Have a soulful Saturday

If you planted hope today
(¸.♥´ In any hopeless heart
(¸.♥´ If someone's burden became lighter
(¸.♥´ Because you did your part
(¸.♥´ If you made someone laugh out loud
(¸.♥´ And kept their tears at bay
(¸.♥´ Then today has been 
(¸.♥´ A very special day... :)


Lessons Of Love

A ninety-one year old woman died
after living a long dignified life.
When she met God, she asked him something
that had long bothered her.
If Man was created in God's image,
and if all men are created equal,
why do people treat each other so badly?
God replied that each person who
enters our life has a unique
lesson to teach us.
And it is only through these
lessons that we learn about life,
people, relationships and God.
This confused the woman, so God began to explain.
When someone lies to you, it
teaches you that things are not
always as they seem. The truth is often far
beneath the surface. Look beyond the masks
people wear if you want to know their heart.
And remove your own masks to let people know yours.
When someone steals from you,
it teaches you that nothing is forever.
Always appreciate what you have,
for you never know when you might lose it.
And never, ever take your friends
and family for granted because today
is the only guarantee you have.
When someone inflicts an injury upon you, 
it teaches you that the human state is a fragile one.
Protect and take care of your body
as best you can, it's the only thing
you are sure to have forever.
When someone mocks you,
it teaches you that no two people are alike.
When you encounter people who are
different from you, don't judge
them by how they look or act;
instead base your opinion on the contents of their heart.
When someone breaks your heart,
it teaches you that loving someone
does not always mean that person
will love you back. But don't turn your back
on love because when you find the right person, 
the joy that one person brings will
make up for all the past hurts put together.
Times ten. When someone holds a grudge against you,
it teaches you that everyone makes mistakes.
When you are wronged, the most virtuous 
thing you can do is forgive the offender without pretense.
Forgiving those who have hurt us is the most difficult,
the most courageous and the noblest thing man can do.
When a loved one is unfaithful to you,
it teaches you that resisting temptation
is man's greatest challenge.
Be vigilant in your resistance against
all temptation. By doing so you will be 
rewarded with an enduring sense
of satisfaction far greater
than the temporary pleasure by which you were tempted.
When someone cheats you, 
it teaches you that greed is the root of all evil.
Aspire to make your dreams come true,
no matter how lofty they may be.
Do not feel guilty about your success,
but never let an obsession with achieving
your goals lead you to engage in malevolent activities.
When someone ridicules you, 
it teaches you that nobody is perfect.
Accept people for their merits and be
tolerant of their flaws.
Do not ever reject someone for 
imperfections over which they have no control.
Upon hearing the Lord's wisdom,
the old woman became concerned
that there were no lessons to be learned
from man's good deeds.
God replied that man's capacity to love 
is the greatest gift he has.
At the root of all kindness is love,
and each act of love also teaches us a lesson.
The woman's curiosity deepening, 
God once again began to explain.
When someone loves us it teaches us that love,
kindness, charity, honesty,
humility, forgiveness and 
acceptance can counteract all the evil in the world.
For every good deed, there is one less evil deed.
Man alone has the power to control 
the balance between good and evil,
but because the lessons of love 
are not taught often enough,
the power is too often abused.
When you enter someone's life,
whether by plan, chance or coincidence,
consider what your lesson will be.
Will you teach love or a harsh lesson of reality? 
When you die, will your life
have resulted in more loving or hurting? 
More comfort or pain?
More joy or sadness? Each one of
us has power over the balance
of love in the world. Use it wisely.

Have a beautiful and soulful Saturday

Attracting hummingbirds is easier when you know how to tell the truth from the fiction. Do hummingbirds ride on geese when they migrate south? Should I add red dye to my hummingbird nectar? Will it cause problems for migrating hummingbirds if I leave my feeder up in the fall? We took a closer look at some common hummingbird myths, and we’ve got the answers.

Hummingbird Myth: Hummingbirds hitch rides on the backs of geese as they migrate south.
Hummingbird Fact: This legend is entertaining, but untrue. Hummingbirds and Canada geese migrate at different times and to different destinations.

Myth: All hummingbirds migrate.
Fact: Most, but not all, hummingbirds migrate south for winter. The Anna’s hummingbird stays along the West Coast year-round.

Myth: Hummingbirds sip nectar through their bills like a straw.
Fact: Hummingbirds use their tongues to lap up nectar and sugar water at about 13 licks per second.

Myth: Adding red dye to sugar water will attract more hummingbirds.
Fact: It isn’t necessary to dye sugar water. Feeders with red part do the trick.

Myth: Hummingbirds’ only natural predators are other, larger birds.
Fact: Besides other birds like hawks, hummers have to watch out for cats, spiders, snakes and even frogs.

Myth: Leaving hummingbird feeders up late into fall delays migration south.
Fact: You won’t interfere with hummingbirds’ migration; they know to fly south as the days get shorter.

Myth: Hummingbirds eat only nectar and sugar water.
Fact: Insects and small spiders are also an important part of a hummingbird’s diet.

Myth: Hummingbirds feed only from red flowers.
Fact: While red blooms draw them in, these sweet-toothed fliers will gladly feed from any color flower that produces nectar.

Read more: http://www.birdsandblooms.com/birding/attracting-hummingbirds/hummingbird-myths-revealed/#ixzz3cxXDcDwu