is up to you. One thing that is clear in the story is a father’s love for his precious son. It reminds us to value the life we have, love beyond Valentine’s, and cherish the lives of those around us. We should never take our gift of life and love for granted.
STORY CONTD
During the days and weeks that followed, the man realized that even though his son was no longer with him, the boy’s life would live on because of those he had touched. Over time, he learned that his son had rescued dozens of wounded soldiers before a bullet stilled his caring heart.
As the stories of his son’s gallantry continued to reach him, fatherly pride and satisfaction began to ease his grief. The painting of his son soon became the most prized possession, far eclipsing any interest in the pieces for which museums around the world clamored. He told his neighbors it was the greatest gift he had ever received.
The following spring, the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation that with the collector’s passing, and his only son dead, those paintings would be sold at auction. According to the will of the old man, all of the art works would be auctioned off on the anniversary of the day he had received the greatest gift, the picture of his son.
The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for February and March 2016 are:
02/01 – VALENTINE’S DAY–
02/08 – CHINESE NEW YEAR –
02/15 – PRESIDENTS’ DAY – third Monday of the month –
02/22 – PAIN –
02/29 – LEAP YEAR –
03/07 – 8 International Women’s Day – 3/1-31, Women’s History Month
03/14 – 13 Daylight Saving Time Begins at 2:00 a.m., 15, Ides of March, 17, St. Patrick’s Day –
03/21 – 19 International Earth Hour – 20 International Day Of Happiness, Palm Sunday, Spring (Vernal) Equinox, –
03/28 – 23 Purim begins at sundown, 25 Good Friday, 27 Easter Sunday
Are You Looking for Ways to Stay Creative in 2016?
– Join the Daily Post Post-a-day or Post-a-week Challenge.
— Join the BlogHer Writing Lab
More Below!
“Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit.” Khalil Gibran
Motivation Mondays: The Greatest Gift – Love Your Life!
The greatest gift is a portion of thyself. Ralph Waldo Emerson
My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me. Jim Valvano
I believe that the greatest gift you can give your family and the world is a healthy you. Joyce Meyer
I think that the greatest gift God ever gave man is not the gift of sight but the gift of vision. Sight is a function of the eyes, but vision is a function of the heart. Myles Munroe
How do you Love Your Life? At the end of the day, we can choose to stay motivated to live and love our lives to the best of our ability. We all face challenges, and there is no “perfect” life. As I shared, it has been known by several titles: The Painting, Portrait of the Man’s Son, The Painting: “The Son,” The Chapel, and others. Another key message from this story is that each life is a gift and an opportunity to create our vision of perfection through our effort and our ability to get back up when life throws us curveballs. Appreciating our gift of life, sharing our gratitude for all who help make our life joyful, and harnessing our ability to love life are ways we can show how much we value our gift to ourselves and others… Let’s make the best of it. Know that you are loved… as you are. Cherish your life.
STORY CONTD
The day soon arrived and art collectors from around the world gathered to bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. Dreams would be fulfilled this day; greatness would be achieved as many would claim, ‘I have the greatest collection.’
The auction began with a painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid but the room was silent. “Who will open the bidding with $100?” he asked. Minutes passed, and no one spoke. From the back of the room came a voice, “Who cares about that painting? It’s just a picture of his son.” “Let’s forget about it and move on to the good stuff,’ more voices echoed in agreement.
‘No, we have to sell this one first,” replied the auctioneer. “Now, who will take the son?’ Finally, a neighbor of the old man spoke. ‘Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That’s all I have. I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.” ‘I have ten dollars. Will anyone go higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence, the auctioneer said, ‘Going once, going twice, gone.” The gavel fell.
Cheers filled the room and someone exclaimed, ‘Now we can get on with it and bid on the real treasures!” The auctioneer looked at the audience and announced that the auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and asked, ‘What do you mean, it’s over? We didn’t come here for a picture of some old guy’s son. What about all of these paintings? There are millions of dollars’ worth of art here! I demand that you explain what is going on!”
The auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father, whoever takes the son… gets it all.”
Kind of puts things into perspective, doesn’t it? Just as those art collectors discovered on that day, the message is still the same: The love of the Father, whose greatest joy came from his Son, who went away and gave his life rescuing others. And because of that Father’s love . . . whoever takes the Son gets it all.”
Author Unknown – This version from my sister and via stisaac.org
Source: Author Unknown story via stisaac.org
Source: Any Zen Antics stories via Goodweb.cn
Positive Motivation Tip: Life is the first and greatest gift; without it, all the others are moot.
Motivation Mondays is open to anyone who wants to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge, or post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a Motivation word to help us create a response. (See listed words for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment, and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the same instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMonday.s Join our page and add your post and/or any motivational piece you think will help others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to complement the page. It’s another place to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.
Badge: I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo-editing tools. You can create your own using WordPress’ integrated tool on your blog, or you can use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM
Related Posts
- Motivation Mondays: Expect the Unexpected (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Women’s History Month (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day #IWD2016 (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: STINKING THINKING #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: PAIN #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Presidents’ Day (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Chinese New Year (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Valentine’s Day Tips (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: OPPOSITES (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: I Have A Dream #MLKDay (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: POSSESSIONS #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: ANEW #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: THE JOURNEY – #YEAROFTHANKS (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: HOLIDAY SPIRIT #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Awareness – Honoring BKS Iyengar’s Memory (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: GIVING SEASON #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: KINDNESS #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Happy Thanksgiving #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Honoring Universal Children’s Day (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Honoring All Veterans (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: LEGACY #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: FEAR #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: COMMUNITY #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: DISCOVERY #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: SMILE #mondaymotivation (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Good Neighbors & Goodwill #GoodNeighborDay (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Partnerships For Peace (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: POSITIVE THINKING (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: LABOR & LITERACY (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: HOPE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: FAILURE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: PURPOSE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: CONTROL (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: TIME (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: GRACE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: WEALTH (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: WORRY (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: FREEDOM (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: TRUST (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: DETERMINATION (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: SACRIFICE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: POSSIBILITIES (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: SIMPLICITY (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Honoring SERVICE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: WHAT’S A WELLNESS, FITNESS, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE? (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: HAPPINESS (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: APPRECIATION (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: MINDFULNESS (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: GROWTH (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: MISTAKES (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: PERFECTION (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: STRENGTH (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: HEALTH (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Responsibility (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Patience Is A Virtue (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: READ – Honoring Dr.Seuss (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: CELEBRATION (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Presidents Day & Leadership (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: LOVE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: ATTITUDE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Comfort Zone (mirthandmotivation.com)
- Motivation Mondays: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Most Inspired Quotes(mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Perspective (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: SILENCE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Regrets (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Joy! (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Compassion (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: The Busy Busy Trap (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Forgiveness (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Acceptance (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: GRATITUDE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Forgiveness (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Courage (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: Dream (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: CHANGE (mirthandmotivation)
- Motivation Mondays: (mirthandmotivation)
- RIP Zig Ziglar: King of Motivation… (mirthandmotivation)
- Reflections: Be The Change… (mirthandmotivation)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: Stories via Zen Stories on Goodweb.cn Quotes via BrainyQuotes, All Photos: Gifts, Love, Family, Health via Pixabay
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
Trackbacks
- Motivation Mondays: YOUTH | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: EARTH DAY | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: OPTIMISM | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Mother’s Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Add Value | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Serendipity | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Encouragement | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Memorial Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays : The United State Of Women #StateofWomen | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Father’s Day #mondaymotivation | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: International Day Of Yoga #Yoga4SDGs #YogaDay | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: SUMMER #mondaymotivation | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Happy 4th Of July – Independence Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Pokémon Go #motivationmonday | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Matters Of The Heart | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: FRIENDSHIP | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: UNITY | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: WINNING | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: RELAXATION | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Women’s Equality Day #Quotes | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: PREPARED | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Labor & Charity | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Universal Values | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: PEACE & GRATITUDE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: DILEMMA | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: AWE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: World Mental Health Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: HABITS | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: United Nations Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: SCARED | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: CROSSROADS | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: SUPERMOON | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: THANKSGIVING | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: LISTEN | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: ABUNDANCE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: HUMAN RIGHTS | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: The Holiday Season | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: What Matters? | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: A NEW START #2017SurvivalTips | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Monday: PERMISSION | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Why Does #MLKDAY Matter? | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Chinese New Year of The Rooster | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Transformation | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: TODAY | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Happy Valentine’s Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Honoring Presidents’ Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: STAY CENTERED | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: International Women’s Day #BeBoldForChange | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: NURTURE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: International Day of Happiness & Spring | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: A QUESTION Of BALANCE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: World Health Day – Depression #LetsTalk | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Reflections On Easter & Passover | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Earth Day for Environmental & Climate Literacy | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Live Life Fully | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: REST | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Celebrate Mother’s Day! #mothersday | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: EXPECTATIONS | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: BREATHE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Honoring Memorial Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: MODERATION | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Father’s Day Matters | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Relief or Relieved? | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: PERSEVERANCE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Dream BIGGER – Independence Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: MINDSET – #WorldPopulationDay | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: ANGER | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: PARENTING | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Revisiting Friendship | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Life Is a GIFT | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: ASK | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: ECLIPSE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: STRUGGLE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: LABOR of LOVE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Patriot Day – Remembering 9/11 | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: STAY STEADFAST | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Suicide Prevention Awareness Month | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: SAILING | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: PERCEPTION | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: LOYALTY | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: UN Day – Transcend Differences | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Overcoming Adversity | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Be GRATEFUL | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: THANKFUL | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: GIVING BACK | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Monday: HUBRIS | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: PRESCIENCE | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: MORAL COMPASS | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Cherish Christmas & Holidays | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Happy New Year | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Stumbling Blocks | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Walk in the Light #MLKDay | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Own It! | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Disrupt Your Paradigms | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Heart Of Transitions | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Beyond Valentine’s Day | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: Black Panther Movie Review – Lessons On Leadership | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: 21 Inspiring Yoga Quotes & Poems #YogaDay2019 | Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: ECLIPSE - Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: MODERATION - Mirth and Motivation
- Motivation Mondays: NURTURE - Mirth and Motivation
Friendship is a great gift, but motherhood is an even better one. I would give up all friends to have my kids.
LOVE that story! I did not see that coming. I have to agree with Buddha on this one – For me, health is the greatest gift.
Your post does make you think. I enjoyed the read and the pictures.
That’s a very touching story about the father and son. I love the quote about the past future and present. It really is very true. We should cherish each day.
your thoughts are always very inspiring!!
What an inspirational post. I try to focus on gratitude every day even for the smallest things.
I like the idea of taking stock of your goals around Easter. It might even be easier to make certain changes because of the big changes in weather and scenery.
Great post. Sharing my gratitude is sometimes hard. I try to always remember to, but often during the busiest times – the holidays – I get stressed and it just does not happen. Thanks for the great post and the reminders!
I have to admit. I didin’t read a thing, I just hung out and looked at your images. OMGosh I love them all!
I love the story of the man and his son. He cherished his son more than his art.
Thanks for sharing the message about the gift of life. I have just watched news this morning regarding a person who saved the life of another when he saw the child was ran over by a vehicle on the road. He sent him to the hospital and luckily he survived.
The greatest gift for me is love and the unconditional love between a mother and her child.
I would have to agree wholeheartedly. The answer is definitely: children. The are the most precious and priceless gift I have ever had! Thank you for the reminder.
You really write some eye opening posts. I never really thought about things that way until now. As for that first quote about today being a gift which is why we call it “present” is something I never thought about either.
I love mondays, each monday feels to my like the 1st of January, It a great day to start anything you set your mind to!.
I always look forward to your motivational Monday posts
Independence is one of the key things that I am trying to teach my toddler son!
Waking up every single day with a peaceful mind is the greatest gift I cherish a lot
and I derive satisfaction by sharing warm kindness and adding value to peoples’ lives.
What a powerful story of humanity over greed. Have a good week Eliz 😀
Yes I agree you need to forgive and forget especially to those people who hurt you, thanks for the beautiful quotes
The Greatest Gift – Love Your Life! I do agree with this and I do embrace this!!!
Life is indeed the best gift God has given us! Every day brings new experiences, good or not. And it’s just amazing how beautiful life is when you look past your challenges and problems.
Love love your article, this is amazing. We do have greatest gift, each of us have different or similar once, that we should be able to treasure until the end of time.
“Today is a gift that is why we call it the present.” Now that statement was really cute. I want to memorize it for a special occasion one day.
My family is the greatest gift I have ever received. 🙂
That is a beautiful story! Really makes you stop and think about things in your own life. I love that the man’s neighbour ends up with it all by bidding just £10, all that he had to offer.
For me, being given the chance to live is our greatest gift. The good that we do with our lives is the greatest gift we can give to God.
Wow – this story really makes you think. We have strained relations in my family, and it is hard around the holidays because someone is always arguing and refusing to speak to others. I know I need to open my heart more and learn to be more gracious. I am lucky to have a big family, and we should be loving each other not throwing away our relationships over petty arguments.
Lovely post and pictures. I consider my family to be my greatest gift along with health and happiness!
I love this. Very beautiful thoughts. The best gift my parents ever gave me was to be strong and know I can handle everything that comes my way,
I always try to instill responsibility in my children. They don’t see the need for chores and cleaning up after yourself but it’s something they will need to know as they grow up.
What a lovely positive post. The greatest gifts tend to be those which aren’t physical gifts, great memories, trips out, something thoughtful x
I would have loved to have been in the room when the art collectors got the news of the will. What a great story.
That story is sobering! How something that is trivial to others was one man’s whole world. I agree that our greatest gift is life itself and I think so often we are wrapped up in the trivial until faced with something awful to bring us back down to earth. I am currently on a journey to be more mindful and present in my own life and those close to me. Gratitude is humbling if we only took the time to practice it!
I don’t like Mondays. For some reason, my body is having a hard time adjusting from rest days to start the work days. Thanks for sharing your motivational stories.
Beautiful pictures and collection of quotes. I love your Motivational Monday’s posts!
I am still astounded by the end of the story! I have never heard it before but I love it. I love the message! I love being reminded of what is truly important and why we are here. I really liked how you connect with your family on holidays even though they are far. That is what is the most important.
Thank you Alison for taking the time to read the post and reflect on it… Your comment is appreciated.
What a lovely and inspirational post. I personally consider health to be my biggest gift. I’m grateful that my body is fine and I can wake up every day feeling full of energy to tackle problems.
Good for you. We do value health and for good reason. 🙂
What an inspirational post (and I loved the story about the art collector and his son).
I’m glad you enjoyed it. What is your greatest gift to yourself?
I always enjoy reading your posts. They make me feel so good and get me geared up to have great days!
Oh Thank you Ben! Your comments always lift my spirit. thank you! 🙂
Easter is a wonderful Holiday for me because it focuses on family and rebirth- not “gifts” per say! We had a small family gathering and I missed the usual huge crowd with lots of family love!
What a story and it made me think sometimes the things you don’t appreciate at first become the greatest gift.
I love the message of this post. Always admiring your blogs! Thanks for sharing.
I love reading your posts. They really are motivational and I love the images you use as well! Great post <3
always love to read your inspirational motivation Monday piece. The greatest gift we can give our children is to be there for them no question ask!
I love your inspiring posts! The greatest gift…hmmmm….to me, I think it’s life! I’m a bone marrow, blood, plasma and organ donor, so I can always give that gift, whether I’m alive or not!
This is such a inspirational post. It is just what i needed today. Thanks!
I think it’s unfortunate that people have forgotten that there’s more to gifts than material things. There’s nothing more meaningful than something that’s from the heart like something you made yourself 🙂
I love the story of the auction. I know of a famous personality here in the Philippines who displays the painting made by her son alongside the paintings of known painters that she bought. Love is indeed the greatest gift.
Life is really a gift that we need to enjoy and use it for His glory.
Such a beautiful message. I love the story. I’ve been quite enjoying these posts. Thank you.
An inspirational post! I think my creativity is my greatest gift 🙂
Your post is great so motivational.Such a positive vibe you give off through your words.
I always say that we take too many things for granted, we need to appreciate the people we love and everything we have. We only get one life, we have to rejoice and love each other.
i agree that the greatest gift is the gift of life. nothings more than waking up in the morning and feel blessed and thankful for another day
Love, time, attention…always the greatest gifts. My grandmother on my mother’s side didn’t have a fancy life, but she gave me these. My grandmother who was wealthier did not, she only gave me presents. I bet it’s easy to figure which grandmother’s memories I cherished most. My grandma who gave me her unconditional love, time and attention. She shaped my life in ways for which I could never say enough thank you’s.
What a beautiful legacy … and it is never too late to create them. TY! <3
I like what you said about looking at our memories and seeing if they are in line with the goals in our heart. This is the perfect time of the year to take stock of our goals and how we want to approach the rest of the year.
Thank you dear one… Indeed it is a great time to pause and reflect.
Love this post, Elizabeth. I always give thanks to God before I lay down to sleep. I also say thanks first thing after I wake up in the morning. Life may have its challenges, but to be alive is truly a gift.
Eileen, I do same and at different times of the day, a prayer of thanks will come up. I must admit that I wasn’t as conscious of it in my teens and early 20s but now I am more so. TY! <3
Wow, what a great post and an amazing story. my eyes were so watery reading that story of the man and his son!
What a wonderful, wonderful story! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
You are welcome. Glad you liked it.
Love to read this post. It’s very inspiring and gives me more motivation
I think the greatest gift you can give is arming them with the right values. With that in place, anything is possible.
We can start there… or anywhere. True. 🙂
So inspirational post. Love the message of it. Thanks for sharing!
You are a blessing to me too. TY!
My greatest gifts are my two kiddos. I absolutely love the message of this story!
Glad you did too… 🙂
My greatest gift at this precise moment is that I woke up this morning. Many people didn’t get a chance to see this morning and their loved ones never got to say goodbye. I am a firm believer in being grateful for each day as tomorrow is not promised.
Dear One. I agree with you 100%… It all begins with that first breath we take… Everything else is secondary.
What a great story! I was very surprised by the ending, but I loved it.
Hahaha! It was a great ending… I can only imagine the faces. 🙂
My kids and family are my special gifts. I am always grateful for their love and thank God for blessing me this much!
Mine are special to me too… Thank you for your feedback.
Thank you for your inspirational post. I need to read something like this.
Thank you Garf! Wishing you well! 🙂
Life definitely precedes all other gifts. It’s the greatest blessing.
Sure does. I agree with you on that one. 🙂
Also, I like how you bring such a positive spirit to Mondays!
Thank you Liz! I appreciate your visits. 🙂
The ending did for me! what a great post! you always have so much positivity to share!
This is a wonderful post. Very encouraging and uplifting. I believe that everyone has different stages in their life and in those stages, there is a different aspect that brings them pure joy.
The greatest gift is Life and is given to us by God. Next is family. Appreciate and thanks for everything he gave.
It is a lovely story and I wish I was still living in a bubble where cancer and death are non existent and these stories make sense.xx
Oh my goodness, I bet the neighbor must have been shocked and happy at the same time ‘whoever takes the son, gets it all’ wow what a powerful story.
Wow, such an awesome read and an eye opener. Thanks for sharing a positive spirit to all of us!
There are some truly lovely photos here and they depict life’s gifts well. Such an uplifting post to share with us. The photos make me smile. 🙂
You have a beautifully written post and I enjoyed reading it. It also allowed me to reflect on what the greatest gift my parents have given me. I think that would be the values I have today, particularly love, trust, prudence, hard work, and humility. These values cannot be bought, but instead are passed onto you by your elders. It is the time and effort they put in that hopefully planted these values firmly into a person.
I love your positivity brightens up my day
the life we have now is the greatest gift and as something we really dont own actually. so better share the life we have to our loved ones and to our friends…
I love to start my week with your posts! My favorite gifts is health and the love of my family
Beautiful and so lively for a perfect Monday morning. For me, I feel health is biggest gift as a Cancer survivor everytime it reminds me of its importance.
The gift of life definitely is the greatest of all gifts. I think I need to figure out what my gifts are. I’m not really sure.
Such an inspiring & beautiful quote from Bil Keane. I agree everyone of us must stay in the present & stay positive rather than worrying about the past or the future. The pictures are quiet amazing as well as you always do.
The story about the art collector son and father truly is touching. i love that even with all those priceless art, the painting of his son is the most valuable of all.
I don’t know why but this post reminds me of Whitney Houston’s song “The Greatest Love of All.” Perhaps, because there’s a connection between loving oneself which is the message of the song and being able to give the best of yourself to your loved ones (hich can be considered one of the best gifts one can give.
Loved the message this post is trying to give. There are so many gifts we receive and so many of them we can give to others. Greatest gift I have received from my parents is the gift of life.
Elizabeth, the story most definitely brought tears in my eyes. Praying for our soldiers…. Btw, those words by Khalil Gibran is so so true…
When the world remembers the things that are truly important then we will start to see changes. There are so many things that are more important than what many are fighting for…things like family and laughter…
I think depending on who you talk to they are going to think that the greatest gifts are different things. My greatest gift is my children, but had you asked me this before they were born and I’d say my parents and husband.
I have always loved that quote! Tomorrow sure is a mystery. We must cherish the time we have!
Thank you for the reminder. I need to acknowledge that I love my life more often. And appreciate it for what it’s worth.
All of us too. Thank you! <3
Independence and responsibility really are amazing gifts. I see so many of my friends struggle with both and I am so grateful to my parents for instilling both traits in me. I hated it as a teenager but as an adult they are invaluable.
They are very important lifeskills to learn…
You make me not hate mondays.
Thank you! <3
I liked the story about the father and his son. This post really makes you think. I am very grateful for the gift of each day. You never know when it will be your last and I believe one should always be thankful to have more time.
I have a hard time picking greatest or favorites. I would have to say at this moment the greatest gift given to me was the atonement of my savior Jesus Christ.
Wonderful! <3
Thanks for the inspirational stories. My greatest gifts are my husband and kids.
very inspirational, your posts are indeed food for the soul.
I am working so hard to create a sense of independence and curiosity in my toddler, as I think it is one that is so important for his growth!
Of course, the greatest gift I’ve received is the gift of love and my family.
My health and my family are my biggest gifts. I’m still trying to fine tune and strengthen the gifts I want to give to my family. With God’s help, I’ll get there!
Love this story with the art collector and his son. It resonated with me so much. Your inspirational posts make me feel so good. – Erin Kennedy
Kindness to someone and others is the greatest gift as it will not only make your own day and the others’ too.
I love reading motivational post, it helps me look at some of my real life situations differently. Thanks for sharing!
Great post and photos! thanks for sharing.
This post is very uplifting and gives you food for thought, thanks again for brightening up the day
The greatest gift ever is the love of Jesus Christ for us, second is our love ones, they are special gift from God. We should always find ways to have quality time for them and make more memorable memories with our special someone.
God gave us a lot of gifts and all we have to do is use it to glorify his name. Thanks for sharing this very inspirational post. Your blog helped me so much esp. when I feel down. Thank you.
I needed this inspirational lift today. 🙂 Time and love for me is the the greatest gift.
My greatest gifts are my 6 younger siblings… sometimes, they do annoy the hell out of me, but whenever I am away from them, I feel like it’s killing me and can’t wait go home right away.
The greatest gift I have is being grateful for everything, my family, my kids and my friends. LIfe is great knowing that I have the most loving people that surrounds me. The story is truly inspiring!:)
I always consider my family as my greatest gift. They may not perfect but they never fail to make me feel loved and happy. Such an inspiring post Eliz!
Such a great inspirational post. I need this right now. Thanks 🙂
Inspiration is the greatest gift because it opens your life to many new possibilities. Each day becomes more meaningful, and your life is enhanced when your actions are guided by what inspires you. – So agree to this! I need this to remind me to be inspired everyday! 🙂
Very inspiring article. I try to connect with my family and myself on a daily basis. My greatest gift is good health and my immediate family and friends.
I am always thankful for the greatest gift that I had my baby, it’s my ultimate dream to have my own baby 🙂
So inspiring. This post made me realize I am so blessed with gifts of friendship, love of family, and a lot more to be thankful for!
Not sure if my first comment went through. This post is very inspiring, it made me realize and appreciate the many gifts I have.
(This is my third attempt to post a comment and I hope this time it gets through.) This post made me realize how blessed I am with gifts — I have a strong support system called family and friends.
When giving presents, I always consider the personality of the receiver and what she likes.
That Bill Keane quote is one of my favorites. Its important to always live in real time.
The greatest gift is be able to live and able to have our family and friends around. We should embrace life in whatever situation. This is another inspirational article which should be reach out to more people.
It is important to share our love and joy to people around us and sometimes it’s happier to give than receive. Thank you for the sharing and great quotations.
Very good story brought tears to my eyes. A parent’s love for his child is more than expensive things, like paintings. Its value could not be matched by any money until his last breath.
I always enjoy reading your daily posts. You always inspire people with you positive vibes. Thank you for always sharing your beautiful quotes and poems.
I agree with you, when we ask them, they would give different answers. It’s not like items or things that many people can get the same. It’s rare.